Corp Finance

Corp Finance

SEC Adopts Auditor Independence Rule Amendments

  Identifies services which are inconsistent with independence By John M. Baker, Esq. On November 21, 2000 the SEC finalized and posted its release adopting rule amendments regarding auditor independence, which the Commissioners voted to adopt on November 15. Revision of the Commission’s Auditor Independence Requirements, Release Nos. 33-7919, 34-43602, […]

Analysis Corp Finance

Variable Annuities Under Scrunity

SEC Notes Explosive Growth and Fee Issues, Shareholders Sue Over Fees By John M. Baker, Esq. Variable annuities typically do not get a great deal of attention from the SEC’s upper levels, but they were the subject of a speech by Investment Management Director Paul Roye before the National Association […]

Private Placements

Rule 17d-1 No Action Letter Released

Aggregation of Orders Addressed By John M. Baker, Esq. The SEC‘s Division of Investment Management recently issued a letter clarifying its position on the application of Rule 17d-1 to aggregated transactions in private placement securities. Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., SEC No-Action Letter (July 28, 2000). As described below, the […]

Corp Finance

Massive Investment Banking Settlement

“These cases reflect a sad chapter in the history of American business — a chapter in which those who reaped enormous benefits from the trust of investors profoundly betrayed that trust. These cases also represent an important new chapter in our ongoing efforts to restore investors’ faith in the fairness […]

Public Offerings

Spring Street Paves the Way

Spring Street Paves the Way By Mark J. Astarita, Esq. IN JULY’S COLUMN, WE ADDRESSED THE “INTERENT OFFERING,” a public securities offering on the Internet usually conducted by the issuer without using an underwriter. Since then, broker/dealers and issuers have begun using the Internet in connection with Regulation A offerings […]