On April 21, 2020, the US Securities and Exchange Commission proposed new rule 2a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), which is intended to address valuation practices and the role of the board of directors with respect to the fair value of the investments of an investment company or business development company registered under the Investment Company Act (each, a “fund”). Specifically, proposed rule 2a-5 would establish requirements…

On April 7, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) issued two companion risk alerts on compliance with Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS. In the press release accompanying these risk alerts, OCIE stated that these alerts are intended to provide broker-dealers and investment advisers with advance information about the expected scope and content of the initial examinations for compliance with Reg. BI and Form CRS,…

Business Continuity Plans (“BCPs”) continue to be a key component of an investment adviser’s risk management and compliance program, but have traditionally focused on emergency planning for certain external and internal disruptions (such as natural disasters, blackouts and occasional short-term market disruptions to normal operations).  The recent impact of COVID-19 however, has reminded the industry of the need for implementing BCPs and other related risk policies that address not only short-term disruptions but also longer-term…

As COVID-19 continues to impact global markets, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) have recently provided certain guidance and targeted relief in recognition of the potential disruption that COVID-19 may have on market participants regulated by the Commission.  The following Mayer Brown client alerts describe and take a closer look at certain COVID-19 related SEC guidance and targeted relief that primarily impacts investment advisers and funds. US SEC Provides Temporary, Conditional Relief to Funds and …

On January 7, 2020, the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) released its 2020 examination priorities.  While a number of the 2020 priorities are continuations from the prior year, OCIE made certain enhancements and/or additions to these exam priorities that are similar to themes highlighted in its risk alerts and regulatory initiatives during 2019. A closer look at issues raised in the 2020 OCIE priorities, along with some…

On August 21, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission published two separate releases related to proxy voting issues.  One release provided guidance regarding proxy voting responsibilities of investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 206(4)-6 thereunder (the “Investment Adviser Proxy Guidance”), while the other provided an interpretation and related guidance regarding the applicability of certain rules under Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to proxy voting advice (the…