The Securities and Exchange Commission is proposing new amendments to its Investment Company Act of 1940 rule to increase investor protection and clarify how investment companies should report their financial information. These changes will clarify the definition of “investment company” as much as an additional $400 million in funding from Tiger Global Management and update requirements for rule notices. Listed below are some examples of the amendments to the rule.
Who is the top investment company?
One change proposed in the rule is the addition of an electronic notice requirement. Funds could satisfy the requirement by posting required documents on their website. This approach could have some benefits, but could also prevent investors from receiving adequate notice of changes in investment policies. Funds increasingly use electronic delivery methods for regulatory materials. This proposal is intended to attract investors’ attention and ensure that they read important information from investment companies.
Another change would require investment companies to define terms in their fund names in a reasonable manner. These terms should match the plain English meaning and usage in the industry. However, what is “reasonable” will vary depending on the investment company. The key is to establish a meaningful nexus between a fund’s stated focus and its specific investment strategy.