On November 17, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted amendments to Regulation S-T to permit the use of electronic signatures in executing documents submitted electronically to the SEC through EDGAR.
Continue Reading SEC Adopts Amendments Permitting Use of Electronic Signatures for EDGAR Filings

On November 16, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a proposed rule change to (1) adopt FINRA Rule 4111 (Restricted Firm Obligations), which would impose additional conditions on member firms with a history of misconduct; and (2) adopt FINRA Rule 9561 (Procedures for Regulating Activities Under Rule 4111) and amend FINRA Rule 9559 (Hearing Procedures for Expedited Proceedings Under the Rule 9550 Series) to create a new expedited proceeding to implement proposed Rule 4111.
Continue Reading FINRA Files Proposed Rule Change to Address Firms With History of Misconduct

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced that it is conducting a review of firms’ systems and procedures for providing waivers and rebates to customers through Rights of Reinstatement (ROR) on mutual fund purchases.
Continue Reading FINRA Conducts Review of Waiver and Rebate Systems and Procedures with Respect to Mutual Fund ROR Purchases

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed an exemption from broker-dealer registration requirements for certain “finders” who raise capital for issuers in private offerings and receive transaction-based compensation for doing so (i.e., a “success fee”).
Continue Reading SEC Proposes Allowing ‘Finders’ to Raise Capital Without Registering as Broker-Dealers

On September 16, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted amendments to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) Rule 15c2-11 to modernize the rule, including by recognizing advances in communications technology. The rule requires broker-dealers to review key, basic issuer information before initiating or resuming quotations for the issuer’s security in the over-the-counter (OTC) market.
Continue Reading SEC Amends Exchange Act Rule 15c2-11 to Enhance Retail Investor Protections and Modernize Governing Quotations for Over-the-Counter Securities

On September 11, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had adopted rules that update and expand the statistical disclosures that bank and savings and loan registrants provide to investors while eliminating duplicative disclosures. The new SEC rules require disclosure about the following:
Continue Reading SEC Modernizes Disclosures for Banking Registrants