SEC Fines Cantor Fitzgerald $6.75 Million for Misleading SPAC Investors

Posted on December 18th, 2024 at 10:53 AM
SEC Fines Cantor Fitzgerald $6.75 Million for Misleading SPAC Investors

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. with causing two special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) under its control to make misleading statements to investors before their initial public offerings (IPOs). According to SEC.gov, Cantor Fitzgerald has agreed to pay a $6.75 million civil penalty to settle the charges.

SPACs are entities without business operations that raise funds through IPOs to later acquire an operating business. According to the SEC’s order, Cantor Fitzgerald executives managed and controlled CF Finance Acquisition Corp. II and CF Acquisition Corp. V, which collectively raised $750 million through IPOs in 2020 and 2021. Those SPACs later merged with View, Inc. and Satellogic Inc., respectively.

The SEC found that Cantor Fitzgerald caused these SPACs to falsely claim in SEC filings that they had not engaged in substantive discussions with potential merger targets before their IPOs. In reality, the SEC alleges that Cantor Fitzgerald personnel already had begun negotiations with several potential targets, including View and Satellogic, the companies with which the SPACs ultimately merged.

Sanjay Wadhwa, Acting Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, emphasized the importance of accurate disclosures, stating, “Cantor Fitzgerald misled investors about a critical investment consideration by repeatedly stating in public filings that it had not identified or approached any potential merger targets, despite having had substantive discussions.”

The SEC charged Cantor Fitzgerald with causing violations of antifraud and proxy provisions of federal securities laws. Without admitting or denying the findings, Cantor Fitzgerald agreed to cease the violations and to pay the $6.75 million penalty.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, sec

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

Jim, Stephany and the whole team were a God send.  We felt like we were put into a situation where we had no advocate. Jim’s team came in with a strong, well laid out strategy on how to get our story heard. Where our outside compliance company had no ability to help, our Broker Dealer was impenitent, and the regulators were aggressive pursuing vague rules, Jim came like a barricade against an assault we did not understand. Though you pay member dues to be affiliated with FINRA and a B/D, you have no voice. The only thing that is truly heard in this un-level playing field is a bulldog’s bark like Jim’s. I would encourage anyone to call Jim and his team to find a real ally in the tough and complicated world of securities regulation. They are truly the best.

Greg P.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

August 15, 2025
FINRA Bars Former Ameriprise Advisor Over $2.2 Million in Client Loans

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has permanently barred former Ameriprise Financial broker Eric A. Dupre for borrowing more than $2.2 million from clients without firm authorization.

August 14, 2025
Florida Investment Advisor Accused of Orchestrating $94 Million Fraud Targeting International Clients

Federal prosecutors have charged Andrew Hamilton Jacobus, a former investment adviser based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with defrauding international investors of over $94 million over 20 years.

August 13, 2025
FINRA Suspends Financial Advisor for Outsourcing Continuing Education Requirements

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has suspended advisor Francis G. Smith for one month and fined him $5,000 after finding he had someone else complete required continuing education (CE) coursework on his behalf.