On September 26, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced three significant rulemakings. Summarized in a Public Statement by Chairman Jay Clayton, they are designed to achieve the following objectives.

• The Modernization of the Approval Framework for ETFs. This new rule: “(1) sets forth a clear and consistent framework that will allow exchange-traded funds (ETFs) meeting certain standardized conditions to come to market without obtaining an individualized exemptive order, and (2) amends certain forms to enhance disclosures for investors.”
• The Expansion of “Testing-the-Waters” Communications to All Issuers. This new rule: “will extend to all issuers the flexibility provided by the JOBS Act to communicate with institutional investors about potential IPOs and other registered offerings to better gauge market interest.”
• The Enhancement of the Regulation of the OTC Markets. These proposed amendments to the rules governing the publication of quotations for over-the-counter (OTC) securities are “designed to better protect investors from fraud and manipulation, while at the same time facilitating more efficient OTC trading in certain well-capitalized issuers.”

Chairman Clayton emphasized that these rulemakings “share common themes.” Foremost, they “modernize decades-old regulations . . . taking account of our experience, advances in communications technology and changes in the operation of our markets.” Significantly, these “common sense actions better align our regulations with the preferences and investor protection interests of our long-term Main Street investors, while also facilitating capital formation.”