Overview

The Commission is proposing amendments to the rule under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that governs the custody of investment company assets outside the United States. The amendments would revise the findings that currently must be made in establishing foreign custody arrangements to focus exclusively on the safekeeping of investment company assets. In addition, the amendments would provide investment companies with greater flexibility to address foreign custody arrangements by permitting a company's board of directors to delegate its responsibilities under the rule to evaluate these arrangements. The amendments also would expand the class of foreign banks and securities depositories that could serve as investment company custodians. The proposed amendments are intended to facilitate the use of foreign custody arrangements, consistent with the safekeeping of investment company assets.