The SEC has proposed revisions to Form N-PX to broaden the form’s scope and make it easier and more efficient for investors to get vital information from mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and other funds that report about their proxy votes. Funds have been required since 2003 to file Form N-PX reports to disclose their voting practices for proxy proposals concerning their investments. However, funds may be inconsistent in the way in which they disclose information about their votes, or they may use a format that is not machine readable, which can make it sometimes difficult for investors to analyze reported data. The rule would render funds’ proxy voting records more usable and easier to analyze. In addition, investors would be able to more easily monitor how their funds vote and compare different funds’ voting records. Continue reading "SEC Proposes Amendments to Form N-PX" »

The SEC is hosting a virtual meeting of the Asset Management Advisory Committee (AMAC) that will take place on Wednesday, July 7, 2021. The event will begin at 11:00 a.m. ET and will be presented live via webcast for public viewing on sec.gov. {expires: 2021-07-08} Continue reading "SEC to Hold Remote Meeting of the Asset..." »

The SEC is hosting a remote meeting of the Asset Management Advisory Committee (AMAC) that will take place on Friday, March 19, 2021. The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. ET and will be presented live via webcast for public viewing on sec.gov. {expires: 2021-03-20}
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On December 22, 2020, the SEC voted to adopt amendments pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, revising rules that regulate investment adviser advertising and payments to solicitors. Drawing from and replacing the current advertising rule (Rule 206(4)-1) and cash solicitation rule (Rule 206(4)-3) is an amalgamated rule established by the amendments. The objective of the amendment is to enhance the SEC’s ability to effectively oversee investment advisers’ marketing communications. Continue reading "SEC Approves Revised Marketing Rule for..." »

On December 10, 2020, the SEC released the quarterly Private Funds Statistics report, a broadened set of data and analyses of recent private fund industry trends and statistics. First published by the Division of Investment Management’s Analytics Office in October 2015, this recurring report has been offering investors and other market participants beneficial insights on fund activity. Continue reading "SEC Publishes Supplemental Quarterly Private..." »

On December 3, 2020, the SEC adopted a new rule under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”), which will establish both the framework for fund valuation practices and the function of the board of directors regarding the fair value of a business development company (“fund”) or the investments of a registered investment company. The rule is intended to simplify how fund boards can meet the requirements of their valuation obligations considering market developments, such as an increase in both the type and volume of information used in valuation determinations and the increase in the variety of asset classes held by funds. Continue reading "SEC Revises Framework for Fund Valuation Practices" »

The SEC has released the agenda for the Tuesday, December 1, 2020 convening of the Asset Management Advisory Committee (AMAC). The free event will take place from 9 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. ET and will be presented live via webcast on sec.gov. The AMAC was established to provide the SEC with diverse points of view on asset management and related advice and recommendations. The committee is a group made up of outside experts, including parties representing the perspectives of small and large funds, retail and institutional investors, intermediaries, and other market participants.
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On November 2nd, the SEC approved amendments intended to harmonize, enhance, and streamline the layered and complicated exempt offering framework. These rule amendments were first proposed in March 2020. Shaped by public feedback and recommendations received from the SEC’s advisory committees, the SEC’s Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation, and through direct outreach and engagement with investors and issuers, the modifications are intended to reduce potential friction points to streamline the capital-raising process and meet ever-changing market needs.
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On October 29th, the SEC released the agenda for the November 5, 2020 special meeting of the Asset Management Advisory Committee (AMAC). This committee was formed to provide the SEC with diverse viewpoints on asset management and related advice and recommendations. The event will be webcast live on the SEC’s website beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET and is freely open to the public. The presentation will also be archived on the website for later viewing. Continue reading "SEC Announces Agenda for November 5th Virtual..." »

On October 28th, the SEC adopted a new rule and rule revisions to the regulatory framework for derivatives usage under the Investment Company Act. The enhancements will provide an updated and thorough approach to the regulation of registered investment funds’ derivatives usage that reflects developments over the past decades and focuses on investor protection matters. The Investment Company Act generally limits registered funds and business development companies from engaging in transactions that involve potential future payment obligations. This may include obligations under derivatives such as forwards, futures, swaps and written options. The new rule allows funds to enter into these transactions if they comply with conditions designed to protect investors, such as adopting a derivatives risk management program and complying with a limit on the amount of leverage-related risk that the fund may obtain based on value-at-risk (VaR). Continue reading "SEC Revises Regulations for Derivatives Usage..." »

On October 7th, the SEC announced that it has rescheduled its compliance outreach program’s national seminar for investment companies and investment advisers. It will now take place on November 19, 2020. The compliance program is aimed at helping chief compliance officers (CCOs) and other senior personnel at investment companies and investment advisory firms improve their compliance programs for the protection of investors. Continue reading "SEC to Host Virtual National Compliance..." »

On August 26th, the SEC announced that it will be carefully monitoring the effects of Hurricane Laura on investors and capital markets. As the SEC tracks the storm’s developments, it will consider easing regulatory requirements and extending filing deadlines for those affected by the storm.
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