On November 4, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that it has voted to propose amendments to modernize the rules under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 addressing advertisements and payments to solicitors. The public comment period will remain open for 60 days following publication of the proposal in the Federal Register.
The SEC’s release went on to say, “The proposed amendments to the advertising rule would replace the current rule’s broadly drawn limitations with principles-based provisions. The proposed approach would also permit the use of testimonials, endorsements, and third-party ratings, subject to certain conditions, and would include tailored requirements for the presentation of performance results based on an advertisement’s intended audience. The proposed amendments to the solicitation rule would expand the current rule to cover solicitation arrangements involving all forms of compensation, rather than only cash, subject to a new de minimis threshold. They also would update other aspects of the rule, such as who is disqualified from acting as a solicitor under the rule.”
The Greyline team is in the process of reviewing the 507-page proposed rule and will provide additional color on its contents and anticipated impact on the industry. We are also very inclined to submit a comment letter to the proposed regulations in order to ensure that our clients voices are heard.
View the press release here: https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2019-230