On June 29th, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued its 2021 FASB Agenda Consultation Report. The document summarizes comments submitted by investors during the 2021 agenda consultation project and demonstrates how those responses have shaped the FASB’s technical and research agendas and standard-setting process as of June 29, 2022. Continue reading "FASB Releases 2021 Agenda Consultation Report" »

On June 30th, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) published an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) that improves financial reporting for investors and other financial statement users. The ASU is designed to enhance comparability of financial information for all reporting entities with investments in equity securities measured at fair value and are subject to contractual restrictions preventing the sale of those securities. Continue reading "FASB Releases ASU to Improve Fair Value..." »

The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy has announced the launch of a game show-themed public service campaign entitled “Investomania” that is designed to help investors make informed investment decisions and protect themselves from fraud. Drawing on the idea that investing may sometimes seem like playing a game, the campaign reaffirms the need for investors to take proper precautions when making investment decisions. Continue reading "SEC Introduces Game Show-Themed Public Service..." »

On May 25th, the SEC announced that it is proposing amendments to Rule 35d-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Company Names Rule of 2001 (Names Rule). For a business development company (BDC) or a registered investment company, the name of its firm is an important marketing tool for the fund, and it conveys to investors useful information about the fund. Continue reading "SEC Proposes Rule Updates to Prohibit..." »

The SEC has announced a virtual Investor Advisory Committee meeting that will take place on Thursday, June 9, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. ET. The public may attend this free event, which will be presented live via webcast at sec.gov. {expires: 2022-06-10} Continue reading "SEC to Hold Investor Advisory Committee Meeting" »

On May 9th, the SEC announced that it has extended the public comment period concerning the proposed rules designed to improve and regulate climate-related disclosures for investors. The SEC also announced that it will reopen the comment periods for the proposed rules that would enhance protections for private fund investors as well as proposed rules to include significant Treasury markets platforms within Regulation ATS. The proposed rules have garnered much attention from a wide range of investors, issuers, market participants, and other stakeholders. The extension and reopening of comment periods allow these parties, who represent diverse views and experiences, the benefit of additional time to review and provide valuable feedback. Continue reading "SEC to Extend Comment Period for Proposed Rules..." »

On April 25th, the SEC announced that it has revised its list of unregistered entities that use inaccurate data to solicit mainly non-US investors. This update adds 58 soliciting entities, 11 impersonators of real firms, and one bogus regulator. Continue reading "SEC Revises PAUSE List of Firms Using..." »

The SEC’s Office of the Investor Advocate, in conjunction with the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and AARP will host a public listening session covering a number of investing matters pertaining to American senior and older communities, including those with diminished capacity. The discussions are geared also toward seniors’ loved ones, caregivers, financial professionals and consumer advocates. The audio event, which brings together investors and the securities regulators who protect them from investment fraud, will be held on Thursday, April 28, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET. It will be streamed live on sec.gov. Continue reading "SEC, NASAA, AARP to Co-Host Older Investor..." »

The SEC has announced that its Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee will hold a remote meeting to discuss matters related to the rules and regulations affecting small and emerging companies and their investors under the federal securities laws. The free webcast will take place on Friday, May 6, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET. The event is open to the public and will be presented live on sec.gov. {expires: 2022-05-07} Continue reading "SEC to Hold Small Business Capital Formation..." »

On April 8th, the FERC announced that it is requesting public feedback on the currently approved information collections, FERC Form Nos. 6 and 6T (Annual Report of Oil Pipeline Companies) and 6–Q and 6–QT (Quarterly Report of Oil Pipeline Companies). Continue reading "FERC Releases Notice of Information..." »

On March 31st, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) in which a new standard addresses troubled debt restructuring (TDR) and vintage disclosures. The update is designed to provide investors with sufficiently detailed disclosures so they may gather useful information about certain loan refinancings, restructurings, and write-offs. The new ASU undertakes remarks submitted by investors and other stakeholders during the post-implementation review of the credit losses standard. The revisions both create a single model for loan modification accounting by creditors and provide enhanced write-off disclosures and loan modification. Continue reading "FASB Broadens Disclosure Requirements and..." »

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has released an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) designed to promote synergy between hedge accounting and an organization’s risk management procedures. The latest ASU builds on the FASB’s 2017 issuance of a hedging standard which improved alignment between the two entities. The earlier standard also increased transparency concerning how results of hedging activities are presented – on the face of the financial statements and in the footnotes – for investors and analysts when hedge accounting is applied. Continue reading "FASB Enhances and Broadens Hedge Accounting" »

On March 30, the SEC’s Division of Examinations issued its annual examination priorities, the publication that provides an overview of the Division’s risk-based approach, including the areas it believes present potential risks to investors and the integrity of the US capital markets. When compiling the examination priorities, the Division leans heavily on its four pillars: promoting and improving compliance, preventing fraud, monitoring risks, and informing policy. Continue reading "SEC Staff Announces 2022 Examination Priorities" »

On March 23, the SEC announced that it is proposing amendments to remove references to credit rating agencies from current exceptions included in Regulation M. The rules that comprise Regulation M are intended to maintain the pricing integrity of the securities trading markets by prohibiting issuers, distribution participants, selling security holders, and any of their affiliated purchasers from taking part in activities that could inorganically influence the market for an offered security. The proposed changes would also implement new standards to replace the current standard gauges for credit-worthiness and add new record-keeping requirements in certain cases. Continue reading "SEC Announces Proposed Amendments to Remove..." »

On March 21st, the SEC announced that it is proposing amendments to its rules under the Securities Act and Securities Exchange Act that would make it mandatory for domestic and foreign registrants to include specific climate-related data in their annual reports and registration statements. This data would need to be disclosed in a structured data format. The proposal is open for public comment. Continue reading "SEC Proposes Rule Amendments to Improve..." »