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Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73

§80a–34 Unlawful representations and names

Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 2D— - INVESTMENT COMPANIES AND ADVISERS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - INVESTMENT COMPANIES › § 80a–34

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

People who sell or issue securities for a registered investment company must not say or imply the investment is backed, approved, or insured by the U.S. government, by the FDIC, or by any bank. If the fund is advised by or sold through a bank, sellers must clearly say the investment is not insured by the FDIC or any government agency. The SEC can make rules, after talking with the federal banking agencies, about how that notice must be shown. The phrases "insured depository institution" and "appropriate Federal banking agency" are defined in section 1813 of title 12. Anyone who is registered under this law also must not claim the U.S. government has approved their skills or qualifications. It is allowed to say a person or security is registered under this law, the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but only if that statement is true and not misleading. A registered investment company may not use a name the SEC finds materially deceptive, and the SEC can define which names are misleading.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §80a–34

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)It shall be unlawful for any person, issuing or selling any security of which a registered investment company is the issuer, to represent or imply in any manner whatsoever that such security or company—
(A)has been guaranteed, sponsored, recommended, or approved by the United States, or any agency, instrumentality or officer of the United States;
(B)has been insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; or
(C)is guaranteed by or is otherwise an obligation of any bank or insured depository institution.
(2)Any person issuing or selling the securities of a registered investment company that is advised by, or sold through, a bank shall prominently disclose that an investment in the company is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Commission may, after consultation with and taking into consideration the views of the Federal banking agencies (as defined in section 1813 of title 12), adopt rules and regulations, and issue orders, consistent with the protection of investors, prescribing the manner in which the disclosure under this paragraph shall be provided.
(3)The terms “insured depository institution” and “appropriate Federal banking agency” have the same meanings as given in section 1813 of title 12.
(b)It shall be unlawful for any person registered under any section of this subchapter, to represent or imply in any manner whatsoever that such person has been sponsored, recommended, or approved, or that his abilities or qualifications have in any respect been passed upon by the United States or any agency or officer thereof.
(c)No provision of subsection (a) or (b) shall be construed to prohibit a statement that a person or security is registered under this chapter, the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.], or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.], if such statement is true in fact and if the effect of such registration is not misrepresented.
(d)It shall be unlawful for any registered investment company to adopt as a part of the name or title of such company, or of any securities of which it is the issuer, any word or words that the Commission finds are materially deceptive or misleading. The Commission is authorized, by rule, regulation, or order, to define such names or titles as are materially deceptive or misleading.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Securities Act of 1933, referred to in subsec. (c), is act
May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, 48 Stat. 74, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 77a et seq.) of chapter 2A of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 77a of this title and Tables. The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (c), is act
June 6, 1934, ch. 404, 48 Stat. 881, which is classified principally to chapter 2B (§ 78a et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 78a of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1999—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–102 inserted heading and amended text of subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “It shall be unlawful for any person, in issuing or selling any security of which a registered investment company is the issuer, to represent or imply in any manner whatsoever that such security or company has been guaranteed, sponsored, recommended, or approved by the United States or any agency or officer thereof.” 1996—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–290 inserted heading and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “It shall be unlawful for any registered investment company hereafter to adopt as a part of the name or title of such company, or of any security of which it is the issuer, any word or words which the Commission finds and by order declares to be deceptive or misleading. The Commission is authorized to bring an action in the proper district court of the United States or United States court of any Territory or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States alleging that the name or title of any registered investment company, or of any security which it has issued, is materially deceptive or misleading. If the court finds that the Commission’s allegations in this respect, taking into consideration the history of the investment company and the length of time which it may have used any such name or title, are established, the court shall enjoin such investment company from continuing to use any such name or title.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1999 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 106–102 effective 18 months after Nov. 12, 1999, see section 225 of Pub. L. 106–102, set out as a note under section 77c of this title.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For

Transfer of Functions

of Securities and Exchange Commission, with certain exceptions, to Chairman of such Commission, see Reorg. Plan No. 10 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3175, 64 Stat. 1265, set out under section 78d of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 80a–34

Title 15 — Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73