Summary Of The Dodd-Frank Act For Hedge Fund Advisers

Holland & Knight LLP (HedgeCo Blogs) - On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Act). The Act has several potential impacts on our clients and within the investment management community.

"This memo is intended to summarize, in general, what we believe to be notable aspects of the Act that impact many of our clients." Scott R. MacLeod, Jay S. Crenshaw of Holland & Knight said, "A more explanatory summary from us is available upon request. However, you should review the Act as a whole to identify specific areas of relevance. Lengthy and detailed write ups regarding the background, impacts, and policy of all areas of the Act are available online."

Unless otherwise stated, any changes in law discussed herein generally are effective July 21, 2011.

I. Adviser Registration

A. If you manage any separately managed accounts and have assets under management ("AUM") in excess of $100 million, then you must register with the SEC (even if you only have one account /client).

B. If you have separate accounts and AUM of $25 million - $100mm, you must register with your home state unless exempt under state law, in which case you must register with the SEC.*

C. If your only clients are investment funds and you have AUM of more than $150 million, also register with the SEC.

D. If you are a non-U.S. adviser with any separate accounts, or with fund assets over $150 million, also register with the SEC unless you have (1) no place of business in the U.S.; (2) less than $25 million in AUM from U.S. clients and U.S. fund investors; (3) fewer than 15 U.S. clients and fund investors; and (4) do not hold yourself out generally to the public in the U.S. as an adviser.

E. If you have AUM of less than $25 million or are exempt from SEC registration, then you must be registered or find an exemption in any state where you have a place of business or more than 5 clients.*

F. If you are a "Family office" or an adviser solely to one or more "venture capital funds" (both terms to be defined), then you are exempt from SEC registration.

*It is not clear what state exemptions may change as a result of the Act; we can help you analyze state law if you fit within one of the noted categories.

IMPORTANT NOTE RE: WHEN TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTING: IF, AS A RESULT OF THE ABOVE, ANY ADVISER NEEDS TO: (1) REGISTER WITH THE SEC; (2) REGISTER WITH ANY STATE(S); AND/OR (3) DE-REGISTER WITH THE SEC, SUCH ADVISER SHOULD SEEK TO IMPLEMENT ANY OF THE FOREGOING ACTIONS WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE JULY 21, 2011 EFFECTIVE DATE, PREFERABLY BEGINNING IN THE FALL OF 2010.

II. Investor Certifications

A. You must immediately amend your fund subscription agreement's definition of accredited investors to exclude primary residence from an investor's net worth. For now, this change seems to apply only to new investors or additional subscriptions from existing investors with no need to expel any existing investors. This change is effective immidiately and requires your prompt attention.

B. IF you are a registered investment adviser ("RIA") and charge performance fees/allocations to any investor in a 3(c)(1) fund, you WILL need to amend to adjust for inflation the "qualified client" certification obtained from each client/fund investor next year.

III. Swaps

A. You may need to register with the National Futures Association ("NFA") as a Commodity Pool Operator (CPO) IF (1) you buy commodities and currently rely on an exemption based on margin and notional exposure percentage limitations because you will now need to include any swaps when determining compliance with such limitations, or (2) you are defined as a "major swap participant" when new rules are adopted.

B. You may need to report (1) pre-enactment swaps if applicable regulators issue related interim rules, and (2) future swaps which are not accepted for clearing.

IV. Miscellaneous

A. Reporting.

• If you manage funds (whether or not you are a RIA), you will be required to maintain records and file reports to the SEC.

• Such reports will include a description of funds':

o amount of AUM;

o use of leverage, including off-balance sheet leverage;

o counterparty credit risk exposure;

o trading and investment positions;

o valuation policies and procedures;

o types of assets held;

o side letters;

o trading practices, and

o any other information that the SEC deems to be “necessary or appropriate…"

B. Custody.

Future rules under the Act MAY require RIAs to take further steps to safeguard client assets.

C. The "Volcker" Rule.

If you are affiliated with a bank, you generally must not engage in proprietary trading activities or sponsoring or investing in a hedge fund, private equity fund or similar entity.

D. "Bad Boy" Provisions.

I further rules are adopted, you will be disqualified from using Rule 506 Regulation D offerings if your firm or principals have engaged in certain improper conduct in the past.

E. Securities Lending.

Within two years, the SEC will promulgate rules designed to raise the transparency of information available to investors with respect to the loan or borrowing of securities.

F. Shorting and Arbitrage.

The SEC may adopt further reporting rules and restrictions on such activities pursuant to the Act.

G. Mandatory Arbitration.

The SEC MAY adopt rules and regulations restricting or prohibiting the use of mandatory arbitration agreements by advisers.

Note from the authors: "This is a very brief summary intended to highlight aspects of rules that are very fact dependent. Please contact us to discuss specific questions."