Agencies Extend Comment Period on Volcker Rule Changes

The proposed rule is intended "to improve and streamline the covered fund provisions and provide clarity to banking entities" on what financial services they can offer and activities that they can engage in without violating the Volcker Rule, according to the SEC. It would "modify the restrictions for banking entities investing in, sponsoring, or having certain relationships with covered funds," according to the OCC.

The proposal addresses "compliance uncertainty about the [Volcker] rule" and certain limitations on banking services and activities that the rule did not intend to restrict, according to the OCC. 

The Volcker Rule, enacted in 2013, is part of the Dodd-FrankAct, legislation that followed the global financial crisis in 2008, intended to prevent another. The rule has been modified previously, most notably in November 2019 when restrictions on proprietary trading by banking institutions were simplified.

The latest proposal would, among other changes, exempt entities from the covered fund provisions, including venture capital funds, family wealth management vehicles, funds that extend credit to customers, long-term investment funds that do not engage in any short-term proprietary trading and certain qualifying foreign funds.

— Also check out on ThinkAdvisor: Volcker Rule Changes: The Good, Bad and Ugly