Speaking at a hedge fund conference in Greenwich, Conn.,
The SEC is pressing ahead with probes into insider trading, asset valuation and conflicts of interest despite the courts overturning of a SEC requirement that hedge funds register as investment advisers.
“Whether you are registered or not, we at the enforcement division believe we have the tools to detect insider trading,” said Bruce Karpati, New York assistant regional director for the SEC’s division of enforcement. “There are obviously active investigations on this front.”
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, a proponent of more regulation despite the fact so many hedge funds are located in his state, said many of the probes are likely to result in lawsuits.
“There are indications that the investigations will be very productive,” he said.
Prosecuting insider trading at hedge funds is a priority at the SEC, Karpati said.
SEC officials said they have brought more than 100 cases against hedge funds in the past five years.
Nonetheless, Blumenthal said he believes the “immediacy” of the issue of more hedge fund regulation appears to have “diminished” in Congress. Still, he said he is working with the SEC to raise investor qualifications.
