New SEC liquidity rules could spawn a boom in interval funds

Kenneth Burdon, an attorney in the investment management group at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom says that rules proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission that would dramatically change liquidity requirements on traditional mutual funds could result in a boom for interval funds. While noting that the proposals still have a ways to go before approval, Burdon says that they would, if passed, make it so that many bank loans and other 'less liquid securities,' couldn't be held in traditional funds. Some funds may convert to closed-end status, he says, while other firms will plan more interval offerings if the rule passes.