Form 497 Filings

What Is SEC Form 497?

SEC Form 497 is a filing required under Rule 497 of the Securities Act of 1933. It is used by mutual funds and other registered investment companies to file definitive versions of prospectuses, summary prospectuses, statements of additional information, and related materials in connection with a registered offering.

This form is typically filed after a registration statement becomes effective or when updated definitive materials are first used. Form 497 may reflect final disclosures delivered to investors, including prospectus supplements and other fund disclosure documents that replace, update, or finalize previously filed materials.

Form 497 supports transparency by making final investor-facing materials publicly available through the SEC EDGAR Search. While Form 497 is associated with investment company disclosure delivery, the specific timing and format requirements depend on the applicable Rule 497 paragraph and the nature of the definitive materials being filed.

Key elements typically found in SEC Form 497 include:

• Name of the investment company, series, or separate account filing the materials
• Type of definitive materials being filed, such as a prospectus, summary prospectus, supplement, or SAI
• Relevant Securities Act rule basis for the filing under the applicable Rule 497 paragraph
• Date the definitive materials are first used or delivered, if applicable
• References to the related registration statement and file number
• Filed document content in the form used for investor disclosure

Form 497 filings often follow registration statement amendments such as Form 485APOS, which may be used to update investment company registration statements before revised disclosure becomes effective.

SEC Form 497 Filing Deadlines

SEC Form 497 is subject to timing requirements that depend on the specific type of definitive materials being filed and the applicable Rule 497 provision. These timing rules are important to ensure that final investor-facing disclosures are filed promptly and remain consistent with the materials being used in the market.

Another related registration statement amendment, Form 485BPOS, is commonly used for investment company prospectus and statement of additional information updates under Rule 485(b). Form 497 may subsequently appear when definitive investor-facing materials are filed.

Key Things to Know About Form 497 Filing Rules

• Rule-Based Timing Applies: Filing deadlines vary depending on which Rule 497 paragraph applies and whether the materials are filed based on effectiveness, first use, or another triggering event.
• Definitive Materials Must Match Use: Form 497 filings generally reflect the definitive materials used for investor disclosure rather than draft or preliminary versions.
• Often Tied to Investment Company Registration Statements: Form 497 is commonly associated with filings connected to registration statements on forms such as N-1A, N-3, N-4, N-6, and other investment company registration frameworks.
• Used for Multiple Document Types: Form 497 may include prospectuses, summary prospectuses, prospectus supplements, statements of additional information, and other definitive disclosure materials required to be filed.

Researchers examining these filings across funds can use the Mutual Fund and ETF Filings Database to review Form 497 submissions alongside registration statements, post-effective amendments, and related disclosure activity.

For issuer-level research, the SEC Filer Directory can also be used to identify registrants and examine their broader SEC filing histories.