---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 80a–8"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "80a–8"
heading: "Registration of investment companies"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/80a-8"
units:
  - "Chapter 2D — Investment Companies and Advisers"
  - "Subchapter I — Investment Companies"
---

# §80a–8. Registration of investment companies

- (a) **Notification of registration; effective date of registration—** Any investment [company](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-8) organized or otherwise created under the laws of the United States or of a [State](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-39) may register for the purposes of this subchapter by filing with the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) a notification of registration, in such form as the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) shall by rules and regulations prescribe as necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors. An investment [company](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-8) shall be deemed to be registered upon receipt by the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) of such notification of registration.
- (b) **Registration statement; contents—** Every registered investment [company](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-8) shall file with the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7), within such reasonable time after registration as the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) shall fix by rules and regulations, an original and such copies of a registration statement, in such form and containing such of the following information and documents as the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) shall by rules and regulations prescribe as necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors:
  - (1) a recital of the policy of the registrant in respect of each of the following types of activities, such recital consisting in each case of a statement whether the registrant reserves freedom of action to engage in activities of such type, and if such freedom of action is reserved, a statement briefly indicating, insofar as is practicable, the extent to which the registrant intends to engage therein: (A) the classification and subclassifications, as defined in sections [80a–4](/usc/15/80a–4.md) and [80a–5](/usc/15/80a–5.md) of this title, within which the registrant proposes to operate; (B) borrowing money; (C) the issuance of senior [securities](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-36); (D) engaging in the business of underwriting [securities](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-36) issued by other [persons](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-28); (E) concentrating investments in a particular industry or group of industries; (F) the purchase and sale of real estate and commodities, or either of them; (G) making loans to other [persons](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-28); and (H) portfolio turn-over (including a statement showing the aggregate dollar amount of purchases and sales of portfolio [securities](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-36), other than [Government securities](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-16), in each of the last three full fiscal years preceding the filing of such registration statement);
  - (2) a recital of all investment policies of the registrant, not enumerated in [paragraph (1)](#b-1), which are changeable only if authorized by shareholder vote;
  - (3) a recital of all policies of the registrant, not enumerated in paragraphs [(1)](#b-1) and [(2)](#b-2), in respect of matters which the registrant deems matters of fundamental policy;
  - (4) the name and address of each affiliated [person](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-28) of the registrant; the name and principal address of every [company](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-8), other than the registrant, of which each such [person](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-28) is an officer, [director](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-12), or partner; a brief statement of the business experience for the preceding five years of each officer and [director](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-12) of the registrant; and
  - (5) the information and documents which would be required to be filed in order to register under the Securities Act of 1933 [[15 U.S.C. 77a](/usc/15/77a.md) et seq.] and the [Securities](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-36) Exchange Act of 1934 [[15 U.S.C. 78a](/usc/15/78a.md) et seq.], all [securities](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-36) (other than [short-term paper](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-38)) which the registrant has outstanding or proposes to issue.
- (c) **Alternative information—** The [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) shall make provision, by permissive rules and regulations or order, for the filing of the following, or so much of the following as the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) may designate, in lieu of the information and documents required pursuant to [subsection (b)](#b):
  - (1) copies of the most recent registration statement filed by the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 [[15 U.S.C. 77a](/usc/15/77a.md) et seq.] and currently effective under such Act, or if the registrant has not filed such a statement, copies of a registration statement filed by the registrant under the [Securities](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-36) Exchange Act of 1934 [[15 U.S.C. 78a](/usc/15/78a.md) et seq.] and currently effective under such Act;
  - (2) copies of any reports filed by the registrant pursuant to section [78m](/usc/15/78m.md) or [78o(d)](/usc/15/78o.md?p=d) of this title; and
  - (3) a report containing reasonably current information regarding the matters included in copies filed pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, and such further information regarding matters not included in such copies as the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) is authorized to require under [subsection (b)](#b).
- (d) **Registration of unit investment trusts—** If the registrant is a unit investment trust substantially all of the assets of which are [securities](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-36) issued by another registered investment [company](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-8), the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) is authorized to prescribe for the registrant, by rules and regulations or order, a registration statement which eliminates inappropriate duplication of information contained in the registration statement filed under this section by such other investment [company](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-8).
- (e) **Failure to file registration statement or omissions of material fact—** If it appears to the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) that a registered investment [company](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-8) has failed to file the registration statement required by this section or a report required pursuant to [section 80a–29](/usc/15/80a–29.md) (a) or (b) of this title, or has filed such a registration statement or report but omitted therefrom material facts required to be stated therein, or has filed such a registration statement or report in violation of [section 80a–33(b) of this title](/usc/15/80a–33.md?p=b), the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) shall notify such [company](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-8) by registered mail or by certified mail of the failure to file such registration statement or report, or of the respects in which such registration statement or report appears to be materially incomplete or misleading, as the case may be, and shall fix a date (in no event earlier than thirty days after the mailing of such notice) prior to which such [company](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-8) may file such registration statement or report or correct the same. If such registration statement or report is not filed or corrected within the time so fixed by the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) or any extension thereof, the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7), after appropriate notice and opportunity for hearing, and upon such conditions and with such exemptions as it deems appropriate for the protection of investors, may by order suspend the registration of such [company](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-8) until such statement or report is filed or corrected, or may by order revoke such registration, if the evidence establishes—
  - (1) that such [company](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-8) has failed to file a registration statement required by this section or a report required pursuant to [section 80a–29(a)](/usc/15/80a–29.md?p=a) or (b) of this title, or has filed such a registration statement or report but omitted therefrom material facts required to be stated therein, or has filed such a registration statement or report in violation of [section 80a–33(b) of this title](/usc/15/80a–33.md?p=b); and
  - (2) that such suspension or revocation is in the public interest.
- (f) **Cessation of existence as investment company—** Whenever the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7), on its own motion or upon application, finds that a registered investment [company](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-8) has ceased to be an investment [company](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-8), it shall so declare by order and upon the taking effect of such order the registration of such [company](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-8) shall cease to be in effect. If necessary for the protection of investors, an order under this subsection may be made upon appropriate conditions. The [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7)’s denial of any application under this subsection shall be by order.
- (g) **Data standards for registration statements—**
  - (1) **Requirement—** The [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) shall, by rule, adopt data standards for all registration statements required to be filed with the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) under this section, except that the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) may exempt exhibits, signatures, and certifications from those data standards.
  - (2) **Consistency—** The data standards required under [paragraph (1)](#g-1) shall incorporate, and ensure compatibility with (to the extent feasible), all applicable data standards established in the rules promulgated under [section 5334 of title 12](/usc/12/5334.md), including, to the extent practicable, by having the characteristics described in clauses (i) through (vi) of subsection (c)(1)(B) of such section 5334.

## Source credit

(Aug. 22, 1940, ch. 686, title I, § 8, 54 Stat. 803; Pub. L. 86–507, § 1(14), June 11, 1960, 74 Stat. 201; Pub. L. 91–547, § 3(c), Dec. 14, 1970, 84 Stat. 1415; Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LVIII, § 5821(b)(1), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3424.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Securities Act of 1933, referred to in subsecs. (b)(5) and (c)(1), 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 subsecs. (b)(5) and (c)(1), is act June 6, 1934, ch. 404, 48 Stat. 881, which is classified generally to 2B (§ 78a et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 78a of this title and Tables.

Words “such Act”, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), mean the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, respectively.

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 117–263 added subsec. (g).

1970—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 91–547, § 3(c)(1), substituted “all investment policies of the registrant” and “which are changeable only if authorized by shareholder vote” for “the policy of the registrant in respect of matters” and “which the registrant deems matters of fundamental policy and elects to treat as such”, respectively. Former provisions are covered in par. (3).

Subsec. (b)(3) to (5). Pub. L. 91–547, § 3(c)(2), (3), added par. (3) and redesignated former pars. (3) and (4) as (4) and (5), respectively.

1960—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 86–507 inserted “or by certified mail” after “registered mail”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–547 effective Dec. 14, 1970, see section 30 of Pub. L. 91–547, set out as a note under section 80a–52 of this title.

### Rule of Construction—No New Disclosure Requirements

Amendment by Pub. L. 117–263 not to be construed to require certain additional information to be collected or disclosed, see section 5826 of Pub. L. 117–263, set out as a note under section 77g 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.