The SEC has voted to propose rule amendments to improve the information that investors receive regarding the acquisition and disposition of businesses. The proposed amendments are also intended to facilitate more timely access to capital and to reduce complexity and compliance costs of these financial disclosures. “The proposed rules are, […]
Mark J. Astarita
JPMorgan to Pay More Than $135 Million for Improper Handling of ADRS
The SEC announced that JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. will pay more than $135 million to settle charges of improper handling of “pre-released” American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). ADRs are U.S. securities that represent foreign shares of a foreign company and they require a corresponding number of foreign shares to be held […]
Online Gaming Company Charged with Fraud
The SEC charged Robert Alexander with fraudulently raising approximately $9 million from more than 50 individuals by selling investments in Kizzang LLC, a purported online gaming business. Alexander misled investors to believe they would make at least 10 times their investment, and also stated that he had put millions of […]
List of Firms Using Inaccurate Information
The SEC maintains a list of unregistered entities that it alleges uses misleading information to solicit non-US investors known as PAUSEor fake firms. It recently updated that list to add four firms that are impersonating real firms, and 9 bogus firms. The list, known as the Public Alert: Unregistered Soliciting Entities […]
Victims of $102 Million Ponzi Scheme
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed charges and obtained an asset freeze against the individuals and companies behind a $102 million Ponzi scheme that bilked investors throughout the U.S. According to the SEC’s press release, the defendants defrauded more than 600 investors through sales of securities in issuers they controlled, […]
Merrill Lynch Admits Masking to Defraud Customers
The Securities and Exchange Commission charged Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith with misleading customers about how it handled their orders. Merrill Lynch agreed to settle the charges, admit wrongdoing, and pay a $42 million penalty. According to the SEC’s order, Merrill Lynch falsely informed customers that it had executed […]
Criminal Probe Into Trading in Fannie, Freddie Bonds
The U.S. has opened a criminal investigation into whether traders manipulated prices in the $550 billion market for unsecured bonds issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, according to people familiar with the matter.The probe, parts of which were described by four people familiar with it, shows that investigations by […]
UBS Pulls a Fast One on its Own Employees
Only a few months after withdrawing from the Protocol, UBS Financial Services is requiring brokers waiting for their 2017 bonuses to sign agreements that open them to lawsuits and arbitration complaints if they try to contact former clients within 12 months of leaving the U.S. broker-dealer unit of the Swiss bank. […]
Rule 8210 – How You Respond Makes a Difference
For FINRA member firms, and employees of FINRA firms (even those who are not registered) FINRA Rule 8210 (Provision of Information and Testimony and Inspection and Copying of Books) gives FINRA the authority to request documents and testimony from firms, registered persons, and, in FINRA’s view, other persons and entities […]
Bitcoin Fraud On the Rise
Proponents of the varied cryptocurrencies believe that buying these “coins” will make them millionaires. For some, it is hard to argue, given the spectacular gains in the currency over the past year. However, those of us who have been involved in the securities markets for more than a few years, […]