SEC Sanctions UBS, Charles Swab, Oppenheimer, & 10 Other Firms For Improper Sales of Puerto Rico Junk Bonds

The Securities and Exchange Commission has sanctioned thirteen financial firms, including UBS Financial Services (UBS), Charles Schwab and Co. (SCHW), J.P. Morgan Securities (JPM), and Stifel Nicolaus & Co. (SF), for the improper sales of Puerto Rican junk bonds. A $100,00 minimum denomination had been established in junk bonds of $3.5 billion made by Puerto Rico several months ago. An SEC probe, however, revealed that there had been 66 instances when firms sold the bonds in transactions of under $100,000.

Municipal bond offerings are supposed to have a set minimum denomination that determines the smallest amount that a firm can sell to an investor during a single transaction. Typically, municipal issuers will establish high minimum denominations for junk bonds with a greater default risk. This is done to limit the bonds from ending up in the accounts of investors who may not be able to handle the risks.

The firms and their fines: UBS Financial Services for $56,400, Charles Schwab & Co. for $61,800, Oppenheimer & Co. (OPY) for $61,200, Wedbush Securities Inc. for $67,200, Hapoalim Securities USA for $54,000, TD Ameritrade (AMTD) for $100,800, Interactive Brokers LLC for $56,000, Stifel Nicolaus & Co. (SF) for $60,000, Investment Professionals Inc. for $67,800, Riedl First Securities Co. of Kansas for $130,000, J.P. Morgan Securities for $54,000, National Securities Corporation for $60,000, and Lebenthal & Co. for $54,000.

The firms are accused of violating Rule G-15 of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. The rule sets the minimum denomination requirement. The SEC says that by conducting sales under the minimum denomination, the firms violated the Securities Exchange Act of 1934’s Section 15B(c)(1), which does not allow for any MSRB rule to be violated.

All 13 firms agreed to settle the SEC’s findings without admitting to or denying them. The firms also agreed to be censured. They will review their respective procedures and policies, as well as make the needed changes to ensure appropriate compliance moving forward.

Our Puerto Rico muni bond fraud lawyers represent investors in the Commonwealth and on the mainland. Contact Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas, LTD LLP today.

SEC Sanctions 13 Firms for Improper Sales of Puerto Rico Junk Bonds, SEC, November 13, 2014
Rule G-15, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board

Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Legal Information Institute

 

 

More Blog Posts:
Investors Have Filed Close to $1B of Puerto Rico Bond Fraud Claims against UBS, Stockbroker Fraud Blog, October 29, 2014

Hedge Funds Are Moving in on Municipal Debt, Including Puerto Rico Debt, Institutional Investor Securities Blog, November 15, 2013
UBS Brokers Are Still Selling Puerto Rico Muni Bonds, Stockbroker Fraud Blog, October 20, 2014