Can the SAI be e-signed?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA in most states when the signature demonstrates intent, consent to electronic transactions, attribution, and reliable record retention; some categories remain exceptions, so verify applicability.

What authentication should I use?

Match authentication strength to risk: basic email/SMS for low-risk transactions, KBA or two-factor for higher-assurance needs, and RON with identity proofing when notarization is required by law or policy.

Do I need notarization or witnesses?

Not usually for a standalone SAI, but notarization or witnesses may be required if the SAI incorporates or accompanies documents that state law or an exchange requires to be notarized or witnessed. Check the governing state rules before execution.

How long must I keep signed SAIs?

Retention varies: keep relevant records at least as long as federal minimums (for example, IRS 3 years) and meet industry-specific requirements such as HIPAA's 6-year rule; longer state retention periods may apply.

What if a field is wrong after signing?

When material errors occur, prepare an amendment or corrected SAI, have authorized signers re-execute or initial changes, and keep a redline/version history; counsel review may be required for substantive changes.

How should I deliver the SAI to investors?

Make the SAI available on request and ensure the delivered electronic record is reproducible; for consumer-facing materials, comply with ESIGN disclosure and consent requirements before relying on electronic delivery.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Other
Statement of Additional Information

Statement of Additional Information

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

What the Statement of Additional Information Is and when it matters

The Statement of Additional Information is a complementary disclosure document that supplements a primary offering document by providing detailed legal, operational, and financial information that is not included in the main prospectus or summary. It typically explains investment policies, fee schedules, portfolio management biographies, shareholder rights, and governance procedures. Issuers produce an SAI to satisfy regulatory disclosure duties and to give investors and examiners access to detailed materials for due diligence; it remains secondary to the prospectus but is an important part of the disclosure record.

Why a clear Statement of Additional Information reduces risk

A clear SAI provides investors and regulators with the detailed disclosures needed for informed decisions, supports regulatory compliance, and reduces repetitive information requests by placing technical or operational details outside the prospectus.

Who typically prepares and consults the SAI

Typical users include investment managers, compliance officers, and investor relations teams who prepare or reference the SAI.

Investment managers preparing fund disclosures and policy explanations for regulators and investors.
Compliance officers verifying regulatory completeness, retention rules, and disclosure consistency across documents.
Investor relations and advisers providing deeper technical or historical details beyond the prospectus summary.

Step-by-step: preparing and submitting the Statement of Additional Information

Follow these steps to prepare and submit a Statement of Additional Information accurately and in compliance with applicable disclosure rules.

01

Gather Documents: Collect prospectus, offering documents, financial statements, and prior SAIs.
02

Complete Fields: Fill each required field with validated data and correct formats.
03

Verify Signatures: Confirm authorized signers and obtain notarizations or witness signatures where required.
04

Distribute and File: Provide copies to investors on request and file with regulators if required by law or policy.

Configuring an online workflow for collaborative SAI completion

Configure online workflow for collaborative editing, review, and controlled e-signature execution, including role-based routing and audit capture.

Field	Configuration
User Roles	Assign preparer, reviewer, and signer roles.
Authentication	Use email plus SMS code or enterprise SSO for signer verification.
Field Types	Use text, date, checkbox, and conditional fields as needed.
Retention	Set automatic retention period and secure export options.

Standard eSubmission flow for the Statement of Additional Information

Typical electronic workflow for completing and delivering the Statement of Additional Information online to stakeholders.

Upload Document: Sender uploads the final SAI PDF or DOCX.
Place Fields: Add signature, initial, date, and conditional fields where required.
Invite Signers: Send signer invites via email or provide a secure signing link.
Capture Audit Trail: System records timestamps, IP addresses, and actions for compliance.

Platform and technical requirements for compliant eSigning

Review platform requirements for secure eSigning, strong signer authentication, audit trails, and compliant retention policies.

File Types: PDF, DOCX, and HTML supported.
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace, Box.
Security: TLS 1.2/1.3; AES-256 at rest.

Security and compliance items to confirm before eSigning

In Transit: TLS 1.2/1.3 encryption.

At Rest: AES-256 encryption for stored data.

Certifications: ISO 27001; SOC 2 Type II; PCI DSS.

HIPAA: BAA available for covered entities.

21 CFR Part 11: Compliant controls for FDA records.

Audit Trail: Detailed timestamps, IP, and action log.

Principal risks and potential consequences of errors

Regulatory Fines: SEC penalties and enforcement actions.

Civil Liability: Investor claims and damages.

Contract Voidance: Incorrect signatures may be invalid.

Tax Consequences: Reporting errors trigger IRS penalties.

Operational Delay: Processing delays and increased costs.

Reputational Risk: Loss of investor trust.

Common mistakes when preparing the Statement of Additional Information

Using informal or mismatched names that do not match government ID can cause identity verification failures and require re-execution, delaying filing and investor delivery.
Failing to include required cross-references or exhibits leaves regulatory reviewers unable to confirm disclosures, often resulting in follow-up requests and extended review timelines.
Omitting signer capacity (for example: trustee or authorized officer) creates enforceability questions and may require corporate resolutions or additional documentation before acceptance.
Neglecting to retain the audit trail, notarization records, or RON recordings risks noncompliance with preservation rules and complicates dispute resolution.

Timing considerations and response expectations

Key timing and statutory deadlines related to distribution, filing, and retention of the Statement of Additional Information.

Availability to Investors:

Make SAI available upon investor request; no fixed federal deadline.

Regulatory Review Response:

Respond to regulator inquiries within the stated request timeframe.

Record Retention Start Date:

Retention counts from creation or signing date.

RON Record Retention:

Maintain audio-video record per applicable state RON rules.

Voluntary Updates:

Issue updates when material facts change promptly.

Sample eSignature vendor comparison for SAI workflows

Vendor pricing and feature availability vary; the table below summarizes commonly compared criteria with signNow listed first in accordance with platform data.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	None	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Real-world examples of using an electronic SAI workflow

Below are two customer scenarios illustrating practical benefits when the SAI is managed electronically.

Optica Ventures

Optica Ventures used an online SAI workflow to centralize fund disclosures and speed investor responses.

User-friendly interface reduced help tickets.
The team reported faster responses from investors, fewer document clarifications, and an easier review process for counsel; auditors and prospective investors received required details without repeated requests.

Fertility Centers of Illinois

Fertility Centers moved SAI-related consent and disclosure handling online to improve tracking and retention.

Integration with existing systems simplified retrieval.
The organization highlighted responsive support and compliant audit trails that ensured records were accessible for reviews and minimized administrative overhead.

Practical steps to reduce errors and speed review

Adopt consistent practices that address identity, format, versioning, and reviewer workflows to cut errors and simplify audits.

Validate signer identities consistently

Use standardized identity checks (email+SMS, KBA, or enterprise SSO) and confirm signatory capacity before sending the SAI for signature to reduce rework and invalidation risk.

Standardize SAI templates and cross-references

Maintain a single template with numbered exhibits and cross-references to the prospectus; automated field population reduces typos and speeds regulatory review.

Maintain complete audit trails and version control

Keep tamper-evident records, version history, and any notarization or RON recordings to support future examinations or dispute resolution.

Schedule regular disclosure reviews and updates

Set periodic reviews to update fee schedules, manager bios, or policies and record amendments promptly to avoid outdated or misleading information.

Typical roles that sign documents and why their authority matters

Fund Manager

A fund manager or authorized portfolio executive signs SAIs to confirm investment policies and operational disclosures. Their signature attests to the accuracy of managerial statements and may be required for regulatory filings or investor attestations.

Compliance Officer

A compliance officer reviews and countersigns or certifies portions of the SAI to confirm regulatory completeness, record retention settings, and that required disclosures have been made according to governing securities rules and internal policies.

Answers to common questions and troubleshooting tips

Answers to common questions about preparing, electronically signing, authenticating, and retaining the Statement of Additional Information in a compliant workflow.

Need help? Contact support

Can the SAI be e-signed?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA in most states when the signature demonstrates intent, consent to electronic transactions, attribution, and reliable record retention; some categories remain exceptions, so verify applicability.
What authentication should I use?
Match authentication strength to risk: basic email/SMS for low-risk transactions, KBA or two-factor for higher-assurance needs, and RON with identity proofing when notarization is required by law or policy.
Do I need notarization or witnesses?
Not usually for a standalone SAI, but notarization or witnesses may be required if the SAI incorporates or accompanies documents that state law or an exchange requires to be notarized or witnessed. Check the governing state rules before execution.
How long must I keep signed SAIs?
Retention varies: keep relevant records at least as long as federal minimums (for example, IRS 3 years) and meet industry-specific requirements such as HIPAA's 6-year rule; longer state retention periods may apply.
What if a field is wrong after signing?
When material errors occur, prepare an amendment or corrected SAI, have authorized signers re-execute or initial changes, and keep a redline/version history; counsel review may be required for substantive changes.
How should I deliver the SAI to investors?
Make the SAI available on request and ensure the delivered electronic record is reproducible; for consumer-facing materials, comply with ESIGN disclosure and consent requirements before relying on electronic delivery.

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