In recent years, the SEC has heightened its emphasis on cybersecurity requirements for firms. Routine examinations now often involve in-depth requests for information on firms’ cyber and data security practices, which are areas of evolving risk for all market participants.
Until this point, “accredited investors” were limited to certain individuals based on income or net worth. With the amendments to the definition, the SEC aims to increase access to private capital markets for previously unqualified market participants.
The OCIE issued a Risk Alert that outlines new compliance risks stemming from the global pandemic. The SEC and OCIE have remained operational and have continued to initiate examinations, including routine examinations of investment advisers.
The SEC proposed a new set of amendments to mutual fund and exchange-traded fund disclosure requirements. The package includes, among other things, changes to visual presentation requirements and the disclosure framework for open-end fund shareholder documents.
The SEC adopted rule amendments and issued additional guidance on the proxy voting responsibilities of investment advisers and third-party proxy voting advice service providers. The new provisions aim to provide greater transparency to investors while minimizing the proxy voting process’s potential costs and operational burdens.