Self-Regulatory Organizations; Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend MSRB Rules G-8, G-11 and G-32 To Include Provisions Specifically Tailored for Retail Order Periods, 39038-39046 [2013-15492]
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Commission shall institute proceedings
under Section 19(b)(2)(B)14 of the Act to
determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or
disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–NYSEMKT–2013–37 on the
subject line.
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Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street NE., Washington, DC
20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSEMKT–2013–37. This
file number should be included on the
subject line if email is used. To help the
Commission process and review your
comments more efficiently, please use
only one method. The Commission will
post all comments on the Commission’s
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
submission, all subsequent
amendments, all written statements
with respect to the proposed rule
change that are filed with the
Commission, and all written
communications relating to the
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than
those that may be withheld from the
public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
available for Web site viewing and
printing in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, on official
business days between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
office of the Exchange. All comments
received will be posted without change;
the Commission does not edit personal
identifying information from
submissions. You should submit only
information that you wish to make
available publicly.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSEMKT–2013–37 and
should be submitted on or before July
19, 2013.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.15
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013–15493 Filed 6–27–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–69834; File No. SR–MSRB–
2013–05]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
Municipal Securities Rulemaking
Board; Notice of Filing of a Proposed
Rule Change To Amend MSRB Rules
G–8, G–11 and G–32 To Include
Provisions Specifically Tailored for
Retail Order Periods
June 24, 2013.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on June 17,
2013, the Municipal Securities
Rulemaking Board (the ‘‘MSRB’’ or
‘‘Board’’) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the ‘‘SEC’’ or
‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I, II, and
III below, which Items have been
prepared by the MSRB. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The MSRB is filing with the
Commission a proposed rule change
consisting of amendments to MSRB
Rules G–8, G–11 and G–32, and
conforming changes to Form G–32 (the
‘‘proposed rule change’’).
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on the MSRB’s Web site at
www.msrb.org/Rules-andInterpretations/SEC-Filings/2013Filings.aspx, at the MSRB’s principal
office, and at the Commission’s Public
Reference Room.
15 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
14 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
MSRB included statements concerning
the purpose of and basis for the
proposed rule change and discussed any
comments it received on the proposed
rule change. The text of these statements
may be examined at the places specified
in Item IV below. The MSRB has
prepared summaries, set forth in
Sections A, B, and C below, of the most
significant aspects of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The proposed rule change amends
Rules G–8, G–11 and G–32 to include
provisions specifically tailored for retail
order periods. These provisions will
establish basic protections for issuers
and customers and provide additional
tools to assist with the administration
and examinations of retail order period
requirements, as further described
below under ‘‘Summary of Proposed
Rule Change’’ and under ‘‘Discussion of
Comments.’’
The MSRB previously issued
guidance to dealers on the subject of
retail order periods. In 2010, the MSRB
stated that Rule G–17 requires an
underwriter to follow an issuer’s
directions in any applicable retail order
period.3 Most recently, the MSRB stated
that fair dealing requires an underwriter
to take reasonable steps to ensure that
retail clients are bona fide; that an
underwriter that knowingly accepts an
order that has been improperly
designated as a retail order violates Rule
G–17; and that a dealer placing a nonqualifying order under a retail order
period violates Rule G–17.4 In that same
notice, the MSRB indicated that it will
continue to monitor retail order period
practices to ensure that they are
conducted in a fair and orderly manner
consistent with the intent of the issuer
and the MSRB’s investor protection
mandate. The proposed rule change
reflects the MSRB’s determination that
additional rulemaking in this area is
necessary and appropriate.
The MSRB believes that the proposed
rule change is necessary in
consideration of its mandate to protect
municipal entities and investors. The
proposed rule change addresses
3 See
MSRB Notice 2010–26 (August 15, 2010).
MSRB Notice 2012–25 (May 7, 2012) (the
‘‘G–17 Underwriters’ Notice’’).
4 See
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concerns related to retail order periods
presented from issuers, dealers, and
municipal advisors. Those concerns
include the mischaracterization of
orders as ‘‘retail’’ and the failure of
syndicate managers to disseminate
timely notice of the terms and
conditions of a retail order period to all
dealers, including selling group
members,5 or that pricing information
that had been requested was not
delivered or had not been delivered in
sufficient time to allow for
communication with the requesting
dealer’s ‘‘retail’’ customers to determine
whether the investor would like to
purchase the bonds.6
To address these concerns, the
proposed rule change establishes
specific obligations on the senior
syndicate manager to disseminate to the
syndicate and selling group members
detailed information about the terms
and conditions of any retail order
period. The proposed rule change also
requires dealers to capture certain
additional information in connection
with orders placed under a retail order
period designed to ensure that such
orders are from bona fide retail
customers. In addition, the MSRB
proposes to increase transparency for
regulators regarding the use of retail
order periods by amending Form G–32
to require an underwriter to report to
the Electronic Municipal Market Access
(EMMA®) 7 system when a retail order
period was conducted.
The MSRB proposed, but thereafter
reconsidered a decision to issue
interpretive guidance related to Rules
G–17 and G–30 in connection with the
proposed rule change. The proposed
interpretive guidance, among other
things, emphasized that during a retail
order period, an issuer may require
underwriters to make a bona fide public
offering to retail customers at the initial
offering price for the securities, either
directly or through other dealers, and
that dealers must follow the issuer’s
instructions for retail order periods. The
particular statement that a duty of fair
dealing includes following an issuer’s
instructions for retail order periods is
inherent in a rule on fair dealing, and,
5 In some cases the length of a retail order period
may be less than five hours.
6 In some jurisdictions, it is not common practice
to advertise the issuer’s intention to conduct retail
order periods on the radio, television or in the
newspaper to inform the investing public of
upcoming issuances and terms related to a retail
order period. Advertisements to notify the investing
public of retail order periods in connection with
primary offerings of municipal securities can be
very expensive and often issuers do not wish to
incur this cost or reimburse dealers for this
expense.
7 EMMA is a registered trademark of the MSRB.
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as mentioned earlier, was recently
addressed in the G–17 Underwriters’
Notice.
The proposed guidance also
addressed pricing differentials,
including that large differences between
institutional and individual prices that
exceed the price/yield variance that
normally applies to transactions of
different sizes in the primary market
provide evidence that the duty of fair
pricing to individual clients may not
have been met. This statement repeated
guidance previously provided by the
MSRB.8 The discussion that followed
sought to apply that previously
articulated guidance to a few specific
factual scenarios but did not provide
any analysis or guidance that did not
fairly and reasonably flow from the
MSRB’s prior guidance. As discussed
below, the limited scope of the
discussion and the perception that only
those items discussed would justify a
pricing differential was of concern to
some commenters. The thrust of this
proposed rule change is to provide
mechanisms by which issuers can have
greater assurance that a dealer has,
when directed to do so by the issuer,
made a bona fide public offering of the
securities to retail customers at their
initial offering prices, as well as provide
regulators with enhanced information to
monitor the activities of dealers
participating in retail order periods. A
further discussion for the reasons the
MSRB has not included the interpretive
guidance is set forth below under ‘‘SelfRegulatory Organization’s Statement on
Comments on the Proposed Rule Change
Received from Members, Participants, or
Others.’’
The MSRB proposes to establish two
separate implementation dates for the
proposed rule change. The amendments
to Rules G–11 and G–8, the core of the
proposal, would be implemented six
months after the SEC approval date to
allow dealers sufficient time to make
necessary software or systems
modifications. It also would allow time
for the MSRB to create educational
materials, host webinars and conduct
outreach to the dealer and issuer
communities, as appropriate, regarding
the new rules.
The second implementation date
would relate to the amendments to Rule
G–32 that require syndicate managers or
sole underwriters to designate to EMMA
whether a retail order period was
conducted. The implementation date
would be not later than March 31, 2014,
8 See Guidance of Disclosure and Other Sales
Practice Obligations to Individual and Other Retail
Investors in Municipal Securities (July 14, 2009)
(the ‘‘Sales Practice Notice’’).
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or such earlier date to be announced by
the MSRB in a notice published on the
MSRB Web site with at least a thirty day
advance notification prior to the
effective date. This time frame would
allow for the MSRB to design an
automated system for dealers to report
to the EMMA system. It would include
approximately six months of lead time
for Rule G–32 submitters to design
automated interfaces and allow time for
both Rule G–32 submitters and FINRA
to test all of these changes.
Certain proposed rule changes are
intended to be clarifying changes only
and are not related to retail order
periods, as further described below
under ‘‘Summary of Proposed Rule
Change.’’
Summary of Proposed Rule Change
Rule G–11
MSRB Rule G–11 addresses syndicate
practices and management of the
syndicate, and among other things,
requires syndicates to establish
priorities for different categories of
orders and requires certain disclosures
to syndicate members, which are
intended to assure that allocations are
made in accordance with those
priorities.
The proposed addition of provisions
addressing retail order periods
necessitates several new definitions in
Rule G–11. First, the term ‘‘retail order
period’’ is defined in subparagraph
(a)(vii) to mean an order period during
which solely going away orders will be
solicited solely from customers that
meet the issuer’s designated eligibility
criteria. Second, the term ‘‘going away
order’’ is defined in subparagraph
(a)(xii) to mean an order for which a
customer is already conditionally
committed. Third, the term ‘‘selling
group’’ is defined in subparagraph
(a)(xiii) to mean a group of brokers,
dealers, or municipal securities dealers
formed for the purpose of assisting in
the distribution of a new issue of
municipal securities for the issuer other
than members of the syndicate. Selling
groups are sometimes included by
issuers in the distribution of new issues
of municipal securities to expand the
distribution channel beyond the
customers of syndicate members.
Rule G–11(f) requires that the senior
syndicate manager furnish in writing to
the other members of the syndicate a
written statement of all terms and
conditions required by the issuer. The
proposed rule change expands these
requirements to require expressly that
such written statement must be
delivered to selling group members and
that the statement must include all of
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the issuer’s retail order period terms and
conditions and pricing information. The
proposed rule change further requires
that an underwriter furnish each dealer
with which it has an arrangement to
market the issuer’s securities all of the
information provided by the senior
syndicate manager.9
Rule G–11(f) also provides that if a
senior syndicate manager prepares the
statement of all of the terms and
conditions required by the issuer
(including those related to the issuer’s
retail order period requirements), the
statement must be provided to the
issuer. The proposed rule change adds
the requirement to obtain the approval
of the issuer of any statement prepared
by the senior syndicate manager. This
approval must be secured in all cases
and is not solely limited to those
instances when a retail order period is
conducted. The MSRB believes that it is
important to ensure that an issuer is
aware of, and agrees with, any
requirements imposed on the syndicate
and selling group members in its name.
New paragraph (k) requires any dealer
placing an order during a retail order
period to provide certain information to
assist in the determination that such
order is a bona fide retail order.
Specifically, the order must provide (i)
Whether the order met the issuer’s
eligibility criteria for participation in
the retail order period; (ii) whether the
order was a going away order; (iii)
whether the dealer received more than
one order from a single customer for a
security for which the same CUSIP
number has been assigned; (iv) any
identifying information required by the
issuer, or the senior syndicate manager
on the issuer’s behalf, in connection
with such retail order (but not including
customer names or social security
numbers); and (v) the par amount of the
order. This information must be
submitted no later than the Time of
Formal Award (as defined in Rule G–
34(a)(ii)(C)(1)(a)), and may be part of the
order submitted to the senior syndicate
manager through an electronic order
entry system. Because a senior syndicate
manager generally would not have
independent knowledge of the details of
an order placed on behalf of another
9 This arrangement, commonly referred to as a
‘‘distribution or marketing agreement,’’ is used by
some firms to enhance the firm’s ability to ‘‘reach’’
retail customers, such as in the case where a firm
does not have a significant retail distribution
network. Under the proposed rule change, the onus
to furnish the information is placed on the
underwriter that has entered into such arrangement,
rather than the senior syndicate manager, to
circulate this information because the senior
syndicate manager may not be aware that a given
syndicate member has entered into this type of
arrangement.
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dealer’s customer, the proposed rule
change provides that the senior
syndicate manager may rely on the
information furnished by such dealer,
unless the senior syndicate manager
knows, or has reason to know, that the
information is not true, accurate or
complete.
Rule G–8
Under Rule G–8(a)(viii)(A), for each
primary offering for which a syndicate
has been formed for the purchase of
municipal securities, the syndicate
manager shall maintain a variety of
records which show: the description
and aggregate par value of the securities;
the name and percentage of
participation of each member of the
syndicate; the terms and conditions
governing the formation and operation
of the syndicate; a statement of all terms
and conditions required by the issuer
(including whether there was a retail
order period and the issuer’s definition
of ‘‘retail,’’ if applicable); all orders
received for the purchase of the
securities from the syndicate; 10 all
allotments of the securities and the
price at which sold; those instances in
which the syndicate manager allocated
securities in a manner other than in
accordance with the priority provisions,
including those instances in which the
syndicate manager accorded equal or
greater priority over other orders to
orders by syndicate members for their
own accounts or their respective related
accounts and the specific reason for
doing so; the date and amount of any
good faith deposit made to the issuer;
the date of settlement with the issuer;
the date of closing of the account; and
a reconciliation of profits and expenses
of the account. The proposed rule
change to Rule G–8(a)(viii)(A) would
add to the documentation that must be
maintained in the files of the syndicate
manager all orders received for the
purchase of the securities from the
selling group; the information required
by Rule G–11(k) and all pricing
information distributed pursuant to
Rule G–11(f). Such changes will
facilitate review by the examining
authorities of all of the records related
to a primary offering from files
maintained by one underwriter 11
(which is more efficient) rather than a
10 See Rule G–8(a)(vii) relating to dealer records
for principal transactions. Dealers are not required
to retain records related to customer orders unless
an order has been filled. The requirement in the
rule for a memorandum of the transaction including
a record of the customer’s order applies only in the
event such purchase or sale occurs with the
customer.
11 Records related to a successful primary offering
are required to be maintained for a period of not
less than six years. See Rule G–9(a)(iv).
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review of the files of each dealer that
participates in the primary offering. The
proposed rule change to Rule G–
8(a)(viii)(A) (and the identical provision
found in subsection (B)) reflects a
change in phraseology. The
parenthetical would be revised in each
case to delete the reference to ‘‘whether
there was a retail order period and the
issuer’s definition of retail’’ and to
replace it with ‘‘those of any retail order
period.’’ This part of proposed rule
change is not intended to be a
substantive change.
Under Rule G–8(a)(viii)(B), for each
primary offering for which a syndicate
has not been formed for the purchase of
municipal securities, the sole
underwriter shall maintain a variety of
records which show: the description
and aggregate par value of the securities;
all terms and conditions required by the
issuer (including whether there was a
retail order period and the issuer’s
definition of ‘‘retail,’’ if applicable); all
orders received for the purchase of the
securities from the underwriter; all
allotments of the securities and the
price at which sold; those instances in
which the underwriter accorded equal
or greater priority over other orders to
orders for its own account or its related
accounts and the specific reason for
doing so; the date and amount of any
good faith deposit made to the issuer;
and the date of settlement with the
issuer. The proposed rule change to
Rule G–8(a)(viii)(B) would add to the
documentation that must be maintained
in the files of the sole underwriter the
information required by Rule G–11(k).
Rule G–32
Generally, Rule G–32(b) provides
detailed requirements for underwriters
submitting documents or disclosurerelated information to EMMA. Rule G–
32(b)(vi)(C)(1)(a) provides that an
underwriter must submit data such as
CUSIP numbers, initial offering prices
or yields, if applicable, the expected
closing date for the transaction and
whether the issuer or other obligated
persons have agreed to undertake to
provide continuing disclosure
information as contemplated by
Securities Exchange Act Rule 15c2–12.
The proposed rule change to Rule G–
32(b)(vi)(C)(1)(a) adds to the data that
must be submitted a requirement that
the underwriter report to the EMMA
system (for solely regulatory purposes)
whether a primary offering of securities
included a retail order period and each
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recordkeeping requirements because the
cross reference to ‘‘(B)’’ is incorrect.
Miscellaneous Clarifying Changes
Unrelated to Retail Order Periods
Rule G–11(h)(i) provides that
discretionary fees for clearance costs to
be imposed by a syndicate manager and
management fees shall be disclosed to
the syndicate members prior to
submission of a bid. The proposed rule
change would require the syndicate
manager specifically to disclose to each
syndicate member the amount of any
discretionary fees for clearance costs or
any management fees imposed by the
syndicate manager. The proposed rule
change addresses concerns that certain
syndicate managers failed to disclose
the amount of such fees.
Rule G–32(a) provides requirements
for the disclosure to customers of
certain information in connection with
primary offerings of municipal
securities. Rule G–32(a)(i) provides,
among other requirements, that no
broker, dealer or municipal securities
dealer shall sell, whether as a principal
or agent, any offered securities to a
customer unless such dealer delivers to
the customer a copy of the official
statement. The proposed rule change
amends Rule G–32(a)(i) to clarify that all
dealers, not just underwriters, are
subject to the official statement delivery
requirement of the rule during the
primary offering disclosure period. This
proposed change codifies the MSRB’s
long-standing position and would
promote consistent application and
reduce the number of interpretive
questions surrounding this requirement.
Rule G–32(b)(v) provides that in the
event a syndicate or similar account has
been formed for the underwriting of a
primary offering, the managing
underwriter shall take the actions
required under the provisions of the
rule and shall also comply with the
recordkeeping requirements of Rule G–
8(a)(xiii)(B). Subsection (B) of Rule G–
8(a)(xiii) addresses the recordkeeping
requirements in the case of a primary
offering in which a syndicate has not
been formed. The proposed rule change
would delete the reference to such
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date and time (beginning and end)12 it
was conducted.13
2. Statutory Basis
The MSRB believes that the proposed
rule change is consistent with Section
15B(b)(2)(C) of the Act,14 which
provides that the MSRB’s rules shall:
12 All times would be required to be reported as
Eastern Time to be consistent, for example, with the
requirement to report time of trade under Rule
G–14 as Eastern Time.
13 Under the proposed rule change, the
underwriter would be required to report to EMMA
that a retail order period has occurred by no later
than the closing date of the transaction. Under Rule
G–32(b)(vi)(C)(1)(a), Form G–32 submissions shall
be ‘‘initiated on or prior to the date of first
execution . . . ’’ The ‘‘date of first execution’’ is
defined in Rule G–32(d)(xi) and, for purposes of
this report, is deemed to occur by no later than the
closing date.
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be designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to promote
just and equitable principles of trade, to
foster cooperation and coordination with
persons engaged in regulating, clearing,
settling, processing information with respect
to, and facilitating transactions in municipal
securities and municipal financial products,
to remove impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market in
municipal securities and municipal financial
products, and, in general, to protect
investors, municipal entities, obligated
persons, and the public interest.
The proposed rule change is
consistent with Section 15B(b)(2)(C) of
the Act. As summarized above, the
proposed rule change protects, among
others, investors and municipal entities
by establishing certain basic regulatory
standards to support the use of retail
order periods. It would prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices by requiring additional
representations and disclosures to
support whether the orders placed
during a retail order period meet the
eligibility criteria for retail orders
established by issuers. It also provides
enhanced recordkeeping to assist
regulators in determining whether the
requirements of Rule G–11 are being
met. By ensuring that a syndicate
manager must communicate an issuer’s
requirements for the retail order period
and other syndicate information to all
dealers, including selling group
members, the proposed rule change
should also foster cooperation and
coordination among all dealers engaged
in the marketing and sale of new issue
municipal securities. In addition, the
proposed rule change should minimize
the opportunities for misrepresentation
of orders as ‘‘retail orders’’ by requiring
that certain information about each
order is submitted in writing to the
syndicate manager or sole underwriter
in sufficient time so that the information
can be examined by issuers and their
financial advisors before bonds are
allocated to dealers.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The MSRB does not believe that the
proposed rule change would impose any
burden on competition not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act. The MSRB solicited
14 15
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U.S.C. 78o–4(b)(2)(C).
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39041
comment on the potential burdens of
the proposed rule change in the most
recent request for comment.15 Among
the questions asked were:
• Would the Revised Draft Proposal
effectively further the MSRB’s objective
of protecting issuers and retail
investors?
• Would any aspects of the Revised
Draft Proposal have a negative effect on
the protection of issuers, retail investors
or the public interest, or on the fair and
efficient operation of the municipal
securities market?
• What would be the incremental
additional burden, if any, to dealers
resulting from the Revised Draft
Proposal beyond the existing burden of
compliance with Rule G–11?
• Are there alternative methods the
MSRB should consider to providing the
protections sought under the Revised
Draft Proposal that would be more
effective and/or less burdensome?
The specific comments and responses
thereto are discussed below under
‘‘Discussion of Comments.’’ The MSRB
believes that the proposed rule change
will benefit issuers, individual investors
and the municipal market by improving
the fairness and effectiveness of retail
order periods. Specifically, the benefits
of the proposed rule change should
accrue to those issuers who have
decided to conduct retail order periods
by providing greater assurance that
bonds will in fact be marketed to those
‘‘retail’’ investors that issuers have
determined should have the opportunity
to compete to buy their bonds in the
primary market. Retail investors will
benefit from the proposed rule change
because they will have greater access to
bonds sold in the primary market.
Dealers will benefit through improved
management of primary offerings and
enhanced communication by and among
syndicate members and selling group
members. Also, improvements to the
order taking process as a result of the
proposed rule change will foster greater
accuracy and fairness and limit
opportunities for abuse. Finally, the
proposed rule change will benefit the
municipal market because it provides
regulators with the necessary tools and
information to ensure compliance with
retail order period requirements.
The MSRB could, as an alternative to
the proposed rule change, determine to
‘‘wait and see’’ if earlier rulemaking
related to retail order periods issued in
2010 and 2012 16 results in significant
improvements in the conduct of
15 See MSRB Notice 2012–50 (October 2, 2012)
(the ‘‘October Notice’’).
16 See MSRB Notices cited in footnotes 3 and 4
above.
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syndicate managers and other dealers
participating in retail order periods.
However, the Board believes that earlier
rulemaking lacked specific, concrete
requirements necessary to modify dealer
practices and foster improvements in
compliance. In addition, previous
rulemaking did not address many of the
issues associated with recordkeeping
which the Board believes is necessary
and appropriate to support enforcement
of Rule G–11.
The MSRB also considered whether
education and training of issuers and
dealers was a suitable regulatory
alternative. However, the MSRB
concluded that a significant and
uniform regulatory response is needed
to efficiently and effectively address
widespread concerns involving retail
order period practices.
The MSRB recognizes that there are
costs of compliance associated with the
proposed rule change. The MSRB notes
that the requirement to submit
additional information about each order
would apply equally to all dealers that
participate in primary offerings that
include retail order periods. At the
present time, dealers routinely submit a
number of details related to each order.
Many dealers have utilized software
platforms which can be modified to
capture the newly required disclosures.
Details about orders are reflected in a
report created by the platform. The
customer specific information required
under the proposed rule change is
consistent with the type of information
dealers normally must obtain in
performing appropriate diligence on a
customer’s order. The proposed rule
change attempts to minimize the
potential burden on dealers by allowing
the required information about each
order to be submitted electronically.
Moreover, any dealer that believes that
gathering this additional information is
an undue burden does not need to
participate in collecting orders for an
issuer’s retail order period. The burden
on dealers to capture additional
information on each customer order in
a retail order period is balanced against
the need for issuers to have confidence
that orders placed during a retail order
period are bona fide and meet the
issuer’s eligibility requirements for
participation in the retail order period.
The MSRB addressed concerns
regarding the potential burdens to
syndicate managers of auditing
potentially large numbers of orders
submitted to it by other dealers by
expressly stating that a senior syndicate
manager may rely upon the information
furnished by each broker, dealer, or
municipal securities dealer unless the
senior syndicate manager knows, or has
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reason to know, that the information is
not true, accurate or complete. The
proposed rule change does not require
that a syndicate manager undertake an
exhaustive investigation of the
disclosures about each order. Thus, the
proposed rule change does not impose
additional requirements on the senior
syndicate manager other than those that
would normally be required under
principles of fair dealing that currently
apply.
The recordkeeping requirements in
Rule G–8 would be expanded under the
proposed rule change to require the
syndicate manager or sole underwriter
to maintain all of the new
documentation required as a result of
amendments to Rule G–11. The MSRB
believes that the maintenance of this
basic information is necessary to ensure
the integrity of the primary offering
process in general and the retail order
period in particular. These burdens are
incremental in that under current Rule
G–8, these parties are already required
to maintain comprehensive records
relating to each primary offering
including all of the terms and
conditions required by the issuer and
whether there was a retail order period.
Any reports produced electronically can
be easily printed or saved and included
in the deal file for easy retrieval.
Lastly, the amendments to Rule G–32
in the proposed rule change requiring
the syndicate manager or sole
underwriter to notify the MSRB of the
date and time of each retail order period
conducted presents only a modest,
incremental burden to the existing
requirements of Rule G–32, but provides
significant regulatory value. Without
this reporting requirement, neither the
MSRB nor the examination authorities
will have any notification of whether an
offering contained a retail order period.
To minimize the costs to dealers
associated with this requirement, the
MSRB would undertake to design an
automated system for dealers to report
to the EMMA system. The MSRB
believes that it is reasonable to delay the
implementation date for this part of the
proposed rule change until such time as
the automated system has been tested by
the dealer community.
The MSRB notes that one issuer 17 has
stated that the proposed rule change
does not negatively impact the
municipal securities market or its
efficient operation and that, while there
may be claims that the proposed rule
change creates some additional burdens,
in the opinion of that commenter, it is
17 See the comment letter submitted by the
Executive Director of the Rhode Island Health and
Educational Building Corp (RIHEBC)
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far outweighed by the benefit of an
open, fair and efficient municipal
marketplace.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
The proposed rule change was
developed with input from a diverse
group of market participants. On
October 2, 2012, the MSRB requested
comment on a revised proposal on retail
order periods under Rules G–11, G–8
and G–32 and a draft interpretive notice
concerning the application of Rules G–
17 and G–30 to retail order periods.18
The revised proposal in the October
Notice modified certain draft provisions
of Rules G–11, Rule G–8 and the draft
interpretive notice but did not further
revise the provisions of Rule G–32
under the initial draft proposal.19 The
MSRB received 24 comment letters in
response to the March and October
Notices.20
Discussion of Comments
Definition of Retail Customer for
Purposes of a Retail Order Period
Comments: MSRB Should Not Create
a Definition of ‘‘Retail:’’ SIFMA
generally supported the approach that it
is an issuer’s prerogative to determine
whether there should be a retail order
period and to define retail, but indicated
concern on the part of some members
that lack of uniformity as to the
definition of retail may make it difficult
to comply with the MSRB requirements
to ensure that only qualifying orders are
placed and to maintain adequate
records. FPA agreed that there is no
reason for the MSRB to create a uniform
definition of retail but understood the
appeal of a uniform base definition that
could be modified by an issuer.
18 See
the October Notice.
MSRB Notice 2012–13 (March 6, 2012) (the
‘‘March Notice’’), which contained the initial draft
proposal regarding retail order periods under Rules
G–11, G–8 and G–32 and a draft interpretive notice
concerning the application of Rules G–17 and G–
30 to retail order periods.
20 Comment letters were received from: Alamo
Capital (‘‘Alamo’’); Bond Dealers of America
(‘‘BDA’’); CFA Institute (‘‘CFA’’); Dorsey &
Company, Inc. (‘‘Dorsey’’); Edward D. Jones & Co.
(‘‘Edward Jones’’); Financial Planning Association
(‘‘FPA’’); Full Life Financial LLC (‘‘Full Life’’);
Government Finance Officers Association
(‘‘GFOA’’); Investment Company Institute (‘‘ICI’’);
Richard Li (‘‘Li’’); Chris Melton (‘‘Melton’’);
National Association of Independent Public
Finance Advisors (‘‘NAIPFA’’); Rhode Island Health
and Educational Building Corp. (‘‘RIHEBC’’);
Securities Industry and Financial Markets
Association (‘‘SIFMA’’); Thornburg Investment
Management (‘‘Thornburg’’); Vanguard
(‘‘Vanguard’’); and Wells Fargo Advisors (‘‘Wells
Fargo’’). Some of the commenters submitted
comment letter responses to both notices.
19 See
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Comments: MSRB Should Create a
Definition of ‘‘Retail:’’ Many
commenters recommended, for a variety
of reasons, that the MSRB establish a
uniform definition of ‘‘retail’’ for use by
issuers, or, in the alternative, create a
‘‘model’’ definition that issuers can use
or modify as they deem appropriate.21
GFOA’s comments were representative
of those commenters that believed that
a boilerplate definition would benefit
infrequent issuers who do not have
sufficient expertise or who do not
engage a financial advisor and may
avoid reliance on other parties to the
transaction who do not have a fiduciary
duty to the issuer. Wells Fargo, Li and
CFA believed that a uniform definition
would make compliance more effective
and less costly. Li, Full Life, GFOA and
Edward Jones also supported a standard
definition created by the MSRB with the
option provided to issuers to create their
own definition.
Comments: Divergent Views of
‘‘Retail:’’ Many commenters proffered
specific proposals regarding definitions
of retail that should be considered by
the MSRB.22 Some commenters favored
a more limited definition that would
include only individuals (i.e., natural
persons) while others would include
orders from a trust department or
registered investment advisor acting on
behalf of a specifically identifiable
natural person. Still others were either
in favor of or against including mutual
funds as ‘‘retail’’ customers. A few
commenters offered arguments on
behalf of or against the size of the
customer order or locality of the
customer as appropriate criteria for
‘‘retail.’’
MSRB Response: The current MSRB
rules do not contain a definition of a
‘‘retail’’ customer and the MSRB has
declined to create a definition in the
proposed rule change in part because of
concerns that an MSRB definition of
‘‘retail’’ may unduly influence certain
issuers regarding the scope of eligible
customers for a retail order period. The
MSRB believes that issuers should
designate the eligibility criteria for their
retail order period on an issue-by-issue
basis and issuers should have the
flexibility to choose the criteria that best
suits their unique circumstances even if
this option results in lack of uniformity
in the marketplace or challenges in
compliance. As an alternative to a
model MSRB definition, the MSRB
believes that it is preferable to develop
educational materials concerning retail
21 CFA, Edward Jones, Full Life, GFOA, ICI, Li,
NAIPFA, and Wells Fargo.
22 Dorsey, Edward Jones, FPA, Full Life, ICI,
NAIPFA, Vanguard, and Wells Fargo.
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order periods that would assist issuers
in selecting their own definition. The
MSRB can work with issuers and
industry groups to develop model
definitions and other best practices
which would address this issue without
the imprimatur of being a regulatory
standard.
Communications Relating to Issuer
Requirements
Comments: CFA supported the need
for better and honest communication
between various parties involved in the
initial sale of municipal securities to
investors. Full Life supported the
proposals in principal, in particular
requiring syndicate managers to
disseminate timely notice of issuer
requirements to all dealers, including
selling group members.
MSRB Response: The MSRB
appreciates these comments.
Comments: SIFMA was supportive of
the timing in the current rule which
requires the dissemination of
information ‘‘prior to the first offer of
any securities. . . .’’ SIFMA stated that
among the terms and conditions
required by the issuer related to the
retail order period would be any time
parameters for which the retail order
period would be conducted. SIFMA
stated that this information is especially
important to dealers contacting
customers with non-discretionary
accounts. GFOA was supportive of a
specific time frame in which the
syndicate manager must provide issuer
terms and conditions for the retail order
period to other dealers.
MSRB Response: The MSRB is
appreciative of SIFMA’s comments. The
MSRB does not agree that it is
appropriate to impose a fixed time
frame on dealers in a rule because of
concerns that such a requirement could
have unintended consequences. For
example, it could hamper the marketing
of a transaction if an issuer determines
that an offering must come to market
quickly.
Length of the Retail Order Period
Comments: Full Life said that the
length of a retail order period should be
sufficiently long to fulfill the issuer’s
intent. Full Life and Dorsey said that it
should afford a genuine opportunity for
retail investor participation. FPA stated
that the period should be meaningful—
it should be sufficiently long to allow an
individual investor to make an informed
decision.
Two commenters recommended that
either the MSRB or the syndicate should
fix the length of the retail order period.
Dorsey said that the syndicate should
specify a time reasonably sensible in
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39043
length and should include the pricing
structure. NAIPFA suggested that the
MSRB establish a fixed timeframe for
the retail order period.
Edward Jones recommended that
‘‘meaningful notice of the retail order
period’’ would include 24-hour notice
with preliminary pricing terms (e.g.,
coupon, maturity, price and yield that
an individual retail investor could use
to form a reasoned investment decision)
before the retail order period is to begin.
Edward Jones suggested that an
adequate retail order period should
include a minimum of a full trading day
with the issuer having the opportunity
to extend the retail order period beyond
a single trading day. Edward Jones
supported a ‘‘full day retail order
period’’ even if an institutional order
period runs concurrently for some
portion of the day.
MSRB Response: The MSRB believes
that the current rule should not be
revised because an issuer should retain
control over the issuance process which
includes the ability to adjust the length
of time for the retail order period to suit
its needs or market conditions.
Representations and Required
Disclosures About Each Order
Comments: GFOA was supportive of
the requirement to provide additional
information about each order. NAIPFA
was also supportive and believed it
would be beneficial to issuers because it
would allow issuers to better assess the
effectiveness of their underwriter’s
ability to sell the issuers’ securities as
well as the underwriter’s adherence to
the issuers’ instructions and also may
help curtail flipping. Li said that details
regarding the order could possibly be
required by the senior manager to be
communicated during the order process
not just afterwards in order to prevent
inadvertent misrepresentations. RIHEBC
stated that it already requires much of
the same information listed in the
proposed rule change in order for it to
judge the performance of the senior
manager and co-managers.
MSRB Response: The MSRB
appreciates these comments.
Comments: Alamo and BDA generally
did not support the additional
disclosures about each order because it
would be an unreasonable
administrative burden, costly and
inconsistent. BDA said that the
requirements are particularly
burdensome in cases in which the
dealer obtains large numbers of retail
orders during retail order periods. BDA
stated that burdens on dealers could
have unintended consequences for
everyone and perhaps discourage the
practice of retail order periods
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altogether and this can hurt issuers and
retail investors. BDA suggested that, at
most, dealers should comply with
requirements of issuers to document or
represent that they have complied with
retail order period requirements. Melton
said that required detailed disclosures
regarding each order is inconsistent
with permitting issuers to define retail
and may not be completely necessary.
MSRB Response: The MSRB believes
that the additional required disclosures
will provide important information to
the issuer. The MSRB understands that
it is not uncommon for certain
experienced issuers already to demand
this additional information about
orders. The MSRB believes it is essential
to require the type of information
contained in the rule because some
issuers may not be sufficiently
knowledgeable to ask for it or have
appropriate leverage. Moreover, even
when issuers have requested this
information be gathered, it may not have
been provided to them prior to the
execution of the bond purchase
agreement; this deadline is important so
that the senior syndicate manager has
all of the information it will need before
committing the underwriters to the
purchase of the bonds and before it
allocates a share of securities to each
dealer. In addition, one of the benefits
of requiring written representations and
disclosures is that it should help to
minimize the likelihood of inadvertent
misrepresentations related to whether or
not a particular order meets the issuer’s
designated eligibility criteria.
Comments: SIFMA said that the
representation that an order meets the
issuer’s definition of retail is more
appropriate for the master Agreement
Among Underwriters (AAU). Rather
than providing the information about
each order, the MSRB could provide
that a dealer is deemed to have made
the required representations by virtue of
submitting an order during a retail order
period or the representations can be
made in the AAU or Selling Group
Agreement (SGA), and that, therefore, it
is not necessary for the representation to
be made separately for each order
submitted during the retail order period.
MSRB Response: SIFMA may wish to
revise its standard form of AAU or SGA
in support of the proposed rule change
and the MSRB would be supportive of
any agreement which seeks to bind
members of the syndicate or selling
group to honor the issuer’s intentions.
However, compliance with MSRB rules
should stand independent of private
agreements between parties.
Comment: Melton noted privacy
concerns that may have led the MSRB
to require dealers to identify customers
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without providing names and social
security numbers. Dorsey and Edward
Jones supported the required disclosure
of zip codes to support retail priority as
adequate and stated this should be
adopted as an industry standard
practice. Edward Jones suggested that
the MSRB revise the proposal to limit
the identifying information that the
issuer may require. Edward Jones also
suggested that an issuer should not be
allowed to require dealers to provide
customer account numbers, addresses,
phone numbers or tax identification
numbers. SIFMA said the rule should
specify that any identifying information
required by the issuer may not include
customer account numbers, names or
taxpayer identification numbers.
MSRB Response: Certain issuers have
said to the MSRB that it would be
helpful to have additional tools to verify
orders. The MSRB believes that, if there
are legitimate customer privacy
protection issues associated with a
specific request, particularly as it relates
to certain identifying information or
account numbers, an issuer may be
amenable to allowing a dealer to
truncate numbers before submission.
The MSRB is aware that zip codes are
often requested by issuers and usually
provided by dealers in support of
evidence that an order is from an
individual or that the order is from a
customer from a particular locality. Both
issuers and dealers have acknowledged
that it is easy to supply a zip code for
a residential area and ‘‘claim’’ that it
belongs to the order.
Comment: SIFMA also recommended
that the MSRB create a safe harbor for
senior syndicate managers so that senior
managers would satisfy their own fair
dealing obligations to the issuer when
relying on representations made to them
by other dealers that any orders
submitted are retail orders.
MSRB Response: The MSRB agrees
that a senior syndicate manager should,
subject to certain exceptions, be entitled
to rely on the information furnished by
another dealer. However, the MSRB
believes that a senior syndicate manager
would not be entitled to rely on the
information if the senior syndicate
manager knows, or has reason to know,
that the information is not true or
accurate.
Recordkeeping
Comments: GFOA supported the new
recordkeeping requirements on
syndicate managers. SIFMA said that
the proposed amendments requiring the
syndicate members to keep such records
are not warranted as they would be
duplicative of recordkeeping
requirements already imposed upon
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dealers. Edward Jones sought
clarification as to whether the
recordkeeping requirements applied to a
sole managed deal, i.e., a deal where
there is no syndicate.
MSRB Response: The MSRB does not
agree that proposed revisions to the
recordkeeping requirements would be
duplicative of recordkeeping
requirements already imposed on
dealers. Rule G–8(a)(vii) provides that
the dealer keep a record of the
customer’s order in the event of a
purchase or sale of municipal securities
(so that a record of orders need not be
retained if the order is not filled).
Existing Rule G–8(a)(viii) requires that
the records of all orders received
(regardless of whether an order is filled)
be maintained by the syndicate
manager. The proposed rule change is
necessary so that the additional
information that must be provided by
the senior syndicate manager or by each
dealer as a result of the amendments to
Rule G–11 will be retained in the
centralized file maintained by the
syndicate manager. The MSRB agrees
and the proposed rule change applies to
recordkeeping requirements in the case
of a sole managed deal.
Comment: SIFMA said that dealers
should not be required to share
customer specific information with
syndicate managers, and that it would
be more appropriate (and should be
sufficient for recordkeeping and
enforcement purposes) that these
customer order details remain with the
dealer that maintains the customer
relationship.
MSRB Response: The MSRB disagrees
for the reasons stated above. Issuers will
benefit from having access to customer
specific information to verify orders and
examinations will likely be more
efficient due to centralized
recordkeeping.
Revisions to Rule G–32 To Indicate That
a Transaction Included a Retail Order
Period
Comments: SIFMA and Full Life
supported the proposed revisions to
Rule G–32. Full Life said that it
provides an opportunity for regulatory
oversight essential to fostering
administration of bona fide retail order
periods that actually result in retail
participation. SIFMA also
recommended that the dates and times
of any retail order period be reported to
EMMA.
MSRB Response: The MSRB
appreciates these comments. The MSRB
agrees with SIFMA’s recommendation
and it is reflected in the proposed rule
change to Rule G–32.
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Additional Rulemaking Regarding Retail
Order Periods
Comment: SIFMA stated that the G–
17 Underwriters’ Notice has adequately
addressed the concerns regarding retail
order periods so that additional
rulemaking is not necessary.
MSRB Response: The MSRB considers
the G–17 Underwriters’ Notice as an
important step towards improving
practices in this area but it did not
address all of the issues associated with
retail order periods. More specific,
concrete requirements in the proposed
rule change should assist in compliance.
For example, the G–17 Underwriters’
Notice does not address many of the
issues associated with recordkeeping.
The proposed rule change also will
support efforts by the issuer and the
syndicate manager to audit orders.
Alternatives to Rulemaking
Comment: BDA suggested that if the
MSRB produces educational materials,
they should include specific guidance
practices that issuers should consider in
formulating effective retail order period
rules. BDA recommended that issuers
reserve the right to conduct an audit of
compliance by the syndicate of retail
order period rules. GFOA recommended
that the MSRB seek to establish some
type of protocol or system so that the
issuer can have some comfort that retail
orders meet the preset criteria set by the
issuer.
MSRB Response: The MSRB would
consider working with issuer trade
associations on best practices which
may address these issues.
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Other Comments
Comment: Combined Order Periods:
Vanguard said that all interested
investors should be permitted to submit
orders for municipal securities in the
primary market and no priority should
be given to retail orders, and that issuers
would benefit from more accurate price
discovery.
MSRB Response: The MSRB does not
wish to substitute its judgment in place
of that of issuers who manage their debt
issuances. Issuers may choose to
conduct combined order periods and
the proposed rule change does not
prevent them from doing so.
Comment: Definition of Selling Group:
SIFMA suggested the definition of
selling group be limited to those dealers
that sign an SGA or substantially similar
agreements for a particular new issue of
municipal securities.
MSRB Response: The MSRB does not
wish to define selling group by
reference to an agreement which may
not be executed in all cases, although
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the MSRB recognizes that it may be
customary practice for selling group
members to execute an SGA. In
addition, duties of selling group
members and the duties of syndicate
managers to selling group members
should apply to a dealer in a selling
group even if for some reason it does not
become a party to an SGA since to
provide otherwise might have the
unintended consequence of subverting
the intent of Rule G–11 to apply to all
dealers.
Comments: Definition of Going Away
Orders: SIFMA suggested that the term
going away order has not been
previously defined under MSRB rules.
Li included recommendations to
address flipping.
MSRB Response: The term going away
order was defined in an approval order
concerning a previous revision to Rule
G–11.23 The proposed rule change was
not directed at concerns related to
flipping.
Comments: Interpretive Guidance
related to Duties of All Dealers Placing
Orders in Retail Order Periods and Fair
Pricing: Wells Fargo suggested that the
proposed guidance created a
compliance challenge for firms, making
almost any pricing difference subject to
the whims and vagaries of which person
is viewing the pricing and its fairness.
SIFMA, BDA and Edward Jones raised
concerns related to differential pricing
between retail and institutional
investors seeking specific examples of
the characteristics of the securities that
may fairly justify differences in pricing.
SIFMA recommended that the MSRB
clarify that the specific examples
provided are not an exhaustive list and
acknowledge that market conditions
could shift within a day. GFOA
suggested that the MSRB revise the
interpretive guidance to state that price
differences between the retail order
period and the later institutional order
period do not per se create an
assumption of lack of fair dealing.
BDA found that revisions to the
guidance provided a helpful discussion
of how prices and yields may
legitimately differ on sales of the same
security. Wells Fargo suggested that
retail and institutional orders should
not receive different pricing and Full
Life was supportive of guidance that
would discourage differences in pricing
as between retail and institutional
investors in the new issue market.
GFOA and NAIPFA were not supportive
of the guidance as it related to fair
pricing because of concerns that it
23 See Securities Exchange Act Release 34–62715
(August 13, 2010); 75 FR 51128 (August 18, 2010);
File No. SR–MSRB 2009–17.
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39045
would hurt issuers and, in the longterm, retail customers may be forced
from the market.
MSRB Response: The MSRB is not
proposing to issue additional guidance
related to fair pricing at this time. The
MSRB most recently issued guidance on
the issue of fair pricing to individual
clients in 2009.24 The comments
received on retail order periods and the
Board’s study of such programs does not
establish a basis for additional pricing
guidance at this time. In particular, that
MSRB is mindful that any guidance
should be grounded from further study
and analysis and should consider the
extent to which pricing differentials
may affect an issuer’s willingness to use
a retail order period. As the MSRB
continues to promote price transparency
in the primary market, new issue
pricing practices will be monitored to
ascertain whether additional guidance is
warranted.
Topics Related to Primary Offerings But
Beyond the Scope of the Proposed Rule
Change
Comment: Takedown: Full Life
suggested that the MSRB should
discourage consideration of disparity in
takedown as influencing dealers’
motivation to exhibit greater effort to
secure institutional customers versus
retail.
MSRB Response: The MSRB
appreciates this comment but believes
that at this time the MSRB should direct
its rulemaking efforts towards ensuring
that dealers submit orders only from
retail customers.
Comment: Disclosures of Sales by
Underwriters Following the End of the
Underwriting Period: Li requested that
the MSRB consider promulgating a rule
requiring disclosure to issuers of sales
for a period of time (perhaps seven
days) following the end of the
underwriting period. Li believed that
this might allow the issuer to identify
any pricing problems and support fair
dealing.
MSRB Response: The MSRB
appreciates this comment and will
consider whether additional rulemaking
is appropriate, but views this comment
as outside the scope of the proposed
rule change on retail order periods.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Within 45 days of the date of
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register or within such longer period of
up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may
designate if it finds such longer period
24 See
E:\FR\FM\28JNN1.SGM
the Sales Practice Notice.
28JNN1
39046
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 125 / Friday, June 28, 2013 / Notices
to be appropriate and publishes its
reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which
the self-regulatory organization
consents, the Commission will:
(A) By order approve or disapprove
such proposed rule change, or
(B) Institute proceedings to determine
whether the proposed rule change
should be disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–MSRB–2013–05 on the
subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street NE., Washington, DC
20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–MSRB–2013–05. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if email is used. To help the
Commission process and review your
comments more efficiently, please use
only one method. The Commission will
post all comments on the Commission’s
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
submission, all subsequent
amendments, all written statements
with respect to the proposed rule
change that are filed with the
Commission, and all written
communications relating to the
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than
those that may be withheld from the
public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
available for Web site viewing and
printing in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, on official
business days between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
office of the MSRB. All comments
received will be posted without change;
the Commission does not edit personal
identifying information from
submissions. You should submit only
information that you wish to make
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:17 Jun 27, 2013
Jkt 229001
available publicly. All submissions
should refer to File Number SR–MSRB–
2013–05 and should be submitted on or
before July 19, 2013.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.25
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013–15492 Filed 6–27–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–69837; File No. SR–BX–
2013–036]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Order
Approving a Proposed Rule Change
for Permanent Approval of a Pilot To
Permit BX Options To Accept Inbound
Options Orders From NASDAQ OMX
PHLX LLC and NASDAQ Options
Market
June 24, 2013.
I. Introduction
On May 7, 2013, NASDAQ OMX BX,
Inc. (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BX’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to Section
19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4
thereunder,2 a proposed rule change
requesting permanent approval of the
Exchange’s pilot program that permits
the BX Options System to accept
inbound orders routed by Nasdaq
Options Services LLC (‘‘NOS’’) from the
NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (‘‘PHLX’’)
and The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC’s
NASDAQ Options Market (‘‘NOM’’).
The proposed rule change was
published for comment in the Federal
Register on May 21, 2013.3 The
Commission received no comment
letters regarding the proposed rule
change. This order approves the
proposed rule change.
II. Background
BX Rule 2140(a) prohibits the
Exchange or any entity with which it is
affiliated from, directly or indirectly,
acquiring or maintaining an ownership
interest in, or engaging in a business
venture with, an Exchange member or
an affiliate of an Exchange member in
the absence of an effective filing under
25 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 69576
(May 15, 2013), 78 FR 29795 (‘‘Notice’’).
1 15
PO 00000
Frm 00135
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Section 19(b) of the Act.4 NOS is a
registered broker-dealer that is a
member of the Exchange, and currently
provides to members of NASDAQ Stock
Market LLC (‘‘NASDAQ’’) and PHLX
optional routing services to other
markets.5 NOS is owned by NASDAQ
OMX Group, Inc. (‘‘NASDAQ OMX’’),
which also owns three registered
securities exchanges—the Exchange, the
NASDAQ and PHLX.6 Thus, NOS is an
affiliate of these exchanges.7 Absent an
effective filing, BX Rule 2140(a) would
prohibit NOS from being a member of
the Exchange. The Commission initially
approved NOS’s affiliation with BX in
connection with NASDAQ OMX’s
acquisition of BX,8 and NOS currently
performs certain limited activities for
the Exchange.9
On May 1, 2012, BX filed a proposed
rule change to permit the Exchange to
accept inbound orders that NOS routes
in its capacity as a facility of NASDAQ
and PHLX on a pilot basis subject to
certain limitations and conditions.10 On
May 7, 2013, the Exchange filed the
instant proposal to allow the Exchange
to accept such orders routed inbound by
NOS from NASDAQ and PHLX on a
permanent basis subject to certain
limitations and conditions.11
III. Discussion and Commission
Findings
After careful review, the Commission
finds that the proposed rule change is
consistent with the requirements of the
Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder applicable to a national
4 15 U.S.C. 78s(b). BX Rule 2140(a) also prohibits
a BX member from being or becoming an affiliate
of BX, or an affiliate of an entity affiliated with BX,
in the absence of an effective filing under Section
19(b). See BX Rule 2140(a)(2).
5 NOS operates as a facility of both Phlx and
NASDAQ that provides outbound routing from Phlx
and NOM to other market centers, subject to certain
conditions. See Phlx Rule 1080(m) and NASDAQ
Options Rules, Chapter VI, Sec. 11 (Order Routing).
6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58324
(August 7, 2008), 73 FR 46936 (August 12, 2008)
(SR–BSE–2008–02; SR–BSE–2008–23; SR–BSE–
2008–25; SR–BSECC–2008–01) (order approving
NASDAQ OMX’s acquisition of BX) (‘‘BX
Acquisition Order’’). See also Securities Exchange
Act Release 58179 (July 17, 2008), 73 FR 42874
(July 23, 2008) (SR–Phlx–2008–31) (order approving
NASDAQ OMX’s acquisition of PHLX).
7 See id. See also Notice, 78 FR 29795.
8 See BX Acquisition Order, 73 FR 46944.
9 See, e.g., BX Options Rules, Chapter VI, Sec. 11
(Order Routing). See also Securities Exchange Act
Release No. 67256 (June 26, 2012), 77 FR 39277
(July 2, 2012) (SR–BX–2012–030) (‘‘BX Options
Order’’).
10 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66983
(May 14, 2012), 77 FR 29730 (May 18, 2012 (notice
of proposed rule change to establish BX Options
market and allow, among other things, BX to accept
inbound orders from NASDAQ and PHLX on a oneyear pilot basis).
11 See Notice, 78 FR 29795–29796.
E:\FR\FM\28JNN1.SGM
28JNN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 125 (Friday, June 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39038-39046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15492]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-69834; File No. SR-MSRB-2013-05]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Municipal Securities Rulemaking
Board; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend MSRB Rules
G-8, G-11 and G-32 To Include Provisions Specifically Tailored for
Retail Order Periods
June 24, 2013.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the ``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given
that on June 17, 2013, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (the
``MSRB'' or ``Board'') filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as
described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared
by the MSRB. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The MSRB is filing with the Commission a proposed rule change
consisting of amendments to MSRB Rules G-8, G-11 and G-32, and
conforming changes to Form G-32 (the ``proposed rule change'').
The text of the proposed rule change is available on the MSRB's Web
site at www.msrb.org/Rules-and-Interpretations/SEC-Filings/2013-Filings.aspx, at the MSRB's principal office, and at the Commission's
Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the MSRB included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in
Item IV below. The MSRB has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections
A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The proposed rule change amends Rules G-8, G-11 and G-32 to include
provisions specifically tailored for retail order periods. These
provisions will establish basic protections for issuers and customers
and provide additional tools to assist with the administration and
examinations of retail order period requirements, as further described
below under ``Summary of Proposed Rule Change'' and under ``Discussion
of Comments.''
The MSRB previously issued guidance to dealers on the subject of
retail order periods. In 2010, the MSRB stated that Rule G-17 requires
an underwriter to follow an issuer's directions in any applicable
retail order period.\3\ Most recently, the MSRB stated that fair
dealing requires an underwriter to take reasonable steps to ensure that
retail clients are bona fide; that an underwriter that knowingly
accepts an order that has been improperly designated as a retail order
violates Rule G-17; and that a dealer placing a non-qualifying order
under a retail order period violates Rule G-17.\4\ In that same notice,
the MSRB indicated that it will continue to monitor retail order period
practices to ensure that they are conducted in a fair and orderly
manner consistent with the intent of the issuer and the MSRB's investor
protection mandate. The proposed rule change reflects the MSRB's
determination that additional rulemaking in this area is necessary and
appropriate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See MSRB Notice 2010-26 (August 15, 2010).
\4\ See MSRB Notice 2012-25 (May 7, 2012) (the ``G-17
Underwriters' Notice'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The MSRB believes that the proposed rule change is necessary in
consideration of its mandate to protect municipal entities and
investors. The proposed rule change addresses
[[Page 39039]]
concerns related to retail order periods presented from issuers,
dealers, and municipal advisors. Those concerns include the
mischaracterization of orders as ``retail'' and the failure of
syndicate managers to disseminate timely notice of the terms and
conditions of a retail order period to all dealers, including selling
group members,\5\ or that pricing information that had been requested
was not delivered or had not been delivered in sufficient time to allow
for communication with the requesting dealer's ``retail'' customers to
determine whether the investor would like to purchase the bonds.\6\
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\5\ In some cases the length of a retail order period may be
less than five hours.
\6\ In some jurisdictions, it is not common practice to
advertise the issuer's intention to conduct retail order periods on
the radio, television or in the newspaper to inform the investing
public of upcoming issuances and terms related to a retail order
period. Advertisements to notify the investing public of retail
order periods in connection with primary offerings of municipal
securities can be very expensive and often issuers do not wish to
incur this cost or reimburse dealers for this expense.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To address these concerns, the proposed rule change establishes
specific obligations on the senior syndicate manager to disseminate to
the syndicate and selling group members detailed information about the
terms and conditions of any retail order period. The proposed rule
change also requires dealers to capture certain additional information
in connection with orders placed under a retail order period designed
to ensure that such orders are from bona fide retail customers. In
addition, the MSRB proposes to increase transparency for regulators
regarding the use of retail order periods by amending Form G-32 to
require an underwriter to report to the Electronic Municipal Market
Access (EMMA[supreg]) \7\ system when a retail order period was
conducted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ EMMA is a registered trademark of the MSRB.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The MSRB proposed, but thereafter reconsidered a decision to issue
interpretive guidance related to Rules G-17 and G-30 in connection with
the proposed rule change. The proposed interpretive guidance, among
other things, emphasized that during a retail order period, an issuer
may require underwriters to make a bona fide public offering to retail
customers at the initial offering price for the securities, either
directly or through other dealers, and that dealers must follow the
issuer's instructions for retail order periods. The particular
statement that a duty of fair dealing includes following an issuer's
instructions for retail order periods is inherent in a rule on fair
dealing, and, as mentioned earlier, was recently addressed in the G-17
Underwriters' Notice.
The proposed guidance also addressed pricing differentials,
including that large differences between institutional and individual
prices that exceed the price/yield variance that normally applies to
transactions of different sizes in the primary market provide evidence
that the duty of fair pricing to individual clients may not have been
met. This statement repeated guidance previously provided by the
MSRB.\8\ The discussion that followed sought to apply that previously
articulated guidance to a few specific factual scenarios but did not
provide any analysis or guidance that did not fairly and reasonably
flow from the MSRB's prior guidance. As discussed below, the limited
scope of the discussion and the perception that only those items
discussed would justify a pricing differential was of concern to some
commenters. The thrust of this proposed rule change is to provide
mechanisms by which issuers can have greater assurance that a dealer
has, when directed to do so by the issuer, made a bona fide public
offering of the securities to retail customers at their initial
offering prices, as well as provide regulators with enhanced
information to monitor the activities of dealers participating in
retail order periods. A further discussion for the reasons the MSRB has
not included the interpretive guidance is set forth below under ``Self-
Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule
Change Received from Members, Participants, or Others.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ See Guidance of Disclosure and Other Sales Practice
Obligations to Individual and Other Retail Investors in Municipal
Securities (July 14, 2009) (the ``Sales Practice Notice'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The MSRB proposes to establish two separate implementation dates
for the proposed rule change. The amendments to Rules G-11 and G-8, the
core of the proposal, would be implemented six months after the SEC
approval date to allow dealers sufficient time to make necessary
software or systems modifications. It also would allow time for the
MSRB to create educational materials, host webinars and conduct
outreach to the dealer and issuer communities, as appropriate,
regarding the new rules.
The second implementation date would relate to the amendments to
Rule G-32 that require syndicate managers or sole underwriters to
designate to EMMA whether a retail order period was conducted. The
implementation date would be not later than March 31, 2014, or such
earlier date to be announced by the MSRB in a notice published on the
MSRB Web site with at least a thirty day advance notification prior to
the effective date. This time frame would allow for the MSRB to design
an automated system for dealers to report to the EMMA system. It would
include approximately six months of lead time for Rule G-32 submitters
to design automated interfaces and allow time for both Rule G-32
submitters and FINRA to test all of these changes.
Certain proposed rule changes are intended to be clarifying changes
only and are not related to retail order periods, as further described
below under ``Summary of Proposed Rule Change.''
Summary of Proposed Rule Change
Rule G-11
MSRB Rule G-11 addresses syndicate practices and management of the
syndicate, and among other things, requires syndicates to establish
priorities for different categories of orders and requires certain
disclosures to syndicate members, which are intended to assure that
allocations are made in accordance with those priorities.
The proposed addition of provisions addressing retail order periods
necessitates several new definitions in Rule G-11. First, the term
``retail order period'' is defined in subparagraph (a)(vii) to mean an
order period during which solely going away orders will be solicited
solely from customers that meet the issuer's designated eligibility
criteria. Second, the term ``going away order'' is defined in
subparagraph (a)(xii) to mean an order for which a customer is already
conditionally committed. Third, the term ``selling group'' is defined
in subparagraph (a)(xiii) to mean a group of brokers, dealers, or
municipal securities dealers formed for the purpose of assisting in the
distribution of a new issue of municipal securities for the issuer
other than members of the syndicate. Selling groups are sometimes
included by issuers in the distribution of new issues of municipal
securities to expand the distribution channel beyond the customers of
syndicate members.
Rule G-11(f) requires that the senior syndicate manager furnish in
writing to the other members of the syndicate a written statement of
all terms and conditions required by the issuer. The proposed rule
change expands these requirements to require expressly that such
written statement must be delivered to selling group members and that
the statement must include all of
[[Page 39040]]
the issuer's retail order period terms and conditions and pricing
information. The proposed rule change further requires that an
underwriter furnish each dealer with which it has an arrangement to
market the issuer's securities all of the information provided by the
senior syndicate manager.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ This arrangement, commonly referred to as a ``distribution
or marketing agreement,'' is used by some firms to enhance the
firm's ability to ``reach'' retail customers, such as in the case
where a firm does not have a significant retail distribution
network. Under the proposed rule change, the onus to furnish the
information is placed on the underwriter that has entered into such
arrangement, rather than the senior syndicate manager, to circulate
this information because the senior syndicate manager may not be
aware that a given syndicate member has entered into this type of
arrangement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule G-11(f) also provides that if a senior syndicate manager
prepares the statement of all of the terms and conditions required by
the issuer (including those related to the issuer's retail order period
requirements), the statement must be provided to the issuer. The
proposed rule change adds the requirement to obtain the approval of the
issuer of any statement prepared by the senior syndicate manager. This
approval must be secured in all cases and is not solely limited to
those instances when a retail order period is conducted. The MSRB
believes that it is important to ensure that an issuer is aware of, and
agrees with, any requirements imposed on the syndicate and selling
group members in its name.
New paragraph (k) requires any dealer placing an order during a
retail order period to provide certain information to assist in the
determination that such order is a bona fide retail order.
Specifically, the order must provide (i) Whether the order met the
issuer's eligibility criteria for participation in the retail order
period; (ii) whether the order was a going away order; (iii) whether
the dealer received more than one order from a single customer for a
security for which the same CUSIP number has been assigned; (iv) any
identifying information required by the issuer, or the senior syndicate
manager on the issuer's behalf, in connection with such retail order
(but not including customer names or social security numbers); and (v)
the par amount of the order. This information must be submitted no
later than the Time of Formal Award (as defined in Rule G-
34(a)(ii)(C)(1)(a)), and may be part of the order submitted to the
senior syndicate manager through an electronic order entry system.
Because a senior syndicate manager generally would not have independent
knowledge of the details of an order placed on behalf of another
dealer's customer, the proposed rule change provides that the senior
syndicate manager may rely on the information furnished by such dealer,
unless the senior syndicate manager knows, or has reason to know, that
the information is not true, accurate or complete.
Rule G-8
Under Rule G-8(a)(viii)(A), for each primary offering for which a
syndicate has been formed for the purchase of municipal securities, the
syndicate manager shall maintain a variety of records which show: the
description and aggregate par value of the securities; the name and
percentage of participation of each member of the syndicate; the terms
and conditions governing the formation and operation of the syndicate;
a statement of all terms and conditions required by the issuer
(including whether there was a retail order period and the issuer's
definition of ``retail,'' if applicable); all orders received for the
purchase of the securities from the syndicate; \10\ all allotments of
the securities and the price at which sold; those instances in which
the syndicate manager allocated securities in a manner other than in
accordance with the priority provisions, including those instances in
which the syndicate manager accorded equal or greater priority over
other orders to orders by syndicate members for their own accounts or
their respective related accounts and the specific reason for doing so;
the date and amount of any good faith deposit made to the issuer; the
date of settlement with the issuer; the date of closing of the account;
and a reconciliation of profits and expenses of the account. The
proposed rule change to Rule G-8(a)(viii)(A) would add to the
documentation that must be maintained in the files of the syndicate
manager all orders received for the purchase of the securities from the
selling group; the information required by Rule G-11(k) and all pricing
information distributed pursuant to Rule G-11(f). Such changes will
facilitate review by the examining authorities of all of the records
related to a primary offering from files maintained by one underwriter
\11\ (which is more efficient) rather than a review of the files of
each dealer that participates in the primary offering. The proposed
rule change to Rule G-8(a)(viii)(A) (and the identical provision found
in subsection (B)) reflects a change in phraseology. The parenthetical
would be revised in each case to delete the reference to ``whether
there was a retail order period and the issuer's definition of retail''
and to replace it with ``those of any retail order period.'' This part
of proposed rule change is not intended to be a substantive change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ See Rule G-8(a)(vii) relating to dealer records for
principal transactions. Dealers are not required to retain records
related to customer orders unless an order has been filled. The
requirement in the rule for a memorandum of the transaction
including a record of the customer's order applies only in the event
such purchase or sale occurs with the customer.
\11\ Records related to a successful primary offering are
required to be maintained for a period of not less than six years.
See Rule G-9(a)(iv).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under Rule G-8(a)(viii)(B), for each primary offering for which a
syndicate has not been formed for the purchase of municipal securities,
the sole underwriter shall maintain a variety of records which show:
the description and aggregate par value of the securities; all terms
and conditions required by the issuer (including whether there was a
retail order period and the issuer's definition of ``retail,'' if
applicable); all orders received for the purchase of the securities
from the underwriter; all allotments of the securities and the price at
which sold; those instances in which the underwriter accorded equal or
greater priority over other orders to orders for its own account or its
related accounts and the specific reason for doing so; the date and
amount of any good faith deposit made to the issuer; and the date of
settlement with the issuer. The proposed rule change to Rule G-
8(a)(viii)(B) would add to the documentation that must be maintained in
the files of the sole underwriter the information required by Rule G-
11(k).
Rule G-32
Generally, Rule G-32(b) provides detailed requirements for
underwriters submitting documents or disclosure-related information to
EMMA. Rule G-32(b)(vi)(C)(1)(a) provides that an underwriter must
submit data such as CUSIP numbers, initial offering prices or yields,
if applicable, the expected closing date for the transaction and
whether the issuer or other obligated persons have agreed to undertake
to provide continuing disclosure information as contemplated by
Securities Exchange Act Rule 15c2-12. The proposed rule change to Rule
G-32(b)(vi)(C)(1)(a) adds to the data that must be submitted a
requirement that the underwriter report to the EMMA system (for solely
regulatory purposes) whether a primary offering of securities included
a retail order period and each
[[Page 39041]]
date and time (beginning and end)\12\ it was conducted.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ All times would be required to be reported as Eastern Time
to be consistent, for example, with the requirement to report time
of trade under Rule G-14 as Eastern Time.
\13\ Under the proposed rule change, the underwriter would be
required to report to EMMA that a retail order period has occurred
by no later than the closing date of the transaction. Under Rule G-
32(b)(vi)(C)(1)(a), Form G-32 submissions shall be ``initiated on or
prior to the date of first execution . . . '' The ``date of first
execution'' is defined in Rule G-32(d)(xi) and, for purposes of this
report, is deemed to occur by no later than the closing date.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miscellaneous Clarifying Changes Unrelated to Retail Order Periods
Rule G-11(h)(i) provides that discretionary fees for clearance
costs to be imposed by a syndicate manager and management fees shall be
disclosed to the syndicate members prior to submission of a bid. The
proposed rule change would require the syndicate manager specifically
to disclose to each syndicate member the amount of any discretionary
fees for clearance costs or any management fees imposed by the
syndicate manager. The proposed rule change addresses concerns that
certain syndicate managers failed to disclose the amount of such fees.
Rule G-32(a) provides requirements for the disclosure to customers
of certain information in connection with primary offerings of
municipal securities. Rule G-32(a)(i) provides, among other
requirements, that no broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer
shall sell, whether as a principal or agent, any offered securities to
a customer unless such dealer delivers to the customer a copy of the
official statement. The proposed rule change amends Rule G-32(a)(i) to
clarify that all dealers, not just underwriters, are subject to the
official statement delivery requirement of the rule during the primary
offering disclosure period. This proposed change codifies the MSRB's
long-standing position and would promote consistent application and
reduce the number of interpretive questions surrounding this
requirement.
Rule G-32(b)(v) provides that in the event a syndicate or similar
account has been formed for the underwriting of a primary offering, the
managing underwriter shall take the actions required under the
provisions of the rule and shall also comply with the recordkeeping
requirements of Rule G-8(a)(xiii)(B). Subsection (B) of Rule G-
8(a)(xiii) addresses the recordkeeping requirements in the case of a
primary offering in which a syndicate has not been formed. The proposed
rule change would delete the reference to such recordkeeping
requirements because the cross reference to ``(B)'' is incorrect.
2. Statutory Basis
The MSRB believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 15B(b)(2)(C) of the Act,\14\ which provides that the MSRB's
rules shall:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-4(b)(2)(C).
be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to
foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in
regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect
to, and facilitating transactions in municipal securities and
municipal financial products, to remove impediments to and perfect
the mechanism of a free and open market in municipal securities and
municipal financial products, and, in general, to protect investors,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
municipal entities, obligated persons, and the public interest.
The proposed rule change is consistent with Section 15B(b)(2)(C) of
the Act. As summarized above, the proposed rule change protects, among
others, investors and municipal entities by establishing certain basic
regulatory standards to support the use of retail order periods. It
would prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices by
requiring additional representations and disclosures to support whether
the orders placed during a retail order period meet the eligibility
criteria for retail orders established by issuers. It also provides
enhanced recordkeeping to assist regulators in determining whether the
requirements of Rule G-11 are being met. By ensuring that a syndicate
manager must communicate an issuer's requirements for the retail order
period and other syndicate information to all dealers, including
selling group members, the proposed rule change should also foster
cooperation and coordination among all dealers engaged in the marketing
and sale of new issue municipal securities. In addition, the proposed
rule change should minimize the opportunities for misrepresentation of
orders as ``retail orders'' by requiring that certain information about
each order is submitted in writing to the syndicate manager or sole
underwriter in sufficient time so that the information can be examined
by issuers and their financial advisors before bonds are allocated to
dealers.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The MSRB does not believe that the proposed rule change would
impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The MSRB solicited comment on
the potential burdens of the proposed rule change in the most recent
request for comment.\15\ Among the questions asked were:
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\15\ See MSRB Notice 2012-50 (October 2, 2012) (the ``October
Notice'').
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Would the Revised Draft Proposal effectively further the
MSRB's objective of protecting issuers and retail investors?
Would any aspects of the Revised Draft Proposal have a
negative effect on the protection of issuers, retail investors or the
public interest, or on the fair and efficient operation of the
municipal securities market?
What would be the incremental additional burden, if any,
to dealers resulting from the Revised Draft Proposal beyond the
existing burden of compliance with Rule G-11?
Are there alternative methods the MSRB should consider to
providing the protections sought under the Revised Draft Proposal that
would be more effective and/or less burdensome?
The specific comments and responses thereto are discussed below
under ``Discussion of Comments.'' The MSRB believes that the proposed
rule change will benefit issuers, individual investors and the
municipal market by improving the fairness and effectiveness of retail
order periods. Specifically, the benefits of the proposed rule change
should accrue to those issuers who have decided to conduct retail order
periods by providing greater assurance that bonds will in fact be
marketed to those ``retail'' investors that issuers have determined
should have the opportunity to compete to buy their bonds in the
primary market. Retail investors will benefit from the proposed rule
change because they will have greater access to bonds sold in the
primary market. Dealers will benefit through improved management of
primary offerings and enhanced communication by and among syndicate
members and selling group members. Also, improvements to the order
taking process as a result of the proposed rule change will foster
greater accuracy and fairness and limit opportunities for abuse.
Finally, the proposed rule change will benefit the municipal market
because it provides regulators with the necessary tools and information
to ensure compliance with retail order period requirements.
The MSRB could, as an alternative to the proposed rule change,
determine to ``wait and see'' if earlier rulemaking related to retail
order periods issued in 2010 and 2012 \16\ results in significant
improvements in the conduct of
[[Page 39042]]
syndicate managers and other dealers participating in retail order
periods. However, the Board believes that earlier rulemaking lacked
specific, concrete requirements necessary to modify dealer practices
and foster improvements in compliance. In addition, previous rulemaking
did not address many of the issues associated with recordkeeping which
the Board believes is necessary and appropriate to support enforcement
of Rule G-11.
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\16\ See MSRB Notices cited in footnotes 3 and 4 above.
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The MSRB also considered whether education and training of issuers
and dealers was a suitable regulatory alternative. However, the MSRB
concluded that a significant and uniform regulatory response is needed
to efficiently and effectively address widespread concerns involving
retail order period practices.
The MSRB recognizes that there are costs of compliance associated
with the proposed rule change. The MSRB notes that the requirement to
submit additional information about each order would apply equally to
all dealers that participate in primary offerings that include retail
order periods. At the present time, dealers routinely submit a number
of details related to each order. Many dealers have utilized software
platforms which can be modified to capture the newly required
disclosures. Details about orders are reflected in a report created by
the platform. The customer specific information required under the
proposed rule change is consistent with the type of information dealers
normally must obtain in performing appropriate diligence on a
customer's order. The proposed rule change attempts to minimize the
potential burden on dealers by allowing the required information about
each order to be submitted electronically. Moreover, any dealer that
believes that gathering this additional information is an undue burden
does not need to participate in collecting orders for an issuer's
retail order period. The burden on dealers to capture additional
information on each customer order in a retail order period is balanced
against the need for issuers to have confidence that orders placed
during a retail order period are bona fide and meet the issuer's
eligibility requirements for participation in the retail order period.
The MSRB addressed concerns regarding the potential burdens to
syndicate managers of auditing potentially large numbers of orders
submitted to it by other dealers by expressly stating that a senior
syndicate manager may rely upon the information furnished by each
broker, dealer, or municipal securities dealer unless the senior
syndicate manager knows, or has reason to know, that the information is
not true, accurate or complete. The proposed rule change does not
require that a syndicate manager undertake an exhaustive investigation
of the disclosures about each order. Thus, the proposed rule change
does not impose additional requirements on the senior syndicate manager
other than those that would normally be required under principles of
fair dealing that currently apply.
The recordkeeping requirements in Rule G-8 would be expanded under
the proposed rule change to require the syndicate manager or sole
underwriter to maintain all of the new documentation required as a
result of amendments to Rule G-11. The MSRB believes that the
maintenance of this basic information is necessary to ensure the
integrity of the primary offering process in general and the retail
order period in particular. These burdens are incremental in that under
current Rule G-8, these parties are already required to maintain
comprehensive records relating to each primary offering including all
of the terms and conditions required by the issuer and whether there
was a retail order period. Any reports produced electronically can be
easily printed or saved and included in the deal file for easy
retrieval.
Lastly, the amendments to Rule G-32 in the proposed rule change
requiring the syndicate manager or sole underwriter to notify the MSRB
of the date and time of each retail order period conducted presents
only a modest, incremental burden to the existing requirements of Rule
G-32, but provides significant regulatory value. Without this reporting
requirement, neither the MSRB nor the examination authorities will have
any notification of whether an offering contained a retail order
period. To minimize the costs to dealers associated with this
requirement, the MSRB would undertake to design an automated system for
dealers to report to the EMMA system. The MSRB believes that it is
reasonable to delay the implementation date for this part of the
proposed rule change until such time as the automated system has been
tested by the dealer community.
The MSRB notes that one issuer \17\ has stated that the proposed
rule change does not negatively impact the municipal securities market
or its efficient operation and that, while there may be claims that the
proposed rule change creates some additional burdens, in the opinion of
that commenter, it is far outweighed by the benefit of an open, fair
and efficient municipal marketplace.
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\17\ See the comment letter submitted by the Executive Director
of the Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corp (RIHEBC)
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C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
The proposed rule change was developed with input from a diverse
group of market participants. On October 2, 2012, the MSRB requested
comment on a revised proposal on retail order periods under Rules G-11,
G-8 and G-32 and a draft interpretive notice concerning the application
of Rules G-17 and G-30 to retail order periods.\18\ The revised
proposal in the October Notice modified certain draft provisions of
Rules G-11, Rule G-8 and the draft interpretive notice but did not
further revise the provisions of Rule G-32 under the initial draft
proposal.\19\ The MSRB received 24 comment letters in response to the
March and October Notices.\20\
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\18\ See the October Notice.
\19\ See MSRB Notice 2012-13 (March 6, 2012) (the ``March
Notice''), which contained the initial draft proposal regarding
retail order periods under Rules G-11, G-8 and G-32 and a draft
interpretive notice concerning the application of Rules G-17 and G-
30 to retail order periods.
\20\ Comment letters were received from: Alamo Capital
(``Alamo''); Bond Dealers of America (``BDA''); CFA Institute
(``CFA''); Dorsey & Company, Inc. (``Dorsey''); Edward D. Jones &
Co. (``Edward Jones''); Financial Planning Association (``FPA'');
Full Life Financial LLC (``Full Life''); Government Finance Officers
Association (``GFOA''); Investment Company Institute (``ICI'');
Richard Li (``Li''); Chris Melton (``Melton''); National Association
of Independent Public Finance Advisors (``NAIPFA''); Rhode Island
Health and Educational Building Corp. (``RIHEBC''); Securities
Industry and Financial Markets Association (``SIFMA''); Thornburg
Investment Management (``Thornburg''); Vanguard (``Vanguard''); and
Wells Fargo Advisors (``Wells Fargo''). Some of the commenters
submitted comment letter responses to both notices.
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Discussion of Comments
Definition of Retail Customer for Purposes of a Retail Order Period
Comments: MSRB Should Not Create a Definition of ``Retail:'' SIFMA
generally supported the approach that it is an issuer's prerogative to
determine whether there should be a retail order period and to define
retail, but indicated concern on the part of some members that lack of
uniformity as to the definition of retail may make it difficult to
comply with the MSRB requirements to ensure that only qualifying orders
are placed and to maintain adequate records. FPA agreed that there is
no reason for the MSRB to create a uniform definition of retail but
understood the appeal of a uniform base definition that could be
modified by an issuer.
[[Page 39043]]
Comments: MSRB Should Create a Definition of ``Retail:'' Many
commenters recommended, for a variety of reasons, that the MSRB
establish a uniform definition of ``retail'' for use by issuers, or, in
the alternative, create a ``model'' definition that issuers can use or
modify as they deem appropriate.\21\ GFOA's comments were
representative of those commenters that believed that a boilerplate
definition would benefit infrequent issuers who do not have sufficient
expertise or who do not engage a financial advisor and may avoid
reliance on other parties to the transaction who do not have a
fiduciary duty to the issuer. Wells Fargo, Li and CFA believed that a
uniform definition would make compliance more effective and less
costly. Li, Full Life, GFOA and Edward Jones also supported a standard
definition created by the MSRB with the option provided to issuers to
create their own definition.
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\21\ CFA, Edward Jones, Full Life, GFOA, ICI, Li, NAIPFA, and
Wells Fargo.
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Comments: Divergent Views of ``Retail:'' Many commenters proffered
specific proposals regarding definitions of retail that should be
considered by the MSRB.\22\ Some commenters favored a more limited
definition that would include only individuals (i.e., natural persons)
while others would include orders from a trust department or registered
investment advisor acting on behalf of a specifically identifiable
natural person. Still others were either in favor of or against
including mutual funds as ``retail'' customers. A few commenters
offered arguments on behalf of or against the size of the customer
order or locality of the customer as appropriate criteria for
``retail.''
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\22\ Dorsey, Edward Jones, FPA, Full Life, ICI, NAIPFA,
Vanguard, and Wells Fargo.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
MSRB Response: The current MSRB rules do not contain a definition
of a ``retail'' customer and the MSRB has declined to create a
definition in the proposed rule change in part because of concerns that
an MSRB definition of ``retail'' may unduly influence certain issuers
regarding the scope of eligible customers for a retail order period.
The MSRB believes that issuers should designate the eligibility
criteria for their retail order period on an issue-by-issue basis and
issuers should have the flexibility to choose the criteria that best
suits their unique circumstances even if this option results in lack of
uniformity in the marketplace or challenges in compliance. As an
alternative to a model MSRB definition, the MSRB believes that it is
preferable to develop educational materials concerning retail order
periods that would assist issuers in selecting their own definition.
The MSRB can work with issuers and industry groups to develop model
definitions and other best practices which would address this issue
without the imprimatur of being a regulatory standard.
Communications Relating to Issuer Requirements
Comments: CFA supported the need for better and honest
communication between various parties involved in the initial sale of
municipal securities to investors. Full Life supported the proposals in
principal, in particular requiring syndicate managers to disseminate
timely notice of issuer requirements to all dealers, including selling
group members.
MSRB Response: The MSRB appreciates these comments.
Comments: SIFMA was supportive of the timing in the current rule
which requires the dissemination of information ``prior to the first
offer of any securities. . . .'' SIFMA stated that among the terms and
conditions required by the issuer related to the retail order period
would be any time parameters for which the retail order period would be
conducted. SIFMA stated that this information is especially important
to dealers contacting customers with non-discretionary accounts. GFOA
was supportive of a specific time frame in which the syndicate manager
must provide issuer terms and conditions for the retail order period to
other dealers.
MSRB Response: The MSRB is appreciative of SIFMA's comments. The
MSRB does not agree that it is appropriate to impose a fixed time frame
on dealers in a rule because of concerns that such a requirement could
have unintended consequences. For example, it could hamper the
marketing of a transaction if an issuer determines that an offering
must come to market quickly.
Length of the Retail Order Period
Comments: Full Life said that the length of a retail order period
should be sufficiently long to fulfill the issuer's intent. Full Life
and Dorsey said that it should afford a genuine opportunity for retail
investor participation. FPA stated that the period should be
meaningful--it should be sufficiently long to allow an individual
investor to make an informed decision.
Two commenters recommended that either the MSRB or the syndicate
should fix the length of the retail order period. Dorsey said that the
syndicate should specify a time reasonably sensible in length and
should include the pricing structure. NAIPFA suggested that the MSRB
establish a fixed timeframe for the retail order period.
Edward Jones recommended that ``meaningful notice of the retail
order period'' would include 24-hour notice with preliminary pricing
terms (e.g., coupon, maturity, price and yield that an individual
retail investor could use to form a reasoned investment decision)
before the retail order period is to begin. Edward Jones suggested that
an adequate retail order period should include a minimum of a full
trading day with the issuer having the opportunity to extend the retail
order period beyond a single trading day. Edward Jones supported a
``full day retail order period'' even if an institutional order period
runs concurrently for some portion of the day.
MSRB Response: The MSRB believes that the current rule should not
be revised because an issuer should retain control over the issuance
process which includes the ability to adjust the length of time for the
retail order period to suit its needs or market conditions.
Representations and Required Disclosures About Each Order
Comments: GFOA was supportive of the requirement to provide
additional information about each order. NAIPFA was also supportive and
believed it would be beneficial to issuers because it would allow
issuers to better assess the effectiveness of their underwriter's
ability to sell the issuers' securities as well as the underwriter's
adherence to the issuers' instructions and also may help curtail
flipping. Li said that details regarding the order could possibly be
required by the senior manager to be communicated during the order
process not just afterwards in order to prevent inadvertent
misrepresentations. RIHEBC stated that it already requires much of the
same information listed in the proposed rule change in order for it to
judge the performance of the senior manager and co-managers.
MSRB Response: The MSRB appreciates these comments.
Comments: Alamo and BDA generally did not support the additional
disclosures about each order because it would be an unreasonable
administrative burden, costly and inconsistent. BDA said that the
requirements are particularly burdensome in cases in which the dealer
obtains large numbers of retail orders during retail order periods. BDA
stated that burdens on dealers could have unintended consequences for
everyone and perhaps discourage the practice of retail order periods
[[Page 39044]]
altogether and this can hurt issuers and retail investors. BDA
suggested that, at most, dealers should comply with requirements of
issuers to document or represent that they have complied with retail
order period requirements. Melton said that required detailed
disclosures regarding each order is inconsistent with permitting
issuers to define retail and may not be completely necessary.
MSRB Response: The MSRB believes that the additional required
disclosures will provide important information to the issuer. The MSRB
understands that it is not uncommon for certain experienced issuers
already to demand this additional information about orders. The MSRB
believes it is essential to require the type of information contained
in the rule because some issuers may not be sufficiently knowledgeable
to ask for it or have appropriate leverage. Moreover, even when issuers
have requested this information be gathered, it may not have been
provided to them prior to the execution of the bond purchase agreement;
this deadline is important so that the senior syndicate manager has all
of the information it will need before committing the underwriters to
the purchase of the bonds and before it allocates a share of securities
to each dealer. In addition, one of the benefits of requiring written
representations and disclosures is that it should help to minimize the
likelihood of inadvertent misrepresentations related to whether or not
a particular order meets the issuer's designated eligibility criteria.
Comments: SIFMA said that the representation that an order meets
the issuer's definition of retail is more appropriate for the master
Agreement Among Underwriters (AAU). Rather than providing the
information about each order, the MSRB could provide that a dealer is
deemed to have made the required representations by virtue of
submitting an order during a retail order period or the representations
can be made in the AAU or Selling Group Agreement (SGA), and that,
therefore, it is not necessary for the representation to be made
separately for each order submitted during the retail order period.
MSRB Response: SIFMA may wish to revise its standard form of AAU or
SGA in support of the proposed rule change and the MSRB would be
supportive of any agreement which seeks to bind members of the
syndicate or selling group to honor the issuer's intentions. However,
compliance with MSRB rules should stand independent of private
agreements between parties.
Comment: Melton noted privacy concerns that may have led the MSRB
to require dealers to identify customers without providing names and
social security numbers. Dorsey and Edward Jones supported the required
disclosure of zip codes to support retail priority as adequate and
stated this should be adopted as an industry standard practice. Edward
Jones suggested that the MSRB revise the proposal to limit the
identifying information that the issuer may require. Edward Jones also
suggested that an issuer should not be allowed to require dealers to
provide customer account numbers, addresses, phone numbers or tax
identification numbers. SIFMA said the rule should specify that any
identifying information required by the issuer may not include customer
account numbers, names or taxpayer identification numbers.
MSRB Response: Certain issuers have said to the MSRB that it would
be helpful to have additional tools to verify orders. The MSRB believes
that, if there are legitimate customer privacy protection issues
associated with a specific request, particularly as it relates to
certain identifying information or account numbers, an issuer may be
amenable to allowing a dealer to truncate numbers before submission.
The MSRB is aware that zip codes are often requested by issuers and
usually provided by dealers in support of evidence that an order is
from an individual or that the order is from a customer from a
particular locality. Both issuers and dealers have acknowledged that it
is easy to supply a zip code for a residential area and ``claim'' that
it belongs to the order.
Comment: SIFMA also recommended that the MSRB create a safe harbor
for senior syndicate managers so that senior managers would satisfy
their own fair dealing obligations to the issuer when relying on
representations made to them by other dealers that any orders submitted
are retail orders.
MSRB Response: The MSRB agrees that a senior syndicate manager
should, subject to certain exceptions, be entitled to rely on the
information furnished by another dealer. However, the MSRB believes
that a senior syndicate manager would not be entitled to rely on the
information if the senior syndicate manager knows, or has reason to
know, that the information is not true or accurate.
Recordkeeping
Comments: GFOA supported the new recordkeeping requirements on
syndicate managers. SIFMA said that the proposed amendments requiring
the syndicate members to keep such records are not warranted as they
would be duplicative of recordkeeping requirements already imposed upon
dealers. Edward Jones sought clarification as to whether the
recordkeeping requirements applied to a sole managed deal, i.e., a deal
where there is no syndicate.
MSRB Response: The MSRB does not agree that proposed revisions to
the recordkeeping requirements would be duplicative of recordkeeping
requirements already imposed on dealers. Rule G-8(a)(vii) provides that
the dealer keep a record of the customer's order in the event of a
purchase or sale of municipal securities (so that a record of orders
need not be retained if the order is not filled). Existing Rule G-
8(a)(viii) requires that the records of all orders received (regardless
of whether an order is filled) be maintained by the syndicate manager.
The proposed rule change is necessary so that the additional
information that must be provided by the senior syndicate manager or by
each dealer as a result of the amendments to Rule G-11 will be retained
in the centralized file maintained by the syndicate manager. The MSRB
agrees and the proposed rule change applies to recordkeeping
requirements in the case of a sole managed deal.
Comment: SIFMA said that dealers should not be required to share
customer specific information with syndicate managers, and that it
would be more appropriate (and should be sufficient for recordkeeping
and enforcement purposes) that these customer order details remain with
the dealer that maintains the customer relationship.
MSRB Response: The MSRB disagrees for the reasons stated above.
Issuers will benefit from having access to customer specific
information to verify orders and examinations will likely be more
efficient due to centralized recordkeeping.
Revisions to Rule G-32 To Indicate That a Transaction Included a Retail
Order Period
Comments: SIFMA and Full Life supported the proposed revisions to
Rule G-32. Full Life said that it provides an opportunity for
regulatory oversight essential to fostering administration of bona fide
retail order periods that actually result in retail participation.
SIFMA also recommended that the dates and times of any retail order
period be reported to EMMA.
MSRB Response: The MSRB appreciates these comments. The MSRB agrees
with SIFMA's recommendation and it is reflected in the proposed rule
change to Rule G-32.
[[Page 39045]]
Additional Rulemaking Regarding Retail Order Periods
Comment: SIFMA stated that the G-17 Underwriters' Notice has
adequately addressed the concerns regarding retail order periods so
that additional rulemaking is not necessary.
MSRB Response: The MSRB considers the G-17 Underwriters' Notice as
an important step towards improving practices in this area but it did
not address all of the issues associated with retail order periods.
More specific, concrete requirements in the proposed rule change should
assist in compliance. For example, the G-17 Underwriters' Notice does
not address many of the issues associated with recordkeeping. The
proposed rule change also will support efforts by the issuer and the
syndicate manager to audit orders.
Alternatives to Rulemaking
Comment: BDA suggested that if the MSRB produces educational
materials, they should include specific guidance practices that issuers
should consider in formulating effective retail order period rules. BDA
recommended that issuers reserve the right to conduct an audit of
compliance by the syndicate of retail order period rules. GFOA
recommended that the MSRB seek to establish some type of protocol or
system so that the issuer can have some comfort that retail orders meet
the preset criteria set by the issuer.
MSRB Response: The MSRB would consider working with issuer trade
associations on best practices which may address these issues.
Other Comments
Comment: Combined Order Periods: Vanguard said that all interested
investors should be permitted to submit orders for municipal securities
in the primary market and no priority should be given to retail orders,
and that issuers would benefit from more accurate price discovery.
MSRB Response: The MSRB does not wish to substitute its judgment in
place of that of issuers who manage their debt issuances. Issuers may
choose to conduct combined order periods and the proposed rule change
does not prevent them from doing so.
Comment: Definition of Selling Group: SIFMA suggested the
definition of selling group be limited to those dealers that sign an
SGA or substantially similar agreements for a particular new issue of
municipal securities.
MSRB Response: The MSRB does not wish to define selling group by
reference to an agreement which may not be executed in all cases,
although the MSRB recognizes that it may be customary practice for
selling group members to execute an SGA. In addition, duties of selling
group members and the duties of syndicate managers to selling group
members should apply to a dealer in a selling group even if for some
reason it does not become a party to an SGA since to provide otherwise
might have the unintended consequence of subverting the intent of Rule
G-11 to apply to all dealers.
Comments: Definition of Going Away Orders: SIFMA suggested that the
term going away order has not been previously defined under MSRB rules.
Li included recommendations to address flipping.
MSRB Response: The term going away order was defined in an approval
order concerning a previous revision to Rule G-11.\23\ The proposed
rule change was not directed at concerns related to flipping.
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\23\ See Securities Exchange Act Release 34-62715 (August 13,
2010); 75 FR 51128 (August 18, 2010); File No. SR-MSRB 2009-17.
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Comments: Interpretive Guidance related to Duties of All Dealers
Placing Orders in Retail Order Periods and Fair Pricing: Wells Fargo
suggested that the proposed guidance created a compliance challenge for
firms, making almost any pricing difference subject to the whims and
vagaries of which person is viewing the pricing and its fairness.
SIFMA, BDA and Edward Jones raised concerns related to differential
pricing between retail and institutional investors seeking specific
examples of the characteristics of the securities that may fairly
justify differences in pricing. SIFMA recommended that the MSRB clarify
that the specific examples provided are not an exhaustive list and
acknowledge that market conditions could shift within a day. GFOA
suggested that the MSRB revise the interpretive guidance to state that
price differences between the retail order period and the later
institutional order period do not per se create an assumption of lack
of fair dealing.
BDA found that revisions to the guidance provided a helpful
discussion of how prices and yields may legitimately differ on sales of
the same security. Wells Fargo suggested that retail and institutional
orders should not receive different pricing and Full Life was
supportive of guidance that would discourage differences in pricing as
between retail and institutional investors in the new issue market.
GFOA and NAIPFA were not supportive of the guidance as it related to
fair pricing because of concerns that it would hurt issuers and, in the
long-term, retail customers may be forced from the market.
MSRB Response: The MSRB is not proposing to issue additional
guidance related to fair pricing at this time. The MSRB most recently
issued guidance on the issue of fair pricing to individual clients in
2009.\24\ The comments received on retail order periods and the Board's
study of such programs does not establish a basis for additional
pricing guidance at this time. In particular, that MSRB is mindful that
any guidance should be grounded from further study and analysis and
should consider the extent to which pricing differentials may affect an
issuer's willingness to use a retail order period. As the MSRB
continues to promote price transparency in the primary market, new
issue pricing practices will be monitored to ascertain whether
additional guidance is warranted.
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\24\ See the Sales Practice Notice.
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Topics Related to Primary Offerings But Beyond the Scope of the
Proposed Rule Change
Comment: Takedown: Full Life suggested that the MSRB should
discourage consideration of disparity in takedown as influencing
dealers' motivation to exhibit greater effort to secure institutional
customers versus retail.
MSRB Response: The MSRB appreciates this comment but believes that
at this time the MSRB should direct its rulemaking efforts towards
ensuring that dealers submit orders only from retail customers.
Comment: Disclosures of Sales by Underwriters Following the End of
the Underwriting Period: Li requested that the MSRB consider
promulgating a rule requiring disclosure to issuers of sales for a
period of time (perhaps seven days) following the end of the
underwriting period. Li believed that this might allow the issuer to
identify any pricing problems and support fair dealing.
MSRB Response: The MSRB appreciates this comment and will consider
whether additional rulemaking is appropriate, but views this comment as
outside the scope of the proposed rule change on retail order periods.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the
Federal Register or within such longer period of up to 90 days (i) as
the Commission may designate if it finds such longer period
[[Page 39046]]
to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as
to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission
will:
(A) By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change, or
(B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-MSRB-2013-05 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-MSRB-2013-05. This file
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently,
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on
the Commission's Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the MSRB. All
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File Number SR-MSRB-2013-05 and should be
submitted on or before July 19, 2013.
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\25\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\25\
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-15492 Filed 6-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P