On November 14, 2023, the SEC released its FY 2023 Enforcement Results. In FY 2023 results, the SEC included how many enforcement actions and standalone enforcement actions were filed along with the price of penalties, disgorgement, and amount returned to harmed investors.
On October 31, 2023, the Department of Labor proposed a new rule that would extend the current definition of “investment advice fiduciary” to include advisers when they “give investment advice for a fee to retirement plan participants, individual retirement account owners and others,” according to the DOL’s Press Release.
On October 16, 2023, the SEC’s Division of Examinations (“EXAMS”) published its 2024 Examination Priorities. These annual priorities highlight certain practices, products, and services that present potentially heightened risks to investors or the integrity of US capital markets.
On September 29, 2023, the SEC charged five broker-dealers, three dual registrants, and two affiliated investment advisors with “widespread and longstanding failures to maintain and preserve electronic communications,” according to the SEC’s press release. The ten firms will pay combined penalties of $79 million. Each firm was also censured and served a cease-and-desist order.
On September 14, the Private Fund Adviser Rules were published in the Federal Register. According to the Federal Register, the rules are effective Nov. 13, 2023, and comments regarding the collection of information requirements within the meaning of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 should be received on or before October 16, 2023.
On September 11, 2023, the SEC announced charges against nine registered investment advisers for advertising hypothetical performance to a mass audience on their websites without meeting the requirements of the Marketing Rule. All nine firms have agreed to settle and will pay penalties ranging from $50,000 to $175,000.
On September 5, 2023, the SEC charged five investment firms who failed to comply with requirements regarding safekeeping of client assets, and/or to timely update disclosures relating to audits of financial statements for private fund’s they advise.
On September 5, 2023, the SEC charged private equity firm Prime Group Holdings LLC with “failing to disclose millions of dollars of real estate brokerage fees” that a fund managed by the firm paid to the firm’s affiliate.