[authors: Richard F. Morris and Zachary E. Vonnegut-Gabovitch]

Division of Investment Management's guidance on securities lending by open-end and closed-end investment companies provides a reminder of legal obligations in lending programs.

The Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC's) Division of Investment Management recently published staff guidance on "Securities Lending by U.S. Open-End and Closed-End Investment Companies" (Staff Guidance).[1] The Staff Guidance does not impose any new requirements on investment companies and does not elaborate on prior SEC and staff positions. Instead, the Staff Guidance compiles into a single location prior no-action letters that the staff has issued regarding securities lending by open-end and closed-end investment companies.

The publication of the Staff Guidance serves as a reminder of the important legal obligations that arise in connection with securities lending programs. Funds, fund boards, and fund chief compliance officers should be aware of these obligations, and funds should conduct their securities lending activities accordingly. Among other things, the following should occur:

• Boards must approve and oversee securities lending programs. This includes initial review and approval of written policies and procedures, as well as ongoing reporting and review of performance, compliance, and implementation.
• Boards should adopt policies outlining when securities on loan should be recalled to permit proxy voting.
• Loans must be appropriately collateralized and are subject to Investment Company Act of 1940 leverage restrictions.
• Fund disclosure documents should describe the lending program and key risks.

In addition, the Staff Guidance includes a reminder that affiliated transaction restrictions apply to securities lending and, specifically, that SEC exemptive relief may be required where a fund seeks to lend its portfolio securities to affiliated borrowers or to compensate an affiliated lending agent with a share of revenues from the lending program.

Contacts

If you have any questions or would like more information on the issues discussed in this LawFlash, please contact any of the following Morgan Lewis attorneys:

New York
Richard F. Morris
Zachary Vonnegut-Gabovitch

[1]. View the Staff Guidance here.