Dual-Hat CCO and Partner Failed to Disclose Financial Interests to Clients

 

The SEC fined an investment adviser and its two principals, including its dual-hatted Chief Compliance Officer, for failing to disclose the principals’ financial interest in a recommended investment.  The two principals provided consulting services to a public company that they recommended to clients for investment.  The principals received common stock in the company as compensation and also bought stock directly.  The SEC alleges that neither the firm nor its principals disclosed their financial interests to clients who collectively owned 8.7% of the company.  The SEC also accuses the principals with misleading an outside compliance consultant by failing to respond to requests for information about any business in which the principals had a financial interest.

This case shows the importance of hiring a full-time, independent Chief Compliance Officer who can dispassionately review firm and principal transactions and implement necessary procedures and disclosures. The dual-hat model, where a firm principal or executive officer half-heartedly owns compliance, does not work in today’s regulatory environment where the SEC and institutional clients demand an independent and experienced compliance officer