New Form MA-T Released

Under the Dodd-Frank FinReg bill, municipal advisors are required to register with the SEC by October 1, 2010.  Municipal advisors are firms or individuals who provide advice to state and local governments and other borrowers involved in the issuance of municipal securities.  The definition includes financial advisors, guaranteed investment contract brokers, third-party marketers, placement agents, solicitors, finders, and certain swap advisors that provide municipal advisory services.

Interim Final Temporary Rule 15Ba2-6T

In the SEC’s adopting release, the

The Commission is adopting an interim final temporary rule, Rule 15Ba2-6T, in order to provide a method for municipal advisors to temporarily satisfy the statutory registration requirement of Section 15B(a)(1) of the Exchange Act (as amended by Section 975(a)(1) of the Dodd-Frank Act) until the Commission has promulgated a final permanent registration program. The interim final temporary rule will expire on December 31, 2011.

Form MA-T Requirements

Form MA-T is a short six page form which requires municipal advisors to provide the following information:

• Identifying information (name, EIN, place of business, contact person, website, etc.)
• Type of advisory services
• Disciplinary information
• Execution

Municipal advisors should take note that the above information will be publicly available on the SEC website.

The release can be found here.

Further information can be found here.

Adopting Release can be found here.

Please also see the complete Form MA-T

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Bart Mallon, Esq. runs the hedge fund law blog and provides hedge fund registration and compliance services to hedge fund managers through Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP, a hedge fund law firm.  He can be reached directly at 415-868-5345.