Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73
§80b–10 Disclosure of information by Commission
Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 2D— - INVESTMENT COMPANIES AND ADVISERS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - INVESTMENT ADVISERS › § 80b–10
Summary
Registration papers, reports, and any updates filed with the Commission must be available to the public unless the Commission decides, by its own rules or by order, that making them public is not needed or appropriate to protect the public or investors. People can get copies of the public filings for a reasonable fee and under limits the Commission sets. The Commission and its staff must keep exams and investigations secret — including whether one is happening and what is found — unless other parts of the law allow disclosure. Staff cannot share investigation information outside the Commission without Commission approval. That secrecy does not apply to hearings that are open to the public or to requests or resolutions from either House of Congress. The law also does not force investment advisers who supervise investments to reveal a client’s identity, holdings, or affairs, except when that disclosure is needed for a specific enforcement action or to check for possible systemic risk.
Full Legal Text
Title 15, §80b–10
Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The information contained in any registration application or report or amendment thereto filed with the Commission pursuant to any provision of this subchapter shall be made available to the public, unless and except insofar as the Commission, by rules and regulations upon its own motion, or by order upon application, finds that public disclosure is neither necessary nor appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors. Photostatic or other copies of information contained in documents filed with the Commission under this subchapter and made available to the public shall be furnished to any person at such reasonable charge and under such reasonable limitations as the Commission shall prescribe.
(b)Subject to the provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of section 80b–9 of this title and section 78x(c) of this title, the Commission, or any member, officer, or employee thereof, shall not make public the fact that any examination or investigation under this subchapter is being conducted, or the results of or any facts ascertained during any such examination or investigation; and no member, officer, or employee of the Commission shall disclose to any person other than a member, officer, or employee of the Commission any information obtained as a result of any such examination or investigation except with the approval of the Commission. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply—
(1)in the case of any hearing which is public under the provisions of section 80b–12 of this title; or
(2)in the case of a resolution or request from either House of Congress.
(c)No provision of this subchapter shall be construed to require, or to authorize the Commission to require any investment adviser engaged in rendering investment supervisory services to disclose the identity, investments, or affairs of any client of such investment adviser, except insofar as such disclosure may be necessary or appropriate in a particular proceeding or investigation having as its object the enforcement of a provision or provisions of this subchapter or for purposes of assessment of potential systemic risk.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2010—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–203, § 405, inserted “or for purposes of assessment of potential systemic risk” before period at end. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–257 struck out subsec. (d). Text read as follows: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commission shall not be compelled to disclose any records or information provided to the Commission under section 80b–4 of this title, or records or information based upon or derived from such records or information, if such records or information have been obtained by the Commission for use in furtherance of the purposes of this subchapter, including surveillance, risk assessments, or other regulatory and oversight activities. Nothing in this subsection authorizes the Commission to withhold information from the Congress or prevent the Commission from complying with a request for information from any other Federal department or agency requesting the information for purposes within the scope of jurisdiction of that department or agency, or complying with an order of a court of the United States in an action brought by the United States or the Commission. For purposes of section 552 of title 5, this subsection shall be considered a statute described in subsection (b)(3)(B) of such section 552. Collection of information pursuant to section 80b–4 of this title shall be an administrative action involving an agency against specific individuals or agencies pursuant to section 3518(c)(1) of title 44.” Pub. L. 111–203, § 929I(c), added subsec. (d). 1990—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–550 substituted “subsections (c) and (d) of section 80b–9 of this title and section 78x(c) of this title” for “subsections (c) and (e) of section 80b–9 of this title”. 1960—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 86–750 inserted “, or any member, officer, or employee thereof,” after “the Commission”, and inserted proscription against disclosing information to any person not a member, officer, or employee of the Commission.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2010 AmendmentAmendment by section 929I(c) of Pub. L. 111–203 effective 1 day after July 21, 2010, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 111–203, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 5301 of Title 12, Banks and Banking. Amendment by section 405 of Pub. L. 111–203 effective 1 year after
July 21, 2010, except that any investment adviser may, at the discretion of the investment adviser, register with the Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 during that 1-year period, subject to the rules of the Commission, and except as otherwise provided, see section 419 of Pub. L. 111–203, set out as a note under section 80b–2 of this title. Study on Improved Investor Access to Information on Investment Advisers and Broker-Dealers Pub. L. 111–203, title IX, § 919B,
July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1838, provided that: “(a) Study.—“(1) In general.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act [
July 21, 2010], the Commission shall complete a study, including recommendations, of ways to improve the access of investors to registration information (including disciplinary actions, regulatory, judicial, and arbitration proceedings, and other information) about registered and previously registered investment advisers, associated persons of investment advisers, brokers and dealers and their associated persons on the existing Central Registration Depository and Investment Adviser Registration Depository systems, as well as identify additional information that should be made publicly available. “(2) Contents.—The study required by subsection (a) shall include an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of further centralizing access to the information contained in the 2 systems, including—“(A) identification of those data pertinent to investors; and “(B) the identification of the method and format for displaying and publishing such data to enhance accessibility by and utility to investors. “(b) Implementation.—Not later than 18 months after the date of completion of the study required by subsection (a), the Commission shall implement any recommendations of the study.” [For definitions of terms used in section 919B of Pub. L. 111–203, set out above, see section 5301 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.] Investor Access to Information Pub. L. 104–290, title III, § 306, Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3439, required the Securities and Exchange Commission to provide for investor access to information concerning disciplinary actions involving investment advisers, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 109–290, § 7(b)(2), Sept. 29, 2006, 120 Stat. 1321.
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. § 80b–10
Title 15 — Commerce and Trade
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73