日盈观点|浅谈美国证券法中部分核心明文规则

  本文撰稿人:邵逸俊

  美国证券法的细节条款始终是在修改的路上,随着不同时代通膨指数的影响、以及随着专业市场的趋于成熟化、交易手段及技术的更迭等各种因素,都会导致条款中关于细节罚金及交易数额的限制。而美国法学院中对于证券法的教育,并非专注于这种细枝末节,而是在框架上搭建对于证券法这个概念的认知,按照笔者老师Richard Painter 教授的说法,“我不在乎你们读了多少教科书,我只在乎你们是否了解我所说的概念,因为我觉得你们偶尔是读不完我给的材料的。”(其实,如果没有那些前辈的义务教学指南材料,我是“经常”读不完教授给的材料的,Painter教授曾为小布什政府时期幕僚、负责律师职业道德教育监督,且目前还是华府公民道德组织副主席(Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)),该组织系美国政府性质的非盈利监督机构,监督政府的舞弊行为,其曾经参与了2020年对于美国川普前总统涉嫌对于收受外国政府礼金的指控(CREW v. Trump),后该案二审被驳回,且教授并不仅针对共和党,其也对现任美国总统拜登的儿子进行弹劾,称其在乌克兰存在不正当收入问题。关于教授的具体信息可以参考维基百科https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Painter)。
 
  对于美国证券法中的各种关系,的确是错综复杂,笔者目前就以联邦证券法而非州法作为评价标准,但是需要注意的是,州法中对于证券的规则是必须遵从的,即便其与联邦证券法发生了冲突。在没有经过违宪性审查的情况下,州法都是有效的,在美国的法律体系中,并没有中央与地方的概念,而是只有联邦与州的层级概念,在没有依照宪法进行起诉的情况下,即便存在矛盾,州法依旧是有效的。
 
  目前国内熟悉的美国证券法,其实严格意义上来说是美国联邦证券法,而且再狭义一点说,是指美国1933联邦证券法(Securities Act of 1933)及1934联邦证券法(Securities Exchange Act of 1934)以及萨班斯奥克斯利法案(全称是Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act of 2002,中文翻译是2002年上市公司会计改革及投资保护法案,但是美国人多称为萨班斯奥克斯利法案、Sarbanes-Oxley Act,简称SOX法案,因为这个法案是由当时参议院银行委员会主席保罗萨班斯Paul Sarbanes和众议院金融服务委员会主席迈克尔·加弗·奥克斯Michael Garver Oxley两人共同提出的)。
 
  1933联邦证券法、1934年联邦证券法、萨班斯奥克斯利法案的关系
 
  首先,需要指出的是,在这三个联邦证券法成立之前,就存在了各州的证券法,统称为“蓝天法”(bluesky law),这些法律作为1933联邦证券法的老前辈各州的州议会所提出的符合自己州政策的防止信息欺诈,上市登记提供不实或者虚假信息所制作的符合自己的需求的法律。也就是美国州政府已经早于美国联邦政府于1933年前就各自制定过相关的证券法规。
 
  这些法律之所以被称之为蓝天法,源于堪萨斯州最高法院在一起早于联邦证券法制定时候所作的判决中,称某些投资实体在进行招股说明的时候仅是扯淡,甚至对于自己的根本没有的事物也可以吹嘘得天花乱坠,而法院希望保护那些投资者防止那些“除了蓝天以外一无所有的公司”所侵害,(protect the investors from speculative ventures that had "no more basis than so many feet of blue sky.)所以州的证券法自此基本概括都称之为蓝天法案,主要针对的便是欺诈、信息披露不实。
 
  依照现今美国证券上市体系,这些州的蓝天法案是与联邦证券法同时存在、同时运行的。
 
  而1933年联邦证券法主要侧重于美国证券交易委员会(即耳熟能详的SEC)的成立,并且重心放在一级市场上,也就是初始发行公司的问题。而1934年证券法则注重于二级市场,这就是为何1933年联邦证券法称之为Securities Act of 1933而1934年联邦证券法称之为Securities Exchange Act of 1934。前者注重首发,而后者注重的是二级市场的交易问题。
 
  这两部法律是同一位阶,只是针对的方面有所不同,并不存在优劣之分。也并不会因为后法而导致前法失效,因为两者调整的不是同一个东西,即便都是称之为联邦证券法。且笔者并不同意国内部分翻译将1934年联邦证券法翻译为联邦交易证券法,因为这么翻译会发生误解,认为1933年联邦证券法并不涉及证券交易行为。事实上,1933年联邦证券法是涵盖证券交易行为的,两者的最关键区别首先在于针对的是一级市场或者是二级市场
 
  其次,1934年联邦证券法具有以下与1933年联邦法证券法不同的特点。

  1.反欺诈的范围不同。1933年证券法的17条款(section17)注重的是IPO的信息披露真实性。  SEC. 17. 77q(77q是美国法典化的编号,而1933年证券法在编号为15 U.S Code项下查询时需使用法典化编号进行条款查询)(a) It shall be unlawful for any person in the offer or sale of any securities (including security-based swaps) or any security-based swap agreement (as defined in section 3(a)(78) of the Securities Exchange Act) by the use of any means or instruments of transportation or communication in interstate commerce or by use of the mails, directly or indirectly (任何人,无论直接或者间接,在包括1934年证券法3条款(a)(78)所规定的证券互换协议等证券交易中,采取任何合约手段、州际交易、通信手段进行下列活动均属非法)
 
  — (1) to employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud, (采取任何方法、计划或者诡计进行欺诈) or (2) to obtain money or property by means of any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (通过不真实陈述,或者采取遗漏重要事实进行陈述达到在当时不具有误导性的情况,获得财产)or (3) to engage in any transaction, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the purchaser. (通过合同、商务活动等形式欺骗购买者)
 
  (b) It shall be unlawful for any person, by the use of any means or instruments of transportation or communication in interstate commerce or by the use of the mails, to publish, give publicity to, or circulate any notice, circular, advertisement, newspaper, article, letter, investment service, or communication which, though not purporting to offer a security for sale, describes such security for a consideration received or to be received, directly or indirectly, from an issuer, underwriter, or dealer, without fully disclosing the receipt, whether past or prospective, of such consideration and the amount thereof. (任何人通过利用州际贸易中的交通或通讯手段或工具、或利用信件,以出版、公开散布、或流传任何通告、通知、广告、报纸、文章、信件、投资服务或那些并非意在提供证券销售,但却描述了直接或间接地从发行人、包销人或交易商那里得到或将得到的对这种证券的对价的通讯,却没有充分披露这种接受的对价——无论过去的还是预期的——及其数量。)
 
  (c) The exemptions provided in section 3 shall not apply to the provisions of this section. (本法第三条款中的证券并不适用本条规则)
 
  (d) The authority of the Commission under this section with respect to security-based swap agreements (as defined in section 3(a)(78) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) shall be subject to the restrictions and limitations of section 2A(b) of this title. (这条是2018年1933证券法新修订的,目前百度百科中关于1933年证券法仅到c项,并没有d项,对于证券互换协议问题,由1934年证券法第3条(a)(78)所定义,并且需要遵从本法第2A(b)条款的规定,而2A(b)条款就是关于证券互换协议的规定)
 
  与之相较,1934年证券法反欺诈条款则为,Rule 10b-5、姑且称之为10b-5规则,这个条款不存在于1934年证券法中,而是由1934年证券法授权所设立的独立条款,所以一定要搞清楚Rule 10b-5并不是1934年证券法section 10B项下条款,而是一个独立的法条,并且查询时候的输入法一定是Rule 10b-5,否则查询不到这个条款。而且有意思的是,这个条款一般与1934年证券法10(b)条款互相补充,构成了反欺诈的条款。
 
  该条款是很简单的,类似于1933年证券法的反欺诈条款,全文如下。
 
  Rule 10b-5: Employment of Manipulative and Deceptive Practices:
 
  It shall be unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, by the use of any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, or of the mails or of any facility of any national securities exchange,
 
  (a) To employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud,
 
  (b) To make any untrue statement of a material fact or to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or
 
  (c) To engage in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any person, in connection with the purchase or sale of any security.
 
  规则10b-5, 使用操纵和欺骗行为:  
 
  对任何人直接或间接使用任何州际商业、邮政或任何国家证券交易所设施的任何手段或工具均为非法,
 
  (a)使用任何工具、计划或诡计进行欺诈,  
 
  (b)就一项重要事实作出不真实的陈述或省略必要的重要事实以便根据所作陈述的情况作出不具误导性的陈述,或  
 
  (c)从事与购买或销售任何证券有关的对任何人构成或将构成欺诈或欺骗的任何行为、行为或业务过程。
 
  这个规则从延伸意义上来说包括了内部交易的限制,详细的区分则在1934年20条款中,但是由于内容过于庞杂,只能留待以后进行进一步的阐述了。
 
  而1934年证券法10(b)条款则表述为,It shall be unlawful for any person, directly or
 
  indirectly, by the use of any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce or of the mails, or of any facility of any national securities exchange—. . . (b) To use or employ, in connection with the purchase or sale of any security registered on a national securities exchange or any security not so registered, or any securities-based swap agreement any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance in contravention of such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe as necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.
 
  无论直接或者间接,使用州际商业或邮政的任何手段或工具,或任何国家证券交易所的任何设施以下行为,均为非法。(b)使用或者利用在国家证券交易系统注册的证券或者没有注册的证券,或者任何基于证券的互换协议的操纵性或者欺骗性手段试图规避SEC基于公共利益或者投资者利益所设立的规则。
 
  由此可见,1934年证券法较之于1933年证券法,虽然在市场侧重上的确是不同,但是除此以外增加了内部关联交易的涉及。

  2.1934年证券法对于proxy solicitation进行了规定,这个制度就是国内所称的委托书征集制度。其实功能很简单,因为上市公司的股东比较分散,而委托书征集制度就是为了那些不便为了股市价值而出席股东大会的中小股东做准备,为的是集中股权进行投票。当然,美国有所谓的股权说客,就是游说小股东将投票权转移给他,他会许诺一定的利益给中小股东,从而达到其临时占有这些股东股权进行投票表决的权利。而1934年证券法14条款则规定了严格限制和程序限制,条款中主要针对SEC官员、具有相应资格的证券代理人等不能违反其信赖义务而进行委托书征集工作为自己谋求任何利益,无论是否投资人最终将从当中获利,此外对于银行类等特定行业也有特殊的程序要求进行委托书征集工作。这个制度一方面很好地反应了中小股东的利益,聚沙成塔从而影响了公司的经营方针,但是也是存在不利的弊端,因为这种制度很容易被投机客利用,因为上市公司小股东目标是市价的小利益,很容易被鼓动暂时放弃代表权给了投机客,让投机客能够在股东大会上要挟公司进行经济勒索。

  3.对于要约收购进行了规定。1934年证券法第13条d项做出了规定,需要注意的是,13条d到e其实也可以独立称之为William Act,即威廉法案,又是等同于法典化的美国法律15 U.S code中的78m(d)至(e)。同一个法律为何有三个名称,其实这是源于美国复杂的法典化规则,读者只需要了解这三个东西指的是同一个法律就行了。  这个法案关键的就是一旦进行购入股票大于5%,那么就需要强制性的将购入人的消息披露。
 
  (d)(1) Any person who, after acquiring directly or indirectly the beneficial ownership of any equity security of a class which is registered pursuant to section 12 of this title, or any equity security of an insurance company which would have been required to be so registered except for the exemption contained in section 12(g)(2)(G) of this title, or any equity security issued by a closed-end investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or any equity security issued by a Native Corporation pursuant to section 37(d)(6) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, or otherwise becomes or is deemed to become a beneficial owner of any of the foregoing upon the purchase or sale of a security-based swap that the Commission may define by rule, and is directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of more than 5 per centum of such class shall, within ten days after such acquisition or within such shorter time as the Commission may establish by rule, file with the Commission, a statement containing such of the following information, and such additional information, as the Commission may by rules and regulations, prescribe as necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors—
 
  任何人士,在直接或间接获得根据本法12条项下注册类别的任何股权证券或本应如此注册的保险公司的任何股权证券(本法第12(g)(2)(G)条所包含的豁免除外)的实益所有权后, 或根据《1940年投资公司法》注册的封闭式投资公司发行的任何股权证券,或根据《阿拉斯加土著索赔和解法案》第37(d)(6)条由土著公司发行的任何股权证券,或在购买或出售委员会根据规则可能定义的基于证券的互换时,以其他方式成为或被视为成为上述任何事项的受益所有人,直接或间接拥有该类别5%以上的实益拥有人,须在该收购后10天内或在委员会根据规则规定的较短时间内,向委员会提交一份包含以下信息的声明,以及委员会根据规则和条例为公共利益或保护投资者所规定的必要或适当的附加信息——
 
  1. the background, and identity, residence, and citizenship of, and the nature of such beneficial ownership by, such person and all other persons by whom or on whose behalf the purchases have been or are to be effected;
  (A)该人以及已经或将由其或代表其进行购买的所有其他人的背景、身份、居住地和公民身份,以及该受益所有权的性质;
 
  (B) the source and amount of the funds or other consideration used or to be used in making the purchases and if any part of the purchase price is represented or is to be represented by funds or other consideration borrowed or otherwise obtained for the purpose of acquiring, holding, or trading such security, a description of the transaction and the names of the parties thereto, except that where a source of funds is a loan made in the ordinary course of business by a bank, as defined in section 3(a)(6) of this title, if the person filing such statement so requests, the name of the bank shall not be made available to the public;
 
  (B) 用于或将用于进行购买的资金或其他对价的来源和金额,以及如果购买价格的任何部分代表或将代表为获得、持有、借入或以其他方式获得的资金或其他对价, 或交易此类证券, 交易的描述和当事人的姓名, 除非资金来源是银行在正常业务过程中提供的贷款, 如本法第 3(a)(6)所定义,如果提交该声明的人提出要求,银行的名称不得向公众公开;
 
  (C) if the purpose of the purchases or prospective purchases is to acquire control of the business of the issuer of the securities any plans or proposals which such persons may have to liquidate such issuer, to sell its assets to or merge it with any other persons, or to make any other major change in its business or corporate structure;
 
  如果购买或预期购买的目的是为了获得对证券发行人业务的控制权,这些人可能必须清算该发行人、将其资产出售给任何其他人或与任何其他人合并的任何计划或建议,或对其业务或公司结构进行任何其他重大变更;
 
  1. the number of shares of such security which are beneficially owned, and the number of shares concerning which there is a right to acquire, directly or indirectly, by (i) such person, and (ii) by each associate of such person, giving the background, identity, residence, and citizenship of each such associate; and
  该证券实益获利拥有的股份数量,以及(i)该人有权直接或间接获得的股份数量,以及(ii)该人的每个关联人有权直接或间接获得的股份数量,并提供该等关联人的背景、身份、住所和公民身份;以及
 
  1. information as to any contracts, arrangements, or understandings with any person with respect to any securities of the issuer, including but not limited to transfer of any of the securities, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guaranties of loans, guaranties against loss or guaranties of profits, division of losses or profits, or the giving or withholding of proxies, naming the persons with whom such contracts, arrangements, or understandings have been entered into, and giving the details thereof.
  (E)与任何人就发行人的任何证券的任何合同、安排或谅解的信息,包括但不限于转让任何证券、合资企业、贷款或期权协议、看跌期权或看涨期权、担保贷款、损失担保或利润担保、损失或利润的分割、或授予或保留代理人,指明与此类合同、安排或谅解签订的人的姓名,并提供相关详细信息。
 
  (2) If any material change occurs in the facts set forth in the statement filed with the Commission, an amendment shall be filed with the Commission, in accordance with such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe as necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.
 
  (2)如果向委员会提交的声明中陈述的事实发生任何重大变化,则应根据委员会为公共利益或为了公众利益而制定的必要或适当的规则和条例向委员会提交修正,以保护投资者。
 
  (3) When two or more persons act as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, or other group for the purpose of acquiring, holding, or disposing of securities of an issuer, such syndicate or group shall be deemed a “person” for the purposes of this subsection.
 
  (3) 当两个或两个以上的个人以合伙企业、有限合伙企业、财团或其他集团的形式行事,以获取、持有或处置发行人的证券时,该等财团或集团应被视为本款所指的“人”。
 
  (4) In determining, for purposes of this subsection, any percentage of a class of any security, such class shall be deemed to consist of the amount of the outstanding securities of such class,
 
  exclusive of any securities of such class held by or for the account of the issuer or a subsidiary of the issuer.
 
  (4)就本款而言,在确定任何类别证券的任何百分比时,该类别应被视为包括该类别未偿付证券的金额,不包括由发行人或其子公司持有或代其持有的此类证券。
 
  (5) The Commission, by rule or regulation or by order, may permit any person to file in lieu of the statement required by paragraph (1) of this subsection or the rules and regulations thereunder, a notice stating the name of such person, the number of shares of any equity securities subject to paragraph (1) which are owned by him, the date of their acquisition and such other information as the Commission may specify, if it appears to the Commission that such securities were acquired by such person in the ordinary course of his business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer nor in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect.
 
  (5)委员会可根据规则或条例或命令,允许任何人提交一份说明该人姓名的通知,以代替本条第 (1) 款或其中的规则和条例所要求的声明、他所拥有的受第(1)款约束的任何股本证券的股份数量、购买日期以及委员会可能指定的其他信息,如果委员会认为这些证券是由该人购买的在他的日常业务过程中,不是为了改变或影响控制的目的而被收购的发行人的权利,也不涉及或作为具有该目的或效果的任何交易的参与者。
 
  (6) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to—
 
  (A) any acquisition or offer to acquire securities made or proposed to be made by means of a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933;
 
  (B) any acquisition of the beneficial ownership of a security which, together with all other acquisitions by the same person of securities of the same class during the preceding twelve months, does not exceed 2 percentum of that class;
 
  (C) any acquisition of an equity security by the issuer of such security;
 
  (D) any acquisition or proposed acquisition of a security which the Commission, by rules or regulations or by order, shall exempt from the provisions of this subsection as not entered into for the purpose of, and not having the effect of, changing or influencing the control of the issuer or otherwise as not comprehended within the purposes of this subsection.
 
  (6)本条款的规定不适用于-  
 
  (A)根据《1933年证券法》通过注册声明进行或拟进行的任何收购或要约收购证券;  
 
  (B)对某一证券实益所有权的任何收购,以及同一人在之前12个月内对同一类别证券的所有其他收购,金额不超过该类别的2%;  
 
  (C)该证券的发行人对股票的任何收购;  
 
  (D)对证券的任何收购或拟收购,如若委员会应根据规则或条例或命令豁免本款的规定,且不违背本款目的,改变、影响发行人的控制,以及其他并不违背本款目的情况。
 
  由此可见,1934年证券法创立了要约收购的机制百分比,以及一般申请流程。
 
  对于第三步重要的法案,萨班斯奥克斯利法案,则是注重白领犯罪以及会计账簿的查验,法条过于长,且内容较多,这里主要摘录一部分内容进行分析。
 
  该法最主要的功绩就是设立了上市公司会计监管委员会(Public Company Accounting and Oversight Board 简称PCAOB)对在美上市公司的审计进行监管,但是需要注意的是SOX条款中已经有一部分关于总统任免的条款已经作废,因为在2009年PCAOB v. Free Enterprise Fund案中,美国联邦最高法院认为“总统不能解除PCAOB委员的职务,但只能通过SEC委员影响其任期,总统只能有理由解除SEC委员的职务,SEC委员也只能有理由解除PCAOB委员的职务”这个条款违反宪法,撤销了总统可以通过SEC委员会影响PCAOB委员任期及基于该理由SEC委员职务的权力,但是保留了SEC委员会可以有理由独立解除PCAOB委员职责的权力。
 
  该法案302条特别规定了高阶公司管理人员需要对财务审计内容进行签字,并且确认内容的真实性,且形式上符合SEC的格式要求,并且内容符合当时财务真实情况,如果被查证其在当时存在明知其为假而签字的情况,则会面临牢狱之灾。
 
  404条强调了上市公司必须设立公司内部审计风控机制,并且需要年度进行分析,确保不仅公司财务状况通过这个内部风控机制,并且还得确保这个风控机制本身有着起到防火墙的作用,并且需要聘请外部审计公司进行客观对该机制的评估并汇报给SEC委员会,除却部分小公司之外,没有上市公司可以幸免。
 
  802条是关于证券类伪造白领犯罪的,对于任何企图伪造内容的当事人,最高可能被判处20年有期徒刑。由于该条款比较重要故将全文摘要如下。
 
  SEC. 802. CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR ALTERING DOCUMENTS.
 
  802条.对于篡改文件的刑事责任
 
  (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 73 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
 
  (a)概要-根据美国法典18中73章节,增加下列
 
  § 1519. Destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in Federal investigations and bankruptcy

  1519.在联邦调查和破产中毁坏、更改或伪造记录的行为  ‘‘Whoever knowingly alters, destroys, mutilates, conceals, covers up, falsifies, or makes a false entry in any record, document, or tangible object with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence the investigation or proper administration of any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States or any case filed under title 11, or in relation to or contemplation of any such matter or case, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.
 
  任何人故意更改、破坏、毁坏、隐藏、掩盖、伪造或在任何记录、文件或有形物体中进行虚假记录,意图阻碍、阻碍或影响对管辖范围内任何事项的调查或适当管理美国任何部门或机构或根据第 11 编(这篇是美国法典化文件中的破产保护相关条款)提起的任何案件,或与或考虑到任何此类事项或案件,应根据本法处以罚款、不超过 20 年的监禁,或两者兼施。
 
  § 1520. Destruction of corporate audit records
 
  (a)(1) Any accountant who conducts an audit of an issuer of securities to which section 10A(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78j–1(a)) applies, shall maintain all audit
 
  or review workpapers for a period of 5 years from the end of the fiscal period in which the audit or review was concluded.

  1520.破坏公司审计记录  (a)(1)任何可以根据1934证券法10A(a)进行审计的会计师,都必须保持所有审计或者审查报告直到自该文档完成的第五个财务年。
 
  (2) The Securities and Exchange Commission shall promulgate, within 180 days, after adequate notice and an opportunity for comment, such rules and regulations, as are reasonably necessary, relating to the retention of relevant records such as workpapers, documents that form the basis of an audit or review, memoranda, correspondence, communications, other documents, and records (including electronic records) which are created, sent, or received in connection with an audit or review and contain conclusions, opinions, analyses, or financial data relating to such an audit or review, which is conducted by any accountant who conducts an audit of an issuer of securities to which section 10A(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78j–1(a)) applies. The Commission may, from time to time, amend or supplement the rules and regulations that it is required to promulgate under this section, after adequate notice and an opportunity for comment, in order to ensure that such rules and regulations adequately comport with the purposes of this section.
 
  (2)证券交易委员会应在 180 天内,在给予充分通知和发表评论的机会后,在合理必要的情况下颁布与保留相关记录(如工作文档、构成审计和查验基础的文件)有关的规则和条例或审查、备忘录、通信、通信、其他文件和记录(包括电子记录),这些文件和记录(包括电子记录)是与审计或审查有关的,并包含与此类审计有关的结论、意见、分析或财务数据或审查,由对证券发行人进行审计的任何会计师基于1934 年证券交易法(15 U.S.C. 78j-1(a))第 10A(a) 条适用进行操作的。这委员会可不时修改或补充根据本规定需要颁布的规章制度部分,经过充分的通知和提供发表评论的机会,以达到确保这些规则和条例充分符合本条的目的。
 
  (这条说明了SEC根据萨班斯奥克斯利法案,可以灵活地修订补充进行金融监管中会计审计活动地条款,并且并不需要国会通过,这种条款一般称之为supplement补充,但是往往赋予了SEC以及其项下PCAOB委员会相当大的灵活性,所以SEC的市场监管规则某种程度上具有很强的实时性及多变性。)
 
  (b) Whoever knowingly and willfully violates subsection (a)(1), or any rule or regulation promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under subsection (a)(2), shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
 
  任何人如果有意违反(a)(1)项,或者基于(a)(2)项下由SEC所设置的规则,都会被初一罚款,不高于10年的监禁,抑或两者兼有。
 
  (可以把这个条款视为类似于我国最高人民法院最高人民检察院的司法解释权,这在美国某些涉及金融犯罪的司法解释权是由SEC进行的,注意不仅仅是国会的法律,而是由国会法律所授权的某些条款中的具体实施权力中包括设置具体规则,SEC的权限之大,可以未经美国国会允许进行涉及特定罪名的有期徒刑司法解释。)
 
  (c) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to diminish or relieve any person of any other duty or obligation imposed by Federal or State law or regulation to maintain, or refrain from destroying, any document.
 
  (c)本条任何规定均不得被视为减少或免除任何人因联邦或州法律或法规而承担的维持或避免销毁任何文件的任何其他义务或义务。
 
  以上仅仅是明文规定的美国联邦证券法中的冰山一角,而美国联邦证券规则中还包括了很多其他的规则是基于不成文法或者项下具体的细则中产生。例如测试投资合同是否符合1933、1934年联邦证券法定义的Howey test以及针对Howey test测试进行部分限制的Forman案,以及根据规则D (Regulation D)中500系列条款所设置的确认投资人是否适格的 Ralston Purina test测试,对于传统票据是否符合证券法中证券定义的Family resemblance test,未在美国境内发行、但是在美国境内交易的Morrison test 等等,美国的明文证券法本身已经足够庞杂,但是其判例法中的各种测试规则更使足以使任何有志于美国证券法的人望而却步,但是笔者很愿意在今后的文章中帮助大家一起梳理,也算是帮笔者重温下那繁杂的美国联邦证券法了。

  本文系作者个人观点,用于学术交流和探讨,不代表上海日盈律师事务所的观点和立场。非经本所或作者本人授权,任何人或单位不得以其他形式擅自转载、摘录或引用本文内容。