What happened
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and France’s Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) announced on 20 October 2026 that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), a formal agreement between two regulators on how they will work together.
The MOU sets up a framework for consultation, cooperation and exchange of information. It applies to investment service providers, investment advisers and investment companies that operate in both the United States and France and are overseen by either regulator.
It also helps French asset managers that want to enter the US market. Under the arrangement, the SEC can register and supervise AMF-supervised asset management companies that wish to work in America as investment advisers. The SEC said it will assess both new and pending applications from such firms with the MOU in mind.
SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins said the MOU reflects the cooperation needed in securities regulation so that global markets can thrive in ways that are “flexible, innovative, and protective of investors worldwide”. AMF Chair Marie-Anne Barbat-Layani said it strengthens cooperation between the two authorities and reflects a shared commitment to protecting investors and the integrity of the financial system.
What it means for you
The announcement is about how regulators coordinate, and it does not change any rules for individual investors. In practical terms, firms that run money in both countries can be supervised with more information passing between the two regulators. There is no stated direct effect on Indian investors or NRIs.
Background
Investment advisers are firms that manage money or give investment advice for clients. When such a firm operates across borders, more than one regulator has an interest in it, which is why agreements on consultation and information-sharing are used.
