SEC Issues Interpretive Guidance On New Municipal Advisors Registration Rule

On January 10, the SEC announced that its Office of Municipal Securities has issued interpretive guidance to address questions from market participants regarding the implementation of new final SEC rules requiring municipal advisors to register with the SEC.

State and local governments frequently use paid advisors to help them decide how and when to issue municipal securities and how to invest proceeds from the sales. The 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act required these advisors to register with the SEC like other market intermediaries. The SEC's final rule was adopted in September 2013 and becomes effective on January 13, 2014. Among the issues addressed in the guidance are: (i) the advice standard, including the general information...