SEC Censures UBS Financial Services Inc. of Puerto Rico
UBS PR made misrepresentations and omissions to investors involving secondary market prices and liquidity concerning 23 affiliated, non-exchange-traded closed-end funds (CEFs) in Puerto Rico, according to the SEC.
The Commission issued an Order Instituting Administrative and Cease-and-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 15(b) and 21C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions and a Cease-and-Desist Order (Order) against UBS Financial Services Inc. of Puerto Rico (UBS PR).
Based on the above, the Order censures UBS PR and requires it to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and any future violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act, Sections 10(b) and Section 15(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and pay $11.5 million in disgorgement, $1.1 million in prejudgment interest and a $14 million penalty. UBS PR also consents to certain undertakings, including a review by an independent consultant of UBS PR’s disclosures and trading and pricing policies relating to the CEFs, implementation of the independent consultant’s recommendations and annual follow-up reviews of the implementation for a period of three years. UBS PR consented to the issuance of the Order without admitting or denying any of the findings. (Rels. 33-9318; 34-66893; File No. 3-14863)
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