HFLR Program Parses OCIE’s Recent Advertising Risk Alert: Misleading Claims of GIPS Compliance, Past Specific Investment Recommendations and Results of SEC’s Touting Initiative (Part Two of Two)

SEC commentary provides valuable insight to compliance personnel on the hot-button issues being prioritized by the Commission, as well as the sort of conduct that does, and does not, lead to a referral to the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. By staying informed of the SEC’s approach to certain issues, advisers can learn from the mistakes of similarly situated advisers. A recent webinar presented by the Hedge Fund Law Report discussed six deficiencies identified in a National Exam Program Risk Alert that violate Rule 206(4)-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 – the so-called “Advertising Rule” – as well as other compliance issues that frequently arise with respect to an adviser’s advertising practices. Kara Bingham, Associate Editor of the Hedge Fund Law Report, moderated the discussion, which featured Todd Kaplan, founder and principal of Cloudbreak Compliance Group; Christine M. Lombardo, partner at Morgan Lewis; and Richard F. Kerr, partner at K&L Gates. This article, the second in a two-part series, explores the disclosures required when presenting gross performance in a one-on-one presentation to prospective investors, the circumstances under which claims of compliance with voluntary performance disclosure standards may be deemed misleading, ways to avoid deficiencies when discussing past specific recommendations in advertisements and the results of the touting initiative conducted by the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations. The first article discussed the broad view that the SEC takes when deciding which communications fall within the definition of an advertisement, as well as four examples of deficiencies frequently found in performance advertising. See “Risk Alert Highlights Six Most Frequent Advertising Rule Compliance Issues” (Oct. 19, 2017).

To read the full article

Continue reading your article with a HFLR subscription.