On December 12, 2017, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB) issued Notice 2017-26761 (82 FR 58397, Docket Number OP-1573) expressing its intent to begin publication during the second quarter of 2018 of three overnight repurchase transaction reference rates.  The FRB began publication of these rates through the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on April 3, 2018.
Continue Reading Federal Reserve Board Now Publishing SOFR And Other Alternative Repo Rates

On May 11, 2016, the Department of Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) published its final rule (81 FR 29298) on required “know your customer” due diligence procedures (Rule).  The Rule established a compliance deadline of May 11, 2018 for all “covered financial institutions.”
Continue Reading Fincen Customer Due Diligence Rule Compliance Deadline Approaches

On December 20, 2017 Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).  The legislation was signed by President Trump on December 22, 2017 and many key provisions of the law became effective on December 31, 2017.

The purpose of the TCJA was to stimulate economic growth through a major overhaul of the Internal Revenue Code.  One of the signature elements of the TCJA is the reduction of the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%.  While this may be good news to the business community generally, the rate reduction presents potential unique problems for conduit borrowers, such as 501(c)(3) organizations, and lenders under tax-exempt bank loan structures.
Continue Reading Review and Analysis of Tax-Exempt Loan Documents Following Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

It has traditionally been a fairly common practice in the municipal bond arena for issuers to either select or have significant input into the selection of underwriter’s counsel in connection with the issuance of municipal bonds. On July 27, 2017, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) issued a strong warning to the industry against continuation of these practices by publication of Notice 2017-14.
Continue Reading MSRB Issues Warning Guidance On Issuer Involvement In Selection of Underwriter’s Counsel

At its meeting on March 1, 2017, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to formally propose and publish for comment amendments to Rule 15c2-12 to add two additional disclosure events to written continuing disclosure undertakings required to be obtained by underwriters in primary securities offerings.
Continue Reading SEC Proposes Amendments to Rule 15c2-12 to Address Bank Loan Disclosure Concerns

In the first federal jury trial against a municipality for securities law violations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 14, 2016 successfully obtained a verdict against the City of Miami and a former city official for violations of various anti-fraud provisions of  US securities laws.  The SEC is seeking injunctive relief and