The Florida Office of Financial Regulation (“OFR”) has entered an Emergency Order addressing temporary office relocation for persons displaced in the wake of Hurricane Irma. Under this order securities firms, investment advisors and their personnel may relocate to temporary office space as long as they provide certain information in writing to OFR, Division of Securities, within five days of relocation. The Emergency Order expires on October 12, 2017, unless extended for an additional 30 days by OFR.
The required information includes (1) the temporary office address, (2) names of registered personnel at the temporary office address, (3) the entities involved, (4) a contact telephone number, (5) expected duration of the stay, and (6) the type of business in which the firm providing the temporary office space engages.
In addition, OFR cautions firms who are using temporary space or routing calls to other offices to “exercise due diligence in validating the identity of the customer as well as provide heightened supervision of the affected customer accounts.”
Hurricane Irma caused widespread damage and power outages in Florida. The OFR likely will issue additional Emergency Orders to address issues as they arise. Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C. will provide updates as they occur.
Alert
09.13.2017