SEC Investor Advisory Committee to Discuss Funds with Private Investments, Single Stock ETFs, More

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Investor Advisory Committee (IAC) has posted its agenda for its meeting next week.

Established under Dodd-Frank, the IAC is supposed to represent the interests of individual investors, including smaller ones. In the past, the Committee has largely focused on investor protection issues.

Topics of note for the meeting include a discussion on Private Funds/Markets.

To quote the description:

“Investors in private funds and in the private markets are increasingly concerned that a lack of transparency around outbound investments, especially those in “countries of concern,” may be funding human rights abuses, the military-industrial complex of countries, and the development of sensitive technology. 

This panel will first discuss the problems the lack of transparency into outbound investments in countries of concern pose and how the SEC as a disclosure focused agency can provide investors, many of whom manage money on behalf of public employees, with additional information that would allow them to decide the suitability of their investments. These disclosures could also help investors better assess how exposed their investments may be to geopolitical risk.”

The lack of transparency, or more accurately, demanding more disclosure from issuers, has been a consistent theme for the Gensler Commission. In fact, the current Commission would like to increase the amount of disclosure for Reg D issuers – an exemption that currently enables the most robust capital formation in the world.

Another item of interest is a panel on Single Stock ETFs. The IAC has published a draft recommendation for the discussion. It is available here.

Where the IAC falls short is has not pursued recommendations to expand access to opportunity for investors, such as an expanded definition of an accredited investor. It would be helpful to have their voice in support of allowing more individual investors to access this important market.

The meeting will take place on June 22, 2023, starting at 10 AM ET and will be live-streamed on the SEC website.

The entire agenda is available below.


U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Investor Advisory Committee
June 22, 2023

 

 

10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Welcome and Introductory Remarks
10:05 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Opening Remarks
10:25 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Panel Discussion: Private Funds/Markets and Outbound Investments in Countries of Concern
Investors in private funds and in the private markets are increasingly concerned that a lack of transparency around outbound investments, especially those in “countries of concern”, may be funding human rights abuses, the military-industrial complex of countries, and the development of sensitive technology. 
This panel will first discuss the problems the lack of transparency into outbound investments in countries of concern pose and how the SEC as a disclosure focused agency can provide investors, many of whom manage money on behalf of public employees, with additional information that would allow them to decide the suitability of their investments. These disclosures could also help investors better assess how exposed their investments may be to geopolitical risk.
Moderated by:
  • Andrew Park, IAC Market Structure Subcommittee Chair; Senior
    Policy Analyst, Americans for Financial Reform
Panelists:
  • Christopher Ailman, Chief Investment Officer, California
    State Teachers Retirement Systems (CalSTRS)
  • Sarah Bauerle Danzman, Associate Professor in International
    Studies at the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies at Indiana University Bloomington; Nonresident Senior Fellow Atlantic Council
  • Peter Harrell, former Senior Director for International Economics
    and Competitiveness for the White House’s National Security Council
  • Sharmila Kassam, Head of Asset Owners Solutions, NASDAQ;
    and former Deputy Chief Investment Officer at the Texas Employee Retirement Systems (ERS)
  • Emily Kilcrease, Senior Fellow & Director of the Energy,
    Economics, and Security Program at the Center for New American Security
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch/Non-Public Administrative Session
1:00 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Ensuring Digital Engagement Practices Responsibly Expand Investment Opportunities
This panel will focus on current challenges and potential improvements to the use of digital engagement practices by investment firms as they attract new investors – particularly those with lower incomes or from underrepresented groups. Panelists will provide an overview of the concerns and challenges currently being observed and discuss ideas for potential reforms that could create better outcomes for new investors and help expand investing to underserved groups.
Moderated by:
  • Paul Roye, Chair, IAC Access & Inclusion Working Group; Vice Chair, IAC Disclosure Subcommittee; Former SVP, Capital Research & Management Co.
Panelists:
2:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Panel Discussion Regarding Audit Committee Workload and Transparency
This panel will focus on the role of the audit committee, which is rapidly changing, where many audit committees now oversee a variety of emerging risks while balancing an ever-increasing workload. Simultaneously, there is a larger focus on the audit itself with the PCAOB taking a fresh look at auditing standards. Risks continue to emerge and evolve. The presenters and the panel will explore how audit committees are keeping pace with shifting responsibilities and priorities, and whether existing audit committee disclosures adequately benefit investor needs.
Moderated by:
  • James Andrus, Vice Chair Investor as Owner Subcommittee; and
    Vice President Sustainability Global Markets, Franklin Templeton.
Presentations:
Panelists:
  • Robert H. Herz, Audit Committee Chair, Morgan Stanley; and President, Robert H. Herz, LLC.
  • David Herzog, MetLife Audit Committee Chair; former AIG CFO
  • Anthony Anderson, Exelon Corporation Audit Committee Chair;
    former Vice Chair and Midwest Area Managing Partner of Ernst & Young LLP.
  • Sheila Hooda, ScION Tech Growth I and II Audit Committee
    Chair; CEO, Alpha Advisory Partners
3:55 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Discussion of a Recommendation on Single-Stock ETFs
4:15 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Discussion of a Recommendation on 13D/G & 10B-1
4:35 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.
Discussion of a Recommendation on Registered Investment Adviser Oversight
4:55 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Subcommittee and Working Group Reports
5:15 p.m.
Closing Remarks and Adjourn


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