Self-Regulatory Organizations; Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board; Order Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule Change Consisting of Amendments to MSRB Rule G-11, on Primary Offering Practices, Relating to Changes in a Bond Authorizing Document, 75398-75400 [2013-29488]
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75398
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 11, 2013 / Notices
qualifications for a limited period of
time in order to give ETP Holders an
opportunity to adjust to the inclusion of
odd lot transactions in CADV. This
proposed change is also designed to
maintain competition on the Exchange
by eliminating the potential for ETP
Holders to immediately fail to qualify
for a Tier due to the inclusion of odd lot
transactions in the consolidated tape
beginning on December 9, 2013. The
Exchange believes that competition
would not be burdened by including
odd lot transactions in LMM Tier
determinations because the Exchange
anticipates that this would not have a
significant impact on the number of
securities for which each particular
LMM Tier would otherwise apply
absent the inclusion of odd lot
transactions—i.e., only one security to
which an LMM is assigned based on
October 2013 data.
Finally, the Exchange notes that it
operates in a highly competitive market
in which market participants can
readily favor competing venues if they
deem fee or credit levels at a particular
venue to be unattractive. In such an
environment, the Exchange must
continually review, and consider
adjusting, its fees and credits to remain
competitive with other exchanges. The
billing method described herein is based
on objective standards that are
applicable to all ETP Holders and
reflects the need for the Exchange to
offer significant financial incentives to
attract order flow. For these reasons, the
Exchange believes that the proposed
rule change reflects this competitive
environment and is therefore consistent
with the Act.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments were solicited
or received with respect to the proposed
rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change is effective
upon filing pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) 11 of the Act and
subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b–4 12
thereunder, because it establishes a due,
fee, or other charge imposed by the
Exchange.
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of such proposed rule change, the
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend such rule change if
11 15
12 17
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
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17:00 Dec 10, 2013
it appears to the Commission that such
action is necessary or appropriate in the
public interest, for the protection of
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
the purposes of the Act. If the
Commission takes such action, the
Commission shall institute proceedings
under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 13 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 rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
NYSEArca–2013–133 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–NYSEArca–2013–133. 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 such
filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
office of the Exchange. All comments
received will be posted without change;
13 15
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U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
Frm 00070
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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–
NYSEArca–2013–133 and should be
submitted on or before January 2, 2014.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.14
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013–29496 Filed 12–10–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–70990; File No. SR–MSRB–
2013–08]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
Municipal Securities Rulemaking
Board; Order Granting Approval of a
Proposed Rule Change Consisting of
Amendments to MSRB Rule G–11, on
Primary Offering Practices, Relating to
Changes in a Bond Authorizing
Document
December 5, 2013.
I. Introduction
On September 19, 2013, the
Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board
(‘‘MSRB’’) 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 consisting of
amendments to MSRB Rule G–11,
Primary Offering Practices, relating to
consents to changes in a bond
authorizing document. The proposed
rule change was published for comment
in the Federal Register on October 22,
2013.3 The Commission received no
comments on the proposal. This order
approves the proposed rule change.
II. Description of the Proposed Rule
Change
The MSRB states in the Notice that
municipal entity issuers (‘‘issuers’’) or
bond owners often request amendments
to bond authorizing documents in order
to modernize outdated provisions or
address other concerns that have arisen
after the initial issuance of bonds. These
amendments are typically achieved by
the consent of owners of a specified
14 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 70607
(October 3, 2013), 78 FR 62736 (‘‘Notice’’).
1 15
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emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
percentage of the aggregate principal
amount of bonds, as determined by the
authorizing document. The MSRB
asserts that the process of obtaining
consents from bond owners and related
costs can be significant because the
identity of beneficial owners of bonds is
frequently unknown to issuers and
trustees.4 To address some of these
burdens, issuers frequently have
requested underwriters, as temporary
owners of bonds during the initial
distribution period and representing the
aggregate principal amount of bonds
underwritten, to provide consents to
amendments to authorizing documents.
According to the MSRB, this allows
issuers to avoid the potential cost and
delay of obtaining, by direct solicitation,
consents from beneficial owners.
However, according to the MSRB, this
approach may result in a dealer
consenting to changes to authorizing
documents that adversely affect the
interests of existing bond owners.5
The MSRB proposes to amend MSRB
Rule G–11, Primary Offering Practices,
to prohibit brokers, dealers and
municipal securities dealers (‘‘dealers’’)
from providing consents to any
amendment to authorizing documents
for municipal securities, either as an
underwriter, a remarketing agent, or as
agent for or in lieu of bond owners,
except in certain limited circumstances
set forth in proposed section (l) of Rule
G–11.6
Subparagraph (l)(i)(A) will except
from the prohibition an underwriter that
provides bond owner consents to
changes in authorizing documents if
such documents expressly allowed an
underwriter to provide such consents
4 The MSRB states that many municipal securities
are issued in book-entry form and registered as a
single ‘‘global’’ certificate in the name of a
depository. Thus, the identity of beneficial owners
of the bonds is frequently unknown to issuers and
trustees. Additionally, the MSRB states that
identifying such owners and obtaining consents
often results in cost and delay in achieving the
requisite number of consents.
5 The MSRB represents, that while existing bond
owners may be considered as having agreed to
provisions relating to amendments to the
authorizing documents at the time of purchase,
such bond owners are not likely to have anticipated
that a dealer, acting as an underwriter or
remarketing agent with no prior or future long-term
economic interest in the bonds, could provide such
consent unless such ability had been specifically
authorized in the authorizing documents and
disclosed to bond owners.
6 The MSRB notes that consents from dealers
solely in their capacity as an underwriter or a
remarketing agent and required or permitted in
connection with their administrative duties under
authorizing documents are not subject to the
proposed rule change. Further, the MSRB notes that
the proposed rule change does not affect other
methods used by issuers to obtain consents from
owners of newly issued bonds, such as consents
received from bond owners upon initial purchase
of the bonds.
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17:00 Dec 10, 2013
Jkt 232001
and the offering documents for the
issuer’s existing securities expressly
disclosed that consents could be
provided by underwriters of other
securities issued under the same
authorizing documents.
Subparagraph (l)(i)(B) will except
from the prohibition a dealer that owns
the relevant securities other than in the
capacity of an underwriter or a
remarketing agent. The MSRB states that
the determination of whether a dealer
owns the securities for purposes of this
exception will depend on whether it
purchased such securities without a
view to distribution.
Subparagraph (l)(i)(C) will except a
dealer acting as a remarketing agent to
whom the relevant securities had been
tendered as a result of a mandatory
tender, provided that all securities
affected by the amendment (other than
securities retained by an owner in lieu
of a tender and for which such bond
owner had delivered consent) had been
tendered. If a bond owner elects to
exercise its right to ‘‘hold’’ bonds
subject to a mandatory tender in lieu of
tendering, the remarketing agent will be
prohibited from providing consents to
any amendment to an authorizing
document unless it also receives the
specific written consent of such bond
owner to such change.
Subparagraph (l)(i)(D) will except a
dealer that provides consent to changes
to authorizing documents solely as
agent for and on behalf of bond owners
that delivered separate written consents
to such amendments. An underwriter
providing an ‘‘omnibus’’ consent under
this subparagraph will not be viewed as
substituting its judgment for that of
bond owners but rather as an agent
facilitating the collection and delivery
of consents.
Subparagraph (l)(i)(E) will except a
dealer, in its capacity as an underwriter,
that provides consent on behalf of
prospective purchasers to amendments
to authorizing documents if the
amendments would not become
effective until all existing bond owners
affected by the proposed amendments
(other than the prospective purchasers
for whom the underwriter had provided
consent) had also consented.7
7 The MSRB states that this exception recognizes
a limited circumstance in which an underwriter’s
consent to amendments to authorizing documents,
provided in lieu and on behalf of new purchasers
of bonds, will be permitted. In this case, the
underwriter’s consent will not become effective
until existing owners of all bonds (other than the
prospective purchasers for whom the underwriter
had provided consent) affected by such amendment
and outstanding at the time such consent became
effective had also provided consent. The MSRB
states that this alternative might be considered
when an issuer was in the process of accumulating
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Fmt 4703
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75399
Lastly, paragraph (l)(ii) will define
certain terms for purposes of proposed
section (l), specifically the terms
‘‘authorizing document,’’ 8 ‘‘bond
owner,’’ 9 and ‘‘bond owner consent.’’ 10
III. Discussion and Commission
Findings
The Commission has carefully
considered the proposed rule change
and finds that the proposal is consistent
with the requirements of the Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder.11 In
particular, the proposed rule change is
consistent with Section 15B(b)(2)(C) of
the Act, which provides that the
MSRB’s rules shall 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.12
The Commission believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 15B(b)(2)(C) of the Act, because
it should protect investors by
prohibiting consents to amendments to
authorizing documents from a dealer
who may be only the temporary owner
of the bonds and thus may not share a
bond owner’s prior or long-term
economic interest in the bonds, except
under limited circumstances set forth in
the rule. The Commission notes that the
consents from all owners of outstanding bonds and
had not completed acquiring the consents prior to
issuing a new series of bonds. In that case, an
underwriter’s consent on behalf of new purchasers
would not become effective until all other bond
owners affected by the amendment had also
provided their consent and such other consents
were currently effective. The MSRB represents that
this exception would not affect an underwriter’s
ability to provide consents as permitted in
subparagraph (l)(i)(D) of the proposed rule change.
8 The MSRB defines the term ‘‘authorizing
document’’ to mean the trust indenture, resolution,
ordinance, or other document under which the
securities are issued.
9 The MSRB defines the term ‘‘bond owner’’ as
the owner of municipal securities issued under the
applicable authorizing document.
10 The MSRB defines the term ‘‘bond owner
consent’’ to mean any consent specified in an
authorizing document that may be or is required to
be given by a bond owner pursuant to such
authorizing document.
11 In approving the proposed rule change, the
Commission has considered the proposed rule’s
impact on efficiency, competition, and capital
formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
12 15 U.S.C. 78o–4(b)(2)(C).
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 11, 2013 / Notices
exceptions in the rule to allow dealer
consent to changes in authorizing
documents are limited in nature so as to
protect existing bond holders, while
addressing concerns of issuers about
obtaining consents to amendments of
their authorizing documents in certain
situations. In addition, the Commission
believes that the proposed rule change
will enhance transparency regarding the
practice of obtaining bond owner
consents from dealers.
At the same time, the Commission
notes that the MSRB has represented
that the proposed rule change does not
grant an affirmative right to dealers to
provide consents to changes to
authorizing documents and does not
alter the dealer’s obligations applicable
under other MSRB rules, including its
fair dealing obligations under Rule G–
17. Accordingly, dealers may not simply
rely on the exceptions prescribed in the
rule but rather are obligated to consider
and comply with their Rule G–17
obligations in seeking to provide
consents to amendments in authorizing
documents at the request of an issuer in
accordance with the exceptions
provided.
For these reasons, the Commission
believes that the proposed rule change
is consistent with the Act.
IV. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the
Commission finds that the proposed
rule change is consistent with the
requirements of the Act and the rules
and regulations thereunder applicable to
the MSRB, and in particular, Section
15B(b)(2)(C) of the Act.
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,13 that the
proposed rule change (SR–MSRB–2013–
08) be, and hereby is, approved.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.14
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013–29488 Filed 12–10–13; 8:45 am]
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
13 15
14 17
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:00 Dec 10, 2013
Jkt 232001
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–71000; File No. SR–NSCC–
2013–802]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
National Securities Clearing
Corporation; Notice of No Objection To
Advance Notice Filing, as Modified by
Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3, To
Institute Supplemental Liquidity
Deposits to Its Clearing Fund Designed
To Increase Liquidity Resources To
Meet Its Liquidity Needs
December 5, 2013.
I. Introduction
On March 21, 2013, National
Securities Clearing Corporation
(‘‘NSCC’’) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’),
pursuant to Section 806(e) of Title VIII
of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform
and Consumer Protection Act (‘‘DoddFrank Act’’),1 entitled the Payment,
Clearing, and Settlement Supervision
Act of 2010 (‘‘Clearing Supervision Act’’
or ‘‘Title VIII’’) and Rule 19b–4(n) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Exchange Act’’),2 advance notice SR–
NSCC–2013–802 (‘‘Advance Notice’’) to
institute supplemental liquidity
deposits to NSCC’s Clearing Fund
designed to increase liquidity resources
to meet NSCC’s liquidity needs (‘‘SLD
Proposal’’).3
On April 19, 2013, NSCC filed with
the Commission Amendment No. 1 to
the Advance Notice.4 On May 1, 2013,
1 12
U.S.C. 5465(e)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 NSCC also filed the SLD Proposal contained in
the Advance Notice as proposed rule change SR–
NSCC–2013–02 (‘‘Proposed Rule Change’’). Release
No. 34–69313 (Apr. 4, 2013), 78 FR 21487 (Apr. 10,
2013). On April 19, 2013, NSCC filed with the
Commission Amendment No. 1 to the Proposed
Rule Change. Release No. 34–69620 (May 22, 2013),
78 FR 32292 (May 29, 2013). On June 11, 2013,
NSCC filed with the Commission Amendment No.
2 to the Proposed Rule Change, as previously
modified by Amendment No. 1. Release No. 34–
69951 (Jul. 9, 2013), 78 FR 42140 (Jul. 15, 2013).
On October 7, 2013, NSCC filed Amendment No. 3
to the Proposed Rule Change, as previously
modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2. Release No.
34–70688 (Oct. 15, 2013), 78 FR 62846 (Oct. 22,
2013). On December 5, 2013, the Commission
issued an Order Approving the Proposed Rule
Change, as Modified by Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and
3, to Institute Supplemental Liquidity Deposits to
Its Clearing Fund Designed to Increase Liquidity
Resources to Meet Its Liquidity Needs. Release No.
34–70999.
4 NSCC filed Amendment No. 1 to the Advance
Notice and Proposed Rule Change filings to include
as Exhibit 2 a comment letter from National
Financial Services (‘‘NFS’’), a Fidelity Investments
(‘‘Fidelity’’) company, to NSCC, dated March 19,
2013, regarding the SLD Proposal prior to NSCC
filing the SLD Proposal with the Commission (‘‘NFS
Letter’’). See Release No. 34–69451 (Apr. 25, 2013),
78 FR 25496 (May 1, 2013) (‘‘Notice’’) and see
2 17
PO 00000
Frm 00072
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
the Commission published notice of the
Advance Notice, as modified by
Amendment No. 1, for comment in the
Federal Register.5 On May 24, 2013, the
Commission published notice of its
extension of its review period of the
Advance Notice, as modified by
Amendment No. 1.6 The Commission
received 12 comment letters, including
the NFS Letter, to the SLD Proposal as
initially filed and as modified by
Amendment No. 1.7
On June 11, 2013, NSCC filed with the
Commission Amendment No. 2 to the
Advance Notice, as previously modified
by Amendment No. 1 (‘‘Amended SLD
Proposal’’), which the Commission
published for comment in the Federal
Register on July 15, 2013.8 The
Commission received nine comment
letters to Amendment No. 2.9
Exhibit 2 to File No. SR–NSCC–2013–802, https://
www.sec.gov/rules/sro/nscc/2013/34-69451ex2.pdf.
5 See Notice, 78 FR 25496.
6 Release No. 34–69605 (May 20, 2013), 78 FR
31616 (May 24, 2013) (‘‘Notice of Amendment No.
1’’).
7 See NFS Letter. See letters to Elizabeth M.
Murphy, Secretary, Commission from: John C.
Nagel, Esq., Managing Director and General
Counsel, Citadel Securities (‘‘Citadel’’), dated April
18, 2013 (‘‘Citadel Letter I’’) and June 13, 2013
(‘‘Citadel Letter II’’); Peter Morgan, Senior Vice
President & Deputy General Counsel, Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. (‘‘Charles Schwab’’), dated April
22, 2013 (‘‘Charles Schwab Letter I’’) and May 1,
2013 (‘‘Charles Schwab Letter II’’); Thomas Price,
Managing Director, Operations, Technology & BCP,
Securities Industry and Financial Markets
Association (‘‘SIFMA’’), dated April 23, 2013
(‘‘SIFMA Letter I’’); Julian Rainero, Bracewell &
Giuliani LLP, on behalf of Investment Technology
Group Inc. (‘‘ITG’’), dated April 25, 2013 (‘‘ITG
Letter I’’); Matthew S. Levine, Managing Director,
Co-Chief Compliance Officer, Knight Capital
Americas LLC (‘‘Knight Capital’’), dated April 25,
2013 (‘‘Knight Capital Letter’’); Giovanni Favretti,
CFA, Managing Director, Deutsche Bank, dated
April 25, 2013 (‘‘Deutsche Bank Letter’’); Scott C.
Goebel, Senior Vice President, General Counsel,
Fidelity, dated April 25, 2013 (‘‘Fidelity Letter I’’);
and Chief Financial Officer & Executive Managing
Director, ConvergEx Execution Solutions LLC
(‘‘ConvergEx’’), dated May 2, 2013 (‘‘ConvergEx
Letter I’’) and May 22, 2013 (‘‘ConvergEx Letter II’’).
8 Release No. 34–69954 (Jul. 9, 2013), 78 FR
42127 (Jul. 15, 2013) (‘‘Notice of Amendment No.
2’’).
9 See letters to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary,
Commission from: Thomas Price, Managing
Director, Operations, Technology & BCP, SIFMA,
dated June 24, 2013 (‘‘SIFMA Letter II’’) and August
7, 2013 (‘‘SIFMA Letter III’’); Scott C. Goebel, Senior
Vice President, General Counsel, Fidelity, dated
June 26, 2013 (‘‘Fidelity Letter II’’); Peter Morgan,
Senior Vice President & Deputy General Counsel,
Charles Schwab, dated August 5, 2013 (‘‘Charles
Schwab Letter III’’) and September 11, 2013
(‘‘Charles Schwab Letter IV’’); Paul T. Clark and
Anthony C.J. Nuland, Seward & Kissel, LLP
(representing Charles Schwab), dated August 5,
2013 (‘‘Charles Schwab Letter V’’); John C. Nagel,
Esq., Managing Director and General Counsel,
Citadel, dated August 5, 2013 (‘‘Citadel Letter III’’)
and September 5, 2013 (‘‘Citadel Letter IV’’); and
Mark Solomon, Managing Director and Deputy
General Counsel, ITG, dated August 5, 2013 (‘‘ITG
Letter II’’).
E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 11, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75398-75400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29488]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-70990; File No. SR-MSRB-2013-08]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Municipal Securities Rulemaking
Board; Order Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule Change Consisting of
Amendments to MSRB Rule G-11, on Primary Offering Practices, Relating
to Changes in a Bond Authorizing Document
December 5, 2013.
I. Introduction
On September 19, 2013, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board
(``MSRB'') 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 consisting of amendments to MSRB Rule G-11,
Primary Offering Practices, relating to consents to changes in a bond
authorizing document. The proposed rule change was published for
comment in the Federal Register on October 22, 2013.\3\ The Commission
received no comments on the proposal. This order approves the proposed
rule change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
\3\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 70607 (October 3, 2013),
78 FR 62736 (``Notice'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Description of the Proposed Rule Change
The MSRB states in the Notice that municipal entity issuers
(``issuers'') or bond owners often request amendments to bond
authorizing documents in order to modernize outdated provisions or
address other concerns that have arisen after the initial issuance of
bonds. These amendments are typically achieved by the consent of owners
of a specified
[[Page 75399]]
percentage of the aggregate principal amount of bonds, as determined by
the authorizing document. The MSRB asserts that the process of
obtaining consents from bond owners and related costs can be
significant because the identity of beneficial owners of bonds is
frequently unknown to issuers and trustees.\4\ To address some of these
burdens, issuers frequently have requested underwriters, as temporary
owners of bonds during the initial distribution period and representing
the aggregate principal amount of bonds underwritten, to provide
consents to amendments to authorizing documents. According to the MSRB,
this allows issuers to avoid the potential cost and delay of obtaining,
by direct solicitation, consents from beneficial owners. However,
according to the MSRB, this approach may result in a dealer consenting
to changes to authorizing documents that adversely affect the interests
of existing bond owners.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The MSRB states that many municipal securities are issued in
book-entry form and registered as a single ``global'' certificate in
the name of a depository. Thus, the identity of beneficial owners of
the bonds is frequently unknown to issuers and trustees.
Additionally, the MSRB states that identifying such owners and
obtaining consents often results in cost and delay in achieving the
requisite number of consents.
\5\ The MSRB represents, that while existing bond owners may be
considered as having agreed to provisions relating to amendments to
the authorizing documents at the time of purchase, such bond owners
are not likely to have anticipated that a dealer, acting as an
underwriter or remarketing agent with no prior or future long-term
economic interest in the bonds, could provide such consent unless
such ability had been specifically authorized in the authorizing
documents and disclosed to bond owners.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The MSRB proposes to amend MSRB Rule G-11, Primary Offering
Practices, to prohibit brokers, dealers and municipal securities
dealers (``dealers'') from providing consents to any amendment to
authorizing documents for municipal securities, either as an
underwriter, a remarketing agent, or as agent for or in lieu of bond
owners, except in certain limited circumstances set forth in proposed
section (l) of Rule G-11.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The MSRB notes that consents from dealers solely in their
capacity as an underwriter or a remarketing agent and required or
permitted in connection with their administrative duties under
authorizing documents are not subject to the proposed rule change.
Further, the MSRB notes that the proposed rule change does not
affect other methods used by issuers to obtain consents from owners
of newly issued bonds, such as consents received from bond owners
upon initial purchase of the bonds.
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Subparagraph (l)(i)(A) will except from the prohibition an
underwriter that provides bond owner consents to changes in authorizing
documents if such documents expressly allowed an underwriter to provide
such consents and the offering documents for the issuer's existing
securities expressly disclosed that consents could be provided by
underwriters of other securities issued under the same authorizing
documents.
Subparagraph (l)(i)(B) will except from the prohibition a dealer
that owns the relevant securities other than in the capacity of an
underwriter or a remarketing agent. The MSRB states that the
determination of whether a dealer owns the securities for purposes of
this exception will depend on whether it purchased such securities
without a view to distribution.
Subparagraph (l)(i)(C) will except a dealer acting as a remarketing
agent to whom the relevant securities had been tendered as a result of
a mandatory tender, provided that all securities affected by the
amendment (other than securities retained by an owner in lieu of a
tender and for which such bond owner had delivered consent) had been
tendered. If a bond owner elects to exercise its right to ``hold''
bonds subject to a mandatory tender in lieu of tendering, the
remarketing agent will be prohibited from providing consents to any
amendment to an authorizing document unless it also receives the
specific written consent of such bond owner to such change.
Subparagraph (l)(i)(D) will except a dealer that provides consent
to changes to authorizing documents solely as agent for and on behalf
of bond owners that delivered separate written consents to such
amendments. An underwriter providing an ``omnibus'' consent under this
subparagraph will not be viewed as substituting its judgment for that
of bond owners but rather as an agent facilitating the collection and
delivery of consents.
Subparagraph (l)(i)(E) will except a dealer, in its capacity as an
underwriter, that provides consent on behalf of prospective purchasers
to amendments to authorizing documents if the amendments would not
become effective until all existing bond owners affected by the
proposed amendments (other than the prospective purchasers for whom the
underwriter had provided consent) had also consented.\7\
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\7\ The MSRB states that this exception recognizes a limited
circumstance in which an underwriter's consent to amendments to
authorizing documents, provided in lieu and on behalf of new
purchasers of bonds, will be permitted. In this case, the
underwriter's consent will not become effective until existing
owners of all bonds (other than the prospective purchasers for whom
the underwriter had provided consent) affected by such amendment and
outstanding at the time such consent became effective had also
provided consent. The MSRB states that this alternative might be
considered when an issuer was in the process of accumulating
consents from all owners of outstanding bonds and had not completed
acquiring the consents prior to issuing a new series of bonds. In
that case, an underwriter's consent on behalf of new purchasers
would not become effective until all other bond owners affected by
the amendment had also provided their consent and such other
consents were currently effective. The MSRB represents that this
exception would not affect an underwriter's ability to provide
consents as permitted in subparagraph (l)(i)(D) of the proposed rule
change.
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Lastly, paragraph (l)(ii) will define certain terms for purposes of
proposed section (l), specifically the terms ``authorizing document,''
\8\ ``bond owner,'' \9\ and ``bond owner consent.'' \10\
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\8\ The MSRB defines the term ``authorizing document'' to mean
the trust indenture, resolution, ordinance, or other document under
which the securities are issued.
\9\ The MSRB defines the term ``bond owner'' as the owner of
municipal securities issued under the applicable authorizing
document.
\10\ The MSRB defines the term ``bond owner consent'' to mean
any consent specified in an authorizing document that may be or is
required to be given by a bond owner pursuant to such authorizing
document.
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III. Discussion and Commission Findings
The Commission has carefully considered the proposed rule change
and finds that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of the
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.\11\ In particular, the
proposed rule change is consistent with Section 15B(b)(2)(C) of the
Act, which provides that the MSRB's rules shall 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.\12\
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\11\ In approving the proposed rule change, the Commission has
considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition,
and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-4(b)(2)(C).
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The Commission believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 15B(b)(2)(C) of the Act, because it should protect
investors by prohibiting consents to amendments to authorizing
documents from a dealer who may be only the temporary owner of the
bonds and thus may not share a bond owner's prior or long-term economic
interest in the bonds, except under limited circumstances set forth in
the rule. The Commission notes that the
[[Page 75400]]
exceptions in the rule to allow dealer consent to changes in
authorizing documents are limited in nature so as to protect existing
bond holders, while addressing concerns of issuers about obtaining
consents to amendments of their authorizing documents in certain
situations. In addition, the Commission believes that the proposed rule
change will enhance transparency regarding the practice of obtaining
bond owner consents from dealers.
At the same time, the Commission notes that the MSRB has
represented that the proposed rule change does not grant an affirmative
right to dealers to provide consents to changes to authorizing
documents and does not alter the dealer's obligations applicable under
other MSRB rules, including its fair dealing obligations under Rule G-
17. Accordingly, dealers may not simply rely on the exceptions
prescribed in the rule but rather are obligated to consider and comply
with their Rule G-17 obligations in seeking to provide consents to
amendments in authorizing documents at the request of an issuer in
accordance with the exceptions provided.
For these reasons, the Commission believes that the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
IV. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the Commission finds that the proposed
rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder applicable to the MSRB, and in
particular, Section 15B(b)(2)(C) of the Act.
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the
Act,\13\ that the proposed rule change (SR-MSRB-2013-08) be, and hereby
is, approved.
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\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\14\
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\14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-29488 Filed 12-10-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
