Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority; Order Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule Change To Adopt FINRA Rule 11000 Series (Uniform Practice Code) in the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook, 55842-55846 [2010-22783]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 177 / Tuesday, September 14, 2010 / Notices
available to all market participants at
the same time.17 Additionally, if it
becomes aware that the NAV or the
Disclosed Portfolio is not disseminated
daily to all market participants at the
same time, the Exchange will halt
trading in the Shares until such
information is available to all market
participants.18 Further, if the PIV is not
being disseminated as required, the
Exchange may halt trading during the
day in which the disruption occurs; if
the interruption persists past the trading
day in which it occurred, the Exchange
will halt trading no later than the
beginning of the trading day following
the interruption.19 The Exchange
represents that the Adviser is affiliated
with a broker-dealer, Allianz Global
Investors Distributors LLC, and has
implemented a ‘‘fire wall’’ between it
and its broker-dealer affiliate with
respect to access to information
concerning the composition and/or
changes to the Fund’s portfolio. Further,
the Commission notes that the
Reporting Authority that provides the
Disclosed Portfolio must implement and
maintain, or be subject to, procedures
designed to prevent the use and
dissemination of material non-public
information regarding the actual
components of the portfolio.20
The Exchange has represented that
the Shares are equity securities subject
to the Exchange’s rules governing the
trading of equity securities. In support
of this proposal, the Exchange has made
representations, including:
(1) The Shares will be subject to the
initial and continued listing criteria
under NYSE Arca Equities Rule
8.600(d).
(2) The Exchange’s surveillance
procedures are adequate to properly
monitor Exchange trading of the Shares
in all trading sessions and to deter and
detect violations of Exchange rules and
applicable federal securities laws.
(3) Prior to the commencement of
trading, the Exchange will inform its
ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin
of the special characteristics and risks
associated with trading the Shares.
Specifically, the Information Bulletin
will discuss the following: (a) The
procedures for purchases and
17 See
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600(d)(1)(B).
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600(d)(2)(D).
19 Id. Trading in the Shares may also be halted
because of market conditions or for reasons that, in
the view of the Exchange, make trading in the
Shares inadvisable. These may include: (1) The
extent to which trading is not occurring in the
securities comprising the Disclosed Portfolio and/
or the financial instruments of the Fund; or (2)
whether other unusual conditions or circumstances
detrimental to the maintenance of a fair and orderly
market are present.
20 See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600(d)(2)(B)(ii).
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18 See
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redemptions of Shares in Creation Units
and that Shares are not individually
redeemable; (b) NYSE Arca Equities
Rule 9.2(a), which imposes a duty of
due diligence on its ETP Holders to
learn the essential facts relating to every
customer prior to trading the Shares; (c)
the risks involved in trading the Shares
during the Opening and Late Trading
Sessions when an updated PIV will not
be calculated or publicly disseminated;
(d) how information regarding the PIV is
disseminated; (e) the requirement that
ETP Holders deliver a prospectus to
investors purchasing newly issued
Shares prior to or concurrently with the
confirmation of a transaction; and (f)
trading information.
(4) The Fund will be in compliance
with Rule 10A–3 under the Act.
(5) The Fund will not invest in nonU.S. equity securities.
This approval order is based on the
Exchange’s representations.
For the foregoing reasons, the
Commission finds that the proposed
rule change is consistent with the Act
and the rules and regulations
thereunder applicable to a national
securities exchange.
IV. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,21 that the
proposed rule change (SR–NYSEArca–
2010–68), be, and it hereby is, approved.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.22
Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010–22835 Filed 9–13–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–62842; File No. SR–
FINRA–2010–030]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority; Order Granting Approval of
a Proposed Rule Change To Adopt
FINRA Rule 11000 Series (Uniform
Practice Code) in the Consolidated
FINRA Rulebook
September 3, 2010.
I. Introduction
On June 14, 2010, Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’)
filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’) proposed
21 15
22 17
PO 00000
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
Frm 00107
Fmt 4703
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rule change SR–FINRA–2010–030
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’).1 Notice of the proposal was
published in the Federal Register on
July 12, 2010.2 The Commission
received no comment letters. For the
reasons discussed below, the
Commission is granting approval of the
proposed rule change.
II. Description
As part of the process of developing
a new consolidated rulebook
(‘‘Consolidated FINRA Rulebook’’),
FINRA will adopt the NASD Rule 11000
Series (Uniform Practice Code [‘‘UPC’’])
into the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook,
subject to certain amendments
described below.3 The UPC was
originally adopted on January 20, 1941,
and became effective on August 1, 1941.
The UPC prescribes the manner in
which over-the-counter securities
transactions other than those cleared
through a registered clearing agency are
compared, cleared, and settled between
member firms.
As a general matter, the UPC does not
apply to:
a. Transactions in securities between
members that are compared, cleared, or
settled through the facilities of a
registered clearing agency;
b. Transactions in securities exempted
under Section 3(a)(12) of the Act or in
municipal securities as defined in
Section 3(a)(29) of the Act;
c. Transactions in redeemable
securities issued by companies
registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940; or
d. Transactions in Direct Participation
Program securities.
The UPC is designed to make
uniform, where practicable, custom,
practice, usage, and trading technique in
the investment banking and securities
business, particularly with respect to
operational and settlement issues. This
can include such matters as trade terms,
deliveries, payments, dividends, rights,
interest, stamp taxes, claims,
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
Exchange Act Release No. 62454 (July
6, 2010), 75 FR 39715 (July 12, 2010).
3 The current FINRA rulebook consists of (1)
FINRA Rules, (2) NASD Rules, and (3) rules
incorporated from NYSE (‘‘Incorporated NYSE
Rules’’) (together, the NASD Rules and Incorporated
NYSE Rules are referred to as the ‘‘Transitional
Rulebook’’). While the NASD Rules generally apply
to all FINRA members, the Incorporated NYSE
Rules apply only to those members of FINRA that
are also members of the NYSE (‘‘Dual Members’’).
The FINRA Rules apply to all FINRA members
unless such rules have a more limited application
by their terms. For more information about the
rulebook consolidation process, see FINRA’s
Information Notice, March 12, 2008 (Rulebook
Consolidation Process).
2 Securities
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assignments, powers of substitution,
due-bills, transfer fees, and marking to
the market. The UPC, among other
things, was created so that the
transaction of day-to-day business by
members may be simplified and
facilitated.
1. UPC Rules Generally
FINRA will transfer a significant
portion of the NASD Rule 11000 Series
into the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook
with the minor changes detailed below.4
Specifically, FINRA will update certain
terminology in the UPC. For example,
NASD Rule 11120 defines the term
‘‘written notice’’ as used in the UPC to
include a notice delivered by hand,
letter, teletype, telegraph, TWX,
facsimile transmission, or other
comparable media. FINRA will delete
the references to teletype, telegraph, and
TWX and will include notice delivered
by electronic mail. In addition, FINRA
will update cross-references throughout
the rules and will make other minor
changes primarily to reflect the new
conventions of the Consolidated FINRA
Rulebook.
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
2. Proposed FINRA Rules 11111
(Refusal to Abide by Rulings of the
Committee) and 11112 (Review by
Panels of the UPC Committee)
FINRA will adopt two new provisions
that are largely based on former NASD
IM–11890–1 (Refusal to Abide by
Rulings) and NASD IM–11890–2
(Review by Panels of the UPC
Committee).5 The provisions of former
NASD IM–11890–1 will be incorporated
into and merged with current NASD
IM–11110 (Refusal to Abide by Rulings
of the Committee) and adopted as
proposed new FINRA Rule 11111 as the
two provisions are largely identical.
Former NASD IM–11890–1 provided
that a refusal by a member to take action
necessary to effectuate a final decision
of a FINRA officer or the UPC
Committee under NASD Rule 11890
(Clearly Erroneous Transactions) would
be considered conduct inconsistent with
just and equitable principles of trade.
Current NASD IM–11110 provides that
a refusal by a member to abide by an
official ruling of the UPC Committee,
acting within its appropriate sphere,
4 NASD Rules 11890 (Clearly Erroneous
Transactions), IM–11890–1 (Refusal to Abide by
Rulings), and IM–11890–2 (Review by Panels of the
UPC Committee) were adopted, with significant
changes, into the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook as
the FINRA Rule 11890 Series (Clearly Erroneous
Transactions) pursuant to a separate rule filing and
are not being addressed as part of this rule filing.
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61080 (Dec. 1,
2009), 74 FR 64117 (Dec. 7, 2009) (SR–FINRA–
2009–068).
5 Id.
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shall be considered conduct
inconsistent with just and equitable
principles of trade. As approved, the
new FINRA Rule 11111 will merge the
two provisions and provide that a
refusal by a member to take action
necessary to effectuate a final decision
of a FINRA officer or the UPC
Committee under the UPC Code (FINRA
Rule 11000 Series) or other FINRA rules
that permit review of FINRA decisions
by the UPC Committee will be
considered conduct inconsistent with
just and equitable principles of trade.
The provisions of former NASD IM–
11890–2, which applied only to rulings
under NASD Rule 11890, will be
adopted as proposed new FINRA Rule
11112 (Review by Panels of the UPC
Committee) and will be generally
applicable to all rulings by the UPC
Committee. The new FINRA Rule 11112
will provide that a decision of the UPC
Committee may be rendered by a panel
of the Committee, which shall consist of
three or more members of the UPC
Committee, provided no more than 50
percent of the members of any panel are
directly engaged in market making
activity or employed by a firm whose
revenues from market making activity
exceed ten percent of its total revenues.
3. Proposed FINRA Rules 11810
(Buying-In) and 11810.03 (Sample BuyIn Forms)
As approved by this filing, the current
NASD Rule 11810 (Buying-In) will be
adopted as FINRA Rule 11810 (Buy-In
Procedures and Requirements) in the
Consolidated FINRA Rulebook with
certain clarifications and changes.
Incorporated NYSE Rules 282 (Buy-in
Procedures) and related Supplementary
Material paragraphs .10–.80 be deleted.
The changes are intended to harmonize
the differences between the NYSE rule
and the NASD rule and to update
certain procedures and time frames.
FINRA will also adopt NASD IM–11810,
which contains the sample buy-in
forms, into the Consolidated FINRA
Rulebook as accompanying
Supplementary Material .03 to FINRA
Rule 11810 with minor changes to
replace references to NASD with
FINRA.
As approved, FINRA Rule 11810 will
continue to set forth the required steps
that members must follow to effect the
‘‘buy-in’’ of securities including the
procedures to be followed in issuing a
‘‘buy-in’’ notice, the contents of such
notice, the expectations of the receiving
party to respond to such notice, and the
time frames in which a ‘‘buy-in’’ may be
issued, retransmitted, and effected.
FINRA will also make certain minor
clarifications and add the following
PO 00000
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55843
more substantive provisions to proposed
FINRA Rule 11810, which are currently
contained in NYSE Rule 282 either with
or without modifications, as specified:
a. Include in paragraph (a) a statement
clarifying that the rule does not apply
to, among other things, securities
contracts that are subject to the
requirements of a national securities
exchange or a registered clearing
agency.
b. Amend certain time frames for
action specified in the proposed rule:
i. Clarify the time frames within
which members must take action to
effect the ‘‘buy-in’’ of securities as
required therein. Specifically, the NASD
rule requires that a member act within
the specified local time at the member’s
location whereas the NYSE rule requires
action to be taken based on Eastern
Time (ET). To promote operational
consistency among members, the
proposal would amend the required
time frame for action to be ET.
ii. Amend the current time frames
specified by the NASD and NYSE rules
for the acknowledgement of a ‘‘buy-in’’
notice and the notification of an
execution of the buy-in from 5 p.m. to
6 p.m. ET. FINRA understands that the
5 p.m. time may be operationally
difficult for members to achieve in some
cases and the 6 p.m. ET time frame
would be more operationally feasible.
iii. Add Supplementary Material .01
(Early Closure of Markets) to clarify that
in the event of an announced early
closure of the market upon which the
security subject to the ‘‘buy-in’’ notice is
traded, members may take the action
required by the rule not earlier than one
hour prior to the announced early
closure of such market.
c. Add new paragraph (b)(4) to specify
that (1) the buyer must maintain as part
of its records, confirmation of receipt of
the notice by the seller and (2) if the
seller does not accept the notice of ‘‘buyin,’’ it must reject it by response to the
buyer no later than 6 p.m. ET on the
same date that it receives such notice,
and in the absence of doing so, the seller
will have been deemed by the buyer to
have accepted such notice. The
provision would clarify that the seller,
in such case, would have the right to
request proof of the fail obligation from
the buyer, which the buyer must deliver
to the seller prior to the effective date
of the ‘‘buy-in.’’ However, in no event
would a buyer be entitled to a ‘‘buy-in’’
that exceeds the liability of a seller
under an unsettled securities contract
because of the failure of the seller to
reject a ‘‘buy-in’’ notice as provided in
the rule, and a buyer may not execute
a ‘‘buy-in’’ notice to such extent the
buyer fails to deliver the proof of fail
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obligation in accordance with the
requirements of the rule. Requirements
(1) and (2) described above are
contained in the current NYSE rule in
a similar form except FINRA will
change the time to 6 p.m. ET. FINRA is
also adding new provisions regarding
‘‘passive acceptance’’ of the ‘‘buy-in’’ by
the seller as described above, subject to
certain safeguards for the benefit of the
seller such as requiring the buyer to
provide the proof of fail obligation and
‘‘buying-in’’ the seller only for the
securities contract amount in
accordance with the proposed rule.
d. Add new paragraph (b)(5) to
specify that the receiving party shall
immediately retransmit a notice of ‘‘buyin’’ to other parties from which the
securities may be due in the form of a
retransmitted ‘‘buy-in’’ notice.
Consistent with new paragraph (b)(4)
described above, the provision would
clarify that each party receiving a
retransmitted ‘‘buy-in’’ notice will be
required to maintain confirmation of
receipt of the notice as part of its books
and records and either reject a
retransmitted ‘‘buy-in’’ notice that it has
received by 6 p.m. ET on the date such
notice is received or be deemed to have
accepted the notice (‘‘passive
acceptance’’). The safeguards described
above in proposed paragraph (b)(4)
would also apply to sellers receiving a
retransmitted notice.
e. Add new paragraph (b)(6), which is
contained in the NYSE rule, to clarify
that when a notice of ‘‘buy-in’’ or a
retransmitted notice thereof is given for
less than the full amount of securities
due, it shall not be for less than one
trading unit.
f. Amend paragraph (d) as follows:
i. Retitle proposed paragraph (d) from
the current rule title ‘‘Seller’s Failure to
Deliver After Receipt of Notice’’ to
‘‘Procedures for Closing of Contracts’’ to
better align the title with the content of
that paragraph.
ii. Amend the time frames, as
discussed generally above, to generally
require the party receiving the ‘‘buy-in’’
notice to deliver the securities to the
party issuing the notice by 3 p.m. ET on
the effective date of the ‘‘buy-in’’ notice.
iii. Add language to clarify that if the
buyer/issuing party prior to executing
the ‘‘buy-in’’ is notified by the seller/
delivering party that some or all of the
securities are in the seller’s physical
possession and will be delivered to the
issuing party then the order to ‘‘buy-in’’
shall not be executed with respect to
such securities, and the member that
initiated the original order to ‘‘buy-in’’
shall accept and pay for such securities.
However, if such securities are not
promptly delivered, the seller that
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represented that it would make such
delivery shall be liable for any resulting
damages.
iv. Add language contained in the
NYSE rule to clarify the operation of the
rule when a retransmitted buy-in notice
is sent to the defaulting party but is not
received by such party prior to the
delivery of shares or the execution of
the ‘‘buy-in.’’ In such case, the sender of
the buy-in notice may unless otherwise
agreed promptly reestablish by a new
sale the contract subject to the notice of
‘‘buy-in.’’
g. Amend paragraph (h) as follows:
i. Amend the time frame, as discussed
above, for notice to be made to the party
for whose account the securities were
bought to 6 p.m. ET on the date of
execution of the ‘‘buy-in.’’
ii. Add new language, not contained
in either legacy rule, to clarify that the
confirmation of the executed ‘‘buy-in’’
provided for by the rule shall be
forwarded to the party entitled to the
confirmation by no later than 9:30 a.m.
ET on the following business day after
the execution of the ‘‘buy-in.’’
iii. Add a provision contained in the
NYSE rule that requires that a statement
of any resulting money differences from
the execution of the ‘‘buy-in’’ be
provided immediately and that such
money differences shall be paid by no
later than 3 p.m. ET on the business day
after the settlement date of the executed
‘‘buy-in.’’
h. Amend paragraph (i) to clarify, as
provided in the NYSE rule, that
notification of all close-outs as provided
by the paragraph shall be sent
immediately to the member being
closed-out pursuant to the confirmation
provisions of the Rule 11200 Series at
least thirty minutes before such ‘‘closeout.’’
i. Add Supplementary Material .02 to
clarify, as provided in the NYSE rule,
that where securities have been
delivered by the seller after the ‘‘buy-in’’
order has been placed but not executed,
such securities may be returned to the
seller if the ‘‘buy-in’’ was executed in
accordance with the rule before it could
reasonably be cancelled by the initiating
party.
4. Proposed FINRA Rule 11820 (SellingOut)
Current NASD Rule 11820 (SellingOut) will be adopted as FINRA Rule
11820 (Selling-Out) into the
Consolidated FINRA Rulebook, subject
to minor changes. There is no
comparable NYSE rule. NASD Rule
11820 generally requires the party
executing the ‘‘sell-out’’ to notify the
buyer on the day of execution no later
than the close of business local time
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where the buyer maintains his office of
the quantity sold and the price received.
FINRA will conform the time frames in
this new rule to the time frames in the
new FINRA Rule 11810 (Buy-In
Procedures and Requirements).
Specifically, this new rule will replace
the requirement to provide notice ‘‘no
later than the close of business local
time, where the buyer maintains his
office’’ with the requirement that such
notice must be provided no later than ‘‘6
p.m. ET.’’ FINRA believes this change
provides clarity and uniformity to the
industry. In addition, the rule will
amend certain references in the
proposed rule from ‘‘should’’ to ‘‘shall.’’
Specifically, in paragraph (b),
notification by the party executing a
‘‘sell-out’’ shall be in written or
electronic form, and a formal
confirmation of such sale shall be
forwarded as promptly as possible after
execution of the ‘‘sell-out.’’
5. Proposed FINRA Rule 11860 (COD
Orders)
FINRA will adopt NASD Rule 11860
(Acceptance and Settlement of COD
Orders) as FINRA Rule 11860 (COD
Orders) into the Consolidated FINRA
Rulebook subject to minor changes and
to delete NASD Rule 3370 (Purchases)
and Incorporated NYSE Rule 387 (COD
Orders) and its Supplementary Material
paragraphs .10–.60, NYSE Rule 387
Interpretations /01–/18, Rule 430
(Partial Delivery of Securities to
Customers on C.O.D. Purchases), and
NYSE Rule 430 Interpretation /01.
NASD Rule 11860 and NYSE Rule 387
provide generally that no member can
accept an order from a customer
pursuant to an arrangement whereby
payment for the securities purchased or
delivery of the securities sold is to be
made to or by an agent of the customer
unless certain specified procedures are
followed. NASD Rule 3370 and NYSE
Rule 430 both generally provide that no
member or associated person may
accept a customer’s purchase order for
securities unless it has first ascertained
that the customer placing the order or
its agent has agreed to receive the
securities against payment in an amount
equal to the execution price even
though such purchase may represent
only a part of a larger order. NYSE Rule
430 has an exception for obligations of
the U.S. government.
As approved, FINRA Rule 11860 will
continue the requirement in NYSE Rule
430 and NASD Rule 3370 that members
prior to accepting a purchase order for
a security ascertain that the customer or
its agent will receive against payment
securities in an amount equal to any
execution confirmed to the customer
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even if such execution may represent a
partial fill of the order. FINRA will
eliminate the exemption for transactions
in U.S. government obligations as
provided by Rule 430. Further, the rule
as being adopted will continue to
require the use of either a Clearing
Agency or a Qualified Vendor for the
electronic confirmation and affirmation
of all depository eligible transactions.
FINRA is clarifying that the new rule
will, similar to NYSE Rule 387, apply to
(1) transactions of foreign customers and
broker-dealers that settle in the U.S. and
(2) eligible sinking funds and/or
dividend reinvestment transactions. The
new rule will add a new requirement
that is contained in NYSE Rule 387 that
requires a ‘‘Qualified Vendor’’ to provide
FINRA with copies of its required
submissions to the SEC staff.
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6. Proposed FINRA Rules 11870
(Customer Account Transfer Contracts)
and 11870.03 (Sample Transfer
Instruction Forms)
FINRA is adopting NASD Rule 11870
as FINRA Rule 11870 (Customer
Account Transfer Contracts) into the
Consolidated FINRA Rulebook with the
following changes. There is no
comparable NYSE Incorporated Rule.6
FINRA is also adopting NASD IM–
11870, which contains the Sample
Transfer Instruction Forms, into the
Consolidated FINRA Rulebook with
minor changes to replace references to
NASD with FINRA.
Generally, NASD Rule 11870 provides
that when a brokerage customer wishes
to transfer his or her account to another
member and gives written notice of that
fact to the receiving member, both
members must expedite and coordinate
the transfer. The new FINRA Rule 11870
would continue to set forth the required
steps that members must follow to effect
the transfer of customers’ accounts,
including the initial request to transfer
an account, the time frame in which a
transfer request must be acted upon, the
validation of such transfer request, and
the documentation required to effect the
transfer. FINRA will add to proposed
6 Previously, NYSE Rule 412 (Customer Account
Transfer Contracts) and its related interpretations
similarly regulated the transfer of customer
accounts. FINRA eliminated NYSE Rule 412 and its
interpretations from the Transitional Rulebook as
part of a rule change to reduce regulatory
duplication for Dual Members during the period
before completion of the Consolidated FINRA
Rulebook. The NYSE subsequently amended its
version of NYSE Rule 412 to state that NYSE
members and member organizations shall comply
with NASD Rule 11870, concerning the transfer of
customer accounts between members, and any
amendments thereto, as if such rule were part of the
NYSE’s rules. Securities Exchange Act Release No.
58533 (Sept. 12, 2008), 73 FR 54652 (Sept. 22, 2008)
(Approval Order; SR–FINRA–2008–036).
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FINRA Rule 11870 minor clarifications
as well as the following more
substantive, which were interpretations
to the prior version of NYSE Rule 412: 7
a. Add a new provision regarding the
procedures for the transfer of book-entry
mutual fund shares that clarifies the
obligations of the parties when
transferring a customer’s positions in
such securities. FINRA will add this
provision to paragraph (f)(9) of proposed
FINRA Rule 11870.
b. Add a definition of the term
‘‘participant in a registered clearing
agency’’ for purposes of the rule to mean
a member that is eligible to use the
agency’s automated customer securities
account transfer capabilities.
c. Add Supplementary Material .01 to
clarify that members must establish
written procedures to effect and
supervise the transfer of customer
account assets pursuant to the
requirements of the proposed rule.
d. Add Supplementary Material .02 to
require members to inform customers
with respect to retirement plan
securities that the choice of the method
of disposition of such assets may result
in liability for the payment of taxes and
penalties.
e. Amend the time frames in the new
rule for notice and completion of closeouts of fail contracts resulting from the
not completing a transfer of a customer’s
account to conform to the time frames
for all close-outs as specified in
proposed FINRA Rule 11810 (Buy-In
Procedures and Requirements).
Specifically, the new rule will require
the receiving member to provide notice
to the carrying member not later than 12
noon ET two business days preceding
the execution of the proposed close-out
(as opposed to 12 noon ‘‘his’’ time). In
addition, the rule will require that every
notice of close-out state that the
securities may be closed out ‘‘unless
delivery is effected at or before a certain
specified time, which may not be prior
to 3 p.m. ET,’’ as opposed to ‘‘the local
time in the community where the
carrying member maintains his office.’’
The new rule will also replace the
requirement that the party executing the
‘‘close-out’’ notify the seller as to the
quantity purchased and the price paid
not later than ‘‘the close of business,
local time, where the seller maintains
his office,’’ with the requirement to
provide such notice not later than ‘‘6
p.m. ET on the date of the execution of
such ‘close-out’.’’
f. Amend certain references in the
new rule from ‘‘should’’ to ‘‘shall.’’
Specifically, (1) In paragraph (f) that the
obligation that fail contracts established
7 Id.
PO 00000
Frm 00110
pursuant to the rule shall be clearly
marked or captioned as such and that a
receiving member shall reject delivery
of a security that cannot be deemed a
safekeeping position against a fail
contract; (2) in paragraph (h) that
notification shall be in written or
electronic form and that confirmation of
purchase along with a billing or
payment shall be forwarded as promptly
as possible; (3) in paragraph (i) that
notification shall be in written or
electronic form; and (4) in paragraph
(m) that when both members are
participants in a registered clearing
agency, the securities account asset
transfer procedures shall be
accomplished in accordance with the
rule and the rules of the registered
clearing agency.
g. Eliminate paragraph (n)(3) which
requires that a copy of each customer
account transfer instruction issued on
an ‘‘ex-clearing house’’ basis be sent to
the local District Office of NASD having
jurisdiction over the carrying member.
FINRA believes that a majority of
customer account transfers now occur
between members of a clearing agency
and that the volume of transactions that
occur ‘‘ex-clearing’’ has significantly
decreased.
FINRA will announce the
implementation date of the rule change
in a Regulatory Notice to be published
no later than ninety days following the
date of the approval of this rule change.
The implementation date will be no
later than 365 days following the date of
the approval of this rule change.
III. Discussion
Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act requires,
among other things, that FINRA rules
must be designed to promote just and
equitable principles of trade and, in
general, to protect investors and the
public interest.8 The rule change
amends FINRA’s rules so as to adopt a
majority of the UPC Rules into the new
Consolidated FINRA Rulebook without
significant changes in order to update
and to reflect the new conventions of
the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook. The
rule change also updates certain other
UPC Rules to reflect current industry
practices. As one part of a larger
undertaking to consolidate the rules of
the NASD and NYSE, FINRA’s new
rules will apply to all registered brokerdealers, which should further promote
the just and equitable principles of trade
and, in general, better protect investors
and the public interest.
Accordingly, for the reasons stated
above the Commission believes that the
rule change is consistent with FINRA’s
8 15
Fmt 4703
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55845
E:\FR\FM\14SEN1.SGM
U.S.C. 78o–3(b)(6).
14SEN1
55846
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 177 / Tuesday, September 14, 2010 / Notices
On the basis of the foregoing, the
Commission finds that the proposed
rule change is consistent with the
requirements of the Act and in
particular with the requirements of
Section 15A of the Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, that the
proposed rule change (File No. SR–
FINRA–2010–030) be and hereby is
approved.
location, teleconferencing will be
available.
Public Participation: It is requested
that persons wishing to attend contact
Trisha Smeltzer prior to October 14,
2010, at smeltzertk@state.gov or 703–
812–2382 and provide their name, email address, and affiliation. A member
of the public requesting reasonable
accommodation should make his or her
request upon registering for the meeting.
Such requests received after October 19
will be considered, but might not be
possible to fulfill. Please contact Ms.
Smeltzer for additional meeting
information, including teleconferencing
dial-in details.
For the Commission by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.10
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
Dated: September 7, 2010.
Keith Loken,
Assistant Legal Adviser, Office of Private
International Law, Office of the Legal Adviser,
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010–22783 Filed 9–13–10; 8:45 am]
[FR Doc. 2010–22890 Filed 9–13–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
BILLING CODE 4710–08–P
obligation under Section 15A of the
Exchange Act, as amended, and the
rules and regulations thereunder.9
IV. Conclusion
Bridgeport Public Library, Borroughs
Bldg., 925 Broad St., Bridegport, CT,
203–576–7777.
Igor Sikorsky Memorial Airport,
Administration Bldg., 1000 Great
Meadow Dr., Stratford, CT, 203–576–
8162.
A public hearing will be held to
solicit public comment on the
document. The hearing will be held on
September 22 at the Stratford Ramada
Inn, 225 Lordshop Blvd., Stratford,
Connecticut at 7 p.m. Public comments
will be accepted through September 30,
2010.
Issued on: August 27, 2010.
LaVerne F. Reid,
Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 2010–22823 Filed 9–13–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Public Notice: 7113]
Federal Aviation Administration
U.S. Department of State Advisory
Committee on Private International
Law: Public Meeting on the Work of the
UNCITRAL Working Group on
Procurement
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Draft Re-Evaluation for Environmental
Impact Statement: Sikorsky Memorial
Airport, Stratford, CT
The United Nations Commission on
International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
Working Group on Procurement will
next meet November 1–5, 2010 in
Vienna. At that meeting, the Working
Group will continue its work on
revisions to the 1994 Model Law on
Procurement of Goods, Construction
and Services, and it may also begin a
review of a Guide to Enactment that will
accompany the revised Model Law.
In preparation for that meeting, a
public meeting will be held, under the
auspices of the Department of State’s
Advisory Committee on Private
International Law, to obtain the views of
concerned stakeholders.
Time and Place: The public meeting
will take place at The George
Washington University Law School,
Faculty Conference Center, 5th floor,
2000 H Street, NW., Washington, DC on
October 21, 2010. The meeting will
begin at 9:30 a.m. and is expected to last
no later than noon. If you are unable to
attend the public meeting and would
like to participate from a remote
9 In approving this proposal, the Commission has
considered the proposed rule’s impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See
15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
10 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:38 Sep 13, 2010
Jkt 220001
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
The FAA is issuing this notice
to advise the public that a Draft ReEvaluation for an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) has been prepared for
Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford,
Connecticut.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Richard Doucette, Environmental
Program Manager, Federal Aviation
Administration New England, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington,
MA. (781) 238–7613.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA
is making available a Draft ReEvaluation document, which evaluates
the impacts of Runway Safety Areas and
other airfield improvements at Sikorsky
Memorial Airport in Stratford,
Connecticut. The document will assist
the FAA in determining the suitability
of the May 1999 EIS and October 1999
Record of Decision (ROD). No action has
been taken on the prior EIS or ROD. The
Re-Evaluation document is available for
review during normal business hours at
the following locations:
FAA New England Region, 16 New
England Executive Park, Burlington,
MA, 781–238–7613.
Stratford Public Library, 2203 Main
St., Stratford, CT, 203–385–4161.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00111
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Public Meeting/Working Group With
Industry on Volcanic Ash
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
This notice announces a
meeting hosted by the FAA’s Aviation
Weather Group in coordination with the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA). The meeting is
to identify operational needs for
Volcanic Ash information in support of
aviation from stakeholders.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
November 5, 2010, from 9 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Federal Aviation Administration,
800 Independence Avenue SW., Bessie
Coleman Room, Washington, DC 20591.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Steven R. Albersheim, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591;
telephone: (202) 385–7185; e-mail:
steven.albersheim@faa.gov or Mr.
Stewart Stepney, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591;
telephone: (202) 385–7182; e-mail:
stewart.stepney@faa.gov.
SUMMARY:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The FAA is issuing this
notice to advise the public of a meeting
to discuss the establishment of
operational requirements for the
reporting and forecasting of volcanic
eruptions and the associated ash cloud.
It has been well documented that
volcanic ash clouds are a hazard to en
E:\FR\FM\14SEN1.SGM
14SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55842-55846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22783]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-62842; File No. SR-FINRA-2010-030]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority; Order Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule Change To Adopt
FINRA Rule 11000 Series (Uniform Practice Code) in the Consolidated
FINRA Rulebook
September 3, 2010.
I. Introduction
On June 14, 2010, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
(``FINRA'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission'') proposed rule change SR-FINRA-2010-030 pursuant to
Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'').\1\
Notice of the proposal was published in the Federal Register on July
12, 2010.\2\ The Commission received no comment letters. For the
reasons discussed below, the Commission is granting approval of the
proposed rule change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62454 (July 6, 2010), 75
FR 39715 (July 12, 2010).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Description
As part of the process of developing a new consolidated rulebook
(``Consolidated FINRA Rulebook''), FINRA will adopt the NASD Rule 11000
Series (Uniform Practice Code [``UPC'']) into the Consolidated FINRA
Rulebook, subject to certain amendments described below.\3\ The UPC was
originally adopted on January 20, 1941, and became effective on August
1, 1941. The UPC prescribes the manner in which over-the-counter
securities transactions other than those cleared through a registered
clearing agency are compared, cleared, and settled between member
firms.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The current FINRA rulebook consists of (1) FINRA Rules, (2)
NASD Rules, and (3) rules incorporated from NYSE (``Incorporated
NYSE Rules'') (together, the NASD Rules and Incorporated NYSE Rules
are referred to as the ``Transitional Rulebook''). While the NASD
Rules generally apply to all FINRA members, the Incorporated NYSE
Rules apply only to those members of FINRA that are also members of
the NYSE (``Dual Members''). The FINRA Rules apply to all FINRA
members unless such rules have a more limited application by their
terms. For more information about the rulebook consolidation
process, see FINRA's Information Notice, March 12, 2008 (Rulebook
Consolidation Process).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a general matter, the UPC does not apply to:
a. Transactions in securities between members that are compared,
cleared, or settled through the facilities of a registered clearing
agency;
b. Transactions in securities exempted under Section 3(a)(12) of
the Act or in municipal securities as defined in Section 3(a)(29) of
the Act;
c. Transactions in redeemable securities issued by companies
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940; or
d. Transactions in Direct Participation Program securities.
The UPC is designed to make uniform, where practicable, custom,
practice, usage, and trading technique in the investment banking and
securities business, particularly with respect to operational and
settlement issues. This can include such matters as trade terms,
deliveries, payments, dividends, rights, interest, stamp taxes, claims,
[[Page 55843]]
assignments, powers of substitution, due-bills, transfer fees, and
marking to the market. The UPC, among other things, was created so that
the transaction of day-to-day business by members may be simplified and
facilitated.
1. UPC Rules Generally
FINRA will transfer a significant portion of the NASD Rule 11000
Series into the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook with the minor changes
detailed below.\4\ Specifically, FINRA will update certain terminology
in the UPC. For example, NASD Rule 11120 defines the term ``written
notice'' as used in the UPC to include a notice delivered by hand,
letter, teletype, telegraph, TWX, facsimile transmission, or other
comparable media. FINRA will delete the references to teletype,
telegraph, and TWX and will include notice delivered by electronic
mail. In addition, FINRA will update cross-references throughout the
rules and will make other minor changes primarily to reflect the new
conventions of the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ NASD Rules 11890 (Clearly Erroneous Transactions), IM-11890-
1 (Refusal to Abide by Rulings), and IM-11890-2 (Review by Panels of
the UPC Committee) were adopted, with significant changes, into the
Consolidated FINRA Rulebook as the FINRA Rule 11890 Series (Clearly
Erroneous Transactions) pursuant to a separate rule filing and are
not being addressed as part of this rule filing. Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 61080 (Dec. 1, 2009), 74 FR 64117 (Dec. 7, 2009)
(SR-FINRA-2009-068).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Proposed FINRA Rules 11111 (Refusal to Abide by Rulings of the
Committee) and 11112 (Review by Panels of the UPC Committee)
FINRA will adopt two new provisions that are largely based on
former NASD IM-11890-1 (Refusal to Abide by Rulings) and NASD IM-11890-
2 (Review by Panels of the UPC Committee).\5\ The provisions of former
NASD IM-11890-1 will be incorporated into and merged with current NASD
IM-11110 (Refusal to Abide by Rulings of the Committee) and adopted as
proposed new FINRA Rule 11111 as the two provisions are largely
identical. Former NASD IM-11890-1 provided that a refusal by a member
to take action necessary to effectuate a final decision of a FINRA
officer or the UPC Committee under NASD Rule 11890 (Clearly Erroneous
Transactions) would be considered conduct inconsistent with just and
equitable principles of trade. Current NASD IM-11110 provides that a
refusal by a member to abide by an official ruling of the UPC
Committee, acting within its appropriate sphere, shall be considered
conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade. As
approved, the new FINRA Rule 11111 will merge the two provisions and
provide that a refusal by a member to take action necessary to
effectuate a final decision of a FINRA officer or the UPC Committee
under the UPC Code (FINRA Rule 11000 Series) or other FINRA rules that
permit review of FINRA decisions by the UPC Committee will be
considered conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of
trade.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The provisions of former NASD IM-11890-2, which applied only to
rulings under NASD Rule 11890, will be adopted as proposed new FINRA
Rule 11112 (Review by Panels of the UPC Committee) and will be
generally applicable to all rulings by the UPC Committee. The new FINRA
Rule 11112 will provide that a decision of the UPC Committee may be
rendered by a panel of the Committee, which shall consist of three or
more members of the UPC Committee, provided no more than 50 percent of
the members of any panel are directly engaged in market making activity
or employed by a firm whose revenues from market making activity exceed
ten percent of its total revenues.
3. Proposed FINRA Rules 11810 (Buying-In) and 11810.03 (Sample Buy-In
Forms)
As approved by this filing, the current NASD Rule 11810 (Buying-In)
will be adopted as FINRA Rule 11810 (Buy-In Procedures and
Requirements) in the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook with certain
clarifications and changes. Incorporated NYSE Rules 282 (Buy-in
Procedures) and related Supplementary Material paragraphs .10-.80 be
deleted. The changes are intended to harmonize the differences between
the NYSE rule and the NASD rule and to update certain procedures and
time frames. FINRA will also adopt NASD IM-11810, which contains the
sample buy-in forms, into the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook as
accompanying Supplementary Material .03 to FINRA Rule 11810 with minor
changes to replace references to NASD with FINRA.
As approved, FINRA Rule 11810 will continue to set forth the
required steps that members must follow to effect the ``buy-in'' of
securities including the procedures to be followed in issuing a ``buy-
in'' notice, the contents of such notice, the expectations of the
receiving party to respond to such notice, and the time frames in which
a ``buy-in'' may be issued, retransmitted, and effected.
FINRA will also make certain minor clarifications and add the
following more substantive provisions to proposed FINRA Rule 11810,
which are currently contained in NYSE Rule 282 either with or without
modifications, as specified:
a. Include in paragraph (a) a statement clarifying that the rule
does not apply to, among other things, securities contracts that are
subject to the requirements of a national securities exchange or a
registered clearing agency.
b. Amend certain time frames for action specified in the proposed
rule:
i. Clarify the time frames within which members must take action to
effect the ``buy-in'' of securities as required therein. Specifically,
the NASD rule requires that a member act within the specified local
time at the member's location whereas the NYSE rule requires action to
be taken based on Eastern Time (ET). To promote operational consistency
among members, the proposal would amend the required time frame for
action to be ET.
ii. Amend the current time frames specified by the NASD and NYSE
rules for the acknowledgement of a ``buy-in'' notice and the
notification of an execution of the buy-in from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
FINRA understands that the 5 p.m. time may be operationally difficult
for members to achieve in some cases and the 6 p.m. ET time frame would
be more operationally feasible.
iii. Add Supplementary Material .01 (Early Closure of Markets) to
clarify that in the event of an announced early closure of the market
upon which the security subject to the ``buy-in'' notice is traded,
members may take the action required by the rule not earlier than one
hour prior to the announced early closure of such market.
c. Add new paragraph (b)(4) to specify that (1) the buyer must
maintain as part of its records, confirmation of receipt of the notice
by the seller and (2) if the seller does not accept the notice of
``buy-in,'' it must reject it by response to the buyer no later than 6
p.m. ET on the same date that it receives such notice, and in the
absence of doing so, the seller will have been deemed by the buyer to
have accepted such notice. The provision would clarify that the seller,
in such case, would have the right to request proof of the fail
obligation from the buyer, which the buyer must deliver to the seller
prior to the effective date of the ``buy-in.'' However, in no event
would a buyer be entitled to a ``buy-in'' that exceeds the liability of
a seller under an unsettled securities contract because of the failure
of the seller to reject a ``buy-in'' notice as provided in the rule,
and a buyer may not execute a ``buy-in'' notice to such extent the
buyer fails to deliver the proof of fail
[[Page 55844]]
obligation in accordance with the requirements of the rule.
Requirements (1) and (2) described above are contained in the current
NYSE rule in a similar form except FINRA will change the time to 6 p.m.
ET. FINRA is also adding new provisions regarding ``passive
acceptance'' of the ``buy-in'' by the seller as described above,
subject to certain safeguards for the benefit of the seller such as
requiring the buyer to provide the proof of fail obligation and
``buying-in'' the seller only for the securities contract amount in
accordance with the proposed rule.
d. Add new paragraph (b)(5) to specify that the receiving party
shall immediately retransmit a notice of ``buy-in'' to other parties
from which the securities may be due in the form of a retransmitted
``buy-in'' notice. Consistent with new paragraph (b)(4) described
above, the provision would clarify that each party receiving a
retransmitted ``buy-in'' notice will be required to maintain
confirmation of receipt of the notice as part of its books and records
and either reject a retransmitted ``buy-in'' notice that it has
received by 6 p.m. ET on the date such notice is received or be deemed
to have accepted the notice (``passive acceptance''). The safeguards
described above in proposed paragraph (b)(4) would also apply to
sellers receiving a retransmitted notice.
e. Add new paragraph (b)(6), which is contained in the NYSE rule,
to clarify that when a notice of ``buy-in'' or a retransmitted notice
thereof is given for less than the full amount of securities due, it
shall not be for less than one trading unit.
f. Amend paragraph (d) as follows:
i. Retitle proposed paragraph (d) from the current rule title
``Seller's Failure to Deliver After Receipt of Notice'' to ``Procedures
for Closing of Contracts'' to better align the title with the content
of that paragraph.
ii. Amend the time frames, as discussed generally above, to
generally require the party receiving the ``buy-in'' notice to deliver
the securities to the party issuing the notice by 3 p.m. ET on the
effective date of the ``buy-in'' notice.
iii. Add language to clarify that if the buyer/issuing party prior
to executing the ``buy-in'' is notified by the seller/delivering party
that some or all of the securities are in the seller's physical
possession and will be delivered to the issuing party then the order to
``buy-in'' shall not be executed with respect to such securities, and
the member that initiated the original order to ``buy-in'' shall accept
and pay for such securities. However, if such securities are not
promptly delivered, the seller that represented that it would make such
delivery shall be liable for any resulting damages.
iv. Add language contained in the NYSE rule to clarify the
operation of the rule when a retransmitted buy-in notice is sent to the
defaulting party but is not received by such party prior to the
delivery of shares or the execution of the ``buy-in.'' In such case,
the sender of the buy-in notice may unless otherwise agreed promptly
reestablish by a new sale the contract subject to the notice of ``buy-
in.''
g. Amend paragraph (h) as follows:
i. Amend the time frame, as discussed above, for notice to be made
to the party for whose account the securities were bought to 6 p.m. ET
on the date of execution of the ``buy-in.''
ii. Add new language, not contained in either legacy rule, to
clarify that the confirmation of the executed ``buy-in'' provided for
by the rule shall be forwarded to the party entitled to the
confirmation by no later than 9:30 a.m. ET on the following business
day after the execution of the ``buy-in.''
iii. Add a provision contained in the NYSE rule that requires that
a statement of any resulting money differences from the execution of
the ``buy-in'' be provided immediately and that such money differences
shall be paid by no later than 3 p.m. ET on the business day after the
settlement date of the executed ``buy-in.''
h. Amend paragraph (i) to clarify, as provided in the NYSE rule,
that notification of all close-outs as provided by the paragraph shall
be sent immediately to the member being closed-out pursuant to the
confirmation provisions of the Rule 11200 Series at least thirty
minutes before such ``close-out.''
i. Add Supplementary Material .02 to clarify, as provided in the
NYSE rule, that where securities have been delivered by the seller
after the ``buy-in'' order has been placed but not executed, such
securities may be returned to the seller if the ``buy-in'' was executed
in accordance with the rule before it could reasonably be cancelled by
the initiating party.
4. Proposed FINRA Rule 11820 (Selling-Out)
Current NASD Rule 11820 (Selling-Out) will be adopted as FINRA Rule
11820 (Selling-Out) into the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook, subject to
minor changes. There is no comparable NYSE rule. NASD Rule 11820
generally requires the party executing the ``sell-out'' to notify the
buyer on the day of execution no later than the close of business local
time where the buyer maintains his office of the quantity sold and the
price received. FINRA will conform the time frames in this new rule to
the time frames in the new FINRA Rule 11810 (Buy-In Procedures and
Requirements). Specifically, this new rule will replace the requirement
to provide notice ``no later than the close of business local time,
where the buyer maintains his office'' with the requirement that such
notice must be provided no later than ``6 p.m. ET.'' FINRA believes
this change provides clarity and uniformity to the industry. In
addition, the rule will amend certain references in the proposed rule
from ``should'' to ``shall.'' Specifically, in paragraph (b),
notification by the party executing a ``sell-out'' shall be in written
or electronic form, and a formal confirmation of such sale shall be
forwarded as promptly as possible after execution of the ``sell-out.''
5. Proposed FINRA Rule 11860 (COD Orders)
FINRA will adopt NASD Rule 11860 (Acceptance and Settlement of COD
Orders) as FINRA Rule 11860 (COD Orders) into the Consolidated FINRA
Rulebook subject to minor changes and to delete NASD Rule 3370
(Purchases) and Incorporated NYSE Rule 387 (COD Orders) and its
Supplementary Material paragraphs .10-.60, NYSE Rule 387
Interpretations /01-/18, Rule 430 (Partial Delivery of Securities to
Customers on C.O.D. Purchases), and NYSE Rule 430 Interpretation /01.
NASD Rule 11860 and NYSE Rule 387 provide generally that no member
can accept an order from a customer pursuant to an arrangement whereby
payment for the securities purchased or delivery of the securities sold
is to be made to or by an agent of the customer unless certain
specified procedures are followed. NASD Rule 3370 and NYSE Rule 430
both generally provide that no member or associated person may accept a
customer's purchase order for securities unless it has first
ascertained that the customer placing the order or its agent has agreed
to receive the securities against payment in an amount equal to the
execution price even though such purchase may represent only a part of
a larger order. NYSE Rule 430 has an exception for obligations of the
U.S. government.
As approved, FINRA Rule 11860 will continue the requirement in NYSE
Rule 430 and NASD Rule 3370 that members prior to accepting a purchase
order for a security ascertain that the customer or its agent will
receive against payment securities in an amount equal to any execution
confirmed to the customer
[[Page 55845]]
even if such execution may represent a partial fill of the order. FINRA
will eliminate the exemption for transactions in U.S. government
obligations as provided by Rule 430. Further, the rule as being adopted
will continue to require the use of either a Clearing Agency or a
Qualified Vendor for the electronic confirmation and affirmation of all
depository eligible transactions. FINRA is clarifying that the new rule
will, similar to NYSE Rule 387, apply to (1) transactions of foreign
customers and broker-dealers that settle in the U.S. and (2) eligible
sinking funds and/or dividend reinvestment transactions. The new rule
will add a new requirement that is contained in NYSE Rule 387 that
requires a ``Qualified Vendor'' to provide FINRA with copies of its
required submissions to the SEC staff.
6. Proposed FINRA Rules 11870 (Customer Account Transfer Contracts) and
11870.03 (Sample Transfer Instruction Forms)
FINRA is adopting NASD Rule 11870 as FINRA Rule 11870 (Customer
Account Transfer Contracts) into the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook with
the following changes. There is no comparable NYSE Incorporated
Rule.\6\ FINRA is also adopting NASD IM-11870, which contains the
Sample Transfer Instruction Forms, into the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook
with minor changes to replace references to NASD with FINRA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ Previously, NYSE Rule 412 (Customer Account Transfer
Contracts) and its related interpretations similarly regulated the
transfer of customer accounts. FINRA eliminated NYSE Rule 412 and
its interpretations from the Transitional Rulebook as part of a rule
change to reduce regulatory duplication for Dual Members during the
period before completion of the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook. The
NYSE subsequently amended its version of NYSE Rule 412 to state that
NYSE members and member organizations shall comply with NASD Rule
11870, concerning the transfer of customer accounts between members,
and any amendments thereto, as if such rule were part of the NYSE's
rules. Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58533 (Sept. 12, 2008),
73 FR 54652 (Sept. 22, 2008) (Approval Order; SR-FINRA-2008-036).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Generally, NASD Rule 11870 provides that when a brokerage customer
wishes to transfer his or her account to another member and gives
written notice of that fact to the receiving member, both members must
expedite and coordinate the transfer. The new FINRA Rule 11870 would
continue to set forth the required steps that members must follow to
effect the transfer of customers' accounts, including the initial
request to transfer an account, the time frame in which a transfer
request must be acted upon, the validation of such transfer request,
and the documentation required to effect the transfer. FINRA will add
to proposed FINRA Rule 11870 minor clarifications as well as the
following more substantive, which were interpretations to the prior
version of NYSE Rule 412: \7\
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\7\ Id.
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a. Add a new provision regarding the procedures for the transfer of
book-entry mutual fund shares that clarifies the obligations of the
parties when transferring a customer's positions in such securities.
FINRA will add this provision to paragraph (f)(9) of proposed FINRA
Rule 11870.
b. Add a definition of the term ``participant in a registered
clearing agency'' for purposes of the rule to mean a member that is
eligible to use the agency's automated customer securities account
transfer capabilities.
c. Add Supplementary Material .01 to clarify that members must
establish written procedures to effect and supervise the transfer of
customer account assets pursuant to the requirements of the proposed
rule.
d. Add Supplementary Material .02 to require members to inform
customers with respect to retirement plan securities that the choice of
the method of disposition of such assets may result in liability for
the payment of taxes and penalties.
e. Amend the time frames in the new rule for notice and completion
of close-outs of fail contracts resulting from the not completing a
transfer of a customer's account to conform to the time frames for all
close-outs as specified in proposed FINRA Rule 11810 (Buy-In Procedures
and Requirements). Specifically, the new rule will require the
receiving member to provide notice to the carrying member not later
than 12 noon ET two business days preceding the execution of the
proposed close-out (as opposed to 12 noon ``his'' time). In addition,
the rule will require that every notice of close-out state that the
securities may be closed out ``unless delivery is effected at or before
a certain specified time, which may not be prior to 3 p.m. ET,'' as
opposed to ``the local time in the community where the carrying member
maintains his office.'' The new rule will also replace the requirement
that the party executing the ``close-out'' notify the seller as to the
quantity purchased and the price paid not later than ``the close of
business, local time, where the seller maintains his office,'' with the
requirement to provide such notice not later than ``6 p.m. ET on the
date of the execution of such `close-out'.''
f. Amend certain references in the new rule from ``should'' to
``shall.'' Specifically, (1) In paragraph (f) that the obligation that
fail contracts established pursuant to the rule shall be clearly marked
or captioned as such and that a receiving member shall reject delivery
of a security that cannot be deemed a safekeeping position against a
fail contract; (2) in paragraph (h) that notification shall be in
written or electronic form and that confirmation of purchase along with
a billing or payment shall be forwarded as promptly as possible; (3) in
paragraph (i) that notification shall be in written or electronic form;
and (4) in paragraph (m) that when both members are participants in a
registered clearing agency, the securities account asset transfer
procedures shall be accomplished in accordance with the rule and the
rules of the registered clearing agency.
g. Eliminate paragraph (n)(3) which requires that a copy of each
customer account transfer instruction issued on an ``ex-clearing
house'' basis be sent to the local District Office of NASD having
jurisdiction over the carrying member. FINRA believes that a majority
of customer account transfers now occur between members of a clearing
agency and that the volume of transactions that occur ``ex-clearing''
has significantly decreased.
FINRA will announce the implementation date of the rule change in a
Regulatory Notice to be published no later than ninety days following
the date of the approval of this rule change. The implementation date
will be no later than 365 days following the date of the approval of
this rule change.
III. Discussion
Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act requires, among other things, that
FINRA rules must be designed to promote just and equitable principles
of trade and, in general, to protect investors and the public
interest.\8\ The rule change amends FINRA's rules so as to adopt a
majority of the UPC Rules into the new Consolidated FINRA Rulebook
without significant changes in order to update and to reflect the new
conventions of the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook. The rule change also
updates certain other UPC Rules to reflect current industry practices.
As one part of a larger undertaking to consolidate the rules of the
NASD and NYSE, FINRA's new rules will apply to all registered broker-
dealers, which should further promote the just and equitable principles
of trade and, in general, better protect investors and the public
interest.
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\8\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).
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Accordingly, for the reasons stated above the Commission believes
that the rule change is consistent with FINRA's
[[Page 55846]]
obligation under Section 15A of the Exchange Act, as amended, and the
rules and regulations thereunder.\9\
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\9\ In approving this proposal, the Commission has considered
the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital
formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
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IV. Conclusion
On the basis of the foregoing, the Commission finds that the
proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and
in particular with the requirements of Section 15A of the Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder.
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,
that the proposed rule change (File No. SR-FINRA-2010-030) be and
hereby is approved.
For the Commission by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
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\10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-22783 Filed 9-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P