Proposed Rules. Proposed rule; reopening of comment period

Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Action: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period
Citation: FR Doc. 2012-8348 · RIN 3235-AK50 · Release Nos. 33-9309; 34-66720; IC-30026; File No. S7-12-10 · 17 CFR 230, 270

Summary

The Securities and Exchange Commission is reopening the period for public comment on amendments it originally proposed in Securities Act Release No. 9126 to allow interested persons to submit comments on the results of investor testing regarding target date retirement funds. The rule proposal would, if adopted, require a target date retirement fund that includes the target date in its name to disclose the fund's asset allocation at the target date immediately adjacent to the first use of the fund's name in marketing materials; require marketing materials for target date retirement funds to include a table, chart, or graph depicting the fund's asset allocation over time, together with a statement that would highlight the fund's final asset allocation; require a statement in marketing materials to the effect that a target date retirement fund should not be selected based solely on age or retirement date, is not a guaranteed investment, and the stated asset allocations may be subject to change; and provide additional guidance regarding statements in marketing materials for target date retirement funds and other investment companies that could be misleading.

Dates

The comment period for the proposed rule published June 23, 2010, at 75 FR 35920, is reopened. Comments should be received on or before May 21, 2012.

Supplementary Information

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) is reopening the period for public comment on proposed rule amendments that are intended to provide enhanced information to investors concerning target date retirement funds and reduce the potential for investors to be confused or misled regarding these and other investment companies. These amendments were proposed on June 16, 2010, 1 and the comment period initially closed on August 23, 2010. The Commission's proposal would, if adopted, amend rule 482 under the Securities Act of 1933 and rule 34b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 to require a target date retirement fund that includes the target date in its name to disclose the fund's asset allocation at the target date immediately adjacent to the first use of the fund's name in marketing materials. The proposal also would amend rule 482 and rule 34b-1 to require marketing materials for target date retirement funds to include a table, chart, or graph depicting the fund's asset allocation over time, together with a statement that would highlight the fund's final asset allocation. In addition, the proposal would amend rule 482 and rule 34b-1 to require a statement in marketing materials to the effect that a target date retirement fund should not be selected based solely on age or retirement date, is not a guaranteed investment, and the stated asset allocations may be subject to change. Finally, the proposal would amend rule 156 under the Securities Act to provide additional guidance regarding statements in marketing materials for target date retirement funds and other investment companies that could be misleading. 1 Investment Company Advertising: Target Date Retirement Fund Names and Marketing, Securities Act Release No. 9126 (June 16, 2010) [75 FR 35920 (June 23, 2010)]. The Commission recently engaged a consultant to conduct empirical research on individual investors' understanding of target date retirement funds and marketing materials related to those funds. Investors participating in an online survey were asked questions about, among other things, documents containing information about a hypothetical target date retirement fund, including information that would be required by the proposed amendments, if adopted. We have placed in the comment file for the proposed rule amendments the consultant's report concerning the online survey. 2 In order to provide all persons who are interested in this matter an opportunity to comment on this additional material, we believe that it is appropriate to reopen the comment period before we take action on the proposal. 2 See Comment File No. S7-12-10, available at http://www.sec.gov/comments/s7-12-10/s71210.shtml. We invite additional comment on the proposal in light of this material, and on any other matters that may have an effect on the proposal. Accordingly, we will extend the comment period until May 21, 2012. Dated: April 3, 2012. By the Commission. Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2012-8348 Filed 4-5-12; 8:45 am]