On December 22, 2020, the FERC released its Assessment of Demand Response and Advanced Metering. Issuance of this annual report, now in its fifteenth year of publication, is required under section 1252(e)(3) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The details presented in the report were drawn from the latest publicly available data (2018 data for retail markets and 2019 data for wholesale markets) that is used to gauge demand response potential. The report also contains FERC staff findings using non-public data to assess demand response activity in California during the summer 2020 when the state experienced four out of its five hottest August days since 1985. Continue reading "FERC Publishes 2020 Assessment of Demand..." »

The SEC has indicated that the EDGAR System will function as it usually does on Inauguration Day (Wednesday, January 20, 2021). There will be no disruption of service, as is the case on any normal business day.
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On December 22, 2020, the SEC voted to adopt amendments pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, revising rules that regulate investment adviser advertising and payments to solicitors. Drawing from and replacing the current advertising rule (Rule 206(4)-1) and cash solicitation rule (Rule 206(4)-3) is an amalgamated rule established by the amendments. The objective of the amendment is to enhance the SEC’s ability to effectively oversee investment advisers’ marketing communications. Continue reading "SEC Approves Revised Marketing Rule for..." »

The SEC voted on December 22, 2020 to take measures to further the enactment of security-based swap regulation pursuant to Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. These actions reflect the latest in the SEC’s continuous efforts to engage with multiple agencies and non-US counterparts and prepare for the registration of security-based swap dealers in 2021. Continue reading "SEC Issues Various Compliance Orders for France..." »

The SEC will be closed Friday, January 1 in observance of New Year’s Day. The EDGAR System will not receive, process, or accept filings on this day. Filings with a due date of January 1 will be due the following business day, which is Monday, January 4.

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The SEC released a statement and request for comment on December 23, 2020 that concerns the custody of digital asset securities by broker-dealers. This action was undertaken in order to encourage innovation around applying Securities Exchange Act Rule 15c3-3 to digital asset securities. Continue reading "SEC Releases Statement on the Custody of..." »

On December 18, 2020, the SEC published the Annual Report on Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSROs) and the 2020 Summary Report of SEC Staff’s Examinations of Each Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization. The report, which generally concentrates on the period from June 26, 2019 to June 25, 2020, features a thorough summary of the Office of Credit Rating’s (OCR) assessments of the NRSROs, including the staff’s key findings and suggestions. Continue reading "SEC Publishes 2020 Office of Credit Rating Reports" »

On December 22, 2020, the SEC proposed an amendment to Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933 that would revise the holding period determination for securities acquired upon the conversion or exchange of certain “market-adjustable securities”. This change should decrease the risk of unregistered distributions in connection with sales of those securities. In addition, the SEC is proposing updates and simplifications to the Form 144 filing requirements. Continue reading "SEC Requests Comment on Changes to Rule 144 and..." »

The SEC will be closed Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25 due to the closure of the federal government on these two days. The EDGAR System will not receive, process, or accept filings on either of these days. Filings with a due date of December 24 or December 25 will be considered timely if filed on or before December 28, which is the SEC’s next business day.
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On December 17, 2020, the SEC voted to approve the 2021 budget of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and the associated annual accounting support fee. The PCAOB monitors the audits and auditors of the financial statements that are submitted by registered broker-dealers and issuers. Section 109 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires the PCAOB to establish, with SEC approval, a reasonable accounting support fee to fund its operations. Continue reading "SEC Releases PCAOB Budget and Accounting..." »

On December 17, 2020, the FERC established a new index level to calculate annual changes for interstate oil pipeline rate ceilings. This index level adjustment comes after the FERC concluded its fifth five-year review of the index under Order No. 561. In addition, the FERC reviewed comments responding to a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) issued June 18, 2020 and examined the page 700 data from FERC Form No. 6, Annual Report of Oil Pipeline Companies. The FERC has set this new index level of Producer Price Index for Finished Goods plus 0.78 percent (PPI-FG+0.78%) for the five-year period from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2026. Continue reading "FERC Releases New Five-Year Index Level for..." »

On December 22, 2020, the SEC and the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (CONSOB) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU concerns consultation, cooperation, and the exchange of information between the two agencies regarding the supervision of regulated entities that conduct financial services business in the United States, Italy, or both countries. Continue reading "SEC Establishes New Supervisory Cooperation..." »

On December 17, 2020, the FERC acted on two proposals to revise its policy that guides price indices referenced in natural gas and electric tariffs. Natural gas price indices are weighted average prices derived from sets of fixed-price natural gas transactions within distinct geographical boundaries. Market participants voluntarily report these prices to a price index developer. In both the physical and financial energy markets, natural gas price indices are essential as they help price billions of dollars of natural gas and electricity transactions annually. Continue reading "FERC Proposes Changes to Price Indices Policy" »

The SEC announced on December 18, 2020 that it is creating a new collaborative venture called the Security-Based Swaps (SBS) Joint Venture. This venture joins several SEC divisions and offices and will be responsible for coordinating functions related to the regulation of security-based swaps and oversight of certain entities that will be required to register with the SEC (SBS entities). The SBS Joint Venture will be an important part of the SEC’s efforts to oversee the SBS market and better monitor SBS transaction data. Continue reading "SEC Announces the Creation of the..." »

On December 18, 2020, the SEC’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation issued its Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2020. This report contains comprehensive data on the state of small business capital formation, as well as a summary of the office’s activities in supporting small business and their investors. The report also includes policy recommendations. This year the report features a discussion of the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on small businesses and small business capital formation. Continue reading "SEC’s Small Business Advocate Releases Its..." »