SEC Adopts Amendments to Facilitate Electronic Filings

The SEC adopted rule amendments to (i) enable the use of electronic signatures in documents requiring signature authentication and (ii) mandate the electronic filing and service of documents for administrative proceedings.

In one rulemaking, the SEC amended filing provisions under Regulation S-T, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Investment Company Act to allow an electronic filing signatory to electronically authenticate a document. The SEC also amended its Rules of Practice to require most individuals involved in an SEC administrative proceeding to submit and serve documents electronically.

The first rule change will go into effect on the date of its publication in the Federal Register and the second will go into effect 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register.