Securities and Exchange Commission

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

The U.S. government agency, established in 1934, charged with protecting investors and maintaining the integrity of the securities markets. The SEC requires public companies to disclose meaningful financial information to the public, and it oversees participants in the securities business including stock exchanges, broker-dealers, investment advisors, mutual funds, and public utility holding companies. The commission is composed of 5 presidentially appointed commissioners, 4 divisions, and 18 offices.

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Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an independent federal agency that oversees and regulates the securities industry in the United States and enforces securities laws.

The SEC requires registration of all securities that meet the criteria it sets, and of all individuals and firms who sell those securities. It's also a rule making body, with a mandate to turn the law into rules that the investment industry can follow.

Established by Congress in 1934, the SEC sets standards for disclosure by publicly traded corporations, and works to protect investors from misleading or fraudulent practices, including insider trading.

It has four divisions: Corporate Finance, Market Regulation, Investment Management, and Enforcement.

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Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

A federal agency charged with the supervision of publicly traded securities and the protection of the public from fraud, manipulation, and other abuses. Real estate may constitute the primary or most important assets of many publicly traded companies such as REITs.In addition,the direct sale of interests in real estate may qualify as a sale of a security and subject one to SEC registration and oversight. As a general matter, certain persons must register with the SEC and certain investment vehicles must be registered with the SEC.On any given transaction,one or the other may be exempt but not both.The SEC has four divisions:

1. Division of Corporation Finance, which oversees disclosure of important information to the public

2. Division of Market Regulations, which regulates the participants in the securities mar- kets, such as broker-dealers and stock exchanges

3. Division of Investment Management, which regulates the $15 trillion investment management industry, including mutual funds.

4. Division of Enforcement, which investigates possible violations of securities laws, conducts civil enforcement actions, and works closely with law enforcement when it appears there has been criminal activity

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Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

What Does Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Mean?

A government commission created by Congress to regulate the securities markets and protect investors. In addition to regulation and protection, it monitors corporate takeovers in the United States. The SEC is composed of five commissioners appointed by the U.S. president and approved by the Senate. The statutes administered by the SEC are designed to promote full public disclosure and protect the investing public against fraudulent and manipulative practices in the securities markets. Generally, most issues of securities offered in interstate commerce, through the mail or on the Internet, must be registered with the SEC.

Investopedia explains Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Here is an example of an activity that falls within the SEC's domain: If someone purchases more than 5% of a company's equity, he or she must report to the SEC within 10 days of the purchase because of the takeover threats that action may cause.

Related Terms:
• Initial Public Offering—IPO
• National Association of Securities Dealers—NASD
• Nasdaq
• Regulation T—Reg T
• Stock Market