Notice Filing

Laws & Regulations High Relevance

Simplified state filing procedure under NSMIA for federal covered securities (primarily mutual funds, closed-end funds, and UITs) and federal covered advisers. Requires filing copies of SEC registration documents, consent to service of process, and payment of fees, but is not full registration. States retain anti-fraud authority but cannot impose merit review or deny effectiveness. Federal covered advisers must notice file in states where they have retail clients.

Example

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund is a mutual fund registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940. To sell shares in California, Vanguard files a notice filing with California, submitting copies of its SEC registration statement and paying the state filing fee. California cannot deny the offering or impose merit review, but can enforce anti-fraud provisions and collect fees.

Common Confusion

Notice filing is NOT the same as registration. Registration involves state merit review and approval, while notice filing is a simplified process where states cannot deny the offering. Students often confuse notice filing with registration by filing (coordination), which is full state registration that runs parallel to SEC registration. Also, federal covered advisers with only institutional clients are exempt from notice filing, while those with retail clients must notice file.

How This Is Tested

  • Distinguishing notice filing (federal covered securities) from registration by filing/coordination (non-federal covered securities)
  • Identifying which securities require notice filing (investment companies, Rule 506 offerings) versus full state registration
  • Understanding state authority limits for notice filing: can collect fees and enforce anti-fraud, cannot deny effectiveness or impose merit review
  • Recognizing that federal covered advisers must notice file if they have retail clients in a state, but not if they only serve institutional clients
  • Determining what documents states can require in notice filing (SEC registration statement, consent to service of process, fees)

Regulatory Limits

Description Limit Notes
Primary securities requiring notice filing Federal covered securities (investment companies, Rule 506 offerings) Mutual funds, closed-end funds, UITs registered under Investment Company Act of 1940; Regulation D Rule 506(b) and 506(c) offerings
Federal covered advisers notice filing requirement Required if retail clients in state Not required if only institutional clients; SEC-registered advisers with $110M+ AUM
State authority over notice-filed securities Can collect fees and enforce anti-fraud; cannot deny or merit review States cannot require legends, impose conditions, or conduct substantive review
Required notice filing documents Copies of SEC registration statement, consent to service of process, fees May also request value of securities offered in state

Example Exam Questions

Test your understanding with these practice questions. Select an answer to see the explanation.

Question 1

Fidelity Contrafund, a mutual fund registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, wants to offer shares to investors in Texas. The Texas State Securities Board receives the notice filing and determines that the fund has concentrated positions that may be too risky for Texas investors. The Board wants to either deny the offering or require Fidelity to add a risk disclosure legend to all marketing materials distributed in Texas. Which action can the Texas State Securities Board legally take?

Question 2

What is the primary purpose of notice filing for federal covered securities under NSMIA?

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Question 3

Summit Capital Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser with $250 million in AUM. The firm has 85 retail individual clients across 8 states and 4 institutional clients (pension funds and endowments) in 3 additional states where Summit has no retail clients. In how many states is Summit required to file notice filings?

Question 4

All of the following are actions states can legally take regarding federal covered securities that are notice-filed EXCEPT

Question 5

A mutual fund company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 is preparing to file notice filings in 15 states where it plans to offer shares. The fund's compliance officer is reviewing state requirements. Which of the following statements about the notice filing process are accurate?

1. States can require consent to service of process as part of the notice filing
2. States can request information about the value of securities to be offered in their state
3. States can conduct merit review and reject the offering if fees are too high
4. The fund must register under the Uniform Securities Act in addition to notice filing

πŸ’‘ Memory Aid

Think "Notice = No Merit Review": Notice filing is like checking in at a hotel (giving your name, paying a fee, signing consent forms) versus applying for a mortgage (full financial review and approval process). States can check you in and collect fees, but they cannot deny your stay based on reviewing whether the investment is a good deal. The SEC already did the heavy reviewβ€”states just track and collect, not judge.

Related Concepts

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Where This Appears on the Exam

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