As private assets become harder to sell and investor redemption requests surge, the SEC on Monday issued a statement urging firms to strengthen valuation work. The statement proposed no new rules but signals heightened scrutiny of how firms determine fair value for private holdings and disclose related risks.

The SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant and Division of Investment Management said the core message is that robust policies and procedures, together with timely, material disclosures, help investors understand fair-value assessment processes, the judgments involved, and private-asset risks.