SEC Charges Advisory Firm Senvest Management with Recordkeeping and Other Failures

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against registered investment adviser Senvest Management LLC for widespread and longstanding failures to maintain and preserve certain electronic communications. The SEC also charged Senvest with failing to enforce its code of ethics. To settle this matter, Senvest admitted the facts set forth in the Commission’s order, acknowledged that its conduct violated the federal securities laws, and agreed to pay a $6.5 million penalty and to implement improvements to its compliance policies and procedures. According to the Commission’s order, from at least January 2019 through December 2021, Senvest employees at various levels of authority communicated about company business internally and externally using personal texting platforms and other non-Senvest messaging applications in violation of the firm’s policies and procedures.