SEC Proposes Targeted Changes to Public Liquidity Risk Management Disclosure

The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed amendments to public liquidity-related disclosure requirements for certain open-end investment management companies. Under the proposal, funds would discuss in their annual report the operation and effectiveness of their liquidity risk management program, replacing a pending requirement that funds publicly provide the aggregate liquidity classification profile of their portfolios on Form N-PORT on a quarterly basis. The Commission adopted the open-end fund liquidity rule in October 2016 in an effort to promote effective liquidity risk management programs in the fund industry. Management of liquidity risk is important to funds’ ability to meet their statutory obligation — and their investors’ expectations — regarding redeemability of their shares. Since adoption, staff has engaged in extensive outreach to identify potential issues associated with the effective implementation of the rule.