SEC Delays Short Selling Disclosure Deadlines to 2028

According to ChainCatcher, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has postponed the deadlines for the disclosure rules related to short selling and securities lending. The final deadline for large investment management institutions, including hedge funds, to comply with short selling reporting requirements has been extended to January 2, 2028. The disclosure obligations for securities lending transactions have been delayed until September 28, 2028.The SEC stated that these temporary exemptions align with public interest and investor protection goals. In October 2023, the SEC introduced new regulations mandating eligible asset management institutions to report short positions data monthly. Pension funds, banks, and institutional investors lending their stocks are required to submit reports the day after the transaction.In August, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the SEC had not adequately assessed the economic impact of its rulemaking, prompting the agency to reconsider. SEC's sole Democratic commissioner, Crenshaw, expressed concern that the compliance date extensions are being used as a pretext to undermine the rules, which could erode the foundation of the rule of law.