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Your Guide to SEC Updates to N-PORT & N-CEN Forms

Compliance
Disclosure Management
Investments
SEC Reporting
Your Guide to the SEC Updates to Forms N-PORT and N-CEN
4 min read
AUTHOR:
Arthy Kumar
Industry Principal
Published: November 20, 2019
Last Updated: September 15, 2023

Since the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adopted its rule to modernize disclosures by registered investment companies, fund providers have been adjusting to changes.

The rule, revised in January 2019, introduced two new forms: N-PORT and N-CEN. It required information on both forms be filed to the SEC in XML format so that SEC staff can efficiently analyze the data for trend spotting and risk monitoring.

Here's a high-level look at highlights of the requirements, as well as quick tips for smoother compliance.

This form, filed by registered management investment companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) organized as Unit Investment Trusts, is used to report on a fund’s portfolio. Money market funds and small business investment companies (SBICs) are excluded.

The rule requires funds to report:

  • General information, including a Legal Entity Identifier number
  • Assets and liabilities
  • A number of portfolio-level quantitative risk metrics for funds with 25% or more invested in debt instruments
  • Securities lending, including information on counterparties involved
  • Monthly total returns for each of the preceding three months
  • Flow information (net asset value of shares sold, shares sold in connection with re-investments of dividends and distributions, and shares redeemed or repurchased) for each of the preceding three months
  • Information on each investment in the portfolio
  • Miscellaneous securities
  • Explanatory notes, if any
  • Exhibits

Because this overlaps with information on the previous Form N-Q, Form N-Q is no longer required.

Form N-CEN provides basic fund information, including details like the chief compliance officer's name, and replaces Form N-SAR. Registered investment companies including money market funds are required to file Form-NCEN. On the plus side, it is filed annually (unlike N-SAR, which was filed semiannually).

Here is a breakdown of the different areas of Form N-CEN by fund:

  • All funds complete parts A and B and file required attachments
  • All management companies, other than SBICs, will complete Part C
  • Closed-end funds and SBICs will complete Part D
  • ETFs, including those that are UITs, and exchange-traded managed funds will complete Part E
  • UITs will complete Part F

N-PORT

Under the revised rule from January 2019, a fund must file N-PORT for each of the three months in a fiscal quarter within 60 days of the end of that quarter. (Fund companies need to have the data on hand within 30 days after the end of each month.) Information reported for the third month of each fund’s fiscal quarter is intended to be made publicly available.

N-CEN

As with the old N-SAR schedule, management companies will file N-CEN on a fiscal year basis, while UITs will file on a calendar year basis. N-CEN must be filed within 75 days.

Larger fund groups started submitting Form N-PORT to EDGAR beginning May 2019. The revised rule gave small fund groups with less than $1 billion in net assets until June 1, 2020, to file their first reports on Form N-PORT on EDGAR for the period ending March 31, 2020. (They must comply with the data retention requirement starting April 1, 2020.)

From here on out, funds should be reporting liquidity information on N-CEN.

The compliance date for smaller fund groups to report liquidity information on N-PORT was pushed back to Dec. 1, 2019.

The SEC is the definitive source for details on N-PORT and N-CEN. Resources online include:

No doubt, the complexity of gathering the required information for each fund, the volume of information to be reported across all your funds, and the reporting deadlines can be daunting.

  1. Use technology to simplify data aggregation
  2. Eliminate duplicative tasks
  3. Automate what you can
  4. Work with a software provider with an out-of-the box solution and services for meeting the requirements

Based on the evolution of N-PORT requirements alone, we know that regulations can change. As you prepare for a smooth N-PORT and N-CEN filing process, look for solutions that can help you nimbly adapt with each update of disclosures and filing requirements.

Workiva recently announced a partnership with FilePoint which enables users to export their data for Forms N-PORT and N-CEN from the Workiva connected reporting platform into the FilePoint solution. Investment companies can then edit, review, approve, and work with the FilePoint service team to file those forms directly with the SEC.

For an up-close look at how the partnership between Workiva and FilePoint can support your filing process, request a demo.

Take a break from reading about SEC and join the discussion virtually at Amplify 2023 on Sept. 21st. Access 13 sessions, and get the chance to earn up to 8 CPE credits! Register now.

About the Author
Arthy Kumar
Arthy Kumar

Industry Principal

Arthy Kumar is an Industry Principal at Workiva. She drives the go-to-market strategy, execution, and success of reporting and compliance solutions for banking, investment, and insurance companies. Arthy’s previous roles at Workiva include Director of Program Management for Investments and Subject Matter Expert. Before joining Workiva in 2012, Arthy spent 14 years at Vanguard and MetLife. Her experience includes financial planning, portfolio analysis, relationship management of large institutional clients, and people management. She is a CFP® (Certified Financial PlannerTM) professional and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC).

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