Pensions and Retirement Funds – Global Investment Law Watch

Three Things to Know About Cboe’s ETF Share Class Filing

Apr 23 2024

By: Stacy L. Fuller, Kevin R. Gustafson, Christine Mikhael and Crystal Liu

On 15 April 2024, Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (Cboe) filed an application pursuant to Rule 19b-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to amend its exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listing standards to permit ETF share classes issued by open-end investment companies that offer mutual fund share classes pursuant to any exemptive relief to be granted by the SEC.

SEC Fines Adviser for Off-Channel Communications

Apr 05 2024

By: Lance C. Dial and Pablo J. Man

On 3 April 2024 the SEC announced the first off-channel communications settlement with a registered investment adviser who was not otherwise affiliated with a broker-dealer. This settlement provides new insight into how the SEC views adviser’s recordkeeping obligations, which are narrower than broker-dealer regulatory requirements.

Not That FAR Away

Mar 28 2024

By: Claudine Salameh and Tamsyn Sharpe

On 15 March 2024 the Financial Accountability Regime (FAR) came into effect for authorised-deposit taking institutions (ADIs). Application of the FAR will be extended to insurers and registrable superannuation entities from 15 March 2025.

NAPFM, AIMA, and MFA File Complaint Against SEC’s New Dealer Rule

Mar 20 2024

By: Richard F. Kerr, Eden L. Rohrer, Jessica D. Cohn, and Raymond F. Jensen

On 18 March 2024, the National Association of Private Fund Managers, Alternative Investment Management Association, Limited and Managed Funds Association (together, Plaintiffs) jointly filed a complaint (Complaint) against the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleging that the SEC’s newly adopted final rule (Dealer Rule) vastly overstepped and expanded the SEC’s authority. The Complaint, which was filed in federal court in Texas, details how the Dealer Rule, expanding those industry participants who would be “dealers” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is overbroad and was adopted in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act.

Europe: Why Are Firms Currently Focusing on Derivatives Post Trade Reporting?

Mar 13 2024

By: Ron Feldman and Philipp Riedl

Deficiencies in compliance with derivatives post trade reporting rules have recently triggered regulator fines. Fin-FSA in Finland fined a pension fund €90K and the Central Bank of Ireland imposed the first fine on an investment fund, €192K. Although the fines are reasonably modest, they have sharpened industry focus on this issue.

Australia: Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) Reporting Due for Financial Services Licensees

Feb 16 2024

By: Daniel Knight and Laura McFadzean

All Australian financial services licensees with a retail authorisation, Australian credit licensees and certain unlicensed entities and superannuation trustees (eligible entities) are required to report IDR data to ASIC by 29 February 2024 at 11:59 PM.

Australia: How Financial Services Entities Can Better Respond to the Needs of First Nations Consumers

Feb 07 2024

By: Jim Bulling and Laura McFadzean

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has published information highlighting the challenges First Nations persons face in respect of identity verification for accessing financial products or services, such as opening bank accounts or withdrawing from superannuation funds.

New Year, New CPO/CTA Exemption Affirmations and CPO FinCEN Requirements

Jan 03 2024

By: Clifford C. Histed, Kenneth Holston, Cheryl L. Isaac, and Matthew J. Rogers

Happy New Year! As we kick off 2024, we note that the National Futures Association (NFA) published its annual Notice to Members with guidance on the annual affirmation requirement for certain exempt commodity pool operators (CPOs) and commodity trading advisors (CTAs). If you rely on an exemption or exclusion from CPO registration under CFTC Regulation 4.13(a)(1), 4.13(a)(2), 4.13(a)(3), 4.13(a)(5) or 4.5, or an exemption from CTA registration under 4.14(a)(8), you must file an annual affirmation in the NFA’s Exemptions System by 29 February 2024, and a multi-factor authentication is now required for access. Failure to make this affirmation will result in your registration exemption being withdrawn on 1 March 2024.

In addition, the NFA also issued a Notice to Members regarding the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) final rule implementing the Corporate Transparency Act beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements. Although CFTC-registered entities (including CPOs and CTAs) are exempt from these requirements (see 31 U.S.C. §5336(a)(11)(B)(xiv)), certain pooled investment vehicles will be required to comply. Commodity pools that are operated or advised by an SEC-registered broker-dealer or investment adviser are generally exempt, but a limited number of other commodity pools will be subject to the new rule.

Accordingly, CPOs with non-exempt commodity pools will need to file BOI reports with FinCEN, including identifying information about individuals who directly or indirectly own or control the commodity pool. FinCEN recently extended the BOI reporting deadline for certain reporting companies, with the relevant compliance dates as follows:

Commodity pools created or registered before 1 January 2024: file BOI reports by 1 January 2025.
Commodity pools created or registered in 2024: file BOI reports within 90 calendar days after registration is effective.
Commodity pools created or registered on or after 1 January 2025: file BOI reports within 30 calendar days after registration is effective.

For commodity pools created or registered after 1 January 2024, a CPO will also need to report information about the “company applicants,” meaning the individual or individuals who directly file the document that creates or registers the commodity pool.

Please feel free to contact the authors of this blog post with any questions.

ICMA’s Code of Conduct for ESG Ratings and Data Products Providers – A Step Towards Consistent Global Standards

Dec 18 2023

By: Carolyn Sng and Yeu Sook Young

The International Capital Market Association (ICMA) has released a voluntary code of conduct for ESG ratings and data products providers (the Code), reflecting recommendations by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). The Code is intended to be internationally interoperable and may be used by jurisdictions where no local code or regulation is in place.

Australia: ASIC to Focus on Net Zero Statements and Targets

Dec 04 2023

By: Lisa Lautier and Dhivya Kalyanakumar

On 21-22 November 2023, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) hosted the ASIC Annual Forum with a focus on ‘navigating disruption’. With heightened geopolitical uncertainty and market volatility, ASIC outlined its key focus areas for 2024:

Catagory:Pensions and Retirement Funds