Pursuant to the provisions of Pub. L. No. 100-181, 101 Stat. 1254, 1255 (15 U.S.C. 78d-1, 78d-2), the Securities and Exchange Commission hereby delegates, until the Commission orders otherwise, the following functions to the Director of the Division of Enforcement to be performed by him or under his direction by such other person or persons as may be designated from time to time by the Chairman of the Commission.
(a)
(1) To designate officers empowered to administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, contracts, agreements, or other records in the course of investigations instituted by the Commission pursuant to section 19(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77s(c)), section 21(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78u(b)), section 42(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-41(b)) and section 209(b) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-9(b)).
(2) In nonpublic investigative proceedings, to grant requests of persons to procure copies of the transcript of their testimony under § 203.6 of this chapter.
(3) To terminate and close all investigations authorized by the Commission pursuant to section 20 of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77t), section 21 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78u), section 42 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-41) and section 209 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-9).
(4) To terminate the authority to administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, contracts, agreements, or other records in the course of investigations instituted by the Commission pursuant to section 19(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77s(c)), section 21(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78u(b)), section 42(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-41(b)) and section 209(b) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-9(b)).
(5) To grant or deny applications made pursuant to Rule 193 of the Commission's Rules of Practice, § 201.193 of this chapter, provided, that, in the event of a denial, the applicant shall be notified that such a denial may be appealed to the Commisson for review.
(6) To notify the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”) of facts concerning the activities and the operational and financial condition of any registered broker or dealer which is or appears to be a member of SIPC and which is in or approaching financial difficulty within the meaning of section 5 of the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970, as amended, 15 U.S.C. 78aaa et seq.
(7) To administer the provisions of § 240.24c-1 of this chapter; provided that access to nonpublic information as defined in such section shall be provided only with the concurrence of the head of the Commission division or office responsible for such information or the files containing such information.
(8) Pursuant to Rule 204-2(j)(3)(ii) (§ 275.204-2(j)(3)(ii) of this chapter) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-1 et seq.), to make written demands upon non-resident investment advisers subject to the provisions of such rule to furnish to the Commission true, correct, complete and current copies of any or all books and records which such non-resident investment advisers are required to make, keep current or preserve pursuant to any provision of any rule or regulation of the Commission adopted under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or any part of such books and records which may be specified in any such demand.
(9) To administer the provisions of Section 24(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78x(d)).
(10) To institute subpoena enforcement proceedings in federal court to seek an order compelling the production of documents or an individual's appearance for testimony pursuant to subpoenas issued pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section in connection with investigations pursuant to section 19(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77s(c)), section 21(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78u(b)), section 42(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-41(b)) and section 209(b) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-9(b)).
(11) To authorize staff to appear in federal bankruptcy court to preserve Commission claims in connection with investigations pursuant to section 19(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77s(c)), section 21(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78u(b)), section 42(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-41(b)) and section 209(b) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-9(b)).
(12) Pursuant to Section 36 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78mm) to review and, either unconditionally or on specified terms and conditions, grant, or deny exemptions from rule 17a-25 of the Act (§ 240.17a-25 of this chapter), provided that the Division of Trading and Markets is notified of any such granting or denial of an exemption.
(13) To order the making of private investigations pursuant to section 19(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77s(c)), section 21(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78u(b)), section 42(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-41(b) and section 209(b) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-9(b)).
(14) To submit witness immunity requests to the U.S. Attorney General pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 6002-6004, and, upon approval by the U.S. Attorney General, to seek or, for the period from June 17, 2011 through December 19, 2012, to issue orders compelling an individual to give testimony or provide other information pursuant to subpoenas that may be necessary to the public interest in connection with investigations and related enforcement actions pursuant to section 22(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77v(b)), section 21(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78u(c)), section 42(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-41(c)) and section 209(c) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-9(c)).
(15) With respect to debts arising from actions to enforce the federal securities laws, to terminate collection activity or discharge debts, to accept offers to compromise debts when the principal amount of the debt is $5 million or less, to reject offers to compromise debts, and to accept or reject offers to enter into payment plans.
(16) To disclose information, in accordance with Section 21F(h)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78u-6(h)(2)), that would reveal, or could reasonably be expected to reveal, the identity of a whistleblower.
(17) With respect to disgorgement and Fair Fund plans established in administrative proceedings instituted by the Commission pursuant to the federal securities laws, to appoint a person as a plan administrator, if that person is included in the Commission's approved pool of administrators, and, for an administrator appointed pursuant to this delegation, to set the amount of or waive for good cause shown, the administrator's bond required by § 201.1105(c) of this chapter.
(18) With respect to enforcement proceedings in Federal court, to:
(i) Dismiss claims against entities that are defunct, the subject of Federal or foreign bankruptcy proceedings, or without material assets; and
(ii) Dismiss claims against persons or entities that duplicate or overlap with other pending claims against those persons or entities, unless the dismissal would involve claims requiring a higher level of intent than that required by the remaining claims, result in a reduction of disgorgement available for the claims in the Commission's complaint, or eliminate the statutory basis for a bar sought in the Commission's complaint.
(19) To file applications in Federal court to seek an order pursuant to section 21(h)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78u(h)(2)) in connection with investigations pursuant to section 19(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77s(c)), section 21(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78u(b)), section 42(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-42(b)), and section 209(b) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-9(b)).
(20) To institute proceedings pursuant to section 12(j) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78l(j)) with respect to a security based on the issuer's alleged failure to file required periodic reports and, in connection with the institution of such proceedings, issue orders pursuant to section 12(k)(1)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78l(k)(1)(A)).
(21) With respect to disgorgement funds and Fair Fund plans established in administrative or cease-and-desist proceedings instituted by the Commission pursuant to the Federal securities laws, to:
(i) Grant extensions of time to submit proposed distribution plans to the Commission;
(ii) Appoint tax administrators, pursuant to a Commission-approved omnibus order;
(iii) Publish notice of proposed plans, including plans that omit elements required by § 201.1101 of this chapter (Rule 1101 of the Rules on Fair Fund and Disgorgement Plans);
(iv) Issue orders adopting plans as to which no negative comments have been received;
(v) Approve disbursements to investors in accordance with the plans;
(vi) Approve payment of the fees and expenses of administration; and
(vii) Approve final fund accountings.
(b) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing, in any case in which the Director of the Division of Enforcement believes it appropriate, he may submit the matter to the Commission.
[37 FR 16796, Aug. 19, 1972]