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Guia de publicações do comerciante para o negociante Divisão de negociação e mercados 1 Comissão de Valores e Câmbio dos EUA Abril de 2008 Índice Introdução Quem é necessário Registrar Quem é um QuotBrokerquot Quem é um quotDealerquot O que fazer se você pensa que pode ser um corretor ou Um Dealer Brokers e Dealers geralmente deve registrar-se com a SEC quotAssociated Personsquot de um corretor intermediário Broker-Dealers Broker-Dealers que limitam seus negócios excluídos e eximidos corretores de valores-Dealers devem registrar-se antes de vender títulos não registrados - incluindo canais privados (ou regulamento Ofertas de D) Exenção do Emissor Requisitos de isenção do corretor externo e do negociante sobre corretores e negociantes de títulos públicos e municipais, incluindo acordos de recompra Regras especiais que se aplicam aos bancos e outras instituições financeiras Agência de seguros Networking Títulos de imóveis e corretores de imóveis Relações com corretores de corretores com afinidade Grou Ps Como se registrar como um formulário do corretor e revendedor BD SRO Membros SIPC Membros Requisitos do Estado Pessoas associadas Sucessor Registro do corretor-Revendedor Retirada do registro Cancelamento do registro Futuros de segurança Conduta Regulamento dos corretores-negociantes Disposições antifraude Dever de Fair Dealing Requisitos de adequação Dever de melhor execução Regra de Confirmação do Cliente Divulgação dos Termos de Crédito Restrições sobre Vendas Curtas (Regulamento SHO) Negociação Durante uma Oferta (Regulamento M) Restrições às Restrições de Insider Trading em Valores Mobiliários Privados Analistas e Regulamentos AC Trading por Membros de Trocas, Corretores e Dealers Estendendo Crédito em Novos Problemas Regulamento NMS Ordem Obrigações de Execução Regulação ATS: Corretora de Negociante Sistemas de Negociação Penny Stock Rules Privacidade da Informação Financeira do Consumidor (Regulamento SP) Consultor de Investimento Registro Arbitragem Responsabilidade Financeira dos Corretoras-Comerciantes Regra de Capital Líquido Uso de Saldos de Clientes Proteção do Cliente Livros, registros e relatórios requeridos Requisitos de avaliação de riscos Outros Requisitos Exames e inspeções Programa de títulos perdidos e roubados Exigência de impressão digital Uso de mídia eletrônica por corretores-negociantes Assinaturas eletrônicas Programa anti-lavagem de dinheiro Escritório de ativos estrangeiros Controle planos de continuidade de negócios Onde obter mais informações I INTRODUÇÃO O Securities Exchange Act de 1934 (QuotExchange Actquot ou quotActquot) governa a forma como operam os mercados de valores mobiliários nacionais e seus corretores e negociantes. Preparamos este guia para resumir algumas das disposições importantes da Lei e suas regras. Você encontrará informações sobre se você precisa se registrar como corretor e como você pode se registrar, bem como as normas de conduta e as regras de responsabilidade financeira que os corretores devem seguir. CUIDADO mdash CERTIFIQUE-SE DE SEGUIR TODAS AS LEIS E REGRAS Embora este guia destaque certas disposições da Lei e nossas regras, não é abrangente. Os corretores e negociantes e suas pessoas associadas devem cumprir todos os requisitos aplicáveis, incluindo os da Comissão de Valores Mobiliários dos EUA (quotSECquot ou quotCommissionquot), bem como os requisitos de quaisquer organizações de auto-regulação a que pertencem os corretores e revendedores, E não apenas os resumidos aqui. A equipe da SEC está pronta para responder suas perguntas e ajudá-lo a cumprir nossas regras. Depois de ler este guia, se você tiver dúvidas, entre em contato com o Escritório de Interpretação e Orientação no (202) 551-5777 (e-mail tradeandmarketssec. gov) ou o Escritório Regional da SEC em sua área. Você encontrará uma lista de números de telefone úteis no final deste guia, ou no site do SEC39 em sec. govcontact. shtml. Você pode consultar um advogado particular que esteja familiarizado com as leis federais de valores mobiliários, para garantir que você cumpra todas as leis e regulamentos. A equipe da SEC não pode atuar como advogada de um indivíduo ou negociante. Enquanto a equipe tenta fornecer orientação por telefone para indivíduos que estão fazendo perguntas, a orientação é informal e não vinculativa. A orientação formal pode ser buscada através de um inquérito escrito que é consistente com as diretrizes do SEC39 para pedidos sem ação, interpretação e isenção. II. QUAL É REQUERIDO PARA REGISTRAR-SE A maioria dos quotbrokersquot e quotdealersquot deve se registrar na SEC e se juntar a uma organização de quotes-regulatory, quot ou SRO. Esta seção cobre os fatores que determinam se uma pessoa é um corretor ou revendedor. Ele também descreve os tipos de corretores e comerciantes que não precisam se registrar na SEC. Organizações auto-reguladoras são descritas na Parte III, abaixo. Uma nota sobre os bancos: O Exchange Act também contém disposições especiais relativas às atividades de corretagem e negociação dos bancos. Consulte as Seções 3 (a) (4) (B) e 3 (a) (5) (C) e disposições relacionadas, e consulte o conselho. Os aspectos da atividade do revendedor do banco são discutidos em uma publicação emitida pela Divisão de Negociação e Mercados da SEC39, intitulada Guia de Conformidade do QuotStaff para Bancos em Exigências e Regras Estatutárias do Revendedor, que está disponível no site do SEC39 em: sec. govdivisionsmarketregbankdealerguide. htm. A atividade de corretagem bancária é abordada no Regulamento R, que foi adotado conjuntamente pela Comissão e pelo Conselho de Governadores do Sistema da Reserva Federal. Veja a Lei do Exchange Act No. 56501 (24 de setembro de 2007) sec. govrulesfinal200734-56501.pdf. A. Quem é um QuotBrokerquot Seção 3 (a) (4) (A) da Lei geralmente define um quotbrokerquot amplamente como qualquer pessoa envolvida no negócio de efetuar transações em valores mobiliários por conta de terceiros. Às vezes você pode facilmente determinar se alguém é um corretor. Por exemplo, uma pessoa que executa transações para terceiros em uma bolsa de valores é claramente uma corretora. No entanto, outras situações são menos claras. Por exemplo, cada um dos seguintes indivíduos e empresas pode precisar se registrar como corretor, dependendo de uma série de fatores: quotfinders, quotbusiness brokers, quot e outros indivíduos ou entidades que se envolvem nas seguintes atividades: Encontrar investidores ou clientes, Fazendo alocações ou comissões de divisão com corretoras registradas, empresas de investimento (ou fundos de investimento, incluindo fundos de hedge) ou outros intermediários de valores mobiliários. Localizando clientes de bancos de investimento para corretores-negociantes registrados. Encontrar investidores para cotistas (entidades emissoras de títulos), mesmo em um Quotconsultantquot capacity Investir em, ou encontrar investidores para, capital de risco ou quotangelquot financiamentos, incluindo colocações privadas Encontrar compradores e vendedores de empresas (ou seja, atividades relacionadas a fusões e aquisições onde os títulos estão envolvidos) consultores de investimentos e consultores financeiros corretores estrangeiros que não podem confiar Na Regra 15a-6 sob a Lei (discutida abaixo ) Pessoas que operam ou controlam plataformas eletrônicas ou outras para negociar pessoas de valores mobiliários que comercializam interesses de investimento imobiliário, como os interesses de arrendamento em comum, que são pessoas em valores mobiliários que atuam como agentes de quitação para colocações privadas de pessoas em valores mobiliários que comercializam ou efetuam efeitos Transações em produtos de seguros que são valores mobiliários, tais como rendas variáveis ​​ou outros produtos de investimento que são pessoas seguradoras que efetuam transações de valores mobiliários para a conta de terceiros por uma taxa, mesmo quando essas outras pessoas são amigos ou familiares que prestam serviços de suporte para Corretores de corretores registrados e pessoas que atuam como contratantes independentes, mas não são pessoas associadas de um corretor (para informações sobre pessoas associadas, veja abaixo). Para determinar se algum desses indivíduos (ou qualquer outra pessoa ou empresa) é um corretor, analisamos as atividades que a pessoa ou empresa realmente executa. Você pode encontrar análises de várias atividades nas decisões dos tribunais federais e nossas próprias cartas de não ação e interpretação. Aqui estão algumas das perguntas que você deve pedir para determinar se você está agindo como corretor: você participa de partes importantes de uma transação de valores mobiliários, incluindo solicitação, negociação ou execução da transação. Depende da sua compensação pela participação na transação Sobre ou sobre o resultado ou o tamanho da transação ou acordo Você recebe comissões de trânsito, como taxas de 12b-1 Você recebe alguma outra compensação relacionada à transação Você está de outra forma envolvido no negócio de efetuar ou facilitar títulos Transações Você lida com os valores mobiliários ou fundos de outras pessoas em conexão com transações de valores mobiliários. Uma quotyesquot resposta a qualquer uma dessas questões indica que você precisará se registrar como corretor. B. Quem é um fornecedor. Ao contrário de um corretor, que atua como agente, um negociante atua como principal. A seção 3 (a) (5) (A) da Lei geralmente define um quotdealerquot como: qualquer pessoa envolvida no negócio de comprar e vender títulos para sua própria conta, através de um corretor ou de outra forma. A definição de quotdealerquot não inclui um quottrader, ou seja, uma pessoa que compra e vende títulos para sua própria conta, individualmente ou em capacidade fiduciária, mas não como parte de um negócio regular. Os indivíduos que compram e vendem títulos para eles próprios geralmente são considerados comerciantes e não revendedores. Às vezes você pode facilmente saber se alguém é um revendedor. Por exemplo, uma empresa que anuncia publicamente que faz um mercado de valores mobiliários é, obviamente, um revendedor. Outras situações podem ser menos claras. Por exemplo, cada um dos seguintes indivíduos e empresas pode precisar se registrar como revendedor, dependendo de uma série de fatores: uma pessoa que se mantém disposta a comprar e vender uma segurança específica de forma contínua, uma pessoa que administra uma Livro combinado de acordos de recompra ou uma pessoa que emite ou origina valores mobiliários que ele também compra e vende. Aqui estão algumas das perguntas que você deve perguntar para determinar se você está agindo como um revendedor: você anuncia ou de outra forma deixa outros saberem que você está no negócio de comprar e vender valores mobiliários Você faz negócios com o público (varejo ou institucional? ) Você faz um mercado ou cita preços para compras e vendas de um ou mais títulos Você participa de um grupo de quotselling ou, de outra forma, subscreva títulos. Você presta serviços aos investidores, como o manuseio de dinheiro e valores mobiliários, estendendo crédito, Ou dando conselhos de investimento Vocês escrevem contratos de derivativos que são valores mobiliários. Uma quotyesquot resposta a qualquer uma dessas questões indica que você precisará se registrar como revendedor. C. O que fazer se você acha que pode ser um corretor ou um revendedor Se você está fazendo ou pode fazer alguma das atividades de um corretor ou negociante, você deve descobrir se precisa se registrar. As informações sobre o processo de registro do corretor são fornecidas abaixo. Se você não está certo, você pode querer rever as interpretações da SEC, consultar um advogado particular ou pedir conselhos da Divisão de Negociação e Mercados da SEC39, ligando para o (202) 551-5777 ou enviando um e-mail para tradingandmarketssec. gov . (Certifique-se de incluir seu número de telefone.) Nota: Se você estiver atuando como quotbrokerquot ou quotdealer, não deve se envolver em negócios de valores mobiliários até que esteja devidamente registrado. Se você já está envolvido no negócio e ainda não está registrado, você deve cessar todas as atividades até que você esteja devidamente registrado. Para mais informações, consulte a Parte II. D e a Parte III, abaixo. D. Brokers e Dealers geralmente devem se inscrever na SEC Seção 15 (a) (1) da Lei geralmente torna ilegal que qualquer corretor ou revendedor use os e-mails (ou qualquer outro meio de comércio interestadual, como telefone, fac-símile , Ou a Internet) para citar quaisquer transações ou induzir ou tentar induzir a compra ou venda de qualquer garantia, a menos que esse corretor ou revendedor esteja registrado na Comissão de acordo com a Seção 15 (b) da Lei. Existem algumas exceções a esta regra geral que discutimos abaixo. Além disso, discutimos os requisitos especiais de registro que se aplicam aos corretores de títulos públicos e municipais, incluindo acordos de recompra, abaixo. 1. QuotAssociated Personsquot de um corretor-Revendedor Nós chamamos pessoas que trabalham para um agente de corretor registrado quotassociated persons. quot Este é o caso se tais indivíduos são funcionários, contratados independentes, ou estão trabalhando com um corretor-negociante. Esses indivíduos também podem ser chamados de intermediários de quotstock ou representantes quotregisterizados. Embora as pessoas associadas geralmente não tenham que se registrar separadamente com a SEC, elas devem ser devidamente supervisionadas por um corretor-negociante atualmente registrado. Eles também podem ter que se registrar com as organizações de auto-regulação das quais seu empregador é um membro, por exemplo, a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (quotFINRAquot) (fka Associação Nacional de Securities Dealers, Inc. (quotNASDquot)) ou Uma bolsa nacional de valores mobiliários. Na medida em que as pessoas associadas se envolvam em atividades de valores mobiliários fora da supervisão de seu corretor, eles teriam que se registrar separadamente como corretores. Parte III, abaixo, fornece uma discussão sobre como se registrar como corretor. Não diferenciamos entre funcionários e outras pessoas associadas para fins de legislação em valores mobiliários. Os corretores devem supervisionar as atividades de valores mobiliários de seus funcionários, independentemente de serem consideradas como cotidiantes ou quotindependentes contratados, conforme definido na legislação estadual. Vejo . Por exemplo, no caso de William V. Giordano. Divulgação da Lei de Mercado de Valores Mobiliários No. 36742 (19 de janeiro de 1996). A lei também não permite que entidades não registradas recebam receitas de comissões em nome de um representante registrado. Por exemplo, pessoas associadas não podem configurar uma entidade separada para receber cheques de comissão. Uma entidade não registrada que recebe receita de comissão nessa situação deve se registrar como corretora. Vejo . Por exemplo, Wolff Juall Investments, LLC (17 de maio de 2005). Em determinadas circunstâncias, as entidades não registradas podem se envolver em serviços de administração de folha de pagamento envolvendo corretores. Vejo . Por exemplo, carta re: ADP TotalSource, Inc. (4 de dezembro de 2007). Nessas circunstâncias, o empregador do corretor geralmente contrata e supervisiona todos os aspectos do trabalho dos funcionários39 e usa o administrador de folha de pagamento e benefícios apenas como meio de centralizar os serviços de pessoal. 2. Intermediário Broker-Dealers Um corretor-negociante que conduz todos os seus negócios em um estado não precisa se registrar com a SEC. (O registro do estado é outro assunto. Consulte a Parte III abaixo.) A exceção prevista para a atividade de agente de corretagem no interior é muito estreita. Para se qualificar, todos os aspectos de todas as transações devem ser feitos dentro das fronteiras de um estado. Isso significa que, sem registro da SEC, um corretor não pode participar de nenhuma transação executada em uma bolsa de valores nacional. Um corretor-negociante que de outra forma atenda aos requisitos da isenção do intermediário no mercado estadual não deixaria de se qualificar para a isenção do corretor-comerciante interno, apenas porque tem um site que pode ser visto por pessoas fora do estado, desde que O corretor possui medidas razoavelmente planejadas para garantir que seu negócio permaneça exclusivamente no interior. Essas medidas podem incluir o uso de isenções que indicam claramente que a empresa de corretores é exclusivamente interna e que o corretor só pode atuar com ou com, e prestar serviços de corretor para uma pessoa em seu estado, desde que O corretor não fornece serviços de corretor para pessoas que indicam que são ou que o corretor tem motivos para acreditar, não dentro do estado de residência dos corretores. Essas medidas não se destinam a ser exclusivas. Um corretor pode adotar outras medidas razoavelmente planejadas para garantir que não forneça serviços de corretor para pessoas que não estão no mesmo estado que o corretor. No entanto, um negócio intermediário não seria exclusivamente intraestatal se vendesse valores mobiliários ou forneciam quaisquer outros serviços de corretor para uma pessoa que indique que é ou que o corretor tem motivos para acreditar, não dentro do estado intermediário De residência. Para obter informações adicionais sobre o uso da Internet pelos intermediários do mercado interno, consulte sec. govrulesfinal201633-10238.pdf. Uma palavra sobre títulos municipais e governamentais. Não existe uma exceção intra-estatal de registro para negociantes de valores mobiliários municipais ou corretores e negociantes de títulos do governo. 3. Broker-Dealers que limitam o seu negócio a valores mobiliários excluídos e isentos Um corretor que negocia negócios apenas em documentos comerciais, aceitações bancárias39 e contas comerciais não precisa se registrar com a SEC de acordo com a seção 15 (b) ou qualquer outra seção Da Lei. Por outro lado, as pessoas que transacionam negócios apenas em certos títulos citados, conforme definido na Seção 3 (a) (12) da Lei, não precisam se registrar de acordo com a Secção 15 (b), mas podem ter que se registrar de acordo com outras provisões Da Lei. Por exemplo, alguns negociantes de títulos do governo, que são valores mobiliários citados, devem se registrar como corretores ou negociantes de valores do governo de acordo com a Seção 15C da Lei, conforme descrito na Parte II. E abaixo. 4. Os corretores-negociantes devem se registrar antes de vender valores mobiliários não registrados ndash Incluindo canais privados (ou ofertas da regulamentação D) Uma garantia vendida em uma transação isenta de registro nos termos do Securities Act de 1933 (o quot1933 Actquot) não é necessariamente uma garantia citada sob O Exchange Act. Por exemplo, uma pessoa que vende títulos que estão isentos de registro nos termos do Regulamento D da Lei de 1933 deve, no entanto, se registrar como corretor. Em outras palavras, os agentes de quottação não estão isentos do registro do corretor. 5. Saídas de Emissão de Emissores e Pessoas Associadas de Emissores (Regra 3a4-1) Emissores geralmente não são quotbrokersquot porque vendem títulos para suas próprias contas e não para contas de outros. Além disso, os emissores geralmente não são quotdealersquot porque eles não compram e vendem seus títulos para suas próprias contas como parte de um negócio regular. Os emissores cujas atividades vão além de vender seus próprios títulos, no entanto, precisam considerar se eles precisam se registrar como corretores. Isso inclui emissores que adquirem seus títulos de investidores, bem como emissores que efetivamente operam mercados em seus próprios títulos ou em valores mobiliários cujas características ou termos podem mudar ou ser alterados. A isenção do chamado emissor não se aplica ao pessoal de uma empresa que rotineiramente se envolve no negócio de efetuar transações de valores mobiliários para a empresa ou empresas relacionadas (como parceiros em geral que buscam investidores em parcerias limitadas). Os funcionários e outras pessoas relacionadas de um emissor que ajudem na venda de seus valores mobiliários podem ser quotbrokers, especialmente se eles são pagos por vender esses títulos e têm poucas outras funções. A Regra 3a4-1 da Lei do Exchange estabelece que uma pessoa associada (ou empregada) de um emissor que participe na venda de valores mobiliários do emissor não teria que se registrar como corretor se essa pessoa, no momento da participação: (1) Não está sujeito a uma desqualificação quotstutory, conforme definido na Seção 3 (a) (39) da Lei (2), não é compensado pelo pagamento de comissões ou outra remuneração baseada direta ou indiretamente em transações de valores mobiliários (3) não é associada Pessoa de um corretor ou negociante e (4) limita suas atividades de vendas conforme estabelecido na regra. Alguns emissores oferecem programas de reinvestimento de dividendos e de compra de ações. Sob certas condições, um emissor pode comprar e vender seus próprios títulos através de um programa de reinvestimento de dividendos ou de compra de ações sem se registrar como corretor. Essas condições, em relação à solicitação, honorários e despesas, e tratamento de participantes39 fundos e valores mobiliários, são explicadas na Lei de Mercado de Valores Mobiliários No. 35041 (1 de dezembro de 1994), 59 FR 63393 (quot1994 STA Letterquot). Embora o Regulamento M 2 substituiu a Regra 10b-6 e substituiu a Carta STA de 1994, os cargos contratados na presente carta em relação à aplicação da Seção 15 (a) do Exchange Act continuam em vigor. Veja 17 CFR 242.102 (c) e Divulgação da Lei de Mercado de Valores Mobiliários No. 38067 (20 de dezembro de 1996), 62 FR 520, 532 n.100 (3 de janeiro de 1997). 6. Exceção do corretor estrangeiro-Revendedor (Regra 15a-6) A SEC geralmente usa uma abordagem territorial na aplicação de requisitos de registro para as operações internacionais de corretores. Sob esta abordagem, todos os corretores que operam fisicamente nos Estados Unidos que induzem ou tentam induzir transações de valores mobiliários devem se inscrever na SEC, mesmo que suas atividades sejam dirigidas apenas a investidores estrangeiros fora dos Estados Unidos. Além disso, corretores estrangeiros que, de fora dos Estados Unidos, induzem ou tentam induzir transações de valores mobiliários por qualquer pessoa nos Estados Unidos, ou que utilizem os meios ou instrumentos do comércio interestadual dos Estados Unidos para esse fim, também Deve se registrar. Isso inclui o uso da internet para oferecer valores mobiliários, solicitar transações de valores mobiliários ou anunciar serviços de investimento a pessoas dos EUA. Consulte a Lei do Contrato de Valores Mobiliários No. 39779 (23 de março de 1998) sec. govrulesinterp33-7516.htm. Os corretores estrangeiros que limitam suas atividades aos permitidos pela Regra 15a-6 da Lei, podem estar isentos do registro de intermediário dos Estados Unidos. Os corretores estrangeiros que desejam confiar nesta isenção devem revisar a Lei nº 27017 (a partir de 15 de agosto de 1989), 54 FR 30013, para determinar se elas atendem às condições da Regra 15a-6. Veja também as letras: Atividades de Valores Mobiliários de Concessionários Estrangeiros Afiliados aos Estados Unidos (9 de abril e 28 de abril de 1997). Além disso, em abril de 2005, a Divisão de funcionários do Regulamento de Mercado emitiu respostas a perguntas freqüentes sobre a Regra 15a-6 em relação ao Regulamento AC. Veja sec. govdivisionsmarketregmregacfaq0803.htmpartb. (A regulamentação AC é discutida na Parte V. B, abaixo.) E. Requisitos relativos a Corretores e Concessionários de Valores Mobiliários Governamentais e Municipais, incluindo Contratos de Recompra Os corretores que limitam sua atividade a títulos públicos ou municipais exigem registro especializado. Aqueles que limitam sua atividade a títulos do governo não precisam se registrar como negociantes-negociantes de finalidade geral, de acordo com a seção 15 (b) da Lei. Os corretores-negociantes de propósito geral que conduzem um negócio de valores mobiliários do governo, no entanto, devem anotar essa atividade no Formulário BD. (O formulário BD é discutido abaixo.) Todas as empresas que são corretores ou negociantes em títulos públicos devem cumprir as regras adotadas pelo Secretário do Tesouro, bem como as regras da SEC. As empresas que limitam seu negócio de valores mobiliários para comprar e vender valores mobiliários municipais para sua própria conta (negociantes de valores mobiliários municipais) devem se registrar como corretores de uso geral. Se, no entanto, essas entidades são bancos ou cumprem os requisitos da isenção estadual discutida na Parte II. D.2. Acima, eles devem se registrar como negociantes de valores mobiliários municipais. Os corretores municipais de valores mobiliários (que não sejam bancos) devem se registrar como corretores de uso geral a menos que estejam qualificados para a exceção estadual. Veja a Parte II. D.2 acima. As empresas que executam um livro correspondente de acordos de recompra ou outros empréstimos em ações são considerados revendedores. Uma vez que um quotbook executando o revendedor se mantém disposto a comprar e vender títulos e, portanto, está envolvido no negócio de compra e venda de títulos, deve se registrar como corretor. F. Regras especiais aplicáveis ​​aos bancos e instituições financeiras similares Nota: Bancos, instituições financeiras e outras instituições financeiras devem estar cientes de que a Comissão adotou regras que podem afetá-las. Ver Regulamento R, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-56501 (24 de setembro de 2007), 72 FR 56514 (3 de outubro de 2007), sec. govrulesfinal200734-56501.pdf e Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-56502 ( 24 de setembro de 2007) 72 FR 56562 (3 de outubro de 2007), sec. govrulesfinal200734-56502.pdf. Bancos. Antes da promulgação do quotGramm-Leach-Bliley Actquot (quotGLBAquot) em 1999, os bancos dos EUA estavam excluídos das definições de quotbrokerquot e quotdealerquot sob a Lei. O GLBA alterou o Exchange Act, e os bancos agora têm certas exceções específicas e exceções do registro do corretor. Atualmente, como resultado da criação de regras da Comissão, os bancos estão passando por um período de entrada em vigor para o cumprimento da nova lei. Desde 1º de outubro de 2003, os bancos que compram e vendem títulos devem considerar se são quotdealersquot sob as leis federais de valores mobiliários. A Divisão de Negociação e Mercados emitiu um guia de conformidade especial para os bancos, intitulado QuotStaff Compliance Guide to Banks em Exigências e Regras Estatutárias do Revendedor, que está disponível no site da SEC39 em: sec. govdivisionsmarketregbankdealerguide. htm. A atividade de corretagem bancária é abordada no Regulamento R, que foi adotado conjuntamente pela Comissão e pelo Conselho de Governadores do Sistema da Reserva Federal. Veja a Lei do Exchange Act No. 56501 (24 de setembro de 2007) (que pode ser encontrada em sec. govrulesfinal200734-56501.pdf). As exceções e isenções bancárias somente se aplicam aos bancos e não às entidades relacionadas. É importante notar que as exceções aplicáveis ​​aos bancos nos termos da Lei de Câmbio, conforme alterada pela GLBA, não são aplicáveis ​​a outras entidades, incluindo subsidiárias bancárias e afiliadas, que não são bancos próprios. Como tal, subsidiárias e afiliadas de bancos que se envolvem em atividades de corretor-negociador são obrigadas a se registrar como negociantes na Lei. Além disso, os bancos que atuam como negociantes de valores mobiliários municipais ou como corretores ou negociantes de títulos do governo continuam a ser obrigados a se registrar de acordo com a Lei. Thrifts. Por estatuto, as empresas (associações de poupança) têm o mesmo status que os bancos e podem aproveitar as mesmas exceções específicas e isenções do registro do corretor como bancos. (Para obter mais informações, consulte o Guia de Conformidade do QuotStaff para Bancos em Exigências e Regras Estatutárias do Revendedor, mencionado acima.) Tal como acontece com os bancos, é importante notar que as exceções e isenções aplicáveis ​​a empresas não são aplicáveis ​​a outras entidades, incluindo subsidiárias e Afiliados que não são importantes. Como tal, subsidiárias e afiliadas de empresas que se envolvem em atividades de corretor são obrigadas a se registrar como negociantes de acordo com a Lei. Uniões de Crédito e Instituição Financeira em Arranjos de Redes de Rede. As exceções e isenções aplicáveis ​​aos bancos de acordo com o Exchange Act não se aplicam a outros tipos de instituições financeiras, como cooperativas de crédito. A equipe da SEC, no entanto, permitiu que certas instituições financeiras, como cooperativas de crédito, disponibilizassem os títulos para seus clientes sem se registrarem como corretores. Isso é feito através de acordos de quotnetworkingquot, onde um corretor intermediário afiliado ou terceiro fornece serviços de corretagem para os clientes das instituições financeiras, de acordo com as condições indicadas nas cartas de ação externa e na Regra 2350 da NASD. Sob um arranjo de rede, as instituições financeiras podem compartilhar As comissões geradas pelos clientes referidos, sob certas condições. A instituição financeira envolvida em tais redes deve estar em estrita conformidade com a legislação aplicável e com a orientação da equipe da Comissão. Vejo . Por exemplo, carta re: Chubb Securities Corporation (24 de novembro de 1993) e NASD Rule 2350 (aplicável aos corretores que entram em acordos de rede com bancos, agências e cooperativas de crédito). G. Networking da Agência de Seguros A equipe da SEC permitiu que agências de seguros disponibilizassem produtos de seguros que também sejam títulos (como rendas variáveis) para seus clientes sem se registrarem como corretores em certas condições. Isso novamente é feito através de acordos de quotnetworkingquot, onde um corretor intermediário afiliado ou terceirizado fornece serviços de corretagem para os clientes da agência de seguros, de acordo com as condições indicadas em cartas sem ação. Esses arranjos são projetados para resolver as dificuldades das leis federais e duais aplicáveis ​​à venda desses produtos. Através de acordos de rede, as agências de seguros podem compartilhar as comissões geradas por seus clientes referidos sob certas condições. As agências de seguros envolvidas em tais redes devem estar em estrita conformidade com a legislação aplicável e com a orientação da equipe da Comissão. As companhias de seguros devem consultar a carta: First of America Brokerage Services, Inc. (28 de setembro de 1995). Os interessados ​​em estruturar tal acordo devem entrar em contato com o advogado particular ou com a equipe da SEC para obter mais informações. Notavelmente, os acordos de rede de seguros são limitados a produtos de seguros que também são títulos. Eles não abrangem vendas de fundos de investimento e outros títulos que não apresentam as mesmas dificuldades de regulamentação. Veja a carta re: Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. (20 de fevereiro de 1998). H. Real Estate Securities and Real Estate Brokers Agents A oferta de imóveis como tal, sem quaisquer acordos de garantia com o vendedor ou outros, não envolve a oferta de uma garantia. Quando o imóvel é oferecido em conjunto com certos serviços, no entanto, ele pode constituir um contrato de investimento e, portanto, um título. Veja geralmente. Securities Act Release No. 5347 (4 de janeiro de 1973) (fornecendo diretrizes sobre a aplicabilidade das leis de valores mobiliários federais para ofertas e vendas de condomínios ou unidades em um desenvolvimento imobiliário). Não existe uma exceção geral dos requisitos de registro do corretor para corretores de imóveis licenciados ou agentes que se envolvem no negócio de efetuar transações em títulos imobiliários. No passado, a equipe da Divisão concedeu alívio sem ação dos requisitos de registro para o pessoal imobiliário licenciado que se dedica a atividades limitadas com relação à venda de unidades de condomínio, juntamente com uma oferta ou acordo para executar ou providenciar determinados serviços de aluguel ou outros Para o comprador. O alívio fornecido nestas cartas limita-se apenas aos seus fatos e não deve ser invocado para atividades relacionadas a vendas de outros tipos de títulos imobiliários, incluindo os inquilinos em interesses comuns em imóveis. Veja geralmente. Notificação da NASD aos Membros 05-18, finra. orgsitesdefaultfilesNoticeDocumentp013455.pdf (abordando os inquilinos em interesses comuns em imóveis). I. Broker-Dealer Relationships with Affinity Groups Broker-dealers may enter into arrangements to offer services to members of certain non-profit groups, including civic organizations, charities, and educational institutions that rely upon private donations. These arrangements are subject to certain conditions to ensure that the organizations, or quotaffinity groups, quot do not develop a salesman39s stake with respect to the sale of securities. See . for example, letter re: Attkisson, Carter amp Akers (June 23, 1998). III. HOW TO REGISTER AS A BROKER-DEALER A broker-dealer may not begin business until: it has properly filed Form BD, and the SEC has granted its registration it has become a member of an SRO it has become a member of SIPC, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation it complies with all applicable state requirements and its quotassociated personsquot have satisfied applicable qualification requirements. A. Form BD If a broker-dealer does not qualify for any of the exceptions or exemptions outlined in the sections above, it must register with the Commission under Section 15(b) of the Act. Broker-dealers register by filing an application on Form BD, which you may obtain from the SEC39s webpage at sec. govaboutformsformbd. pdf or through the SEC39s Publications Office at (202) 551-4040. You also use Form BD to: apply for membership in an SRO, such as FINRA or a registered national securities exchange give notice that you conduct government securities activities or apply for broker-dealer registration with each state in which you plan to do business. Form BD asks questions about the background of the broker-dealer and its principals, controlling persons, and employees. The broker-dealer must meet the statutory requirements to engage in a business that involves high professional standards, and quite often includes the more rigorous responsibilities of a fiduciary. To apply for registration, you must file one executed copy of Form BD through the Central Registration Depository (quotCRDquot), which is operated by FINRA. (The only exception is for banks registering as municipal securities dealers, which file Form MSD directly with the SEC and with their appropriate banking regulator.) Form BD contains additional filing instructions. The SEC does not charge a filing fee, but the SROs and the states may. Applicants that reside outside the U. S. must also appoint the SEC as agent for service of process using a standard form. Incomplete applications are not considered quotfiledquot and will be returned to the applicant for completion and re-submission. Within 45 days of filing a completed application, the SEC will either grant registration or begin proceedings to determine whether it should deny registration. An SEC registration may be granted with the condition that SRO membership must be obtained. The SROs have independent membership application procedures and are not required to act within 45 days of the filing of a completed application. In addition, state registrations may be required. A broker-dealer must comply with relevant state law as well as federal law and applicable SRO rules. Timeframes for registration with individual states may differ from the federal and SRO timeframes. As such, when deciding to register as a broker-dealer, it is important to plan for the time required for processing Federal, state, and SRO registration or membership applications. Duty to update Form BD. A registered broker-dealer must keep its Form BD current. Thus, it must promptly update its Form BD by filing amendments whenever the information on file becomes inaccurate or incomplete for any reason. Prohibited Broker-Dealer Names. Title 18, Section 709 of the United States Code makes it a criminal offense to use the words quotNational, quot quotFederal, quot quotUnited States, quot quotReserve, quot or quotDeposit Insurancequot in the name of a person or organization in the brokerage business, unless otherwise allowed by federal law. Further, a broker-dealer name that is otherwise materially misleading would become subject to scrutiny under Exchange Act Section 10(b), and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, the general antifraud rules, and any other applicable provisions. B. SRO Membership (Section 15(b)(8) and Rule 15b9-1) Before it begins doing business, a broker-dealer must become a member of an SRO. SROs assist the SEC in regulating the activities of broker-dealers. FINRA and the national securities exchanges are all SROs. If a broker-dealer restricts its transactions to the national securities exchanges of which it is a member and meets certain other conditions, it may be required only to be a member of those exchanges. If a broker-dealer effects securities transactions other than on a national securities exchange of which it is a member, however, including any over-the-counter business, it must become a member of FINRA, unless it qualifies for the exemption in Rule 15b9-1. FINRA39s webpage at finra. org provides detailed information on the FINRA membership process. You may also wish to consult the web pages of the individual exchanges for additional information. Firms that engage in transactions in municipal securities must also comply with the rules of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, or MSRB. The MSRB is an SRO that makes rules governing transactions in municipal securities, but, unlike other SROs, it does not enforce compliance with its rules. Compliance with MSRB rules is monitored and enforced by FINRA and the SEC (in the case of broker-dealers), and the Federal bank regulators and the SEC (in the case of banks). You may wish to consult the MSRB39s website at msrb. org for additional information, or you can call the MSRB at (703) 797-6600. C. SIPC Membership Every registered broker-dealer must be a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, or SIPC, unless its principal business is conducted outside of the United States or consists exclusively of the sale or distribution of investment company shares, variable annuities, or insurance. Each SIPC member must pay an annual fee to SIPC. SIPC insures that its members39 customers receive back their cash and securities in the event of a member39s liquidation, up to 500,000 per customer for cash and securities. (Claims for cash are limited to 100,000.) For further information, contact SIPC, 805 15th St. NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005. Telephone: (202) 371-8300, fax: (202) 371-6728, or visit SIPC39s website at sipc. org . D. State Requirements Every state has its own requirements for a person conducting business as a broker-dealer within that state. Each state39s securities regulator can provide you with information about that state39s requirements. You can obtain contact information for these regulators from the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. (NASAA), 750 First Street, NE, Suite 1140, Washington, DC 20002. Telephone: (202) 737-0900, or visit NASAA39s website at nasaa. org . E. Associated Persons (Section 3(a)(18) Rule 15b7-1) The Act defines an quotassociated personquot of a broker-dealer as any partner, officer, director, branch manager, or employee of the broker-dealer, any person performing similar functions, or any person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, the broker-dealer. A broker-dealer must file a Form U-4 with the applicable SRO for each associated person who will effect transactions in securities when that person is hired or otherwise becomes associated. Form U-4 is used to register individuals and to record these individuals39 prior employment and disciplinary history. An associated person who effects or is involved in effecting securities transactions also must meet qualification requirements. These include passing an SRO securities qualification examination. Many individuals take the comprehensive quotSeries 7quot exam. If individuals engage only in activities involving sales of particular types of securities, such as municipal securities, direct participation programs (limited partnerships) or mutual funds, they may wish to take a specialized examination focused on that type of security, instead of the general securities examination. There is also a special exam for assistant representatives, whose activities are limited to accepting unsolicited customer orders for execution by the firm. Supervisory personnel, and those who engage in specialized activities such as options trading, must take additional exams that cover those areas. These examinations require the Series 7 exam as a prerequisite. You can obtain copies of Form U-4, as well as information on securities qualification examinations, from an SRO. FINRA39s website at finra. org contains detailed information and guidance for individuals who wish to obtain a series license through FINRA. Also note that individual states have their own licensing and registration requirements, so you should consult with the applicable state securities regulators for further information. Note: If you hold a series license, you must be properly associated with a registered broker-dealer to effect securities transactions. It is not sufficient merely to hold a series license when engaging in securities business. If you hold a series license and wish to start an independent securities business, or otherwise wish to effect securities transactions outside of an quotassociated personquot relationship, you would first need to register as a broker-dealer. F. Successor Broker-Dealer Registration (Rules 15b1-3, 15Ba2-4, and 15Ca2-3) A successor broker-dealer assumes substantially all of the assets and liabilities, and continues the business, of a registered predecessor broker-dealer. A successor broker-dealer must file a new Form BD (or, in special instances, amend the predecessor broker-dealer39s Form BD) within 30 days after such succession. The filing should indicate that the applicant is a successor. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 31661 (December 28, 1992), 58 FR 7, which is available on the SEC39s website at: sec. govrulesinterp199234-31661.pdf. See also, the instructions to Form BD . G. Withdrawal from Registration (Rule 15b6-1) Cancellation of Registration When a registered broker-dealer stops doing business, it must file a Form BDW (sec. govaboutformsformbdw. pdf ) to withdraw its registration with the SEC and with the states and SROs of which it is a member. This form requires the broker-dealer to disclose the amount of any funds or securities it owes customers, and whether it is the subject of any proceedings, unsatisfied judgments, liens, or customer claims. These disclosures help to ensure that a broker-dealer39s business is concluded in an orderly manner and that customers39 funds and securities are protected. In most cases, a broker-dealer must also file a final FOCUS report. Form BDW may also be used by a broker-dealer to withdraw from membership with particular SROs, or to withdraw from registration with particular states, without withdrawing all of its registrations and memberships. Form BDW is not considered quotfiledquot unless it is deemed complete by the SEC and the SRO that reviews the filing. The SEC may also cancel a broker-dealer39s registration if it finds that the firm is no longer in existence or has ceased doing business as a broker-dealer. IV. SECURITY FUTURES Security futures, which are contracts of sale for future delivery of a single security or a narrow-based security index, are regulated as both securities by the SEC and as futures by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (quotCFTCquot). As a result, firms that conduct business in security futures must be registered with both the SEC and the CFTC. Federal law permits firms already registered with either the SEC or the CFTC to register with the other agency, for the limited purpose of trading security futures, by filing a notice. Specifically, firms registered as general purpose broker-dealers under Section 15(b) of the Act may quotnoticequot register with the CFTC. Likewise, futures commission merchants and introducing brokers registered with the CFTC may notice register with the SEC. (Section 15(b)(12) of the Act provides a limited exception to this notice registration requirement for certain natural persons who are members of security futures exchanges). However, futures commission merchants or introducing brokers that conduct a business in securities other than security futures must be registered as general-purpose broker-dealers. For more information on this topic, See Exchange Act Release No. 44730 (effective August 27, 2001), 66 FR 45138, and 66 FR 43080 (effective September 17, 2001). V. CONDUCT REGULATION OF BROKER-DEALERS Broker-dealers, like other securities market participants, must comply with the general quotantifraudquot provisions of the federal securities laws. Broker-dealers must also comply with many requirements that are designed to maintain high industry standards. We discuss some of these provisions below. A. Antifraud Provisions (Sections 9(a), 10(b), and 15(c)(1) and (2)) The quotantifraudquot provisions prohibit misstatements or misleading omissions of material facts, and fraudulent or manipulative acts and practices, in connection with the purchase or sale of securities. 3 While these provisions are very broad, the Commission has adopted rules, issued interpretations, and brought enforcement actions that define some of the activities we consider manipulative, deceptive, fraudulent, or otherwise unlawful. 4 Broker-dealers must conduct their activities so as to avoid these kinds of practices. 1. Duty of Fair Dealing Broker-dealers owe their customers a duty of fair dealing. This fundamental duty derives from the Act39s antifraud provisions mentioned above. Under the so-called quotshinglequot theory, by virtue of engaging in the brokerage profession ( e. g. . hanging out the broker-dealer39s business sign, or quotshinglequot), a broker-dealer represents to its customers that it will deal fairly with them, consistent with the standards of the profession. Based on this important representation, the SEC, through interpretive statements and enforcement actions, and the courts, through case law, have set forth over time certain duties for broker-dealers. These include the duties to execute orders promptly, disclose certain material information ( i. e. . information the customer would consider important as an investor), charge prices reasonably related to the prevailing market, and fully disclose any conflict of interest. SRO rules also reflect the importance of fair dealing. For example, FINRA members must comply with NASD39s Rules of Fair Practice. These rules generally require broker-dealers to observe high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade in conducting their business. The exchanges and the MSRB have similar rules. 2. Suitability Requirements Broker-dealers generally have an obligation to recommend only those specific investments or overall investment strategies that are suitable for their customers. The concept of suitability appears in specific SRO rules such as NASD Rule 2310 and has been interpreted as an obligation under the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. Under suitability requirements, a broker-dealer must have an quotadequate and reasonable basisquot for any recommendation that it makes. Reasonable basis suitability, or the reasonable basis test, relates to the particular security or strategy recommended. Therefore, the broker-dealer has an obligation to investigate and obtain adequate information about the security it is recommending. A broker-dealer also has an obligation to determine customer-specific suitability. In particular, a broker-dealer must make recommendations based on a customer39s financial situation, needs, and other security holdings. This requirement has been construed to impose a duty of inquiry on broker-dealers to obtain relevant information from customers relating to their financial situations and to keep such information current. SROs consider recommendations to be unsuitable when they are inconsistent with the customer39s investment objectives. 3. Duty of Best Execution The duty of best execution, which also stems from the Act39s antifraud provisions, requires a broker-dealer to seek to obtain the most favorable terms available under the circumstances for its customer orders. This applies whether the broker-dealer is acting as agent or as principal. The SRO rules also include a duty of best execution. For example, FINRA members must use quotreasonable diligencequot to determine the best market for a security and buy or sell the security in that market, so that the price to the customer is as favorable as possible under prevailing market conditions. 4. Customer Confirmation Rule (Rule 10b-10 and MSRB rule G-15) A broker-dealer must provide its customers, at or before the completion of a transaction, with certain information, including: the date, time, identity, price, and number of shares involved its capacity (agent or principal) and its compensation (for agency trades, compensation includes its commission and whether it receives payment for order flow 5 and for principal trades, mark-up disclosure may be required) the source and amount of any third party remuneration it has received or will receive 6 other information, both general (such as, if the broker-dealer is not a SIPC member) and transaction-specific (such as the yield, in most transactions involving debt securities). A broker-dealer may also be obligated under the antifraud provisions of the Act to disclose additional information to the customer at the time of his or her investment decision. 5. Disclosure of Credit Terms (Rule 10b-16) Broker-dealers must notify customers purchasing securities on credit about the credit terms and the status of their accounts. A broker-dealer must establish procedures for disclosing this information before it extends credit to a customer for the purchase of securities. A broker-dealer must give the customer this information at the time the account is opened, and must also provide credit customers with account statements at least quarterly. 6. Restrictions on Short Sales (Regulation SHO) A quotshort salequot is generally a sale of a security that the seller doesn39t own or for which the seller delivers borrowed shares. Regulation SHO was adopted in 2004 to update short sale regulation in light of numerous market developments since short sale regulation was first adopted in 1938. Compliance with Regulation SHO began on January 3, 2005. Some of the goals of Regulation SHO include: Establishing uniform quotlocatequot and quotclose-outquot requirements in order to address problems associated with failures to deliver, including potentially abusive quotnakedquot short selling. Locate Requirement: Regulation SHO requires a broker-dealer to have reasonable grounds to believe that the security can be borrowed so that it can be delivered on the date delivery is due before effecting a short sale order in any equity security. This quotlocatequot must be made and documented prior to effecting the short sale. Market makers engaged in bona fide market making are exempted from the quotlocatequot requirement. quotClose-outquot Requirement: Regulation SHO imposes additional delivery requirements on broker-dealers for securities in which there are a relatively substantial number of extended delivery failures at a registered clearing agency (quotthreshold securitiesquot). For instance, with limited exception, Regulation SHO requires brokers and dealers that are participants of a registered clearing agency to take action to quotclose-outquot failure-to-deliver positions (quotopen failsquot) in threshold securities that have persisted for 13 consecutive settlement days. Closing out requires the broker or dealer to purchase securities of like kind and quantity. Until the position is closed out, the broker or dealer and any broker or dealer for which it clears transactions (for example, an introducing broker) may not effect further short sales in that threshold security without borrowing or entering into a bona fide agreement to borrow the security (known as the quotpre-borrowingquot requirement). Creating uniform order marking requirements for sales of all equity securities. This means that a broker-dealer must mark orders as quotlongquot or quotshort. quot For further information, please see the adopting release for Regulation SHO, as well as Frequently Asked Questions, Key Points, and other related materials at sec. govspotlightshortsales. htm . 7. Trading During an Offering (Regulation M) Regulation M is designed to protect the integrity of the securities trading market as an independent pricing mechanism by governing the activities of underwriters, issuers, selling security holders, and other participants in connection with a securities offering. These rules are aimed at preventing persons having an interest in an offering from influencing the market price for the offered security in order to facilitate a distribution. The adopting release for Regulation M is available at sec. govrulesfinal34-38067.txt . Rule 101 of Regulation M generally prohibits underwriters, broker-dealers and other distribution participants from bidding for, purchasing, or attempting to induce any person to bid for or purchase, any security which is the subject of a distribution until the applicable restricted period has ended. An offering39s quotrestricted periodquot begins either one or five business days (depending on the trading volume value of the offered security and the public float value of the issuer) before the day of the offering39s pricing and ends upon completion of the distribution. Rule 101 contains various exceptions that are designed to permit an orderly distribution of securities and limit disruption in the market for the securities being distributed. For example, underwriters can continue to trade in actively-traded securities of larger issuers (securities with an average daily trading volume, or ADTV, value of 1 million or more and whose issuers have a public float value of at least 150 million). In addition, the following activities, among others, may be excepted from Rule 101, if they meet specified conditions: disseminating research reports making unsolicited purchases purchasing a group, or quotbasketquot of 20 or more securities exercising options, warrants, rights, and convertible securities effecting transactions that total less than 2 of the security39s ADTV and effecting transactions in securities sold to quotqualified institutional buyers. quot Rule 102 of Regulation M prohibits issuers, selling security holders, and their affiliated purchasers from bidding for, purchasing, or attempting to induce any person to bid for or purchase, any security which is the subject of a distribution until after the applicable restricted period. Rule 103 of Regulation M governs passive market making by broker-dealers participating in an offering of a Nasdaq security. Rule 104 of Regulation M governs stabilization transactions, syndicate short covering activity, and penalty bids. Rule 105 of Regulation M prevents manipulative short sales prior to pricing an offering by prohibiting the purchase of offering securities if a person sold short the security that is the subject of the offering during the Rule 105 restricted period. The rule contains exceptions for bona fide purchases, separate accounts, and investment companies. For frequently asked questions about Regulation M, see Staff Legal Bulletin No. 9 at sec. govinterpslegalmrslb9.htm . 8. Restrictions on Insider Trading The SEC and the courts interpret Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 under the Act to bar the use by any person of material non-public information in the purchase or sale of securities, whenever that use violates a duty of trust and confidence owed to a third party. Section 15(f) of the Act specifically requires broker-dealers to have and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent their employees from misusing material non-public information. Because employees in the investment banking operations of broker-dealers frequently have access to material non-public information, firms need to create procedures designed to limit the flow of this information so that their employees cannot use the information in the trading of securities. Broker-dealers can use these information barriers as a defense to a claim of insider trading. Such procedures typically include: training to make employees aware of these restrictions employee trading restrictions physical barriers isolation of certain departments and limitations on investment bank proprietary trading. 7 9. Restrictions on Private Securities Transactions NASD Rule 3040 provides that quotno person associated with a member shall participate in any manner in a private securities transactionquot except in accordance with the provisions of the rule. To the extent that any such transactions are permitted under the rule, prior to participating in any private securities transaction, the associated person must provide written notice to the member firm as described in the rule. If compensation is involved, the member firm must approve or disapprove the proposed transaction, record it in its books and records, and supervise the transaction as if it were executed on behalf of the member firm. Other conditions may also apply. In addition, private securities transactions of an associated person may be subject to an analysis under Exchange Act Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5, as well as the broker-dealer supervisory provisions of Section 15(f) (described in Part V. A.8, above) and Section 15(b)(4)(E), and other relevant statutory or regulatory provisions. B. Analysts and Regulation AC Regulation AC (or Regulation Analyst Certification) requires brokers, dealers, and persons associated with brokers or dealers that publish, distribute, or circulate research reports to include in those reports a certification that the views expressed in the report accurately reflect the analyst39s personal views. The report must also disclose whether the analyst received compensation for the views expressed in the report. If the analyst has received related compensation, the broker, dealer, or associated person must disclose its amount, source, and purpose. Regulation AC applies to all brokers and dealers, as well as to those persons associated with a broker or dealer that fall within the definition of quotcovered person. quot Regulation AC also requires that broker-dealers keep records of analyst certifications relating to public appearances. In addition to Commission rules, analyst conduct is governed by SRO rules, such as NASD Rule 2711 and NYSE Rule 472. The SRO rules impose restrictions on analyst compensation, personal trading activities, and involvement in investment banking activities. The SRO rules also include disclosure requirements for research reports and public appearances. For further information, including investor guidance, SEC releases, and SRO rules, see sec. govdivisionsmarketregsecuritiesanalysts. htm. In addition, staff responses to frequently asked questions are available at sec. govdivisionsmarketregmregacfaq0803.htm . C. Trading by Members of Exchanges, Brokers and Dealers (Section 11(a)) Broker-dealers that are members of national securities exchanges are subject to additional regulations regarding transactions they effect on exchanges. For example, except under certain conditions, they generally cannot effect transactions on exchanges for their own accounts, the accounts of their associated persons, or accounts that they or their associated persons manage. Exceptions from this general rule include transactions by market makers, transactions routed through other members, and transactions that yield to other orders. Exchange members may wish to seek guidance from their exchange regarding these provisions. D. Extending Credit on New Issues Disclosure of Capacity as Broker or Dealer (Section 11(d)) Section 11(d)(1) of the Act generally prohibits a broker-dealer that participates in the distribution of a new issue of securities from extending credit to customers in connection with the new issue during the distribution period and for 30 days thereafter. Sales by a broker-dealer of mutual fund shares and variable insurance product units are deemed to constitute participation in the distribution of a new issue. Therefore, purchase of mutual fund shares or variable product units using credit extended or arranged by the broker-dealer during the distribution period is a violation of Section 11(d)(1). However, Exchange Act Rule 11d1-2 permits a broker-dealer to extend credit to a customer on newly sold mutual fund shares and variable insurance product units after the customer has owned the shares or units for 30 days. Section 11(d)(2) of the Act requires a broker-dealer to disclose in writing, at or before the completion of each transaction with a customer, whether the broker-dealer is acting in the capacity of broker or dealer with regard to the transaction. E. Regulation NMS Regulation NMS addresses four interrelated topics that are designed to modernize the regulatory structure of the U. S. equity markets: (1) order protection, (2) intermarket access, (3) sub-penny pricing, and (4) market data. The quotOrder Protection Rulequot requires trading centers to establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the execution of trades at prices inferior to protected quotations displayed by other trading centers, subject to an applicable exception. To be protected, a quotation must be immediately and automatically accessible. The quotAccess Rulequot requires fair and non-discriminatory access to quotations, establishes a limit on access fees to harmonize the pricing of quotations across different trading centers, and requires each national securities exchange and national securities association to adopt, maintain, and enforce written rules that prohibit their members from engaging in a pattern or practice of displaying quotations that lock or cross automated quotations. The quotSub-Penny Rulequot prohibits market participants from accepting, ranking, or displaying orders, quotations, or indications of interest in a pricing increment smaller than a penny, except for orders, quotations, or indications of interest that are priced at less than 1.00 per share. The quotMarket Data Rulesquot update the requirements for consolidating, distributing, and displaying market information. In addition, amendments to the joint industry plans for disseminating market information modify the formulas for allocating plan revenues among the self-regulatory organizations and broaden participation in plan governance. Regulation NMS also updates and streamlines the existing Exchange Act rules governing the national market system previously adopted under Section 11A of the Exchange Act, and consolidates them into a single regulation. F. Order Execution Obligations (Rules 602-604 of Regulation NMS) Broker-dealers that are exchange specialists or Nasdaq market makers must comply with particular rules regarding publishing quotes and handling customer orders. These two types of broker-dealers have special functions in the securities markets, particularly because they trade for their own accounts while also handling orders for customers. These rules, which include the quotQuote Rulequot and the quotLimit Order Display Rule, quot increase the information that is publicly available concerning the prices at which investors may buy and sell exchange-listed and Nasdaq National Market System securities. The Quote Rule requires specialists and market makers to provide quotation information to their self-regulatory organization for dissemination to the public. The quote information that the specialist or market maker provides must reflect the best prices at which he is willing to trade (the lowest price the dealer will accept from a customer to sell the securities and the highest price the dealer will pay a customer to purchase the securities). A specialist or market maker may still trade at better prices in certain private trading systems, called electronic communications networks, or quotECNs, quot without publishing an improved quote. This is true only when the ECN itself publishes the improved prices and makes those prices available to the investing public. Thus, the Quote Rule ensures that the public has access to the best prices at which specialists and market makers are willing to trade even if those prices are in private trading systems. Limit orders are orders to buy or sell securities at a specified price. The Limit Order Display Rule requires that specialists and market makers publicly display certain limit orders they receive from customers. If the limit order is for a price that is better than the specialist39s or market maker39s quote, the specialist or market maker must publicly display it. The rule benefits investors because the publication of trading interest at prices that improve specialists39 and market makers39 quotes present investors with improved pricing opportunities. G. Regulation ATS: Broker-Dealer Trading Systems Regulation ATS (17 CFR 242.300 et seq.) provides a means for broker-dealers to operate automated trading platforms, to collect and execute orders in securities electronically, without registering as a national securities exchange under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or as an exempt exchange pursuant to Section 5 of the Act. For purposes of the regulation, an alternative trading system or ATS is any organization, association, person, group of persons, or system that constitutes, maintains, or provides a marketplace or facilities for bringing together purchasers and sellers of securities or for otherwise performing with respect to securities the functions commonly performed by a stock exchange as defined in Rule 3b-16 under the Exchange Act. See 17 CFR 242.300. Further, for purposes of the regulation, an ATS may not set rules governing the conduct of subscribers (other than with respect to the use of the particular trading system), or discipline subscribers other than by exclusion from trading. To the extent that an ATS or the sponsoring broker-dealer seeks to establish conduct or disciplinary rules, the entity may be required to register as a national securities exchange or obtain a Commission exemption from exchange registration based on limited trading volume. In order to acquire the status of an ATS, a firm must first be registered as a broker-dealer, and it must file an initial operation report with respect to the trading system on Form ATS at least 20 days before commencing operation. The initial operation report must be accurate and kept current. The Commission does not issue approval orders for Form ATS filings however, the Form ATS is not considered filed unless it complies with all applicable requirements under the Regulation. Regulation ATS contains provisions concerning the system39s operations, including: fair access to the trading system fees charged the display of orders and the ability to execute orders system capacity, integrity and security record keeping and reporting and procedures to ensure the confidential treatment of trading information. An ATS must file with the Division of Trading and Markets quarterly reports regarding its operations on Form ATS-R. An ATS must also comply with any applicable SRO rules and with state laws relating to alternative trading systems and relating to the offer or sale of securities or the registration or regulation of persons or entities effecting securities transactions. Finally, an ATS may not use in its name the word quotexchange, quot or terms similar to the word quotexchange, quot such as the term quotstock market. quot See 17 CFR 242.301. For further information on the operation and regulation of alternative trading systems, see the adopting release for Regulation ATS at sec. govrulesfinal34-40760.txt . H. Penny Stock Rules (Rules 15g-2 through 15g-9, Schedule 15G) Most broker-dealers that effect transactions in quotpenny stocksquot have certain enhanced suitability and disclosure obligations to their customers. 8 A penny stock is generally defined as any equity security other than a security that: (a) is an NMS stock ( See Rule 600(b)(47)) listed on a quotgrandfatheredquot national securities exchange, (b) is an NMS stock listed on a national securities exchange or an automated quotation system sponsored by a registered national securities association (including Nasdaq) that satisfies certain minimum quantitative listing standards, (c) has a transaction price of five dollars or more, (d) is issued by a registered investment company or by the Options Clearing Corporation, (e) is a listed security futures product, or (f) is a security whose issuer has met certain net tangible assets or average revenues ( See Rule 3a51-1). Penny stocks include the equity securities of private companies with no active trading market if they do not qualify for one of the exclusions from the definition of penny stock. Before a broker-dealer that does not qualify for an exemption 9 may effect a solicited transaction in a penny stock for or with the account of a customer it must: (1) provide the customer with a risk disclosure document, as set forth in Schedule 15G, and receive a signed and dated acknowledgement of receipt of that document from the customer ( See Rule 15g-2) (2) approve the customer39s account for transactions in penny stocks, provide the customer with a suitability statement, and receive a signed a dated copy of that statement from the customer and (3) receive the customer39s written agreement to the transaction ( See Rule 15g-9). The broker-dealer also must wait at least two business days after sending the customer the risk disclosure document and the suitability statement before effecting the transaction. In addition, Exchange Act Rules 15g-3 through 15g-6 generally require a broker-dealer to give each penny stock customer: information on market quotations and, where appropriate, offer and bid prices the aggregate amount of any compensation received by the broker-dealer in connection with such transaction the aggregate amount of cash compensation that any associated person of the broker-dealer, who is a natural person and who has communicated with the customer concerning the transaction at or prior to the customerrsquos transaction order, other than a person whose function is solely clerical or ministerial, has received or will receive from any source in connection with the transaction and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customerrsquos account. I. Privacy of Consumer Financial Information (Regulation S-P) Broker-dealers, including foreign broker-dealers registered with the Commission and unregistered broker-dealers in the United States, must comply with Regulation S-P, ( See 17 CFR Part 248) even if their consumers are non-U. S. persons or if they conduct their activities through non-U. S. offices or branches. Regulation SP generally requires a broker-dealer to provide its customers with initial, annual and revised notices containing specified information about the broker-dealer39s privacy policies and practices. These notices must be clear and conspicuous, and must accurately reflect the broker-dealer39s policies and practices. See 17 CFR 248.4, 248.5, 248.6 and 248.8. Before disclosing nonpublic personal information about a consumer to a nonaffiliated third party, a broker-dealer must first give a consumer an opt-out notice and a reasonable opportunity to opt out of the disclosure. See 17 CFR 248.7 and 248.10. There are exceptions from these notice and opt-out requirements for disclosures to other financial institutions under joint marketing agreements and to certain service providers. See 17 CFR 248.13. There also are exceptions for disclosures made for purposes such as maintaining or servicing accounts, and disclosures made with the consent or at the direction of a consumer, or for purposes such as protecting against fraud, reporting to consumer reporting agencies, and providing information to law enforcement agencies. See 17 CFR 248.14 and 248.15. Regulation SP also imposes limits on the re-disclosure and re-use of information, and on sharing account number information with nonaffiliated third parties for use in telemarketing, direct mail marketing and email marketing. See 17 CFR 248.11 and 248.12. In addition, it includes a safeguards rule that requires a broker-dealer to adopt written policies and procedures for administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect customer records and information. See 17 CFR 248.30(a). Further, it includes a disposal rule that requires a broker-dealer (other than a broker-dealer registered by notice with the Commission to engage solely in transactions in securities futures) that maintains or possesses consumer report information for a business purpose to take reasonable measures to protect against unauthorized access to or use of the information in connection with its disposal. See 17 CFR 248.30(b). Recently proposed amendments which would further strengthen the privacy protections under Regulation S-P are available at sec. govrulesproposed200834-57427.pdf . J. Investment Adviser Registration Broker-dealers offering certain types of accounts and services may also be subject to regulation under the Investment Advisers Act. 10 (An investment adviser is defined as a person who receives compensation for providing advice about securities as part of a regular business.) ( See Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act .) In general, a broker-dealer whose performance of advisory services is quotsolely incidentalquot to the conduct of its business as a broker-dealer and that receives no quotspecial compensationquot is excepted from the definition of investment adviser. Thus, for example, a broker-dealer that provides advice and offers fee-based accounts (i. e. accounts that charge an asset-based or fixed fee rather than a commission, mark-up, or mark-down) must treat those accounts as advisory because an asset-based fee is considered quotspecial compensation. quot Also, under a recently proposed rule, a broker-dealer would be required to treat (1) each account over which it exercises investment discretion as an advisory account, unless the investment discretion is granted by a customer on a temporary or limited basis and (2) an account as advisory if the broker-dealer charges a separate fee for, or separately contracts to provide, advisory services. ( See sec. govrulesproposed2007ia-2652.pdf .) Finally, under the same proposed rule, a broker-dealer that is registered under the Exchange Act and registered under the Investment Advisers Act would be an investment adviser solely with respect to those accounts for which it provides services that subject the broker-dealer to the Investment Advisers Act. VI. ARBITRATION Pursuant to the rules of self-regulatory organizations, broker-dealers are required to arbitrate disputes with their customers, if the customer chooses to arbitrate. See e. g. . NASD Code of Arbitration Procedure for Customer Disputes, Rule 12200 American Stock Exchange, Rule 600 and Chicago Board of Options Exchange, Rule 18.1. VII. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF BROKER-DEALERS Broker-dealers must meet certain financial responsibility requirements, including: maintaining minimum amounts of liquid assets, or net capital taking certain steps to safeguard the customer funds and securities and making and preserving accurate books and records. A. Net Capital Rule (Rule 15c3-1) The purpose of this rule is to require a broker-dealer to have at all times enough liquid assets to promptly satisfy the claims of customers if the broker-dealer goes out of business. Under this rule, broker-dealers must maintain minimum net capital levels based upon the type of securities activities they conduct and based on certain financial ratios. For example, broker-dealers that clear and carry customer accounts generally must maintain net capital equal to the greater of 250,000 or two percent of aggregate debit items. Broker-dealers that do not clear and carry customer accounts can operate with lower levels of net capital. B. Use of Customer Balances (Rule 15c3-2) Broker-dealers that use customers39 free credit balances in their business must establish procedures to provide specified information to those customers, including: the amount due to those customers the fact that such funds are not segregated and may be used by the broker-dealer in its business and the fact that such funds are payable on demand of the customer. C. Customer Protection Rule (Rule 15c3-3) This rule protects customer funds and securities held by broker-dealers. Under the rule, a broker-dealer must have possession or control of all fully-paid or excess margin securities held for the account of customers, and determine daily that it is in compliance with this requirement. The broker-dealer must also make periodic computations to determine how much money it is holding that is either customer money or obtained from the use of customer securities. If this amount exceeds the amount that it is owed by customers or by other broker-dealers relating to customer transactions, the broker-dealer must deposit the excess into a special reserve bank account for the exclusive benefit of customers. This rule thus prevents a broker-dealer from using customer funds to finance its business. D. Required Books, Records, and Reports (Rules 17a-3, 17a-4, 17a-5, 17a-11) 11 Broker-dealers must make and keep current books and records detailing, among other things, securities transactions, money balances, and securities positions. They also must keep records for required periods and furnish copies of those records to the SEC on request. These records include e-mail. Broker-dealers also must file with the SEC periodic reports, including quarterly and annual financial statements. The annual statements generally must be certified by an independent public accountant. In addition, broker-dealers must notify the SEC and the appropriate SRO 12 regarding net capital, recordkeeping, and other operational problems, and in some cases file reports regarding those problems, within certain time periods. This gives us and the SROs early warning of these problems. E. Risk Assessment Requirements (Rules 17h-1T and 17h-2T) Certain broker-dealers must maintain and preserve certain information regarding those affiliates, subsidiaries and holding companies whose business activities are reasonably likely to have a material impact on their own financial and operating condition (including the broker-dealer39s net capital, liquidity, or ability to conduct or finance operations). Broker-dealers must also file a quarterly summary of this information. This information is designed to permit the SEC to assess the impact these entities may have on the broker-dealer. VIII. OTHER REQUIREMENTS In addition to the provisions discussed above, broker-dealers must comply with other requirements. These include: submitting to Commission and SRO examinations participating in the lost and stolen securities program complying with the fingerprinting requirement maintaining and reporting information regarding their affiliates following certain guidelines when using electronic media to deliver information and maintaining an anti-money laundering program. A. Examinations and Inspections (Rules 15b2-2 and 17d-1) Broker-dealers are subject to examination by the SEC and the SROs. The appropriate SRO generally inspects newly-registered broker-dealers for compliance with applicable financial responsibility rules within six months of registration, and for compliance with all other regulatory requirements within twelve months of registration. A broker-dealer must permit the SEC to inspect its books and records at any reasonable time. B. Lost and Stolen Securities Program (Rule 17f-1) In general, all broker-dealers must register in the lost and stolen securities program. The limited exceptions include broker-dealers that effect securities transactions exclusively on the floor of a national securities exchange solely for other exchange members and do not receive or hold customer securities, and broker-dealers whose business does not involve handling securities certificates. Broker-dealers must report losses, thefts, and instances of counterfeiting of securities certificates on Form X-17F-1A, and, in some cases, broker-dealers must make inquiries regarding securities certificates coming into their possession. Broker-dealers must file these reports and inquiries with the Securities Information Center (SIC), which operates the program for the SEC. A registration form can be obtained from Securities Information Center, P. O. Box 55151, Boston, MA 02205-5151. For registration and additional information, see the SIC39s website at secic . C. Fingerprinting Requirement (Rule 17f-2) Generally, every partner, officer, director, or employee of a broker-dealer must be fingerprinted and submit his or her fingerprints to the U. S. Attorney General. This requirement does not apply, however, to broker-dealers that sell only certain securities that are not ordinarily evidenced by certificates (such as mutual funds and variable annuities) or to persons who do not sell securities, have access to securities, money or original books and records, and do not supervise persons engaged in such activities. A broker-dealer claiming an exemption must comply with the notice requirements of Rule 17f-2. Broker-dealers may obtain fingerprint cards from their SRO and should submit completed fingerprint cards to the SRO for forwarding to the FBI on behalf of the Attorney General. D. Use of Electronic Media by Broker-Dealers The Commission has issued two interpretive releases discussing the issues that broker-dealers should consider in using electronic media for delivering information to customers. These issues include the following: Will the customer have notice of and access to the communication Will there be evidence of delivery Did the broker-dealer take reasonable precautions to ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and security of any personal financial information See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 37182 (May 15, 1996), 61 FR 24644. See also . Securities Exchange Act Release No. 39779 (March 23, 1998), 63 FR 14806 (sec. govrulesinterp33-7516.htm ). E. Electronic Signatures (E-SIGN) Broker-dealers should also consider the impact, if any, that the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (commonly known as E-SIGN), Pub. L. No. 106-229, 114 Stat. 464 (2000) 15 U. S.C. sect7001, has on their ability to deliver information to customers electronically. F. Anti-Money Laundering Program Broker-dealers have broad obligations under the Bank Secrecy Act (quotBSAquot) 13 to guard against money laundering and terrorist financing through their firms. The BSA, its implementing regulations, and Rule 17a-8 under the Exchange Act require broker-dealers to file reports or retain records relating to suspicious transactions, customer identity, large cash transactions, cross-border currency movement, foreign bank accounts and wire transfers, among other things. The BSA, as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act, as well as SRO rules (e. g. NASD Rule 3011 and NYSE Rule 445), also requires all broker-dealers to have anti-money laundering compliance programs in place. Firms must develop and implement a written anti-money laundering compliance program, approved in writing by a member of senior management, which is reasonably designed to achieve and monitor the member39s ongoing compliance with the requirements of the BSA and its implementing regulations. Under this obligation, firms must: establish and implement policies and procedures that can be reasonably expected to detect and cause the reporting of suspicious transactions establish and implement policies, procedures, and internal controls reasonably designed to achieve compliance with the BSA and implementing regulations provide for independent testing for compliance, to be conducted by member personnel or by a qualified outside party designate and identify to the SROs an individual or individuals responsible for implementing and monitoring the day-to-day operations and internal controls of the program and provide prompt notification regarding any change in such designation(s) and provide ongoing training for appropriate personnel. For a compilation of key anti-money laundering laws, rules and guidance applicable to broker-dealers, see Anti-Money Laundering Source Tool sec. govaboutofficesocieamlsourcetool. htm see also, FINRA Anti-Money Laundering Issue Center finra. orgRulesRegulationIssueCenterAnti-MoneyLaunderingindex. htm. In addition, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (quotFinCENquot), the division within the Department of the Treasury that administers the BSA, provides useful information for helping financial institutions, including broker-dealers, meet their BSA obligations. See FinCEN Web site fincen. gov . G. Office of Foreign Assets Control Broker-dealers have an obligation to comply with the sanctions programs administered by the Department of Treasury39s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign countries, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers, and those engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. 14 OFAC acts under Presidential wartime and national emergency powers, as well as authority granted by specific legislation, to impose controls on transactions and freeze foreign assets under US jurisdiction. OFAC39s sanctions programs are separate and distinct from, and in addition to, the anti-money laundering requirements imposed under the BSA on broker-dealers. 15 Unlike the BSA, OFAC programs apply to all U. S. persons and are applicable across business lines. OFAC programs are also strict liability programs mdash there are no safe harbors and no de minimis standards, although having a comprehensive compliance program in place could act as a mitigating factor in any enforcement action. OFAC publishes regulations implementing each of its programs, which include trade restrictions and asset blockings against particular countries and parties tied to terrorism, narcotics trafficking, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as a number of programs targeting members of certain foreign jurisdictions. As part of its efforts to implement these programs, OFAC publishes a list of Specially Designated Nationals, which is frequently updated on an as-needed basis. 16 In general, OFAC regulations require you to do the following: block accounts and other property of specified countries, entities, and individuals prohibit or reject unlicensed trade and financial transactions with specified countries, entities, and individuals and report all blockings and rejections of prohibited transactions to OFAC within ten days of the occurrence and annually. 17 OFAC has the authority to impose civil penalties of over 1,000,000 per count for violations of its sanctions programs. OFAC has stated that it will take into account the adequacy of your OFAC compliance program when it evaluates whether to impose a penalty if an OFAC violation occurs. To guard against engaging in OFAC prohibited transactions, you should generally follow a best practice of quotscreening againstquot the OFAC lists. 18 Consistent with this best practice, you should take care to screen all new accounts, existing accounts, customers and relationships against the OFAC lists, including any updates to the lists. This screening should include originators or recipients of wire and securities transfers. 19 H. Business Continuity Planning The Commission, Federal Reserve Board, and Comptroller of the Currency published an interagency White Paper emphasizing the importance of core clearing and settlement organizations and establishing guidelines for their capacity and ability to restore operations within a short time of a wide-scale disruption. 20 Separately, the Commission also published a Policy Statement urging the organized securities markets to improve their business continuity arrangements, 21 and encouraging SRO-operated markets and electronic communications networks, or ECNs to establish plans to enable the restoration of trading no later than the business day following a wide-scale disruption. In 2004, NASD and the NYSE adopted rules requiring every member to establish and maintain a business continuity plan, with elements as specified in the rules, and to provide the respective SROs with emergency contact information. See NASD Rule 3510 and NYSE Rule 446. See also . sec. govrulessronasd34-49537.pdf . IX. WHERE TO GET FURTHER INFORMATION For general questions regarding broker-dealer registration and regulation: Office of Interpretation and Guidance Division of Trading and Markets U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street, NE Washington, DC 20549 (202) 551-5777 e-mail: tradingandmarketssec. gov For additional information about how to obtain official publications of SEC rules and regulations, and for on-line access to SEC rules: Superintendent of Documents Government Printing Office Washington, DC 20402-9325 gpo. gov For copies of SEC forms and recent SEC releases, Publications Section U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street, NE Washington, DC 20549 (202) 551-4040 Other useful addresses, telephone numbers, and websites: SEC39s website: sec. gov The SEC39s website contains contact numbers for SEC offices in Washington and for the SEC39s regional offices: sec. govcontactaddresses. htm . Financial Industry Regulatory Authority 9509 Key West Avenue Rockville, MD 20850 (301) 590-6500 (call center) (800) 289-9999 (to check on the registration status of a firm or individual) finra. org New York Stock Exchange, Inc. 20 Broad Street New York, NY 10005 (212) 656-3000 nyse North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. 750 First Street, NE, Suite 1140 Washington, DC 20002 (202) 737-0900 nasaa. org Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board gt1900 Duke Street, Suite 600 Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 797-6600 msrb. org Securities Investor Protection Corporation 805 15th Street, N. W. Suite 800 Washington, D. C. 20005-2215 (202)371-8300 sipc. org e-mail: asksipcsipc. org We wish to stress that we have published this guide as an introduction to the federal securities laws that apply to brokers and dealers. It only highlights and summarizes certain provisions, and does not relieve anyone from complying with all applicable regulatory requirements. You should not rely on this guide without referring to the actual statutes, rules, regulations, and interpretations. 1 The Division of Trading and Markets was known as the Division of Market Regulation from August 7, 1972, until November 14, 2007. 2 The treatment of dividend (or interest) reinvestment and stock purchase plans is addressed in Rule 102(c) of Regulation M. ( See Part V. A.7.) 3 Section 9(a) prohibits particular manipulative practices regarding securities registered on a national securities exchange. Section 10(b) is a broad quotcatch-allquot provision that prohibits the use of quotany manipulative or deceptive device or contrivancequot in connection with the purchase or sale of any security. Sections 15(c)(1) and 15(c)(2) apply to the over-the-counter markets. Section 15(c)(1) prohibits broker-dealers from effecting transactions in, or inducing the purchase or sale of, any security by means of quotany manipulative, deceptive or other fraudulent device, quot and Section 15(c)(2) prohibits a broker-dealer from making fictitious quotes. 4 These include Rules 10b-1 through 10b-18, 15c1-1 through 15c1-9, 15c2-1 through 15c2-11, and Regulation M. 5 In addition, Rule 11Ac1-3 requires broker-dealers to inform their customers, upon opening a new account and annually thereafter, of their policies regarding payment for order flow and for determining where to route a customer39s order. 6 The purpose of this disclosure is to inform the customer of the nature and extent of a broker-dealer39s conflict of interest. Broker-dealers are neither required to disclose the precise amount of these payments nor any formula that would allow a customer to calculate this amount. Nevertheless, Rule 10b-10 is not a safe harbor from the anti-fraud provisions. Recent enforcement actions have indicated that failures to disclose the nature and extent of the conflict of interest may violate Section 17(a)(2) of the 1933 Act. See Edward D. Jones amp Co. L. P. Securities Exchange Act Release No. 50910 (Dec. 22, 2004) Morgan Stanley DW, Inc. Securities Exchange Act Release No. 48789 (Nov. 17, 2003). 7 SEC, Report by Division of Market Regulation, Broker-Dealer Policies and Procedures Designed to Segment the Flow and Prevent the Misuse of Material Non-Public Information, 1989-1990 Transfer Binder Fed. Sec. L. Rep. (CCH) 84,520 at p. 80, 620-25 (March, 1990). 8 Rule 15g-1(a)(1) establishes a transaction exemption for brokers or dealers whose commission equivalents, mark-ups, and mark-downs from transactions in penny stocks during each of the immediately preceding three months and during eleven or more of the preceding twelve months, or during the immediately preceding six months, did not exceed five percent of its total commissions, commission equivalents, mark-ups, and mark-downs from transactions in securities during those months. 9 Exemptions from the requirements of Exchange Act Rules 15g-2 through 15g-6 are provided for non-recommended transactions, broker-dealers doing a minimal business in penny stocks, trades with institutional investors, and private placements. See Rule 15g-1. Rule 15g-9(c) exempts certain transactions from the requirements of Rule 15g-9. 10 See Certain Broker-Dealers Deemed Not To Be Investment Advisers, Exchange Act Release No. 51523 (April 12, 2005). 11 Rules 17a-2, 17a-7, 17a-8, 17a-10 and 17a-13 contain additional recordkeeping and reporting requirements that apply to broker-dealers. 12 When a broker-dealer is a member of more than one SRO, the SEC designates the SRO responsible for examining such broker-dealer for compliance with financial responsibility rules (the quotdesignated examining authorityquot). 13 The Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970 (commonly referred to as the quotBank Secrecy Actquot) is codified at 31 U. S.C. 5311, et seq. The regulations implementing the Bank Secrecy Act are located at 31 CFR Part 103. 14 A list of countries subject to OFAC sanctions, as well as a list of individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted counties (collectively called Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs)), is available on the OFAC website: treas. govofac . A summary of OFAC regulations as they apply to the securities industry can be found at the following link: treas. govofficesenforcementofacregulationst11facsc. pdf See also Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Bank Secrecy ActAnti-Money Laundering Examination Manual (quotFFIEC Manualquot), at pages 137-145 (8242007). The FFIEC Manual contains an entire section outlining best practices for OFAC Compliance, including risk matrices. Although that manual is written for the banking community, it provides information which may be useful to broker-dealers. 15 See also FinCEN Interpretive Release No. 2004-02 quotUnitary Filing of Suspicious Activity and Blocking Reports, quot 69 Fed. Reg. 76847 (Dec. 23, 2004). 16 OFAC offers a RISS feed service as well as an email notice system which pushes out digital information about its programs, including updates to its SDN List. See treas. govofac. These may be especially helpful to smaller firms whose OFAC compliance programs are more manual in nature. 17 You will find forms for blocking and rejection reports on OFAC39s website using the following links: 18 The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) offers a tool that assists firms to search for names on OFAC lists: apps. finra. orgRulesRegulationOFAC1Default. aspx . 19 See also FFIEC Manual at 140 (quotthe extent to which the bank includes account parties other than accountholders (e. g. beneficiaries, guarantors, principals, beneficial owners, nominee shareholders, directors, signatories, and powers of attorney) in the initial OFAC review during the account opening process, and during subsequent database reviews of existing accounts, will depend on the bank39s risk profile and available technology. quot). 20 Interagency Paper on Sound Practices to Strengthen the Resilience of the U. S. Financial Systems, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 47638 (April 7, 2003), 68 FR 17809 (April 11, 2003), sec. govnewsstudies34-47638.htm . 21 Policy Statement: Business Continuity Planning for Trading Markets, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 48545 (September 25, 2003), 68 FR 56656 (October 1, 2003), sec. govrulespolicy34-48545.htm. Meet The Forex Dealers A Forex dealer can be defined by the following description: A forex dealer is a firm or individual that makes a living from buying foreign exchange currency from one party and then sells it to another. Forex dealers receive the difference between the buying prices and the selling prices. This difference is also called the spread. Spreads are measured in pips. foreign exchange dealers can also be defined as any financial body or institution that has been given authorization from the Forex regulatory body to act as foreign currency exchange dealer, dealing with the trade of foreign currencies. Each country will have its own Forex regulatory body to ensure that all Forex trading are above board and just. In the USA, this regulatory body is known as the National Futures Association (NFA).The NFA regulates the American Forex FX trading dealers market by submitting Forex traders to strict screening conditions when registering as Forex traders and enforcing Forex regulations when traders are approved. The Foreign currency market is safeguarded against illegal activities, such as fraud, by enforcing strict regulations upon Forex traders. The NFA was established in 1982 and has since inception been responsible for all regulatory and auditing duties of currency exchange dealers companies involved in Forex dealings on behalf of the general public. Membership to the NFA is compulsory and it is illegal for any authorized Forex dealer to interact in business with a non-NFA member. The annual fees for being a Forex dealer on the Forex trade market can be very expensive. Various fees must be paid yearly in order to become an authorized Forex dealer. A number of penalties are also put in place, for those currency exchange dealers that do not pay their annual Forex fees on time. A Forex brokers are mostly agents who trades in foreign exchange currency on behalf of their clients, whereas a dealer trades as a principal and trades in foreign exchange currency for his own account. Foreign exchange dealers differ from foreign exchange brokers in that Forex dealers act as a principal in a transaction. A Forex dealer takes responsibility of assets and is exposed to inventory risks. A foreign exchange broker only negotiates and facilitates a trade on behalf of a client. Larger brokerages will trade as both brokers and principals and therefore they are sometimes referred to as broker-dealers. Foreign exchange dealers will deal with their clients in different ways, but they are all bound by the same higher Forex regulatory body. Foreign exchange dealers should therefore be able to provide you with their financial policies in writing. When deciding on a Forex dealer it is important to look at his or her experience, and fees. It is important to do proper research when deciding on a currency exchange dealer. Remember that finding currency exchange dealers with an excellent spread policy can result in bigger payoffs and that there are many currency exchange dealers to choose from. Investor Publications Guide to Broker-Dealer Registration Division of Trading and Markets 1 U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission April 2008 Table of Contents Introduction Who Is Required to Register Who is a quotBrokerquot Who is a quotDealerquot What To Do If You Think You May be a Broker or a Dealer Brokers and Dealers Generally Must Register with the SEC quotAssociated Personsquot of a Broker-Dealer Intrastate Broker-Dealers Broker-Dealers that Limit their Business to Excluded and Exempted Securities Broker-Dealers Must Register Before Selling Unregistered Securities - Including Private Placements (or Regulation D offerings) Issuer39s Exemption Foreign Broker-Dealer Exemption Requirements Regarding Brokers and Dealers of Government and Municipal Securities, including Repurchase Agreements Special Rules That A pply to Banks and Other Financial Institutions Insurance Agency Networking Real Estate Securities and Real Estate BrokersAgents Broker-Dealer Relationships with Affinity Groups How to Register as a Broker-Dealer Form BD SRO Membership SIPC Membership State Requirements Associated Persons Successor Broker-Dealer Registration Withdrawal from Registration Cancellation of Registration Security Futures Conduct Regulation of Broker-Dealers Antifraud Provisions Duty of Fair Dealing Suitability Requirements Duty of Best Execution Customer Confirmation Rule Disclosure of Credit Terms Restrictions on Short Sales (Regulation SHO) Trading During an Offering (Regulation M) Restrictions on Insider Trading Restrictions on Private Securities Transactions Analysts and Regulation AC Trading by Members of Exchanges, Brokers and Dealers Extending Credit on New Issues Regulation NMS Order Execution Obligations Regulation ATS: Broker-Dealer Trading Systems Penny Stock Rules Privacy of Consumer Financial Inf ormation (Regulation S-P) Investment Adviser Registration Arbitration Financial Responsibility of Broker-Dealers Net Capital Rule Use of Customer Balances Customer Protection Required Books, Records and Reports Risk Assessment Requirements Other Requirements Examinations and Inspections Lost and Stolen Securities Program Fingerprinting Requirement Use of Electronic Media by Broker-Dealers Electronic Signatures Anti-Money Laundering Program Office of Foreign Assets Control Business Continuity Plans Where to Get Further Information I. INTRODUCTION The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (quotExchange Actquot or quotActquot) governs the way in which the nation39s securities markets and its brokers and dealers operate. We have prepared this guide to summarize some of the significant provisions of the Act and its rules. You will find information about whether you need to register as a broker-dealer and how you can register, as well as the standards of conduct and the financial responsibility rules that broker-dealers must follow. CAUTION mdash MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW ALL LAWS AND RULES Although this guide highlights certain provisions of the Act and our rules, it is not comprehensive. Brokers and dealers, and their associated persons, must comply with all applicable requirements, including those of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (quotSECquot or quotCommissionquot), as well as the requirements of any self-regulatory organizations to which the brokers and dealers belong, and not just those summarized here. The SEC staff stands ready to answer your questions and help you comply with our rules. After reading this guide, if you have questions, please feel free to contact the Office of Interpretation and Guidance at (202) 551-5777 (e-mail tradingandmarketssec. gov) or the Regional Office of the SEC in your area. You will find a list of useful phone numbers at the end of this guide, or on the SEC39s website at sec. govcontact. shtml. You may wish to consult with a private lawyer who is familiar with the federal securities laws, to assure that you comply with all laws and regulations. The SEC staff cannot act as an individual39s or broker-dealer39s lawyer. While the staff attempts to provide guidance by telephone to individuals who are making inquiries, the guidance is informal and not binding. Formal guidance may be sought through a written inquiry that is consistent with the SEC39s guidelines for no-action, interpretive, and exemptive requests. II. WHO IS REQUIRED TO REGISTER Most quotbrokersquot and quotdealersquot must register with the SEC and join a quotself-regulatory organization, quot or SRO. This section covers the factors that determine whether a person is a broker or dealer. It also describes the types of brokers and dealers that do not have to register with the SEC. Self-regulatory organizations are described in Part III, below. A note about banks: The Exchange Act also contains special provisions relating to brokerage and dealing activities of banks. Please see Sections 3(a)(4)(B) and 3(a)(5)(C) and related provisions, and consult with counsel. Aspects of bank dealer activity are discussed in a publication issued by the SEC39s Division of Trading and Markets, entitled quotStaff Compliance Guide to Banks on Dealer Statutory Exceptions and Rules, quot which is available on the SEC39s website at: sec. govdivisionsmarketregbankdealerguide. htm. Bank brokerage activity is addressed in Regulation R, which was adopted jointly by the Commission and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. See Exchange Act Release No. 56501 (September 24, 2007) sec. govrulesfinal200734-56501.pdf . A. Who is a quotBrokerquot Section 3(a)(4)(A) of the Act generally defines a quotbrokerquot broadly as any person engaged in the business of effecting transactions in securities for the account of others. Sometimes you can easily determine if someone is a broker. For instance, a person who executes transactions for others on a securities exchange clearly is a broker. However, other situations are less clear. For example, each of the following individuals and businesses may need to register as a broker, depending on a number of factors: quotfinders, quot quotbusiness brokers, quot and other individuals or entities that engage in the following activities: Finding investors or customers for, making referrals to, or splitting commissions with registered broker-dealers, investment companies (or mutual funds, including hedge funds) or other securities intermediaries Finding investment banking clients for registered broker-dealers Finding investors for quotissuersquot (entities issuing securities), even in a quotconsultantquot capacity Engaging in, or finding investors for, venture capital or quotangelquot financings, including private placements Finding buyers and sellers of businesses (i. e. activities relating to mergers and acquisitions where securities are involved) investment advisers and financial consultants foreign broker-dealers that cannot rely on Rule 15a-6 under the Act (discussed below ) persons that operate or control electronic or other platforms to trade securities persons that market real-estate investment interests, such as tenancy-in-common interests, that are securities persons that act as quotplacement agentsquot for private placements of securities persons that market or effect transactions in insurance products that are securities, such as variable annuities, or other investment products that are securities persons that effect securities transactions for the account of others for a fee, even when those other people are friends or family members persons that provide support services to registered broker-dealers and persons that act as quotindependent contractors, quot but are not quotassociated personsquot of a broker-dealer (for information on quotassociated persons, quot see below). In order to determine whether any of these individuals (or any other person or business) is a broker, we look at the activities that the person or business actually performs. You can find analyses of various activities in the decisions of federal courts and our own no-action and interpretive letters. Here are some of the questions that you should ask to determine whether you are acting as a broker: Do you participate in important parts of a securities transaction, including solicitation, negotiation, or execution of the transaction Does your compensation for participation in the transaction depend upon, or is it related to, the outcome or size of the transaction or deal Do you receive trailing commissions, such as 12b-1 fees Do you receive any other transaction-related compensation Are you otherwise engaged in the business of effecting or facilitating securities transactions Do you handle the securities or funds of others in connection with securities transactions A quotyesquot answer to any of these questions indicates that you may need to register as a broker. B. Who is a quotDealerquot Unlike a broker, who acts as agent, a dealer acts as principal. Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Act generally defines a quotdealerquot as: any person engaged in the business of buying and selling securities for his own account, through a broker or otherwise. The definition of quotdealerquot does not include a quottrader, quot that is, a person who buys and sells securities for his or her own account, either individually or in a fiduciary capacity, but not as part of a regular business. Individuals who buy and sell securities for themselves generally are considered traders and not dealers. Sometimes you can easily tell if someone is a dealer. For example, a firm that advertises publicly that it makes a market in securities is obviously a dealer. Other situations can be less clear. For instance, each of the following individuals and businesses may need to register as a dealer, depending on a number of factors: a person who holds himself out as being willing to buy and sell a particular security on a continuous basis a person who runs a matched book of repurchase agreements or a person who issues or originates securities that he also buys and sells. Here are some of the questions you should ask to determine whether you are acting as a dealer: Do you advertise or otherwise let others know that you are in the business of buying and selling securities Do you do business with the public (either retail or institutional) Do you make a market in, or quote prices for both purchases and sales of, one or more securities Do you participate in a quotselling groupquot or otherwise underwrite securities Do you provide services to investors, such as handling money and securities, extending credit, or giving investment advice Do you write derivatives contracts that are securities A quotyesquot answer to any of these questions indicates that you may need to register as a dealer. C. What To Do If You Think You May Be a Broker or a Dealer If you are doing, or may do, any of the activities of a broker or dealer, you should find out whether you need to register. Information on the broker-dealer registration process is provided below. If you are not certain, you may want to review SEC interpretations, consult with private counsel, or ask for advice from the SEC39s Division of Trading and Markets by calling (202) 551-5777 or by sending an e-mail to tradingandmarketssec. gov. (Please be sure to include your telephone number.) Note: If you will be acting as a quotbrokerquot or quotdealer, quot you must not engage in securities business until you are properly registered. If you are already engaged in the business and are not yet registered, you should cease all activities until you are properly registered. For further information, please see Part II. D and Part III, below. D. Brokers and Dealers Generally Must Register with the SEC Section 15(a)(1) of the Act generally makes it unlawful for any broker or dealer to use the mails (or any other means of interstate commerce, such as the telephone, facsimiles, or the Internet) to quoteffect any transactions in, or to induce or attempt to induce the purchase or sale of, any securityquot unless that broker or dealer is registered with the Commission in accordance with Section 15(b) of the Act. There are a few exceptions to this general rule that we discuss below. In addition, we discuss the special registration requirements that apply to broker-dealers of government and municipal securities, including repurchase agreements, below. 1. quotAssociated Personsquot of a Broker-Dealer We call individuals who work for a registered broker-dealer quotassociated persons. quot This is the case whether such individuals are employees, independent contractors, or are otherwise working with a broker-dealer. These individuals may also be called quotstock brokersquot or quotregistered representatives. quot Although associated persons usually do not have to register separately with the SEC, they must be properly supervised by a currently registered broker-dealer. They may also have to register with the self-regulatory organizations of which their employer is a member mdash for example, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (quotFINRAquot) (fka the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (quotNASDquot)) or a national securities exchange. To the extent that associated persons engage in securities activities outside of the supervision of their broker-dealer, they would have to register separately as broker-dealers. Part III, below, provides a discussion of how to register as a broker-dealer. We do not differentiate between employees and other associated persons for securities law purposes. Broker-dealers must supervise the securities activities of their personnel regardless of whether they are considered quotemployeesquot or quotindependent contractorsquot as defined under state law. See . for example, In the matter of William V. Giordano . Securities Exchange Act Release No. 36742 (January 19, 1996). The law also does not permit unregistered entities to receive commission income on behalf of a registered representative. For example, associated persons cannot set up a separate entity to receive commission checks. An unregistered entity that receives commission income in this situation must register as a broker-dealer. See . for example, Wolff Juall Investments, LLC (May 17, 2005). Under certain circumstances, unregistered entities may engage in payroll administration services involving broker-dealers. See . for example, letter re: ADP TotalSource, Inc. (December 4, 2007). In those circumstances, the broker-dealer employer generally hires and supervises all aspects of the employees39 work and uses the payroll and benefits administrator merely as a means to centralize personnel services. 2. Intrastate Broker-Dealers A broker-dealer that conducts all of its business in one state does not have to register with the SEC. (State registration is another matter. See Part III. below.) The exception provided for intrastate broker-dealer activity is very narrow. To qualify, all aspects of all transactions must be done within the borders of one state. This means that, without SEC registration, a broker-dealer cannot participate in any transaction executed on a national securities exchange. A broker-dealer that otherwise meets the requirements of the intrastate broker-dealer exemption would not cease to qualify for the intrastate broker-dealer exemption solely because it has a website that may be viewed by out-of-state persons, so long as the broker-dealer takes measures reasonably designed to ensure that its business remains exclusively intrastate. These measures could include the use of disclaimers clearly indicating that the broker-dealers business is exclusively intrastate and that the broker-dealer can only act for or with, and provide broker-dealer services to, a person in its state, as long as the broker-dealer does not provide broker-dealer services to persons that indicate they are, or that the broker-dealer has reason to believe are, not within the broker-dealers state of residence. These measures are not intended to be exclusive. A broker-dealer could adopt other measures reasonably designed to ensure that it does not provide broker-dealer services to persons that are not within the same state as the broker-dealer. However, an intermediarys business would not be exclusively intrastate if it sold securities or provided any other broker-dealer services to a person that indicates that it is, or that the broker-dealer has reason to believe is, not within the broker-dealers state of residence. For additional information regarding the use of the Internet by intrastate broker-dealers, see sec. govrulesfinal201633-10238.pdf . A word about municipal and government securities. There is no intrastate exception from registration for municipal securities dealers or government securities brokers and dealers. 3. Broker-Dealers that Limit their Business to Excluded and Exempted Securities A broker-dealer that transacts business only in commercial paper, bankers39 acceptances, and commercial bills does not need to register with the SEC under Section 15(b) or any other section of the Act. On the other hand, persons transacting business only in certain quotexempted securities, quot as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the Act, do not have to register under Section 15(b), but may have to register under other provisions of the Act. For example, some broker-dealers of government securities, which are quotexempted securities, quot must register as government securities brokers or dealers under Section 15C of the Act, as described in Part II. E, below. 4. Broker-Dealers Must Register Before Selling Unregistered Securities ndash Including Private Placements (or Regulation D offerings) A security sold in a transaction that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the quot1933 Actquot) is not necessarily an quotexempted securityquot under the Exchange Act. For example, a person who sells securities that are exempt from registration under Regulation D of the 1933 Act must nevertheless register as a broker-dealer. In other words, quotplacement agentsquot are not exempt from broker-dealer registration. 5. Issuer39s quotExemptionquot and Associated Persons of Issuers (Rule 3a4-1) Issuers generally are not quotbrokersquot because they sell securities for their own accounts and not for the accounts of others. Moreover, issuers generally are not quotdealersquot because they do not buy and sell their securities for their own accounts as part of a regular business. Issuers whose activities go beyond selling their own securities, however, need to consider whether they would need to register as broker-dealers. This includes issuers that purchase their securities from investors, as well as issuers that effectively operate markets in their own securities or in securities whose features or terms can change or be altered. The so-called issuer39s exemption does not apply to the personnel of a company who routinely engage in the business of effecting securities transactions for the company or related companies (such as general partners seeking investors in limited partnerships). The employees and other related persons of an issuer who assist in selling its securities may be quotbrokers, quot especially if they are paid for selling these securities and have few other duties. Exchange Act Rule 3a4-1 provides that an associated person (or employee) of an issuer who participates in the sale of the issuer39s securities would not have to register as a broker-dealer if that person, at the time of participation: (1) is not subject to a quotstatutory disqualification, quot as defined in Section 3(a)(39) of the Act (2) is not compensated by payment of commissions or other remuneration based directly or indirectly on securities transactions (3) is not an associated person of a broker or dealer and (4) limits its sales activities as set forth in the rule. Some issuers offer dividend reinvestment and stock purchase programs. Under certain conditions, an issuer may purchase and sell its own securities through a dividend reinvestment or stock purchase program without registering as a broker-dealer. These conditions, regarding solicitation, fees and expenses, and handling of participants39 funds and securities, are explained in Securities Exchange Act Release No. 35041 (December 1, 1994), 59 FR 63393 (quot1994 STA Letterquot). Although Regulation M 2 replaced Rule 10b-6 and superseded the 1994 STA Letter, the staff positions taken in this letter regarding the application of Section 15(a) of the Exchange Act remain in effect. See 17 CFR 242.102(c) and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 38067 (December 20, 1996), 62 FR 520, 532 n.100 (January 3, 1997). 6. Foreign Broker-Dealer Exemption (Rule 15a-6) The SEC generally uses a territorial approach in applying registration requirements to the international operations of broker-dealers. Under this approach, all broker-dealers physically operating within the United States that induce or attempt to induce securities transactions must register with the SEC, even if their activities are directed only to foreign investors outside of the United States. In addition, foreign broker-dealers that, from outside of the United States, induce or attempt to induce securities transactions by any person in the United States, or that use the means or instrumentalities of interstate commerce of the United States for this purpose, also must register. This includes the use of the internet to offer securities, solicit securities transactions, or advertise investment services to U. S. persons. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 39779 (March 23, 1998) sec. govrulesinterp33-7516.htm . Foreign broker-dealers that limit their activities to those permitted under Rule 15a-6 of the Act, however, may be exempt from U. S. broker-dealer registration. Foreign broker-dealers that wish to rely on this exemption should review Securities Exchange Act Release No. 27017 (effective August 15, 1989), 54 FR 30013, to determine whether they meet the conditions of Rule 15a-6. See also letters re: Securities Activities of U. S.-Affiliated Foreign Dealers (April 9 and April 28, 1997). In addition, in April 2005, the Division of Market Regulation staff issued responses to frequently asked questions concerning Rule 15a-6 in relation to Regulation AC. See sec. govdivisionsmarketregmregacfaq0803.htmpartb. (Regulation AC is discussed in Part V. B, below.) E. Requirements Regarding Brokers and Dealers of Government and Municipal Securities, including Repurchase Agreements Broker-dealers that limit their activity to government or municipal securities require specialized registration. Those that limit their activity to government securities do not have to register as quotgeneral-purposequot broker-dealers under Section 15(b) of the Act. General-purpose broker-dealers that conduct a government securities business, however, must note this activity on their Form BD. (Form BD is discussed below.) All firms that are brokers or dealers in government securities must comply with rules adopted by the Secretary of the Treasury, as well as SEC rules. Firms that limit their securities business to buying and selling municipal securities for their own account (municipal securities dealers) must register as general-purpose broker-dealers. If, however, these entities are banks or meet the requirements of the intrastate exemption discussed in Part II. D.2. above, they must register as municipal securities dealers. Municipal securities brokers (other than banks) must register as general-purpose broker-dealers unless they qualify for the intrastate exception. See Part II. D.2 above. Firms that run a matched book of repurchase agreements or other stock loans are considered dealers. Because a quotbook running dealerquot holds itself out as willing to buy and sell securities, and is thus engaged in the business of buying and selling securities, it must register as a broker-dealer. F. Special Rules That Apply to Banks and Similar Financial Institutions Note: Banks, thrifts, and other financial institutions should be aware that the Commission has adopted rules that may affect them. See Regulation R, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-56501 (Sept. 24, 2007), 72 FR 56514 (Oct. 3, 2007), sec. govrulesfinal200734-56501.pdf and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-56502 (Sept. 24, 2007) 72 FR 56562 (Oct. 3, 2007), sec. govrulesfinal200734-56502.pdf . Banks. Prior to the enactment of the quotGramm-Leach-Bliley Actquot (quotGLBAquot) in 1999, U. S. banks were excepted from the definitions of quotbrokerquot and quotdealerquot under the Act. The GLBA amended the Exchange Act, and banks now have certain targeted exceptions and exemptions from broker-dealer registration. Currently, as a result of Commission rulemaking, banks are undergoing a phase-in period for compliance with the new law. Since October 1, 2003, banks that buy and sell securities must consider whether they are quotdealersquot under the federal securities laws. The Division of Trading and Markets has issued a special compliance guide for banks, entitled quotStaff Compliance Guide to Banks on Dealer Statutory Exceptions and Rules, quot which is available on the SEC39s website at: sec. govdivisionsmarketregbankdealerguide. htm. Bank brokerage activity is addressed in Regulation R, which was adopted jointly by the Commission and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. See Exchange Act Release No. 56501 (September 24, 2007) (which can be found at sec. govrulesfinal200734-56501.pdf ). The bank exceptions and exemptions only apply to banks, and not to related entities. It is important to note that exceptions applicable to banks under the Exchange Act, as amended by the GLBA, are not applicable to other entities, including bank subsidiaries and affiliates, that are not themselves banks. As such, subsidiaries and affiliates of banks that engage in broker-dealer activities are required to register as broker-dealers under the Act. Also, banks that act as municipal securities dealers or as government securities brokers or dealers continue to be required to register under the Act. Thrifts. By statute, thrifts (savings associations) have the same status as banks, and may avail themselves of the same targeted exceptions and exemptions from broker-dealer registration as banks. (For further information, See the quotStaff Compliance Guide to Banks on Dealer Statutory Exceptions and Rules, quot noted above.) As with banks, it is important to note that exceptions and exemptions applicable to thrifts are not applicable to other entities, including subsidiaries and affiliates that are not thrifts. As such, subsidiaries and affiliates of thrifts that engage in broker-dealer activities are required to register as broker-dealers under the Act. Credit Unions and Financial Institution quotNetworkingquot Arrangements. The exceptions and exemptions applicable to banks under the Exchange Act do not apply to other kinds of financial institutions, such as credit unions. The SEC staff, however, has permitted certain financial institutions, such as credit unions, to make securities available to their customers without registering as broker-dealers. This is done through quotnetworkingquot arrangements, where an affiliated or third-party broker-dealer provides brokerage services for the financial institution39s customers, according to conditions stated in no-action letters and NASD Rule 2350. Under a networking arrangement, financial institutions can share in the commissions generated by their referred customers, under certain conditions. The financial institution engaging in such networking must be in strict compliance with applicable law and Commission staff guidance. See . for example, letter re: Chubb Securities Corporation (November 24, 1993) and NASD Rule 2350 (applicable to broker-dealers that enter into networking arrangements with banks, thrifts, and credit unions). G. Insurance Agency Networking The SEC staff has permitted insurance agencies to make insurance products that are also securities (such as variable annuities) available to their customers without registering as broker-dealers under certain conditions. This again is done through quotnetworkingquot arrangements, where an affiliated or third-party broker-dealer provides brokerage services for the insurance agency39s customers, according to conditions stated in no-action letters. These arrangements are designed to address the difficulties of dual state and federal laws applicable to the sale of these products. Through networking arrangements, insurance agencies can share in the commissions generated by their referred customers under certain conditions. Insurance agencies engaging in such networking must be in strict compliance with applicable law and Commission staff guidance. Insurance companies should consult the letter re: First of America Brokerage Services, Inc. (September 28, 1995). Those interested in structuring such an arrangement should contact private counsel or the SEC staff for further information. Notably, insurance networking arrangements are limited to insurance products that are also securities. They do not encompass sales of mutual funds and other securities that do not present the same regulatory difficulties. See letter re: Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. (February 20, 1998). H. Real Estate Securities and Real Estate BrokersAgents The offer of real estate as such, without any collateral arrangements with the seller or others, does not involve the offer of a security. When the real estate is offered in conjunction with certain services, however, it may constitute an investment contract, and thus, a security. See generally . Securities Act Release No. 5347 (Jan. 4, 1973) (providing guidelines as to the applicability of the federal securities laws to offers and sales of condominiums or units in a real estate development). There is no general exception from the broker-dealer registration requirements for licensed real estate brokers or agents who engage in the business of effecting transactions in real estate securities. In the past, the Division staff has granted no-action relief from the registration requirements to licensed real estate personnel that engage in limited activities with respect to the sale of condominium units coupled with an offer or agreement to perform or arrange certain rental or other services for the purchaser. The relief provided in these letters is limited solely to their facts and should not be relied upon for activities relating to sales of other types of real estate securities, including tenants-in-common interests in real property. See generally . NASD Notice to Members 05-18, finra. orgsitesdefaultfilesNoticeDocumentp013455.pdf (addressing tenants-in-common interests in real property). I. Broker-Dealer Relationships with Affinity Groups Broker-dealers may enter into arrangements to offer services to members of certain non-profit groups, including civic organizations, charities, and educational institutions that rely upon private donations. These arrangements are subject to certain conditions to ensure that the organizations, or quotaffinity groups, quot do not develop a salesman39s stake with respect to the sale of securities. See . for example, letter re: Attkisson, Carter amp Akers (June 23, 1998). III. HOW TO REGISTER AS A BROKER-DEALER A broker-dealer may not begin business until: it has properly filed Form BD, and the SEC has granted its registration it has become a member of an SRO it has become a member of SIPC, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation it complies with all applicable state requirements and its quotassociated personsquot have satisfied applicable qualification requirements. A. Form BD If a broker-dealer does not qualify for any of the exceptions or exemptions outlined in the sections above, it must register with the Commission under Section 15(b) of the Act. Broker-dealers register by filing an application on Form BD, which you may obtain from the SEC39s webpage at sec. govaboutformsformbd. pdf or through the SEC39s Publications Office at (202) 551-4040. You also use Form BD to: apply for membership in an SRO, such as FINRA or a registered national securities exchange give notice that you conduct government securities activities or apply for broker-dealer registration with each state in which you plan to do business. Form BD asks questions about the background of the broker-dealer and its principals, controlling persons, and employees. The broker-dealer must meet the statutory requirements to engage in a business that involves high professional standards, and quite often includes the more rigorous responsibilities of a fiduciary. To apply for registration, you must file one executed copy of Form BD through the Central Registration Depository (quotCRDquot), which is operated by FINRA. (The only exception is for banks registering as municipal securities dealers, which file Form MSD directly with the SEC and with their appropriate banking regulator.) Form BD contains additional filing instructions. The SEC does not charge a filing fee, but the SROs and the states may. Applicants that reside outside the U. S. must also appoint the SEC as agent for service of process using a standard form. Incomplete applications are not considered quotfiledquot and will be returned to the applicant for completion and re-submission. Within 45 days of filing a completed application, the SEC will either grant registration or begin proceedings to determine whether it should deny registration. An SEC registration may be granted with the condition that SRO membership must be obtained. The SROs have independent membership application procedures and are not required to act within 45 days of the filing of a completed application. In addition, state registrations may be required. A broker-dealer must comply with relevant state law as well as federal law and applicable SRO rules. Timeframes for registration with individual states may differ from the federal and SRO timeframes. As such, when deciding to register as a broker-dealer, it is important to plan for the time required for processing Federal, state, and SRO registration or membership applications. Duty to update Form BD. A registered broker-dealer must keep its Form BD current. Thus, it must promptly update its Form BD by filing amendments whenever the information on file becomes inaccurate or incomplete for any reason. Prohibited Broker-Dealer Names. Title 18, Section 709 of the United States Code makes it a criminal offense to use the words quotNational, quot quotFederal, quot quotUnited States, quot quotReserve, quot or quotDeposit Insurancequot in the name of a person or organization in the brokerage business, unless otherwise allowed by federal law. Further, a broker-dealer name that is otherwise materially misleading would become subject to scrutiny under Exchange Act Section 10(b), and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, the general antifraud rules, and any other applicable provisions. B. SRO Membership (Section 15(b)(8) and Rule 15b9-1) Before it begins doing business, a broker-dealer must become a member of an SRO. SROs assist the SEC in regulating the activities of broker-dealers. FINRA and the national securities exchanges are all SROs. If a broker-dealer restricts its transactions to the national securities exchanges of which it is a member and meets certain other conditions, it may be required only to be a member of those exchanges. If a broker-dealer effects securities transactions other than on a national securities exchange of which it is a member, however, including any over-the-counter business, it must become a member of FINRA, unless it qualifies for the exemption in Rule 15b9-1. FINRA39s webpage at finra. org provides detailed information on the FINRA membership process. You may also wish to consult the web pages of the individual exchanges for additional information. Firms that engage in transactions in municipal securities must also comply with the rules of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, or MSRB. The MSRB is an SRO that makes rules governing transactions in municipal securities, but, unlike other SROs, it does not enforce compliance with its rules. Compliance with MSRB rules is monitored and enforced by FINRA and the SEC (in the case of broker-dealers), and the Federal bank regulators and the SEC (in the case of banks). You may wish to consult the MSRB39s website at msrb. org for additional information, or you can call the MSRB at (703) 797-6600. C. SIPC Membership Every registered broker-dealer must be a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, or SIPC, unless its principal business is conducted outside of the United States or consists exclusively of the sale or distribution of investment company shares, variable annuities, or insurance. Each SIPC member must pay an annual fee to SIPC. SIPC insures that its members39 customers receive back their cash and securities in the event of a member39s liquidation, up to 500,000 per customer for cash and securities. (Claims for cash are limited to 100,000.) For further information, contact SIPC, 805 15th St. NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005. Telephone: (202) 371-8300, fax: (202) 371-6728, or visit SIPC39s website at sipc. org . D. State Requirements Every state has its own requirements for a person conducting business as a broker-dealer within that state. Each state39s securities regulator can provide you with information about that state39s requirements. You can obtain contact information for these regulators from the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. (NASAA), 750 First Street, NE, Suite 1140, Washington, DC 20002. Telephone: (202) 737-0900, or visit NASAA39s website at nasaa. org . E. Associated Persons (Section 3(a)(18) Rule 15b7-1) The Act defines an quotassociated personquot of a broker-dealer as any partner, officer, director, branch manager, or employee of the broker-dealer, any person performing similar functions, or any person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, the broker-dealer. A broker-dealer must file a Form U-4 with the applicable SRO for each associated person who will effect transactions in securities when that person is hired or otherwise becomes associated. Form U-4 is used to register individuals and to record these individuals39 prior employment and disciplinary history. An associated person who effects or is involved in effecting securities transactions also must meet qualification requirements. These include passing an SRO securities qualification examination. Many individuals take the comprehensive quotSeries 7quot exam. If individuals engage only in activities involving sales of particular types of securities, such as municipal securities, direct participation programs (limited partnerships) or mutual funds, they may wish to take a specialized examination focused on that type of security, instead of the general securities examination. There is also a special exam for assistant representatives, whose activities are limited to accepting unsolicited customer orders for execution by the firm. Supervisory personnel, and those who engage in specialized activities such as options trading, must take additional exams that cover those areas. These examinations require the Series 7 exam as a prerequisite. You can obtain copies of Form U-4, as well as information on securities qualification examinations, from an SRO. FINRA39s website at finra. org contains detailed information and guidance for individuals who wish to obtain a series license through FINRA. Also note that individual states have their own licensing and registration requirements, so you should consult with the applicable state securities regulators for further information. Note: If you hold a series license, you must be properly associated with a registered broker-dealer to effect securities transactions. It is not sufficient merely to hold a series license when engaging in securities business. If you hold a series license and wish to start an independent securities business, or otherwise wish to effect securities transactions outside of an quotassociated personquot relationship, you would first need to register as a broker-dealer. F. Successor Broker-Dealer Registration (Rules 15b1-3, 15Ba2-4, and 15Ca2-3) A successor broker-dealer assumes substantially all of the assets and liabilities, and continues the business, of a registered predecessor broker-dealer. A successor broker-dealer must file a new Form BD (or, in special instances, amend the predecessor broker-dealer39s Form BD) within 30 days after such succession. The filing should indicate that the applicant is a successor. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 31661 (December 28, 1992), 58 FR 7, which is available on the SEC39s website at: sec. govrulesinterp199234-31661.pdf. See also, the instructions to Form BD . G. Withdrawal from Registration (Rule 15b6-1) Cancellation of Registration When a registered broker-dealer stops doing business, it must file a Form BDW (sec. govaboutformsformbdw. pdf ) to withdraw its registration with the SEC and with the states and SROs of which it is a member. This form requires the broker-dealer to disclose the amount of any funds or securities it owes customers, and whether it is the subject of any proceedings, unsatisfied judgments, liens, or customer claims. These disclosures help to ensure that a broker-dealer39s business is concluded in an orderly manner and that customers39 funds and securities are protected. In most cases, a broker-dealer must also file a final FOCUS report. Form BDW may also be used by a broker-dealer to withdraw from membership with particular SROs, or to withdraw from registration with particular states, without withdrawing all of its registrations and memberships. Form BDW is not considered quotfiledquot unless it is deemed complete by the SEC and the SRO that reviews the filing. The SEC may also cancel a broker-dealer39s registration if it finds that the firm is no longer in existence or has ceased doing business as a broker-dealer. IV. SECURITY FUTURES Security futures, which are contracts of sale for future delivery of a single security or a narrow-based security index, are regulated as both securities by the SEC and as futures by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (quotCFTCquot). As a result, firms that conduct business in security futures must be registered with both the SEC and the CFTC. Federal law permits firms already registered with either the SEC or the CFTC to register with the other agency, for the limited purpose of trading security futures, by filing a notice. Specifically, firms registered as general purpose broker-dealers under Section 15(b) of the Act may quotnoticequot register with the CFTC. Likewise, futures commission merchants and introducing brokers registered with the CFTC may notice register with the SEC. (Section 15(b)(12) of the Act provides a limited exception to this notice registration requirement for certain natural persons who are members of security futures exchanges). However, futures commission merchants or introducing brokers that conduct a business in securities other than security futures must be registered as general-purpose broker-dealers. For more information on this topic, See Exchange Act Release No. 44730 (effective August 27, 2001), 66 FR 45138, and 66 FR 43080 (effective September 17, 2001). V. CONDUCT REGULATION OF BROKER-DEALERS Broker-dealers, like other securities market participants, must comply with the general quotantifraudquot provisions of the federal securities laws. Broker-dealers must also comply with many requirements that are designed to maintain high industry standards. We discuss some of these provisions below. A. Antifraud Provisions (Sections 9(a), 10(b), and 15(c)(1) and (2)) The quotantifraudquot provisions prohibit misstatements or misleading omissions of material facts, and fraudulent or manipulative acts and practices, in connection with the purchase or sale of securities. 3 While these provisions are very broad, the Commission has adopted rules, issued interpretations, and brought enforcement actions that define some of the activities we consider manipulative, deceptive, fraudulent, or otherwise unlawful. 4 Broker-dealers must conduct their activities so as to avoid these kinds of practices. 1. Duty of Fair Dealing Broker-dealers owe their customers a duty of fair dealing. This fundamental duty derives from the Act39s antifraud provisions mentioned above. Under the so-called quotshinglequot theory, by virtue of engaging in the brokerage profession ( e. g. . hanging out the broker-dealer39s business sign, or quotshinglequot), a broker-dealer represents to its customers that it will deal fairly with them, consistent with the standards of the profession. Based on this important representation, the SEC, through interpretive statements and enforcement actions, and the courts, through case law, have set forth over time certain duties for broker-dealers. These include the duties to execute orders promptly, disclose certain material information ( i. e. . information the customer would consider important as an investor), charge prices reasonably related to the prevailing market, and fully disclose any conflict of interest. SRO rules also reflect the importance of fair dealing. For example, FINRA members must comply with NASD39s Rules of Fair Practice. These rules generally require broker-dealers to observe high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade in conducting their business. The exchanges and the MSRB have similar rules. 2. Suitability Requirements Broker-dealers generally have an obligation to recommend only those specific investments or overall investment strategies that are suitable for their customers. The concept of suitability appears in specific SRO rules such as NASD Rule 2310 and has been interpreted as an obligation under the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. Under suitability requirements, a broker-dealer must have an quotadequate and reasonable basisquot for any recommendation that it makes. Reasonable basis suitability, or the reasonable basis test, relates to the particular security or strategy recommended. Therefore, the broker-dealer has an obligation to investigate and obtain adequate information about the security it is recommending. A broker-dealer also has an obligation to determine customer-specific suitability. In particular, a broker-dealer must make recommendations based on a customer39s financial situation, needs, and other security holdings. This requirement has been construed to impose a duty of inquiry on broker-dealers to obtain relevant information from customers relating to their financial situations and to keep such information current. SROs consider recommendations to be unsuitable when they are inconsistent with the customer39s investment objectives. 3. Duty of Best Execution The duty of best execution, which also stems from the Act39s antifraud provisions, requires a broker-dealer to seek to obtain the most favorable terms available under the circumstances for its customer orders. This applies whether the broker-dealer is acting as agent or as principal. The SRO rules also include a duty of best execution. For example, FINRA members must use quotreasonable diligencequot to determine the best market for a security and buy or sell the security in that market, so that the price to the customer is as favorable as possible under prevailing market conditions. 4. Customer Confirmation Rule (Rule 10b-10 and MSRB rule G-15) A broker-dealer must provide its customers, at or before the completion of a transaction, with certain information, including: the date, time, identity, price, and number of shares involved its capacity (agent or principal) and its compensation (for agency trades, compensation includes its commission and whether it receives payment for order flow 5 and for principal trades, mark-up disclosure may be required) the source and amount of any third party remuneration it has received or will receive 6 other information, both general (such as, if the broker-dealer is not a SIPC member) and transaction-specific (such as the yield, in most transactions involving debt securities). A broker-dealer may also be obligated under the antifraud provisions of the Act to disclose additional information to the customer at the time of his or her investment decision. 5. Disclosure of Credit Terms (Rule 10b-16) Broker-dealers must notify customers purchasing securities on credit about the credit terms and the status of their accounts. A broker-dealer must establish procedures for disclosing this information before it extends credit to a customer for the purchase of securities. A broker-dealer must give the customer this information at the time the account is opened, and must also provide credit customers with account statements at least quarterly. 6. Restrictions on Short Sales (Regulation SHO) A quotshort salequot is generally a sale of a security that the seller doesn39t own or for which the seller delivers borrowed shares. Regulation SHO was adopted in 2004 to update short sale regulation in light of numerous market developments since short sale regulation was first adopted in 1938. Compliance with Regulation SHO began on January 3, 2005. Some of the goals of Regulation SHO include: Establishing uniform quotlocatequot and quotclose-outquot requirements in order to address problems associated with failures to deliver, including potentially abusive quotnakedquot short selling. Locate Requirement: Regulation SHO requires a broker-dealer to have reasonable grounds to believe that the security can be borrowed so that it can be delivered on the date delivery is due before effecting a short sale order in any equity security. This quotlocatequot must be made and documented prior to effecting the short sale. Market makers engaged in bona fide market making are exempted from the quotlocatequot requirement. quotClose-outquot Requirement: Regulation SHO imposes additional delivery requirements on broker-dealers for securities in which there are a relatively substantial number of extended delivery failures at a registered clearing agency (quotthreshold securitiesquot). For instance, with limited exception, Regulation SHO requires brokers and dealers that are participants of a registered clearing agency to take action to quotclose-outquot failure-to-deliver positions (quotopen failsquot) in threshold securities that have persisted for 13 consecutive settlement days. Closing out requires the broker or dealer to purchase securities of like kind and quantity. Until the position is closed out, the broker or dealer and any broker or dealer for which it clears transactions (for example, an introducing broker) may not effect further short sales in that threshold security without borrowing or entering into a bona fide agreement to borrow the security (known as the quotpre-borrowingquot requirement). Creating uniform order marking requirements for sales of all equity securities. This means that a broker-dealer must mark orders as quotlongquot or quotshort. quot For further information, please see the adopting release for Regulation SHO, as well as Frequently Asked Questions, Key Points, and other related materials at sec. govspotlightshortsales. htm . 7. Trading During an Offering (Regulation M) Regulation M is designed to protect the integrity of the securities trading market as an independent pricing mechanism by governing the activities of underwriters, issuers, selling security holders, and other participants in connection with a securities offering. These rules are aimed at preventing persons having an interest in an offering from influencing the market price for the offered security in order to facilitate a distribution. The adopting release for Regulation M is available at sec. govrulesfinal34-38067.txt . Rule 101 of Regulation M generally prohibits underwriters, broker-dealers and other distribution participants from bidding for, purchasing, or attempting to induce any person to bid for or purchase, any security which is the subject of a distribution until the applicable restricted period has ended. An offering39s quotrestricted periodquot begins either one or five business days (depending on the trading volume value of the offered security and the public float value of the issuer) before the day of the offering39s pricing and ends upon completion of the distribution. Rule 101 contains various exceptions that are designed to permit an orderly distribution of securities and limit disruption in the market for the securities being distributed. For example, underwriters can continue to trade in actively-traded securities of larger issuers (securities with an average daily trading volume, or ADTV, value of 1 million or more and whose issuers have a public float value of at least 150 million). In addition, the following activities, among others, may be excepted from Rule 101, if they meet specified conditions: disseminating research reports making unsolicited purchases purchasing a group, or quotbasketquot of 20 or more securities exercising options, warrants, rights, and convertible securities effecting transactions that total less than 2 of the security39s ADTV and effecting transactions in securities sold to quotqualified institutional buyers. quot Rule 102 of Regulation M prohibits issuers, selling security holders, and their affiliated purchasers from bidding for, purchasing, or attempting to induce any person to bid for or purchase, any security which is the subject of a distribution until after the applicable restricted period. Rule 103 of Regulation M governs passive market making by broker-dealers participating in an offering of a Nasdaq security. Rule 104 of Regulation M governs stabilization transactions, syndicate short covering activity, and penalty bids. Rule 105 of Regulation M prevents manipulative short sales prior to pricing an offering by prohibiting the purchase of offering securities if a person sold short the security that is the subject of the offering during the Rule 105 restricted period. The rule contains exceptions for bona fide purchases, separate accounts, and investment companies. For frequently asked questions about Regulation M, see Staff Legal Bulletin No. 9 at sec. govinterpslegalmrslb9.htm . 8. Restrictions on Insider Trading The SEC and the courts interpret Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 under the Act to bar the use by any person of material non-public information in the purchase or sale of securities, whenever that use violates a duty of trust and confidence owed to a third party. Section 15(f) of the Act specifically requires broker-dealers to have and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent their employees from misusing material non-public information. Because employees in the investment banking operations of broker-dealers frequently have access to material non-public information, firms need to create procedures designed to limit the flow of this information so that their employees cannot use the information in the trading of securities. Broker-dealers can use these information barriers as a defense to a claim of insider trading. Such procedures typically include: training to make employees aware of these restrictions employee trading restrictions physical barriers isolation of certain departments and limitations on investment bank proprietary trading. 7 9. Restrictions on Private Securities Transactions NASD Rule 3040 provides that quotno person associated with a member shall participate in any manner in a private securities transactionquot except in accordance with the provisions of the rule. To the extent that any such transactions are permitted under the rule, prior to participating in any private securities transaction, the associated person must provide written notice to the member firm as described in the rule. If compensation is involved, the member firm must approve or disapprove the proposed transaction, record it in its books and records, and supervise the transaction as if it were executed on behalf of the member firm. Other conditions may also apply. In addition, private securities transactions of an associated person may be subject to an analysis under Exchange Act Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5, as well as the broker-dealer supervisory provisions of Section 15(f) (described in Part V. A.8, above) and Section 15(b)(4)(E), and other relevant statutory or regulatory provisions. B. Analysts and Regulation AC Regulation AC (or Regulation Analyst Certification) requires brokers, dealers, and persons associated with brokers or dealers that publish, distribute, or circulate research reports to include in those reports a certification that the views expressed in the report accurately reflect the analyst39s personal views. The report must also disclose whether the analyst received compensation for the views expressed in the report. If the analyst has received related compensation, the broker, dealer, or associated person must disclose its amount, source, and purpose. Regulation AC applies to all brokers and dealers, as well as to those persons associated with a broker or dealer that fall within the definition of quotcovered person. quot Regulation AC also requires that broker-dealers keep records of analyst certifications relating to public appearances. In addition to Commission rules, analyst conduct is governed by SRO rules, such as NASD Rule 2711 and NYSE Rule 472. The SRO rules impose restrictions on analyst compensation, personal trading activities, and involvement in investment banking activities. The SRO rules also include disclosure requirements for research reports and public appearances. For further information, including investor guidance, SEC releases, and SRO rules, see sec. govdivisionsmarketregsecuritiesanalysts. htm. In addition, staff responses to frequently asked questions are available at sec. govdivisionsmarketregmregacfaq0803.htm . C. Trading by Members of Exchanges, Brokers and Dealers (Section 11(a)) Broker-dealers that are members of national securities exchanges are subject to additional regulations regarding transactions they effect on exchanges. For example, except under certain conditions, they generally cannot effect transactions on exchanges for their own accounts, the accounts of their associated persons, or accounts that they or their associated persons manage. Exceptions from this general rule include transactions by market makers, transactions routed through other members, and transactions that yield to other orders. Exchange members may wish to seek guidance from their exchange regarding these provisions. D. Extending Credit on New Issues Disclosure of Capacity as Broker or Dealer (Section 11(d)) Section 11(d)(1) of the Act generally prohibits a broker-dealer that participates in the distribution of a new issue of securities from extending credit to customers in connection with the new issue during the distribution period and for 30 days thereafter. Sales by a broker-dealer of mutual fund shares and variable insurance product units are deemed to constitute participation in the distribution of a new issue. Therefore, purchase of mutual fund shares or variable product units using credit extended or arranged by the broker-dealer during the distribution period is a violation of Section 11(d)(1). However, Exchange Act Rule 11d1-2 permits a broker-dealer to extend credit to a customer on newly sold mutual fund shares and variable insurance product units after the customer has owned the shares or units for 30 days. Section 11(d)(2) of the Act requires a broker-dealer to disclose in writing, at or before the completion of each transaction with a customer, whether the broker-dealer is acting in the capacity of broker or dealer with regard to the transaction. E. Regulation NMS Regulation NMS addresses four interrelated topics that are designed to modernize the regulatory structure of the U. S. equity markets: (1) order protection, (2) intermarket access, (3) sub-penny pricing, and (4) market data. The quotOrder Protection Rulequot requires trading centers to establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the execution of trades at prices inferior to protected quotations displayed by other trading centers, subject to an applicable exception. To be protected, a quotation must be immediately and automatically accessible. The quotAccess Rulequot requires fair and non-discriminatory access to quotations, establishes a limit on access fees to harmonize the pricing of quotations across different trading centers, and requires each national securities exchange and national securities association to adopt, maintain, and enforce written rules that prohibit their members from engaging in a pattern or practice of displaying quotations that lock or cross automated quotations. The quotSub-Penny Rulequot prohibits market participants from accepting, ranking, or displaying orders, quotations, or indications of interest in a pricing increment smaller than a penny, except for orders, quotations, or indications of interest that are priced at less than 1.00 per share. The quotMarket Data Rulesquot update the requirements for consolidating, distributing, and displaying market information. In addition, amendments to the joint industry plans for disseminating market information modify the formulas for allocating plan revenues among the self-regulatory organizations and broaden participation in plan governance. Regulation NMS also updates and streamlines the existing Exchange Act rules governing the national market system previously adopted under Section 11A of the Exchange Act, and consolidates them into a single regulation. F. Order Execution Obligations (Rules 602-604 of Regulation NMS) Broker-dealers that are exchange specialists or Nasdaq market makers must comply with particular rules regarding publishing quotes and handling customer orders. These two types of broker-dealers have special functions in the securities markets, particularly because they trade for their own accounts while also handling orders for customers. These rules, which include the quotQuote Rulequot and the quotLimit Order Display Rule, quot increase the information that is publicly available concerning the prices at which investors may buy and sell exchange-listed and Nasdaq National Market System securities. The Quote Rule requires specialists and market makers to provide quotation information to their self-regulatory organization for dissemination to the public. The quote information that the specialist or market maker provides must reflect the best prices at which he is willing to trade (the lowest price the dealer will accept from a customer to sell the securities and the highest price the dealer will pay a customer to purchase the securities). A specialist or market maker may still trade at better prices in certain private trading systems, called electronic communications networks, or quotECNs, quot without publishing an improved quote. This is true only when the ECN itself publishes the improved prices and makes those prices available to the investing public. Thus, the Quote Rule ensures that the public has access to the best prices at which specialists and market makers are willing to trade even if those prices are in private trading systems. Limit orders are orders to buy or sell securities at a specified price. The Limit Order Display Rule requires that specialists and market makers publicly display certain limit orders they receive from customers. If the limit order is for a price that is better than the specialist39s or market maker39s quote, the specialist or market maker must publicly display it. The rule benefits investors because the publication of trading interest at prices that improve specialists39 and market makers39 quotes present investors with improved pricing opportunities. G. Regulation ATS: Broker-Dealer Trading Systems Regulation ATS (17 CFR 242.300 et seq.) provides a means for broker-dealers to operate automated trading platforms, to collect and execute orders in securities electronically, without registering as a national securities exchange under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or as an exempt exchange pursuant to Section 5 of the Act. For purposes of the regulation, an alternative trading system or ATS is any organization, association, person, group of persons, or system that constitutes, maintains, or provides a marketplace or facilities for bringing together purchasers and sellers of securities or for otherwise performing with respect to securities the functions commonly performed by a stock exchange as defined in Rule 3b-16 under the Exchange Act. See 17 CFR 242.300. Further, for purposes of the regulation, an ATS may not set rules governing the conduct of subscribers (other than with respect to the use of the particular trading system), or discipline subscribers other than by exclusion from trading. To the extent that an ATS or the sponsoring broker-dealer seeks to establish conduct or disciplinary rules, the entity may be required to register as a national securities exchange or obtain a Commission exemption from exchange registration based on limited trading volume. In order to acquire the status of an ATS, a firm must first be registered as a broker-dealer, and it must file an initial operation report with respect to the trading system on Form ATS at least 20 days before commencing operation. The initial operation report must be accurate and kept current. The Commission does not issue approval orders for Form ATS filings however, the Form ATS is not considered filed unless it complies with all applicable requirements under the Regulation. Regulation ATS contains provisions concerning the system39s operations, including: fair access to the trading system fees charged the display of orders and the ability to execute orders system capacity, integrity and security record keeping and reporting and procedures to ensure the confidential treatment of trading information. An ATS must file with the Division of Trading and Markets quarterly reports regarding its operations on Form ATS-R. An ATS must also comply with any applicable SRO rules and with state laws relating to alternative trading systems and relating to the offer or sale of securities or the registration or regulation of persons or entities effecting securities transactions. Finally, an ATS may not use in its name the word quotexchange, quot or terms similar to the word quotexchange, quot such as the term quotstock market. quot See 17 CFR 242.301. For further information on the operation and regulation of alternative trading systems, see the adopting release for Regulation ATS at sec. govrulesfinal34-40760.txt . H. Penny Stock Rules (Rules 15g-2 through 15g-9, Schedule 15G) Most broker-dealers that effect transactions in quotpenny stocksquot have certain enhanced suitability and disclosure obligations to their customers. 8 A penny stock is generally defined as any equity security other than a security that: (a) is an NMS stock ( See Rule 600(b)(47)) listed on a quotgrandfatheredquot national securities exchange, (b) is an NMS stock listed on a national securities exchange or an automated quotation system sponsored by a registered national securities association (including Nasdaq) that satisfies certain minimum quantitative listing standards, (c) has a transaction price of five dollars or more, (d) is issued by a registered investment company or by the Options Clearing Corporation, (e) is a listed security futures product, or (f) is a security whose issuer has met certain net tangible assets or average revenues ( See Rule 3a51-1). Penny stocks include the equity securities of private companies with no active trading market if they do not qualify for one of the exclusions from the definition of penny stock. Before a broker-dealer that does not qualify for an exemption 9 may effect a solicited transaction in a penny stock for or with the account of a customer it must: (1) provide the customer with a risk disclosure document, as set forth in Schedule 15G, and receive a signed and dated acknowledgement of receipt of that document from the customer ( See Rule 15g-2) (2) approve the customer39s account for transactions in penny stocks, provide the customer with a suitability statement, and receive a signed a dated copy of that statement from the customer and (3) receive the customer39s written agreement to the transaction ( See Rule 15g-9). The broker-dealer also must wait at least two business days after sending the customer the risk disclosure document and the suitability statement before effecting the transaction. In addition, Exchange Act Rules 15g-3 through 15g-6 generally require a broker-dealer to give each penny stock customer: information on market quotations and, where appropriate, offer and bid prices the aggregate amount of any compensation received by the broker-dealer in connection with such transaction the aggregate amount of cash compensation that any associated person of the broker-dealer, who is a natural person and who has communicated with the customer concerning the transaction at or prior to the customerrsquos transaction order, other than a person whose function is solely clerical or ministerial, has received or will receive from any source in connection with the transaction and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customerrsquos account. I. Privacy of Consumer Financial Information (Regulation S-P) Broker-dealers, including foreign broker-dealers registered with the Commission and unregistered broker-dealers in the United States, must comply with Regulation S-P, ( See 17 CFR Part 248) even if their consumers are non-U. S. persons or if they conduct their activities through non-U. S. offices or branches. Regulation SP generally requires a broker-dealer to provide its customers with initial, annual and revised notices containing specified information about the broker-dealer39s privacy policies and practices. These notices must be clear and conspicuous, and must accurately reflect the broker-dealer39s policies and practices. See 17 CFR 248.4, 248.5, 248.6 and 248.8. Before disclosing nonpublic personal information about a consumer to a nonaffiliated third party, a broker-dealer must first give a consumer an opt-out notice and a reasonable opportunity to opt out of the disclosure. See 17 CFR 248.7 and 248.10. There are exceptions from these notice and opt-out requirements for disclosures to other financial institutions under joint marketing agreements and to certain service providers. See 17 CFR 248.13. There also are exceptions for disclosures made for purposes such as maintaining or servicing accounts, and disclosures made with the consent or at the direction of a consumer, or for purposes such as protecting against fraud, reporting to consumer reporting agencies, and providing information to law enforcement agencies. See 17 CFR 248.14 and 248.15. Regulation SP also imposes limits on the re-disclosure and re-use of information, and on sharing account number information with nonaffiliated third parties for use in telemarketing, direct mail marketing and email marketing. See 17 CFR 248.11 and 248.12. In addition, it includes a safeguards rule that requires a broker-dealer to adopt written policies and procedures for administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect customer records and information. See 17 CFR 248.30(a). Further, it includes a disposal rule that requires a broker-dealer (other than a broker-dealer registered by notice with the Commission to engage solely in transactions in securities futures) that maintains or possesses consumer report information for a business purpose to take reasonable measures to protect against unauthorized access to or use of the information in connection with its disposal. See 17 CFR 248.30(b). Recently proposed amendments which would further strengthen the privacy protections under Regulation S-P are available at sec. govrulesproposed200834-57427.pdf . J. Investment Adviser Registration Broker-dealers offering certain types of accounts and services may also be subject to regulation under the Investment Advisers Act. 10 (An investment adviser is defined as a person who receives compensation for providing advice about securities as part of a regular business.) ( See Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act .) In general, a broker-dealer whose performance of advisory services is quotsolely incidentalquot to the conduct of its business as a broker-dealer and that receives no quotspecial compensationquot is excepted from the definition of investment adviser. Thus, for example, a broker-dealer that provides advice and offers fee-based accounts (i. e. accounts that charge an asset-based or fixed fee rather than a commission, mark-up, or mark-down) must treat those accounts as advisory because an asset-based fee is considered quotspecial compensation. quot Also, under a recently proposed rule, a broker-dealer would be required to treat (1) each account over which it exercises investment discretion as an advisory account, unless the investment discretion is granted by a customer on a temporary or limited basis and (2) an account as advisory if the broker-dealer charges a separate fee for, or separately contracts to provide, advisory services. ( See sec. govrulesproposed2007ia-2652.pdf .) Finally, under the same proposed rule, a broker-dealer that is registered under the Exchange Act and registered under the Investment Advisers Act would be an investment adviser solely with respect to those accounts for which it provides services that subject the broker-dealer to the Investment Advisers Act. VI. ARBITRATION Pursuant to the rules of self-regulatory organizations, broker-dealers are required to arbitrate disputes with their customers, if the customer chooses to arbitrate. See e. g. . NASD Code of Arbitration Procedure for Customer Disputes, Rule 12200 American Stock Exchange, Rule 600 and Chicago Board of Options Exchange, Rule 18.1. VII. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF BROKER-DEALERS Broker-dealers must meet certain financial responsibility requirements, including: maintaining minimum amounts of liquid assets, or net capital taking certain steps to safeguard the customer funds and securities and making and preserving accurate books and records. A. Net Capital Rule (Rule 15c3-1) The purpose of this rule is to require a broker-dealer to have at all times enough liquid assets to promptly satisfy the claims of customers if the broker-dealer goes out of business. Under this rule, broker-dealers must maintain minimum net capital levels based upon the type of securities activities they conduct and based on certain financial ratios. For example, broker-dealers that clear and carry customer accounts generally must maintain net capital equal to the greater of 250,000 or two percent of aggregate debit items. Broker-dealers that do not clear and carry customer accounts can operate with lower levels of net capital. B. Use of Customer Balances (Rule 15c3-2) Broker-dealers that use customers39 free credit balances in their business must establish procedures to provide specified information to those customers, including: the amount due to those customers the fact that such funds are not segregated and may be used by the broker-dealer in its business and the fact that such funds are payable on demand of the customer. C. Customer Protection Rule (Rule 15c3-3) This rule protects customer funds and securities held by broker-dealers. Under the rule, a broker-dealer must have possession or control of all fully-paid or excess margin securities held for the account of customers, and determine daily that it is in compliance with this requirement. The broker-dealer must also make periodic computations to determine how much money it is holding that is either customer money or obtained from the use of customer securities. If this amount exceeds the amount that it is owed by customers or by other broker-dealers relating to customer transactions, the broker-dealer must deposit the excess into a special reserve bank account for the exclusive benefit of customers. This rule thus prevents a broker-dealer from using customer funds to finance its business. D. Required Books, Records, and Reports (Rules 17a-3, 17a-4, 17a-5, 17a-11) 11 Broker-dealers must make and keep current books and records detailing, among other things, securities transactions, money balances, and securities positions. They also must keep records for required periods and furnish copies of those records to the SEC on request. These records include e-mail. Broker-dealers also must file with the SEC periodic reports, including quarterly and annual financial statements. The annual statements generally must be certified by an independent public accountant. In addition, broker-dealers must notify the SEC and the appropriate SRO 12 regarding net capital, recordkeeping, and other operational problems, and in some cases file reports regarding those problems, within certain time periods. This gives us and the SROs early warning of these problems. E. Risk Assessment Requirements (Rules 17h-1T and 17h-2T) Certain broker-dealers must maintain and preserve certain information regarding those affiliates, subsidiaries and holding companies whose business activities are reasonably likely to have a material impact on their own financial and operating condition (including the broker-dealer39s net capital, liquidity, or ability to conduct or finance operations). Broker-dealers must also file a quarterly summary of this information. This information is designed to permit the SEC to assess the impact these entities may have on the broker-dealer. VIII. OTHER REQUIREMENTS In addition to the provisions discussed above, broker-dealers must comply with other requirements. These include: submitting to Commission and SRO examinations participating in the lost and stolen securities program complying with the fingerprinting requirement maintaining and reporting information regarding their affiliates following certain guidelines when using electronic media to deliver information and maintaining an anti-money laundering program. A. Examinations and Inspections (Rules 15b2-2 and 17d-1) Broker-dealers are subject to examination by the SEC and the SROs. The appropriate SRO generally inspects newly-registered broker-dealers for compliance with applicable financial responsibility rules within six months of registration, and for compliance with all other regulatory requirements within twelve months of registration. A broker-dealer must permit the SEC to inspect its books and records at any reasonable time. B. Lost and Stolen Securities Program (Rule 17f-1) In general, all broker-dealers must register in the lost and stolen securities program. The limited exceptions include broker-dealers that effect securities transactions exclusively on the floor of a national securities exchange solely for other exchange members and do not receive or hold customer securities, and broker-dealers whose business does not involve handling securities certificates. Broker-dealers must report losses, thefts, and instances of counterfeiting of securities certificates on Form X-17F-1A, and, in some cases, broker-dealers must make inquiries regarding securities certificates coming into their possession. Broker-dealers must file these reports and inquiries with the Securities Information Center (SIC), which operates the program for the SEC. A registration form can be obtained from Securities Information Center, P. O. Box 55151, Boston, MA 02205-5151. For registration and additional information, see the SIC39s website at secic . C. Fingerprinting Requirement (Rule 17f-2) Generally, every partner, officer, director, or employee of a broker-dealer must be fingerprinted and submit his or her fingerprints to the U. S. Attorney General. This requirement does not apply, however, to broker-dealers that sell only certain securities that are not ordinarily evidenced by certificates (such as mutual funds and variable annuities) or to persons who do not sell securities, have access to securities, money or original books and records, and do not supervise persons engaged in such activities. A broker-dealer claiming an exemption must comply with the notice requirements of Rule 17f-2. Broker-dealers may obtain fingerprint cards from their SRO and should submit completed fingerprint cards to the SRO for forwarding to the FBI on behalf of the Attorney General. D. Use of Electronic Media by Broker-Dealers The Commission has issued two interpretive releases discussing the issues that broker-dealers should consider in using electronic media for delivering information to customers. These issues include the following: Will the customer have notice of and access to the communication Will there be evidence of delivery Did the broker-dealer take reasonable precautions to ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and security of any personal financial information See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 37182 (May 15, 1996), 61 FR 24644. See also . Securities Exchange Act Release No. 39779 (March 23, 1998), 63 FR 14806 (sec. govrulesinterp33-7516.htm ). E. Electronic Signatures (E-SIGN) Broker-dealers should also consider the impact, if any, that the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (commonly known as E-SIGN), Pub. L. No. 106-229, 114 Stat. 464 (2000) 15 U. S.C. sect7001, has on their ability to deliver information to customers electronically. F. Anti-Money Laundering Program Broker-dealers have broad obligations under the Bank Secrecy Act (quotBSAquot) 13 to guard against money laundering and terrorist financing through their firms. The BSA, its implementing regulations, and Rule 17a-8 under the Exchange Act require broker-dealers to file reports or retain records relating to suspicious transactions, customer identity, large cash transactions, cross-border currency movement, foreign bank accounts and wire transfers, among other things. The BSA, as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act, as well as SRO rules (e. g. NASD Rule 3011 and NYSE Rule 445), also requires all broker-dealers to have anti-money laundering compliance programs in place. Firms must develop and implement a written anti-money laundering compliance program, approved in writing by a member of senior management, which is reasonably designed to achieve and monitor the member39s ongoing compliance with the requirements of the BSA and its implementing regulations. Under this obligation, firms must: establish and implement policies and procedures that can be reasonably expected to detect and cause the reporting of suspicious transactions establish and implement policies, procedures, and internal controls reasonably designed to achieve compliance with the BSA and implementing regulations provide for independent testing for compliance, to be conducted by member personnel or by a qualified outside party designate and identify to the SROs an individual or individuals responsible for implementing and monitoring the day-to-day operations and internal controls of the program and provide prompt notification regarding any change in such designation(s) and provide ongoing training for appropriate personnel. For a compilation of key anti-money laundering laws, rules and guidance applicable to broker-dealers, see Anti-Money Laundering Source Tool sec. govaboutofficesocieamlsourcetool. htm see also, FINRA Anti-Money Laundering Issue Center finra. orgRulesRegulationIssueCenterAnti-MoneyLaunderingindex. htm. In addition, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (quotFinCENquot), the division within the Department of the Treasury that administers the BSA, provides useful information for helping financial institutions, including broker-dealers, meet their BSA obligations. See FinCEN Web site fincen. gov . G. Office of Foreign Assets Control Broker-dealers have an obligation to comply with the sanctions programs administered by the Department of Treasury39s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign countries, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers, and those engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. 14 OFAC acts under Presidential wartime and national emergency powers, as well as authority granted by specific legislation, to impose controls on transactions and freeze foreign assets under US jurisdiction. OFAC39s sanctions programs are separate and distinct from, and in addition to, the anti-money laundering requirements imposed under the BSA on broker-dealers. 15 Unlike the BSA, OFAC programs apply to all U. S. persons and are applicable across business lines. OFAC programs are also strict liability programs mdash there are no safe harbors and no de minimis standards, although having a comprehensive compliance program in place could act as a mitigating factor in any enforcement action. OFAC publishes regulations implementing each of its programs, which include trade restrictions and asset blockings against particular countries and parties tied to terrorism, narcotics trafficking, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as a number of programs targeting members of certain foreign jurisdictions. As part of its efforts to implement these programs, OFAC publishes a list of Specially Designated Nationals, which is frequently updated on an as-needed basis. 16 In general, OFAC regulations require you to do the following: block accounts and other property of specified countries, entities, and individuals prohibit or reject unlicensed trade and financial transactions with specified countries, entities, and individuals and report all blockings and rejections of prohibited transactions to OFAC within ten days of the occurrence and annually. 17 OFAC has the authority to impose civil penalties of over 1,000,000 per count for violations of its sanctions programs. OFAC has stated that it will take into account the adequacy of your OFAC compliance program when it evaluates whether to impose a penalty if an OFAC violation occurs. To guard against engaging in OFAC prohibited transactions, you should generally follow a best practice of quotscreening againstquot the OFAC lists. 18 Consistent with this best practice, you should take care to screen all new accounts, existing accounts, customers and relationships against the OFAC lists, including any updates to the lists. This screening should include originators or recipients of wire and securities transfers. 19 H. Business Continuity Planning The Commission, Federal Reserve Board, and Comptroller of the Currency published an interagency White Paper emphasizing the importance of core clearing and settlement organizations and establishing guidelines for their capacity and ability to restore operations within a short time of a wide-scale disruption. 20 Separately, the Commission also published a Policy Statement urging the organized securities markets to improve their business continuity arrangements, 21 and encouraging SRO-operated markets and electronic communications networks, or ECNs to establish plans to enable the restoration of trading no later than the business day following a wide-scale disruption. In 2004, NASD and the NYSE adopted rules requiring every member to establish and maintain a business continuity plan, with elements as specified in the rules, and to provide the respective SROs with emergency contact information. See NASD Rule 3510 and NYSE Rule 446. See also . sec. govrulessronasd34-49537.pdf . IX. WHERE TO GET FURTHER INFORMATION For general questions regarding broker-dealer registration and regulation: Office of Interpretation and Guidance Division of Trading and Markets U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street, NE Washington, DC 20549 (202) 551-5777 e-mail: tradingandmarketssec. gov For additional information about how to obtain official publications of SEC rules and regulations, and for on-line access to SEC rules: Superintendent of Documents Government Printing Office Washington, DC 20402-9325 gpo. gov For copies of SEC forms and recent SEC releases, Publications Section U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street, NE Washington, DC 20549 (202) 551-4040 Other useful addresses, telephone numbers, and websites: SEC39s website: sec. gov The SEC39s website contains contact numbers for SEC offices in Washington and for the SEC39s regional offices: sec. govcontactaddresses. htm . Financial Industry Regulatory Authority 9509 Key West Avenue Rockville, MD 20850 (301) 590-6500 (call center) (800) 289-9999 (to check on the registration status of a firm or individual) finra. org New York Stock Exchange, Inc. 20 Broad Street New York, NY 10005 (212) 656-3000 nyse North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. 750 First Street, NE, Suite 1140 Washington, DC 20002 (202) 737-0900 nasaa. org Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board gt1900 Duke Street, Suite 600 Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 797-6600 msrb. org Securities Investor Protection Corporation 805 15th Street, N. W. Suite 800 Washington, D. C. 20005-2215 (202)371-8300 sipc. org e-mail: asksipcsipc. org We wish to stress that we have published this guide as an introduction to the federal securities laws that apply to brokers and dealers. It only highlights and summarizes certain provisions, and does not relieve anyone from complying with all applicable regulatory requirements. You should not rely on this guide without referring to the actual statutes, rules, regulations, and interpretations. 1 The Division of Trading and Markets was known as the Division of Market Regulation from August 7, 1972, until November 14, 2007. 2 The treatment of dividend (or interest) reinvestment and stock purchase plans is addressed in Rule 102(c) of Regulation M. ( See Part V. A.7.) 3 Section 9(a) prohibits particular manipulative practices regarding securities registered on a national securities exchange. Section 10(b) is a broad quotcatch-allquot provision that prohibits the use of quotany manipulative or deceptive device or contrivancequot in connection with the purchase or sale of any security. Sections 15(c)(1) and 15(c)(2) apply to the over-the-counter markets. Section 15(c)(1) prohibits broker-dealers from effecting transactions in, or inducing the purchase or sale of, any security by means of quotany manipulative, deceptive or other fraudulent device, quot and Section 15(c)(2) prohibits a broker-dealer from making fictitious quotes. 4 These include Rules 10b-1 through 10b-18, 15c1-1 through 15c1-9, 15c2-1 through 15c2-11, and Regulation M. 5 In addition, Rule 11Ac1-3 requires broker-dealers to inform their customers, upon opening a new account and annually thereafter, of their policies regarding payment for order flow and for determining where to route a customer39s order. 6 The purpose of this disclosure is to inform the customer of the nature and extent of a broker-dealer39s conflict of interest. Broker-dealers are neither required to disclose the precise amount of these payments nor any formula that would allow a customer to calculate this amount. Nevertheless, Rule 10b-10 is not a safe harbor from the anti-fraud provisions. Recent enforcement actions have indicated that failures to disclose the nature and extent of the conflict of interest may violate Section 17(a)(2) of the 1933 Act. See Edward D. Jones amp Co. L. P. Securities Exchange Act Release No. 50910 (Dec. 22, 2004) Morgan Stanley DW, Inc. Securities Exchange Act Release No. 48789 (Nov. 17, 2003). 7 SEC, Report by Division of Market Regulation, Broker-Dealer Policies and Procedures Designed to Segment the Flow and Prevent the Misuse of Material Non-Public Information, 1989-1990 Transfer Binder Fed. Sec. L. Rep. (CCH) 84,520 at p. 80, 620-25 (March, 1990). 8 Rule 15g-1(a)(1) establishes a transaction exemption for brokers or dealers whose commission equivalents, mark-ups, and mark-downs from transactions in penny stocks during each of the immediately preceding three months and during eleven or more of the preceding twelve months, or during the immediately preceding six months, did not exceed five percent of its total commissions, commission equivalents, mark-ups, and mark-downs from transactions in securities during those months. 9 Exemptions from the requirements of Exchange Act Rules 15g-2 through 15g-6 are provided for non-recommended transactions, broker-dealers doing a minimal business in penny stocks, trades with institutional investors, and private placements. See Rule 15g-1. Rule 15g-9(c) exempts certain transactions from the requirements of Rule 15g-9. 10 See Certain Broker-Dealers Deemed Not To Be Investment Advisers, Exchange Act Release No. 51523 (April 12, 2005). 11 Rules 17a-2, 17a-7, 17a-8, 17a-10 and 17a-13 contain additional recordkeeping and reporting requirements that apply to broker-dealers. 12 When a broker-dealer is a member of more than one SRO, the SEC designates the SRO responsible for examining such broker-dealer for compliance with financial responsibility rules (the quotdesignated examining authorityquot). 13 The Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970 (commonly referred to as the quotBank Secrecy Actquot) is codified at 31 U. S.C. 5311, et seq. The regulations implementing the Bank Secrecy Act are located at 31 CFR Part 103. 14 A list of countries subject to OFAC sanctions, as well as a list of individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted counties (collectively called Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs)), is available on the OFAC website: treas. govofac . A summary of OFAC regulations as they apply to the securities industry can be found at the following link: treas. govofficesenforcementofacregulationst11facsc. pdf See also Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Bank Secrecy ActAnti-Money Laundering Examination Manual (quotFFIEC Manualquot), at pages 137-145 (8242007). The FFIEC Manual contains an entire section outlining best practices for OFAC Compliance, including risk matrices. Although that manual is written for the banking community, it provides information which may be useful to broker-dealers. 15 See also FinCEN Interpretive Release No. 2004-02 quotUnitary Filing of Suspicious Activity and Blocking Reports, quot 69 Fed. Reg. 76847 (Dec. 23, 2004). 16 OFAC offers a RISS feed service as well as an email notice system which pushes out digital information about its programs, including updates to its SDN List. See treas. govofac. These may be especially helpful to smaller firms whose OFAC compliance programs are more manual in nature. 17 You will find forms for blocking and rejection reports on OFAC39s website using the following links: 18 The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) offers a tool that assists firms to search for names on OFAC lists: apps. finra. orgRulesRegulationOFAC1Default. aspx . 19 See also FFIEC Manual at 140 (quotthe extent to which the bank includes account parties other than accountholders (e. g. beneficiaries, guarantors, principals, beneficial owners, nominee shareholders, directors, signatories, and powers of attorney) in the initial OFAC review during the account opening process, and during subsequent database reviews of existing accounts, will depend on the bank39s risk profile and available technology. quot). 20 Interagency Paper on Sound Practices to Strengthen the Resilience of the U. S. Financial Systems, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 47638 (April 7, 2003), 68 FR 17809 (April 11, 2003), sec. govnewsstudies34-47638.htm . 21 Policy Statement: Business Continuity Planning for Trading Markets, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 48545 (September 25, 2003), 68 FR 56656 (October 1, 2003), sec. govrulespolicy34-48545.htm .