UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 16, 2020
FIRST WESTERN FINANCIAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Colorado |
| 001-38595 |
| 37-1442266 |
(State or other jurisdiction of | | (Commission | | (I.R.S. Employer |
1900 16th Street, Suite 1200 | | | | 80202 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | | | | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (303) 531-8100
Former name or former address, if changed since last report: Not Applicable
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
◻ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
◻ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
◻ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
◻ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
☒Emerging growth company
☒If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, no par value | MYFW | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Item 7.01Regulation FD Disclosure.
On July 16, 2020, First Western Capital Management Company (“FWCM”), a wholly owned subsidiary of First Western Financial, Inc. (the “Company”), entered into a settlement agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) resolving certain issues previously corrected in 2017.
Without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings, FWCM agreed to settle claims that FWCM failed reasonably to supervise its investment adviser representatives who purchased securities sold in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for advisory clients when the clients were not qualified institutional buyers in a Rule 144A transaction, and to adopt and implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the rules thereunder by the adviser and its supervised persons. FWCM paid a fine of $200,000 to the SEC which the Company accrued earlier this year and, following the discovery of the issues in 2017, terminated the FWCM President and the FWCM compliance team in place at that time. A copy of the Agreement is filed hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
As provided in General Instruction B.2 to Form 8-K, the information in this Item 7.01 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and such information shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)Exhibits.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| | FIRST WESTERN FINANCIAL, INC. |
| | |
Date: July 21, 2020 |
| By: /s/ Scott C. Wylie |
| | Scott C. Wylie |
| | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President |
Exhibit 10.1
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
INVESTMENT ADVISERS ACT OF 1940
Release No. 5543 / July 16, 2020
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-19882
In the Matter of FIRST WESTERN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, Respondent. | ORDER INSTITUTING ADMINISTRATIVE AND CEASE-AND-DESIST PROCEEDINGS, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 203(e) AND 203(k) OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISERS ACT OF 1940, MAKING FINDINGS, AND IMPOSING REMEDIAL SANCTIONS AND A CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDER |
I.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate and in the public interest that public administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to Sections 203(e) and 203(k) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”) against First Western Capital Management Company (“FWCM” or “Respondent”).
II.
In anticipation of the institution of these proceedings, Respondent has submitted an Offer of Settlement (the “Offer”) which the Commission has determined to accept. Solely for the purpose of these proceedings and any other proceedings brought by or on behalf of the Commission, or to which the Commission is a party, and without admitting or denying the findings herein, except as to the Commission’s jurisdiction over it and the subject matter of these proceedings, which are admitted, Respondent consents to the entry of this Order Instituting Administrative and Cease-and-Desist Proceedings, Pursuant to Sections 203(e) and 203(k) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions and a Cease-and-Desist Order (“Order”), as set forth below.
III.
On the basis of this Order and Respondent’s Offer, the Commission finds1 that:
SUMMARY
RESPONDENT
FACTS
1 The findings herein are made pursuant to Respondent’s Offer and are not binding on any other person or entity in this or any other proceeding.
2
3
VIOLATIONS AND SUPERVISORY FAILURES
IV.
In view of the foregoing, the Commission deems it appropriate and in the public interest, to impose the sanctions agreed to in Respondent’s Offer.
Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 203(e) and 203(k) of the Advisers Act, it is hereby ORDERED that:
2 “Willfully,” for purposes of imposing relief under Section 203(e) of the Advisers Act, “‘means no more than that the person charged with the duty knows what he is doing.’” Wonsover v. SEC, 205 F.3d 408, 414 (D.C. Cir. 2000) (quoting Hughes v. SEC, 174 F.2d 969, 977 (D.C. Cir. 1949)). There is no requirement that the actor “‘also be aware that he is violating one of the Rules or Acts.’” Tager v. SEC, 344 F.2d 5, 8 (2d Cir. 1965). The decision in The Robare Group, Ltd. v. SEC, which construed the term “willfully” for purposes of a differently structured statutory provision, does not alter that standard. 922 F.3d 468, 478-79 (D.C. Cir. 2019) (setting forth the showing required to establish that a person has “willfully omit[ted]” material information from a required disclosure in violation of Section 207 of the Advisers Act).
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Enterprise Services Center Accounts Receivable Branch
HQ Bldg., Room 181, AMZ-341
6500 South MacArthur Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73169
Payments by check or money order must be accompanied by a cover letter identifying First Western Capital Management Company, and the file number of these proceedings. A copy of the cover letter and check or money order must be simultaneously sent to C. Dabney O’Riordan, Co- Chief, Asset Management Unit, Securities and Exchange Commission, Los Angeles Regional Office, 444 South Flower Street, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90071, or such other person or address as the Commission staff may provide.
By the Commission.
| Vanessa A. Countryman |
| Secretary |
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