Top of the Agenda - Governance

Boards to grapple with rule 2a-5, other reg matters, in 2021

By Hillary Jackson

Regulatory matters are expected to take up a sizable chunk of time on mutual fund boards' 2021 agendas. The new rule on fair valuation practices is the latest item to be added to a list that already includes—for many boards, and to varying degrees—new rules on the use of derivatives ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<

Q&A: Artificial intelligence in the fund industry

A conversation with Sidley Austin's Nathan Greene, BlackRock's Dr. Rachel Schutt, and FundGuard's Lior Yogev: What is artificial intelligence, and how much do mutual fund industry professionals need to pay attention to it?

According to Schutt, AI is simply defined as the use of machines to replicate human intelligence. It ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<

Two Columbia Funds boards to merge

By Hillary Jackson

Two boards overseeing Columbia Threadneedle Investments funds are planning to merge into a single board, a move they say will lead to efficiencies and cost savings. Sixteen of the two boards' 18 independent directors are standing for election to the new combined board, which is expected to become operational on ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<

Deloitte: Fund industry adapts, faces 2020 challenges

By Hillary Jackson

The mutual fund industry has adapted well to the many challenges they've faced this year, displaying an agility that enabled them to make real-time adjustments to their fair valuation processes and work efficiently remotely, according to Deloitte's 2020 Fair Valuation Pricing Survey, published this week.

The 18th annual survey, conducted over ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<

Three AllianzGI, 10 Virtus directors to form new fund board

By Hillary Jackson

Three directors from Allianz Global Investors Funds and 10 from Virtus Funds are expected to form a new board upon the closing of a deal in which Virtus Investment Partners will assume responsibility for some $23 billion in AllianzGI U.S. retail assets. Shareholders will vote on the slate of director ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<

Age of COVID-19: Cybersecurity top of mind among fund directors

By Mike Schnitzel

The global COVID-19 pandemic is raising the level of scrutiny mutual fund directors will need to apply to multiple issues given that much of the workforce is likely to continue working from home for the foreseeable future. Chief among those concerns are cybersecurity protocols, with concerns about phishing, hacking and ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<