Session 2: Ethical and Professional Standards: Application Reading 6: Preston Partners
LOS b: Explain the appropriate action to take in response to conduct that violates the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.
Jacques Claudel, a CFA Institute member, represents Vector Funds, a U.S.-based fund manager, in Canada. Although Vector Funds is properly licensed to deal in all Canadian and U.S. securities, its primary objective is to sell United States funds to Canadian institutional investors seeking diversification into the U.S. dollar. While it would be willing to do so if requested by its clients, Vector has not placed trades in Canadian securities since Claudel began working there two years ago.
Prior to joining Vector's Canadian operations, Claudel was an independent asset manager handling the funds of wealthy individuals and small institutions. Most of these accounts remain under his management, under the business name Coup de Gras. Claudel is unclear as to whether his consulting work is in competition with his new employer, as the accounts under his management are invested strictly in Canadian securities, while Vector has not traded Canadian securities. However, just to be on the safe side, he obtained written permission from Vector to continue serving his former clients. His former clients were not notified.
Claudel receives cash compensation for most of the accounts he handles independently, but for one he receives a new car for his personal use every two years, and for another he is compensated with a one-week, expenses-paid holiday in the European country of his choice.
As part of his responsibility, Claudel makes trades for some of his Canadian clients. He runs all of his trades through two brokers, Ace Equity Traders and the Parlay Group. Ace offers some of the best research available on health-care stocks, but charges fairly hefty commissions. Parley has some of the cheapest commissions in Toronto, but provides no research of value to Claudel. Vector claims compliance with the CFA Institute Soft Dollar Standards.
Henri Bonnet, CFA, a friend of Claudel’s, works on the floor of the Vancouver Stock Exchange. He asks Claudel to establish an account for him at Coup de Gras. Claudel learns that it is Bonnet's intention to manipulate the prices of penny stocks he trades on the exchange, and profit from the price movements in the account at Coup de Gras. Claudel sets up the account, but advises Bonnet that he "will have nothing to do" with the manipulation scheme beyond placing trades as Bonnet directs.
Claudel is currently pursuing a master's degree in financial economics in the evenings. During the interview with Vector and on his resume he indicated that he "attended Victoria University," giving his estimated date of graduation. He is not sure whether Vector understood that he did not have his master's degree.
Which of the following statements about consulting work is TRUE?
A) |
In some circumstances the employee must receive the employer's written permission prior to receiving additional compensation from parties other than the firm. This requirement applies to both monetary and non-monetary compensation | |
B) |
In all cases the employee must receive the employer's written permission prior to receiving additional compensation from parties other than the firm. This requirement applies to both monetary and non-monetary compensation | |
C) |
In some circumstances the employee must receive the employer's written permission prior to receiving additional compensation from parties other than the firm. This requirement applies to monetary compensation only. | |
Standard IV(A): Loyalty to Employer requires written permission from both the employer and the consulting customer if the work involves competition with the employer. An example of an instance not requiring permission would be if a CFA charterholder who works for a broker wishes to write grants for a nonprofit foundation. In such case, he need not get permission, nor does he need to disclose the compensation. This Standard applies for work that provides either monetary or nonmonetary compensation. (Study Session 2, LOS 5.b) |