MFDF News Feed
The MFDF News Feed is an electronic journal, or "blog," of alerts, analysis, news and tools focused on the needs of independent directors. Click here to subscribe to the MFDF News Feed and have it delivered electronically to your e-mail inbox.
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March 10, 2022
SEC Proposes Short Sale Disclosure Rule, CAT Amendments“Proposed Rule 13f-2 would make aggregate data about large short positions available to the public for individual equity securities,” said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. “This would provide the public and market participants with more visibility into the behavior of large short sellers."
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March 9, 2022
MFDF WEBINAR: SEC Takes a Swing at New Money Market Fund Reforms, March 10, 2-3 pm ETSpeakers from Dechert will review the SEC’s recent proposed amendments to the money market fund rules and the possible impact on responsibilities for boards overseeing money funds. This webinar will be broadcast live from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, March 10, 2022.
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March 8, 2022
Crypto Trading Trends Up; Regulators Still Lukewarm; EY Crypto WebinarThe SEC recently charged BlockFi Lending LLC with failing to register the offers and sales of its retail crypto lending product and violating the registration provisions of the 1940 Act.
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March 7, 2022
ESG Update: Large Firms Lead Industry Toward Net Zero; Other ESG PrioritiesIn BlackRock CEO's 2022 letter, net zero initiatives were a major focus along with stakeholder capitalism and BlackRock’s efforts to empower shareholders to vote their own proxies. According to Fink’s letter, “every company and every industry will be transformed by the transition to a net zero world.”
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March 3, 2022
Dear Board Doc: How Do We Set our CCO Compensation Competitively?In considering the CCO’s compensation, the board has an interest in establishing a compensation structure that is sufficient to attract and retain a highly qualified CCO.
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March 2, 2022
Glass Lewis’s Assessments on Firms’ Diversity DisclosuresGlass Lewis found approximately 74% of the S&P 500 disclosed board racial/ethnic diversity on an individual or aggregate level. “None” was the dominant category in 2020, as companies did not provide this data.
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March 1, 2022
SEC Charges Infinity Q Founder with Orchestrating Massive Valuation FraudAccording to the complaint, Velissaris executed the overvaluation scheme by altering inputs and manipulating the code of a third-party pricing service used to value the funds’ assets.
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February 28, 2022
MFDF WEBINAR: Observations from SEC Examinations of Registered Investment Companies March 1, 2-3 pm ETPanelists will review the recent risk alert issued by the SEC on October 26, 2021, entitled “Observations from Examinations in the Registered Investment Company Initiatives” identifying topics of interest and concern for boards of directors, outside counsel, internal legal staff, and compliance officers. This webinar will be broadcast live from 2:00 to 3:00 Eastern time on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
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February 24, 2022
SEC Proposes Whistleblower Rule AmendmentsCommissioner Hester Peirce opposed the proposals stating that “there is no new information that compels reopening the recently adopted rules” since the rules were last amended in 2020.
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February 23, 2022
House Financial Services Examines PWG Stablecoin ReportThe report recommends several steps to address risks posed by stablecoins including the enactment of legislation to ensure that payment stablecoins are subject to a federal prudential framework on a consistent and comprehensive basis.
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February 22, 2022
SEC Issues Proposal to Reduce Risks in Clearance and SettlementAccording to SEC Chair Gary Gensler, shortening the settlement cycle should reduce the amount of margin that counterparties would need to post with clearinghouses.
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February 21, 2022
MFDF WEBINAR: LIBOR Transition: What Boards Need to Know and Do in the Final 18 Months Feb. 22, 2-3 pm ETAnne Beaumont from Friedman Kaplan’s LIBOR Transition Task Force will discuss how boards can make sure they have the information and tools necessary to assess the risks and challenges that LIBOR transition presents for funds, evaluate the status and sufficiency of funds’ LIBOR transition plans, and navigate and avoid problems in the final months of the transition.
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February 17, 2022
SEC Releases Staff Report on Ratings OrganizationsThe report notes that NRSROs are increasing their offerings of ESG-related products and services and highlights areas of potential concern , including non-adherence to established methodologies or policies and procedures, inconsistent application of ESG factors, and the adequate disclosure of the use of ESG factors applied in rating actions.
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February 16, 2022
PwC Report Foresees Major Asset Growth, Product, Distribution Trends for ETFsMore than half of the executives PwC surveyed responded that global ETF assets under management will reach at least $18 trillion by 2026, representing a 14.6% compound annual growth rate (“CAGR’) between June 2021 and June 2026.
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February 15, 2022
FSOC Meets to Discuss Money Market, Open-End, and Hedge FundsThe working group observed issues with redemption pressures, liquidity, and first mover advantage, and supports further investigation into their contribution to market stress.
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February 14, 2022
SEC Proposes Cybersecurity Rule for Funds, AdvisersThe rule proposal (Rule 38a-2) would require a fund’s board of directors to approve the initial cybersecurity policies and procedures and review an annual written report on cybersecurity incidents and material changes to the fund’s cybersecurity policies and procedures.
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February 14, 2022
MFDF WEBINAR: Balance the Narrative II: Broadening the Discussion on Active Management, Feb. 15, 2-3 pm ETSpeakers from the IAA's Active Managers Council will highlight the topics from its latest paper titled "Balance the Narrative II: Broadening the Discussion on Active Management." The webinar will broadcast live from 2 pm - 3 pm (ET).
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February 11, 2022
Senate Banking Committee Considers Federal Reserve NomineesThe hearing focused heavily on the impact of inflation and rising prices on the economy, the independence of the Federal Reserve, and climate change. Several Republican members of the Committee expressed concerns with prior statements made by Bloom Raskin regarding banks’ allocation of capital to industries with large carbon footprints (such as oil and companies).
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February 10, 2022
SEC Proposes Amendments to Enhance Private Fund ReportingThe proposed amendments are designed to enhance regulators’ ability to assess systemic risk as well as to bolster the Commission’s regulatory oversight of private fund advisers and its investor protection efforts in light of the growth of the private fund industry, the SEC said.
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February 9, 2022
PCAOB Creates Advisory Groups to Broaden Investor, Stakeholder Input; Seeks MembersThe PCAOB is seeking public comment on the proposed structures of these two new advisory groups, as well as nominations for membership in each group.
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