CFTC Dealt Blow in Retail Commodity Transactions Case
On Tuesday, a Central District of California court dismissed the CFTC’s complaint against Monex Credit Company, et al., 17-01868, rejecting the CFTC’s controversial “actual delivery” argument set forth in CFTC v. Hunter Wise Commodities, LLC, 749 F3d 967, 970 (11th Cir. 2014). The CFTC, argued that Monex allegedly failed to actually deliver precious metals to its customers because the metals purchased in financed transactions were held in third-party depositories and were not under the customers’ control, and Monex could liquidate the customers’ positions in the company’s sole discretion, without notice, if the customers did not meet margin calls. The court found that Monex’s agreements with the depositories satisfied actual delivery.
Interestingly, the Hunter Wise rationale is the basis for the CFTC’s “Interpretation on Virtual Currency ‘Actual Delivery’ in Retail Transactions.” The effect of this is unclear at this time for those in the retail commodity or virtual currency transaction business.
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Kennyhertz Perry advises clients on a wide range of commodities and derivatives regulatory matters. Kennyhertz Perry has experience in all types of derivative transactions and design structures to meet clients’ specific trading, financial and/or credit needs. The roots of the practice are in the commodities markets, where Kennyhertz Perry partner Braden Perry spent time as a Senior Trial Attorney with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Our lawyers regularly advise our clients on compliance with the complex laws and regulations governing the securities and derivatives industries, including the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000, the Commodity Exchange Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Securities Acts of 1933 and 1934, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the SEC and CFTC regulations, the rules of the various derivatives exchanges and clearinghouses and other industry self-regulatory organizations and the “Blue Sky” state securities laws. Keeping abreast of regulatory developments is imperative, and enables our lawyers to guide clients on comment-making about proposed legislation and regulation, provide ongoing operational and compliance counseling, and offer advice on appropriate modifications of transaction structure and documentation.
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