Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Amending Its Rules Concerning Supervision To Harmonize the Rules With Certain Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Rules and Making Other Conforming Changes, 70237-70250 [2014-27839]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 227 / Tuesday, November 25, 2014 / Notices
wreier-aviles on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
not receive any additional benefit from
having some of its shares listed on the
Capital Market.
A company that listed upon emerging
from bankruptcy currently pays the
minimum annual fee for the year of
listing and subsequent two years.
Allowing such companies that opt in to
the all-inclusive annual fee to also pay
the minimum fee on that fee schedule
during the same period, and forgiving a
portion of the all-inclusive annual fee in
certain merger situations where the
annual fee is similarly forgiven, is not
unreasonable or unfairly discriminatory
because these proposed changes extend
benefits available to companies under
the existing fee schedule to companies
that will be on the all-inclusive fee
schedule, thereby perpetuating features
that the Commission has previously
concluded satisfy the statutory
requirements. Clarifying when a
company receives a credit, instead of a
waiver, and which company involved in
a merger receives that credit or waiver
clarifies Nasdaq’s rules and is not
unreasonable or unfairly discriminatory
because these clarifications give effect to
the intent of the current waivers while
respecting the difference between the
two entities involved in a merger.
Finally, Nasdaq believes that the
proposed fees are consistent with the
investor protection objectives of Section
6(b)(5) of the Act 21 in that they are
designed to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, to remove
impediments to a free and open market
and national market system, and in
general to protect investors and the
public interest. Specifically, the fees are
designed, in part, to ensure that there
are adequate resources for Nasdaq’s
listing compliance program, which
helps to assure that listing standards are
properly enforced and investors are
protected.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
Nasdaq does not believe that the
proposed rule change will result in any
burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act, as amended.
The market for listing services is
extremely competitive and listed
companies may freely choose alternative
venues based on the aggregate fees
assessed, and the value provided by
each listing. This rule proposal does not
burden competition with other listing
venues, which are similarly free to set
their fees. Further, this proposed rule
change would introduce an all-inclusive
annual listing fee, which no other
market currently offers and which may
therefore increase competition with
other listing venues. Nasdaq believes
that this innovative fee proposal reflects
the existing competition between listing
venues and will further enhance such
competition. For these reasons, Nasdaq
does not believe that the proposed rule
change will result in any burden on
competition for listings.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments were either
solicited or received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act 22 and
paragraph (f) of Rule 19b–4
thereunder.23
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of the proposed rule change, the
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend such rule change if
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.
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–
NASDAQ–2014–087 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NASDAQ–2014–087. 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
21 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
23 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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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–
NASDAQ–2014–087 and should be
submitted on or before December 16,
2014.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.24
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–27879 Filed 11–24–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–73640; File No. SR–
NYSEMKT–2014–93]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change Amending Its Rules
Concerning Supervision To Harmonize
the Rules With Certain Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
Rules and Making Other Conforming
Changes
November 19, 2014.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on November
5, 2014, NYSE MKT LLC (‘‘NYSE MKT’’
or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or
24 17
22 15
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70237
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 227 / Tuesday, November 25, 2014 / Notices
‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been
substantially prepared by the Exchange.
The Commission is publishing this
notice to solicit comments on the
proposed rule change from interested
persons. The Exchange has designated
the proposed rule change as constituting
a ‘‘non-controversial’’ rule change under
Rule 19b–4(f)(6) of the Act,3 which
renders the proposal effective upon
receipt of this filing by the Commission.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend its
NYSE MKT rules concerning
supervision to harmonize the rules with
certain Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’) rules and
make other conforming change. The text
of the proposed rule change is available
on the Exchange’s Web site at
www.nyse.com, at the principal office of
the Exchange, 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
Exchange 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 those
statements may be examined at the
places specified in Item IV below. The
Exchange has prepared summaries, set
forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
the most significant parts of such
statements.
wreier-aviles on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend its
rules concerning supervision to
harmonize them with certain FINRA
rules and make other conforming
changes. Set forth below are
descriptions of the harmonization
process, the current NYSE MKT rules,
and the proposed NYSE MKT rules.
Specifically, the Exchange proposes to:
(1) Adopt new rule text that is
substantially similar to FINRA Rules
3110, 3120, 3150, and 3170; (2) delete
the following rules: Rule 342—Equities
(except for certain text in Rule 342.13—
Equities regarding qualifications and
exam requirements for individuals with
3 17
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
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14:41 Nov 24, 2014
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supervisory responsibilities), Rule
351(e)—Equities, Rule 354—Equities,
Rule 401—Equities, and Rule 401A—
Equities; and (3) make other conforming
changes.4
Background
On July 30, 2007, FINRA’s
predecessor, the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (‘‘NASD’’), and
NYSE Regulation, Inc. (‘‘NYSER’’)
consolidated their member firm
regulation operations into a combined
organization, FINRA. Pursuant to Rule
17d–2 under the Act, New York Stock
Exchange LLC (‘‘NYSE’’), NYSER, and
FINRA entered into an agreement (the
‘‘Agreement’’) to reduce regulatory
duplication for their members by
allocating to FINRA certain regulatory
responsibilities for NYSE rules and rule
interpretations (‘‘FINRA Incorporated
NYSE Rules’’).5 The Exchange became a
party to the Agreement effective
December 15, 2008.6
As part of its effort to reduce
regulatory duplication and relieve firms
that are members of FINRA, the
Exchange, and NYSE of conflicting or
unnecessary regulatory burdens, FINRA
is now engaged in the process of
reviewing and amending the NASD and
FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules in
order to create a consolidated FINRA
rulebook.7
FINRA recently harmonized NASD
and FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules
and interpretations concerning
supervision. More particularly, FINRA:
(1) Adopted FINRA Rules 3110 and
3120 to largely replace NASD Rules
3010 and 3012, respectively; (2)
incorporated into FINRA Rule 3110 and
its supplementary material the
requirements of NASD IM–1000–4,
NASD IM–3010–1, FINRA Incorporated
NYSE Rule 401A, and FINRA
4 References to rules are to NYSE MKT rules
unless otherwise indicated.
5 See Exchange Act Release Nos. 56148 (Jul. 26,
2007), 72 FR 42146 (Aug. 1, 2007) (File No. 4–544)
(order approving the Agreement); 56147 (Jul. 26,
2007), 72 FR 42166 (Aug. 1, 2007) (SR–NASD–
2007–054) (order approving the incorporation of
certain NYSE Rules as ‘‘Common Rules’’).
6 See Exchange Act Release No. 60409 (Jul. 30,
2009), 74 FR 39353 (Aug. 6, 2009) (File No. 4–587)
(order approving the amended and restated
Agreement, adding the Exchange as a party).
Paragraph 2(b) of the Agreement sets forth
procedures regarding proposed changes by FINRA,
NYSE or the Exchange to the substance of any of
the Common Rules.
7 FINRA’s rulebook currently has three sets of
rules: (1) NASD Rules, (2) FINRA Incorporated
NYSE Rules, and (3) consolidated FINRA Rules.
The FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules apply only to
those members of FINRA that are also members of
the NYSE (‘‘Dual Members’’), while the
consolidated FINRA Rules apply to all FINRA
members. For more information about the FINRA
rulebook consolidation process, see FINRA
Information Notice, March 12, 2008.
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Incorporated NYSE Rule 342.21; (3)
replaced NASD Rule 3010(b)(2) with
new FINRA Rule 3170; (4) replaced
NASD Rule 3110(i) with new FINRA
Rule 3150; and (5) deleted the following
FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules and
NYSE Rule Interpretations: (i) NYSE
Rule 342 and related NYSE Rule
Interpretations; (ii) NYSE Rule 343 and
related NYSE Rule Interpretations; (iii)
NYSE Rule 351(e) and related NYSE
Rule Interpretation; (iv) NYSE Rule 354;
(v) NYSE Rule 401; and (vi) NYSE Rule
401A.8
FINRA has announced that the
effective date for its rule change will be
December 1, 2014. The Exchange
proposes to make its proposed rule
change effective on the same date as
FINRA and will announce the effective
date via an Information Memo.9
Current Supervision Rules
Rule 342(a)—Equities requires each
office, department or business activity
of a member or member organization
(including foreign incorporated branch
offices) to be under the supervision and
control of the member or member
organization establishing it and of the
personnel delegated such authority and
responsibility. The person in charge of
a group of employees must reasonably
discharge his or her duties and
obligations in connection with
supervision and control of the activities
of those employees related to the
business of their employer and
compliance with securities laws and
regulations.
Rule 342(b)—Equities provides that
the general partners or directors of each
member organization must provide for
appropriate supervisory control and
must designate a general partner or
principal executive to assume overall
authority and responsibility for internal
supervision and control of the
organization and compliance with
securities laws and regulations. This
person must:
• Delegate to qualified principals or
employees responsibility and authority
8 See Exchange Act Release No. 71179 (Dec. 23,
2013), 78 FR 79542 (Dec. 30, 2013) (SR–FINRA–
2013–025).
9 There is one exception. On April 22, 2014, the
Commission issued an order approving proposed
rule changes that coincided with related changes to
Form BR. Specifically, the Exchange deleted Rule
343—Equities, and FINRA deleted the related
FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rule and NYSE Rule
Interpretations. The proposed changes became
effective as of April 7, 2014. See FINRA Regulatory
Notices 14–10 and 14–11 and Exchange Act Release
No. 71988 (Apr. 22, 2014), 79 FR 23393 (Apr. 28,
2014) (SR–NYSEMKT–2014–34). See also Exchange
Act Release No. 73346 (Oct. 14, 2014), 79 FR 62693
(Oct. 20, 2014) (SR–NYSEMKT–2014–88)
(conforming amendments related to the deletion of
NYSE MKT Rule 343—Equities).
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 227 / Tuesday, November 25, 2014 / Notices
for supervision and control of each
office, department or business activity,
and provide for appropriate procedures
of supervision and control; and
• Establish a separate system of
follow-up and review to determine that
the delegated authority and
responsibility is being properly
exercised.
Rule 342(c)—Equities provides that
prior consent of the Exchange must be
obtained for each office established by
a member or member organization, other
than a main office.
Rule 342(d)—Equities provides that
qualified persons acceptable to the
Exchange must be in charge of:
• Any office of a member or member
organization;
• Any regional or other group of
offices; and
• Any sales department or activity.
Rule 342(e)—Equities provides that
the amounts and types of credit
extended by a member organization
must be supervised by members or
principal executives qualified by
experience for such control in the types
of business in which the member
organization extends credit.
Supplementary Materials 342.10–
.30—Equities provide additional
guidance relating to the definition of
branch offices, annual fees, foreign
branch offices, the acceptability of
supervisors, the experience of senior
management, small offices, the
supervision of registered
representatives, the review of
communications with the public,
bookkeeping, the supervision of
producing managers, information
requests, trade review and investigation,
the definition of related financial
instrument, internal controls, annual
branch office inspection, risk-based
surveillance and branch office
identification, criteria for inspection
programs, and annual reports and
certifications.
Rule 351(e)—Equities provides that
each member not associated with a
member organization and a principal
executive of each member organization
must take one or both of the following
two actions in relation to the trades that
are subject to the review procedures
required by Rule 342.21(a)—Equities:
• Sign a written statement in the form
specified in the rule and deliver it to the
Exchange by the 15th day of the month
following the calendar quarter in which
the trade occurred.
• As to any such trade that is the
subject of an internal investigation
pursuant to Rule 342.21(b)—Equities,
but has not been both resolved and
included in the written statement,
report in writing to the Exchange:
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• The commencement of the
internal investigation, the identity of the
trade and the reason why the trade
could not be the subject of the written
statement (report by the 15th day of the
month, following the calendar quarter in
which the trade occurred);
• the quarterly progress of each
open investigation (report by the 15th
day of the month following the quarter);
and
• the completion of the
investigation, detailing the methodology
and results of the investigation, any
internal disciplinary action taken, and
any referral of the matter to the
Exchange, another self-regulatory
organization (‘‘SRO’’), the Commission
or another federal agency, and
including, where no internal
disciplinary action has been taken and
no such referral has been made, a
written statement in relation to the trade
in the form specified below (report
within one week after completion of the
investigation).
Rule 351(e)—Equities also provides
that when a statement pertains to one or
more trades that have been the subject
of an internal investigation pursuant to
Rule 342.21(b)—Equities but as to
which no internal disciplinary action
has been taken and no referral of the
matter to the Exchange, another SRO, or
a federal agency has been made, the
written statement must also refer to the
particular trade(s) (rather than to the
trades of a particular calendar quarter)
and must omit the clause excepting
trades reported as the subject of an
investigation.
Rule 354(a)—Equities provides that,
by April 1 of each year, each member
organization must submit a copy of its
Rule 342.30—Equities annual report on
supervision and compliance to its
control person(s) or, if the member
organization has no control person, to
the audit committee of its Board of
Directors or its equivalent committee or
group. In the case of a control person
that is an organization (a ‘‘controlling
organization’’), the member organization
must submit the report to the general
counsel of the controlling organization
and to the audit committee of the
controlling organization’s Board of
Directors or its equivalent committee or
group.
Rule 354(b)—Equities provides that,
for the purpose of Rule 354(a)—Equities,
‘‘control person’’ means a person who
controls the member organization
within the meaning of Rule 2—Equities
otherwise than solely by virtue of being
a director, general partner, or principal
executive (or person occupying a similar
status or performing similar functions)
of the member organization.
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70239
Rule 401(b)—Equities provides that
each member and member organization
must maintain written policies and
procedures, administered pursuant to
the internal control requirements
prescribed under Rule 342.23—Equities,
specifically with respect to the
following activities:
• Transmittals of funds (e.g., wires,
checks, etc.) or securities:
• from customer accounts to thirdparty accounts (i.e., a transmittal that
would result in a change of beneficial
ownership);
• from customer accounts to outside
entities (e.g., banks, investment
companies, etc.);
• from customer accounts to locations
other than a customer’s primary
residence (e.g., post office box, ‘‘in care
of’’ accounts, alternate address, etc.);
and
• between customers and registered
representatives (including the handdelivery of checks).
• Customer changes of address.
• Customer changes of investment
objectives.
The policies and procedures required
under Rule 401(b)(1), (2), and (3)—
Equities must include a means/method
of customer confirmation, notification,
or follow-up that can be documented.
Rule 401A(a)—Equities provides that,
for every customer complaint they
receive that is subject to the reporting
requirements of Rule 4530(d)—
Equities,10 members and member
organizations must:
• Acknowledge receipt of the
complaint within 15 business days of
receiving it, and
• Respond to the issues raised in the
complaint within a reasonable period of
time.
Rule 401A(b)—Equities provides that
each acknowledgement and response
required by this rule must be conveyed
to the complaining customer by an
appropriate method. More specifically:
• Acknowledgements and responses
to written complaints must be either:
• in writing, mailed to the
complaining customer’s last known
address, or
• electronically transmitted to the
email address from which the complaint
10 Originally, firms had to acknowledge and
respond to both written and oral customer
complaints. However, as part of the effort to
harmonize the NASD and NYSE MKT rules in the
interim period before completion of the
Consolidated FINRA Rulebook, current Rule
4530(d)—Equities was amended to limit the
definition of ‘‘customer complaint’’ to include only
written complaints, thereby making the definition
substantially similar to that in FINRA Rule 4530(d).
The Exchange adopted the text of FINRA Rule 4530
to replace comparable provisions in Rule 351. See
Exchange Act Release No. 64784 (Jun. 30, 2011), 76
FR 39947 (Jul. 7, 2011) (SR–NYSEAmex–2011–42).
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was sent (method only permissible for
electronically transmitted complaints).
• Acknowledgements and responses
to verbal complaints must be either:
• in writing, mailed to the
complaining customer’s last known
address, or
• made verbally to the complaining
customer, and recorded in a log of
verbal acknowledgements and responses
to customer complaints.
Rule 401A(c)—Equities provides that
written records of the
acknowledgements, responses, and logs
required by this rule must be retained in
accordance with Rule 440—Equities.
wreier-aviles on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to delete the
foregoing rules relating to supervision
(except as noted below), which are, in
main part, either duplicative of, or do
not align with, the proposed supervision
requirements discussed below, and
adopt the text of FINRA Rules 3110,
3120, 3150, and 3170, subject to certain
technical and conforming changes.11 As
noted in Rule 0—Equities, NYSE MKT
rules that refer to NYSER, NYSER staff
or departments, Exchange staff, and
Exchange departments should be
understood as also referring to FINRA
staff and FINRA departments acting on
behalf of the Exchange pursuant to the
Agreement, as applicable.
The Exchange proposes to retain the
requirements contained in Rule
342.13(a) and (b)—Equities regarding
qualifications and exam requirements
for individuals with supervisory
responsibilities. The proposed new
version of Rule 342(a)—Equities,
corresponding to current Rule
342.13(a)—Equities, would provide that
any member or employee identified as
in charge of: (1) any office of a member
or member organization, (2) any regional
or other group of offices, or (3) any sales
department or activity must have a
creditable record and pass the General
Securities Sales Supervisor
Qualification Examination (Series 9/10)
or another examination acceptable to
the Exchange. The proposed new
version of Rule 342(a) would also adopt
the current requirement contained in
the Interpretation to NYSE Rule 342 12
11 The technical and conforming changes are that
the Exchange would: (1) Substitute the term
‘‘member organization’’ for ‘‘member,’’ (2)
substitute the term ‘‘Exchange’’ for ‘‘FINRA,’’ (3)
change certain cross-references to FINRA rules to
cross-references to Exchange rules, and (4) add
supplementary material to define the term
‘‘associated person’’ in proposed Rules 3110—
Equities, 3120—Equities, and 3150—Equities.
12 Exchange Rule 342 is based on the counterpart
rule of its NYSE affiliate, which recently amended
its rules concerning supervision to harmonize with
those of FINRA. See Exchange Act Release No.
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that every branch office or sales
manager must have at least three years’
experience as a registered representative
or substantial experience in a related
sales or managerial position and must
pass the Series 9/10.
Further, the proposed new version of
Rule 342(a)—Equities would adopt the
current examples of a related sales or
managerial position in the Interpretation
to NYSE Rule 342 and the requirement
that in order to qualify as a supervisory
person, a principal executive 13 should
have at least three years’ experience as
a registered representative unless
granted an exception. The proposed
new version of Rule 342(a)—Equities
would also incorporate from the related
NYSE Interpretation that the General
Securities Principal Examination (Series
24) is an acceptable alternative for
persons whose duties do not include the
supervision of options or municipal
securities sales activity and that the
examination requirement may be
waived at the discretion of the
Exchange. Finally, the proposed new
version of Rule 342(a)—Equities would
incorporate the requirement from the
NYSE Interpretation that in the case of
a firm applying for registered brokerdealer status, the supervisory candidates
must have at least one year of direct
experience or two years of related
experience in the subject area to be
supervised in addition to the
requirements outlined above.
The proposed new version of Rule
342(b)—Equities, corresponding to
current Rule 342.13(b)—Equities, would
provide that the individuals designated
as having day-to-day compliance
responsibilities for their respective
firms, or who supervise ten or more
persons engaged in compliance
activities, have the knowledge necessary
to carry out their job responsibilities
(i.e., overall knowledge of the securities
laws and Exchange rules) and pass the
Compliance Official Examination (the
‘‘Series 14’’) or, in the case of
compliance supervisors of member
organizations that conduct a Designated
Market Maker (‘‘DMM’’) business, the
DMM Compliance Official Examination
73554 (Nov. 6, 2014), 79 FR 67508 (Nov. 13, 2014)
(SR–NYSE–2014–56) (incorporating into NYSE Rule
342 the requirement from the related NYSE
Interpretation that every branch office or sales
manager must have at least three years’ experience
as a registered representative or substantial
experience in a related sales or managerial position
and must pass the Series 9/10).
13 The Interpretation to NYSE Rule 342 refers to
‘‘allied members,’’ a category the NYSE and the
Exchange eliminated and replaced with ‘‘principal
executive,’’ which has substantially the same
meaning. See Exchange Act Release Nos. 58549
(Sept. 15, 2008), 73 FR 54444 (Sept. 19, 2008) (SR–
NYSE–2008–80); 559022 (Nov. 26, 2008), 73 FR
73683 (Dec. 3, 2008) (SR–NYSEALTR–2008–10).
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Sfmt 4703
(the ‘‘Series 14A’’). The proposed new
version of Rule 342(b)—Equities would
also adopt the current requirement in
the Interpretation to NYSE Rule 342 that
member organizations engaged in a
public business in addition to a DMM
business must have a qualified
compliance supervisor who has passed
both the Series 14 and Series 14A
Examinations. Finally, the proposed
new version of Rule 342(b)—Equities
would incorporate the following
exemptions from the Series 14
Examination requirement contained in
the Interpretation to NYSE Rule 342:
• Compliance supervisors at member
organizations whose activities are solely
related to execution of orders on the
Exchange trading floor and who do not
conduct any business with the public;
• Compliance supervisors at member
organizations whose commissions and
other fees from public business (retail
and institutional) are under $500,000 in
the preceding calendar year and who
introduce to another broker-dealer; and
• Supervisors of ten or more persons
whose compliance responsibilities are
limited to the registration of member
organization employees with the various
regulators and SROs.
Proposed Rule 3110—Equities
(Supervision)
Proposed Rule 3110—Equities is
based primarily on requirements in the
FINRA rulebook and current Rule 342—
Equities relating to, among other things,
supervisory systems, written
procedures, internal inspections, and
review of correspondence.
Proposed Rule 3110(a)—Equities
Proposed Rule 3110(a)—Equities
would cover supervisory systems and
would require each member
organization to establish and maintain a
system to supervise the activities of
each associated person that is
reasonably designed to achieve
compliance with applicable securities
laws and regulations, and with
applicable Exchange rules. Under the
proposed rule, final responsibility for
proper supervision would rest with the
member organization. In addition, a
member organization’s supervisory
system would be required to provide, at
a minimum, for the following:
• The establishment and maintenance
of written procedures as required by
proposed Rule 3110—Equities.
• The designation, where applicable,
of an appropriately registered principal
with authority to carry out the
supervisory responsibilities of the
member organization for each type of
business in which it engages for which
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registration as a broker-dealer is
required.
• The registration and designation as
a branch office or an office of
supervisory jurisdiction (‘‘OSJ’’) of each
location, including the main office, that
meets the definitions contained in
proposed Rule 3110(e)—Equities.14
• The designation of one or more
appropriately registered principals in
each OSJ and one or more appropriately
registered representatives or principals
in each non-OSJ branch office with
authority to carry out the supervisory
responsibilities assigned to that office
by the member organization.
• The assignment of each registered
person to an appropriately registered
representative or principal who would
be responsible for supervising that
person’s activities.
• The use of reasonable efforts to
determine that all supervisory personnel
are qualified, either by virtue of
experience or training, to carry out their
assigned responsibilities.
• The participation of each registered
representative and registered principal,
either individually or collectively, no
less than annually, in an interview or
meeting conducted by persons
designated by the member organization
at which compliance matters relevant to
the activities of the representative and
principal are discussed, which may
occur in conjunction with the
discussion of other matters and may be
conducted at a central or regional
location or at the representative’s or
principal’s place of business.
Proposed Rule 3110(b)—Equities
In proposed Rule 3110(b)—Equities,
the Exchange proposes to consolidate
provisions from current Rule 401A—
Equities relating to the review of
customer complaints, with various
provisions and rules from the FINRA
rulebook that currently require written
procedures, including provisions
relating to the supervision and review of
registered representatives’ transactions
and correspondence. In addition,
proposed supplementary material,
which is discussed in detail below,
would codify and expand guidance in
these areas.
Proposed Rule 3110(b)(1)—Equities
would address written procedures and
would require each member
organization to establish, maintain, and
enforce written procedures to supervise
the types of business in which it
14 Although to date the Exchange and FINRA have
used the same definition for ‘‘branch office,’’ the
Exchange has not previously designated OSJs. As
such, the requirements relating to OSJs described
hereinafter would be new for member
organizations.
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engages and the activities of its
associated persons that are reasonably
designed to achieve compliance with
applicable securities laws and
regulations and applicable Exchange
rules.
Under proposed Rule 3110(b)(2)—
Equities, the supervisory procedures
required by proposed Rule 3110(b)—
Equities would include procedures for
the review by a registered principal,
evidenced in writing, of all transactions
relating to the investment banking or
securities business of the member
organization. Consistent with FINRA
Rule 3110(b)(3), proposed Rule
3110(b)(3)—Equities would be marked
‘‘Reserved.’’
Under proposed Rule 3110(b)(4)—
Equities, the supervisory procedures
required by proposed Rule 3110(b)—
Equities would also include procedures
for the review of incoming and outgoing
written (including electronic)
correspondence and internal
communications relating to the member
organization’s investment banking or
securities business and be appropriate
for the member organization’s business,
size, structure, and customers. The
supervisory procedures would require
the member organization’s review of:
• Incoming and outgoing written
(including electronic) correspondence to
properly identify and handle in
accordance with firm procedures,
customer complaints, instructions,
funds and securities, and
communications that are of a subject
matter that require review under
Exchange rules and federal securities
laws; and
• Internal communications to
properly identify those communications
that are of a subject matter that require
review under Exchange rules and
federal securities laws.
Such reviews must be conducted by a
registered principal and must be
evidenced in writing, either
electronically or on paper. Those
communications include (without
limitation):
• Communications between nonresearch and research departments
concerning a research report’s contents
(Rule 472(b)(3)—Equities);
• Certain communications with the
public that require a principal’s preapproval (Rule 2210—Equities); and
• The identification and reporting to
the Exchange of customer complaints
(Rule 4530—Equities).15
15 With respect to customer complaints, proposed
Rule 3110(b)(5)—Equities also would affirmatively
require members to capture, acknowledge, and
respond to all written (including electronic)
customer complaints.
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Proposed Rule 3110(b)(5)—Equities,
would require a member organization’s
supervisory procedures to include
procedures to capture, acknowledge,
and respond to all written (including
electronic) customer complaints,
essentially incorporating the customer
complaint requirement in current Rule
401A—Equities, including the
limitation on including only written
(including electronic) customer
complaints. The Exchange believes that
oral complaints are difficult to capture
and assess, and that they raise
competing views as to the substance of
the complaint being alleged.
Consequently, the Exchange believes
that oral complaints do not lend
themselves as effectively to a review
program as written complaints, which
are more readily documented and
retained. However, the Exchange
reminds member organizations that the
failure to address any customer
complaint, written or oral, may be a
violation of Rule 2010—Equities.
Under proposed Rule 3110(b)(6)—
Equities, the supervisory procedures
required by proposed Rule 3110(b)—
Equities must set forth the supervisory
system established by the member
organization pursuant to proposed Rule
3110(a)—Equities, and would include:
• The titles, registration status, and
locations of the required supervisory
personnel and the responsibilities of
each supervisory person as these relate
to the types of business engaged in,
applicable securities laws and
regulations, and Exchange rules.
• A record, preserved by the member
organization for a period of not less than
three years, the first two years in an
easily accessible place, of the names of
all persons who are designated as
supervisory personnel and the dates for
which such designation is or was
effective.
• Procedures prohibiting associated
persons who perform a supervisory
function from:
• Supervising their own activities;
and
• Reporting to, or having their
compensation or continued employment
determined by, a person or persons they
are supervising.
• If a member organization
determines, with respect to any of its
supervisory personnel, that compliance
with the preceding two bullets is not
possible because of the member
organization’s size or a supervisory
personnel’s position within the firm, the
member organization would be required
to document:
• The factors the member
organization used to reach such
determination; and
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• How the supervisory arrangement
with respect to such supervisory
personnel otherwise complies with
proposed Rule 3110(a)—Equities.
• Procedures reasonably designed to
prevent the supervisory system required
pursuant to proposed Rule 3110(a)—
Equities from being compromised due to
the conflicts of interest that may be
present with respect to the associated
person being supervised, including the
position of such person, the revenue
such person generates for the firm, or
any compensation that the associated
person conducting the supervision may
derive from the associated person being
supervised.16
Proposed Rule 3110(b)(7)—Equities
would require a member organization to
keep and maintain a copy of its written
supervisory procedures, or such
relevant portions, in each OSJ and at
each location where supervisory
activities are conducted on behalf of the
member organization. Each member
organization would be required to
promptly amend its written supervisory
procedures to reflect changes in
applicable securities laws or
regulations, including Exchange rules,
and as changes occur in its supervisory
system. Each member organization
would be responsible for promptly
communicating its written supervisory
procedures and amendments to all
associated persons to whom such
written supervisory procedures and
amendments are relevant based on their
activities and responsibilities.
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Proposed Rule 3110(c)—Equities
Proposed Rule 3110(c)—Equities
would cover internal inspections.
Proposed Rule 3110(c)(1)—Equities
would require each member
organization to conduct a review, at
least annually (on a calendar-year basis),
of the businesses in which it engages.
The review must be reasonably designed
to assist the member organization in
detecting and preventing violations of,
and achieving compliance with,
applicable securities laws and
regulations, and with applicable
Exchange rules. Each member
organization would be required to
review the activities of each office,
which would include the periodic
examination of customer accounts to
detect and prevent irregularities or
abuses. Each member organization
would also be required to retain a
written record of the date upon which
each review and inspection is
conducted.
16 The Exchange currently does not have a
comparable rule.
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In addition, proposed Rule
3110(c)(1)—Equities would require each
member organization to inspect at least
annually (on a calendar-year basis)
every OSJ and any branch office that
supervises one or more non-branch
locations. Each member organization
would also be required to inspect at
least every three years every branch
office that does not supervise one or
more non-branch locations. In
establishing how often to inspect each
non-supervisory branch office, the
member organization would be required
to consider whether the nature and
complexity of the securities activities
for which the location is responsible,
the volume of business done at the
location, and the number of associated
persons assigned to the location require
the non-supervisory branch office to be
inspected more frequently than every
three years. If a member organization
establishes a more frequent inspection
cycle, the member organization would
be required to ensure that at least every
three years, the inspection requirements
enumerated in proposed Rule
3110(c)(2)—Equities have been met. The
member organization’s written
supervisory and inspection procedures
would have to set forth the nonsupervisory branch office examination
cycle, an explanation of the factors the
member organization used in
determining the frequency of the
examinations in the cycle, and the
manner in which a member organization
would comply with proposed Rule
3110(c)(2)—Equities if using more
frequent inspections than every three
years.
Under proposed Rule 3110(c)(1)—
Equities, each member organization
would also be required to inspect every
non-branch location on a regular,
periodic schedule. In establishing such
schedule, the member organization
would be required to consider the
nature and complexity of the securities
activities for which the location is
responsible and the nature and extent of
contact with customers. The member
organization’s written supervisory and
inspection procedures would have to set
forth the schedule and an explanation
regarding how the member organization
determined the frequency of the
examination.
Proposed Rule 3110(c)(2)—Equities
would require that the inspection and
review by a member organization
pursuant to proposed Rule 3110(c)(1)—
Equities be reduced to a written report
and kept on file by the member
organization for a minimum of three
years, unless the inspection is being
conducted pursuant to proposed Rule
3110(c)(1)(C)—Equities and the regular
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periodic schedule is longer than a threeyear cycle, in which case the report
would have to be kept on file at least
until the next inspection report has been
written. If applicable to the location
being inspected, proposed Rule
3110(c)(2)(A)—Equities would require
that location’s written inspection report
to include, without limitation, the
testing and verification of the member
organization’s policies and procedures,
including supervisory policies and
procedures in the following areas:
• Safeguarding of customer funds and
securities;
• Maintaining books and records;
• Supervision of supervisory
personnel;
• Transmittals of funds (e.g., wires or
checks, etc.) or securities from
customers to third-party accounts; from
customer accounts to outside entities
(e.g., banks, investment companies,
etc.); from customer accounts to
locations other than a customer’s
primary residence (e.g., post office box,
‘‘in care of’’ accounts, alternate address,
etc.); and between customers and
registered representatives, including the
hand-delivery of checks; and
• Changes of customer account
information, including address and
investment objectives changes and
validation of such changes.
Under proposed Rule 3110(c)(2)(B)—
Equities, the policies and procedures
regarding transmittals of funds must
include a means or method of customer
confirmation, notification, or follow-up
that can be documented. Member
organizations could use reasonable riskbased criteria to determine the
authenticity of the transmittal
instructions. Under proposed Rule
3110(c)(2)(C)—Equities, the policies and
procedures regarding changes in
customer account information would
have to include, for each change
processed, a means or method of
customer confirmation, notification, or
follow-up that can be documented and
that complies with Rules 17a–
3(a)(17)(i)(B)(2) and 17a–3(a)(17)(i)(B)(3)
under the Act.17
Pursuant to proposed Rule
3110(c)(2)(D)—Equities, if a member
organization does not engage in all of
the activities enumerated in the bullets
immediately above at the location being
inspected, the member organization
would be required to identify those
activities in the member organization’s
written supervisory procedures or the
location’s written inspection report and
document in the member organization’s
written supervisory procedures or the
17 17 CFR 240.17a–3(a)(17)(i)(B)(2) and 17 CFR
240.17a–3(a)(17)(i)(B)(3).
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location’s written inspection report that
supervisory policies and procedures for
such activities must be in place at that
location before the member organization
can engage in them.
Under proposed Rule 3110(c)(3)—
Equities, for each inspection conducted
pursuant to the proposed rule, a
member organization would be required
to:
• Have procedures reasonably
designed to prevent the effectiveness of
inspections from being compromised
due to conflicts of interest that may be
present with respect to the location
being inspected, including but not
limited to, economic, commercial, or
financial interests in the associated
persons and businesses being inspected;
and
• Ensure that the person conducting
an inspection is not an associated
person assigned to the location or is not
directly or indirectly supervised by, or
otherwise reporting to, an associated
person assigned to the location.18
By way of comparison, under current
Rules 342.24—Equities and 342.25—
Equities, each branch office must be
inspected annually, unless the member
organization obtained an exemption by
submitting to the Exchange written
policies and procedures for systematic
risk-based surveillance of its branch
offices, in which case each branch office
must be inspected at least every three
years. The proposed subject matter
requirements for inspection reports are
substantially the same as the current
subject matter requirements.
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Proposed Rule 3110(d)—Equities
Section 15(g) of the Act, adopted as
part of the Insider Trading and
Securities Fraud Enforcement Act of
1988,19 requires every registered broker
or dealer to establish, maintain, and
enforce written policies and procedures
reasonably designed to prevent the
misuse of material, non-public
information by the broker or dealer or
any associated person of the broker or
dealer.20 Current Rule 342.21—Equities
sets forth specific supervisory
procedures for compliance with Section
15(g) by requiring firms to review trades
in Exchange-listed or Exchange-traded
18 If a member organization determines that
compliance with this requirement is not possible
either because of a member organization’s size or
its business model, the member organization would
be required to document in the inspection report
both the factors the member organization used to
make its determination and how the inspection
otherwise complies with proposed Rule
3110(c)(1)—Equities.
19 See Insider Trading and Securities Fraud
Enforcement Act of 1988, Pub. L. 100–704, 102 Stat.
4677.
20 15 U.S.C. 78o(g).
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securities and related financial
instruments that are effected for the
member organization’s account or for
the accounts of the member
organization’s employees and family
members. Current Rule 342.21—Equities
also requires member organizations to
promptly conduct an internal
investigation into any trade the firm
identifies that may have violated insider
trading laws or rules.
Proposed Rule 3110(d)—Equities
incorporates provisions of current Rule
342.21—Equities, with some
modifications, and extends the
requirement beyond Exchange-listed
and Exchange-traded securities and
related financial instruments to cover all
securities.
Proposed Rule 3110(d)—Equities
would cover transaction reviews and
investigations. Proposed Rule
3110(d)(1)—Equities would require each
member organization to include in its
supervisory procedures a process for the
review of securities transactions
reasonably designed to identify trades
that may violate the provisions of the
Act, the rules thereunder, or Exchange
rules prohibiting insider trading and
manipulative and deceptive devices that
are effected for the:
• Accounts of the member
organization;
• Accounts introduced or carried by
the member organization in which a
person associated with the member
organization has a beneficial interest or
the authority to make investment
decisions;
• Accounts of a person associated
with the member organization that are
disclosed to the member organization
pursuant to Rule 407—Equities or
NASD Rule 3050, as applicable; and
• Covered accounts.
Under proposed Rule 3110(d)(2)—
Equities, each member organization
would be required to promptly conduct
an internal investigation into any such
trade to determine whether a violation
of those laws or rules has occurred.
In addition, under proposed Rule
3110(d)(3)—Equities, a member
organization engaging in investment
banking services would be required to
file written reports with the Exchange,
signed by a senior officer of the member
organization, at such times and, without
limitation, including such content, as
follows:
• Within ten business days of the end
of each calendar quarter, a written
report describing each internal
investigation initiated in the previous
calendar quarter pursuant to proposed
Rule 3110(d)(2)—Equities, including the
identity of the member organization, the
date each internal investigation
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70243
commenced, the status of each open
internal investigation, the resolution of
any internal investigation reached
during the previous calendar quarter,
and, with respect to each internal
investigation, the identity of the
security, trades, accounts, associated
persons of the member organization, or
associated person of the member
organization’s family members holding
a covered account, under review, and
that includes a copy of the member
organization’s policies and procedures
required by proposed Rule 3110(d)(1)—
Equities.
• Within five business days of
completion of an internal investigation
pursuant to proposed Rule 3110(d)(2)—
Equities in which it was determined
that a violation of the provisions of the
Act, the rules thereunder, or Exchange
rules prohibiting insider trading and
manipulative and deceptive devices had
occurred, a written report detailing the
completion of the investigation,
including the results of the
investigation, any internal disciplinary
action taken, and any referral of the
matter to the Exchange, another SRO,
the SEC, or any other federal, state, or
international regulatory authority.
For purposes of proposed Rule
3110(d)(4)—Equities, the following
definitions would apply:
• The term ‘‘covered account’’ would
include any account introduced or
carried by the member organization that
is held by:
• The spouse of a person associated
with the member organization;
• A child of the person associated
with the member organization or such
person’s spouse, provided that the child
resides in the same household as or is
financially dependent upon the person
associated with the member
organization;
• Any other related individual over
whose account the person associated
with the member organization has
control; or
• Any other individual over whose
account the associated person of the
member organization has control and to
whose financial support such person
materially contributes.
• The term ‘‘investment banking
services’’ would include, without
limitation, acting as an underwriter,
participating in a selling group in an
offering for the issuer, or otherwise
acting in furtherance of a public offering
of the issuer; acting as a financial
adviser in a merger or acquisition;
providing venture capital or equity lines
of credit or serving as placement agent
for the issuer or otherwise acting in
furtherance of a private offering of the
issuer.
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Proposed Rule 3110(e)—Equities
Proposed Rule 3110(e)—Equities
would define ‘‘OSJ’’ and ‘‘branch
office.’’ As noted above, ‘‘OSJ’’ would be
a new designation for the Exchange and
the definition of the term would
substantially mirror FINRA’s definition.
The term ‘‘OSJ’’ would mean any office
of a member organization at which any
one or more of the following functions
take place:
• Order execution or market making;
• Structuring of public offerings or
private placements;
• Maintaining custody of customers’
funds or securities;
• Final acceptance (approval) of new
accounts on behalf of the member
organization;
• Review and endorsement of
customer orders;
• Final approval of retail
communications for use by persons
associated with the member
organization, pursuant to Rule
2210(b)(1)—Equities, except for an
office that solely conducts final
approval of research reports; or
• Responsibility for supervising the
activities of persons associated with the
member organization at one or more
other branch offices of the member
organization.
The definition of ‘‘branch office’’
would be substantially the same as
current Rule 342.10—Equities. It would
mean any location where one or more
associated persons of a member
organization regularly conducts the
business of effecting any transactions in,
or inducing or attempting to induce the
purchase or sale of, any security, or is
held out as such, excluding:
• Any location that is established
solely for customer service or back
office type functions where no sales
activities are conducted and that is not
held out to the public as a branch office;
• Any location that is the associated
person’s primary residence, provided
that:
• Only one associated person, or
multiple associated persons who reside
at that location and are members of the
same immediate family, conduct
business at the location;
• The location is not held out to the
public as an office and the associated
person does not meet with customers at
the location;
• Neither customer funds nor
securities are handled at that location;
• The associated person is assigned
to a designated branch office, and such
designated branch office is reflected on
all business cards, stationery, retail
communications and other
communications to the public by such
associated person;
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• The associated person’s
correspondence and communications
with the public are subject to the firm’s
supervision in accordance with
proposed Rule 3110—Equities;
• Electronic communications (e.g.,
email) are made through the member
organization’s electronic system;
• All orders are entered through the
designated branch office or an electronic
system established by the member
organization that is reviewable at the
branch office;
• Written supervisory procedures
pertaining to supervision of sales
activities conducted at the residence are
maintained by the member organization;
and
• A list of the residence locations is
maintained by the member organization.
• Any location, other than a primary
residence, that is used for securities
business for less than 30 business
days 21 in any one calendar year,
provided the member organization
complies with the first eight of the nine
immediately preceding bullet points;
• Any office of convenience, where
associated persons occasionally and
exclusively by appointment meet with
customers, which is not held out to the
public as an office; 22
• Any location that is used primarily
to engage in non-securities activities
and from which the associated person(s)
effects no more than 25 securities
transactions in any one calendar year;
provided that any retail communication
identifying such location also sets forth
the address and telephone number of
the location from which the associated
person(s) conducting business at the
non-branch locations are directly
supervised;
• The floor of a registered national
securities exchange where a member
organization conducts a direct access
business with public customers; or
• A temporary location established in
response to the implementation of a
business continuity plan.
Notwithstanding the exclusions for
branch offices described above, any
location that is responsible for
supervising the activities of persons
associated with the member
organization at one or more non-branch
21 The term ‘‘business day’’ would not include
any partial business day provided that the
associated person spends at least four hours on
such business day at his or her designated branch
office during the hours that such office is normally
open for business.
22 Where such office of convenience is located on
bank premises, signage necessary to comply with
applicable federal and state laws, rules and
regulations and applicable rules and regulations of
other SROs, and securities and banking regulators
could be displayed and would not be deemed
‘‘holding out’’ for purposes of this section.
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locations of the member organization
would be considered a branch office.
Proposed Supplementary Materials to
Proposed Rule 3110—Equities
Proposed Supplementary Material .01
to Rule 3110—Equities would require a
member organization’s main office
location to be registered and designated
as a branch office or OSJ if it meets the
definitions of a ‘‘branch office’’ or
‘‘office of supervisory jurisdiction’’ as
set forth in proposed Rule 3110(e)—
Equities. In general, the nature of
activities conducted at a main office
will satisfy the requirements of such
terms.
Proposed Supplementary Material .02
to Rule 3110—Equities would provide
that, in addition to the locations that
meet the definition of OSJ in proposed
Rule 3110(e)—Equities, each member
organization must also register and
designate other offices as OSJs as is
necessary to supervise its associated
persons in accordance with the
standards set forth in proposed Rule
3110—Equities. In making a
determination as to whether to
designate a location as an OSJ, the
member organization should consider
the following factors:
• Whether registered persons at the
location engage in retail sales or other
activities involving regular contact with
public customers;
• Whether a substantial number of
registered persons conduct securities
activities at, or are otherwise supervised
from, such location;
• Whether the location is
geographically distant from another OSJ
of the firm;
• Whether the member organization’s
registered persons are geographically
dispersed; and
• Whether the securities activities at
such location are diverse or complex.
Proposed Supplementary Material .03
to Rule 3110—Equities would provide
additional guidance relating to proposed
Rule 3110(a)(4)—Equities, which would
require a member organization to
designate one or more appropriately
registered principals in each OSJ with
the authority to carry out the
supervisory responsibilities assigned to
that office (‘‘on-site principal’’). The
proposed Supplementary Material
would provide that the designated onsite principal for each OSJ must have a
physical presence, on a regular and
routine basis, at each OSJ for which the
principal has supervisory
responsibilities. Consequently, there
would be a general presumption that a
principal will not be designated and
assigned to be the on-site principal
pursuant to proposed Rule 3110(a)(4)—
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Equities to supervise more than one
OSJ. If a member organization
determines it is necessary to designate
and assign one appropriately registered
principal to be the on-site principal
pursuant to proposed Rule 3110(a)(4)—
Equities to supervise two or more OSJs,
the member organization would be
required to take into consideration,
among others, the following factors:
• Whether the on-site principal is
qualified by virtue of experience and
training to supervise the activities and
associated persons in each location;
• Whether the on-site principal has
the capacity and time to supervise the
activities and associated persons in each
location;
• Whether the on-site principal is a
producing registered representative;
• Whether the OSJ locations are in
sufficiently close proximity to ensure
that the on-site principal is physically
present at each location on a regular and
routine basis; and
• The nature of activities at each
location, including size and number of
associated persons, scope of business
activities, the nature and complexity of
products and services offered, volume of
business done, the disciplinary history
of persons assigned to such locations,
and any other indicators of irregularities
or misconduct.
The proposed Supplementary
Material would provide that a member
organization must establish, maintain,
and enforce written supervisory
procedures regarding the supervision of
all OSJs. In all cases where a member
organization designates and assigns one
on-site principal to supervise more than
one OSJ, the member organization
would be required to document in the
member organization’s written
supervisory and inspection procedures
the factors used to determine why the
member organization considers such
supervisory structure to be reasonable,
and the determination by the member
organization will be subject to scrutiny.
Proposed Supplementary Material .04
to Rule 3110—Equities would provide
that a member organization is not
required to conduct in-person meetings
with each registered person or group of
registered persons to comply with the
annual compliance meeting (or
interview) required by proposed Rule
3110(a)(7)—Equities. A member
organization that chooses to conduct
compliance meetings using other
methods (e.g., on-demand webcast or
course, video conference, interactive
classroom setting, telephone, or other
electronic means) would be required to
ensure, at a minimum, that each
registered person attends the entire
meeting (e.g., an on-demand annual
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compliance webcast would require each
registered person to use a unique user
ID and password to gain access and use
a technology platform to track the time
spent on the webcast, provide click-asyou go confirmation, and have an
attestation of completion at the end of
a webcast) and is able to ask questions
regarding the presentation and receive
answers in a timely fashion (e.g., an ondemand annual compliance webcast
that allows registered persons to ask
questions via an email to a presenter or
a centralized address or via a telephone
hotline and receive timely responses
directly or view such responses on the
member organization’s intranet site).
Proposed Supplementary Material .05
to Rule 3110—Equities would provide
that a member organization could use a
risk-based review system to comply
with proposed Rule 3110(b)(2)—
Equities’ requirement that a registered
principal review all transactions relating
to the investment banking or securities
business of the member organization. A
member organization would not be
required to conduct detailed reviews of
each transaction if it is using a
reasonably designed risk-based review
system that provides the member
organization with sufficient information
that permits it to focus on the areas that
pose the greatest numbers and risks of
violation.
Proposed Supplementary Material .06
to Rule 3110—Equities would provide
that, by employing risk-based
principles, a member organization must
decide the extent to which additional
policies and procedures for the review
of:
• Incoming and outgoing written
(including electronic) correspondence
that fall outside of the subject matters
listed in proposed Rule 3110(b)(4)—
Equities are necessary for its business
and structure. If a member
organization’s procedures do not require
that all correspondence be reviewed
before use or distribution, the
procedures must provide for:
• The education and training of
associated persons regarding the firm’s
procedures governing correspondence;
• The documentation of such
education and training; and
• Surveillance and follow-up to
ensure that such procedures are
implemented and followed.
• Internal communications that are
not of a subject matter that require
review under Exchange rules and
federal securities laws are necessary for
its business and structure.
Proposed Supplementary Material .07
to Rule 3110—Equities would provide
that the evidence of review required in
proposed Rule 3110(b)(4)—Equities
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must be chronicled either electronically
or on paper and must clearly identify
the reviewer, the internal
communication or correspondence that
was reviewed, the date of review, and
the actions taken by the member
organization as a result of any
significant regulatory issues identified
during the review. Merely opening a
communication would not be sufficient
review.
Proposed Supplementary Material .08
to Rule 3110—Equities would provide
that, in the course of the supervision
and review of correspondence and
internal communications required by
proposed Rule 3110(b)(4)—Equities, a
supervisor/principal may delegate
certain functions to persons who need
not be registered. However, the
supervisor/principal would remain
ultimately responsible for the
performance of all necessary
supervisory reviews, irrespective of
whether he or she delegates functions
related to the review. Accordingly,
supervisors/principals would have to
take reasonable and appropriate action
to ensure delegated functions are
properly executed and would be
required to evidence performance of
their procedures sufficiently to
demonstrate overall supervisory control.
Proposed Supplementary Material .09
to Rule 3110—Equities would provide
that each member organization must
retain the internal communications and
correspondence of associated persons
relating to the member organization’s
investment banking or securities
business for the period of time and
accessibility specified in Rule 17a–4(b)
under the Act. The names of the persons
who prepared outgoing correspondence
and who reviewed the correspondence
would have to be ascertainable from the
retained records, and the retained
records would have to be readily
available to the Exchange, upon request.
Proposed Supplementary Material .10
to Rule 3110—Equities would provide
that a member organization’s
determination that it is not possible to
comply with proposed Rules
3110(b)(6)(C)(i)—Equities or
(b)(6)(C)(ii)—Equities prohibiting
supervisory personnel from supervising
their own activities and from reporting
to, or otherwise having compensation or
continued employment determined by,
a person or persons they are supervising
generally will arise in instances where:
• The member organization is a sole
proprietor in a single-person firm;
• A registered person is the member
organization’s most senior executive
officer (or similar position); or
• A registered person is one of several
of the member organization’s most
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senior executive officers (or similar
positions).
Proposed Supplementary Material .11
to Rule 3110—Equities would provide
that a member organization may use
electronic media to satisfy its obligation
to communicate its written supervisory
procedures, and any amendment
thereto, pursuant to proposed Rule
3110(b)(7)—Equities, provided that:
• The written supervisory procedures
have been promptly communicated to,
and are readily accessible by, all
associated persons to whom such
supervisory procedures apply based on
their activities and responsibilities
through, for example, the member
organization’s intranet system;
• All amendments to the written
supervisory procedures are promptly
posted to the member organization’s
electronic media;
• Associated persons are notified
when amendments relevant to their
activities and responsibilities have been
made to the written supervisory
procedures;
• The member organization has
reasonable procedures to monitor and
maintain the security of the material
posted to ensure that it cannot be
altered by unauthorized persons; and
• The member organization retains
current and prior versions of its written
supervisory procedures in compliance
with the applicable record retention
requirements of Rule 17a–4(e)(7) under
the Act.
Proposed Supplementary Material .12
to Rule 3110—Equities would provide
that, in fulfilling its obligations under
proposed Rule 3110(c)—Equities, each
member organization must conduct a
review, at least annually, of the
businesses in which it engages. The
review would have to be reasonably
designed to assist in detecting and
preventing violations of and achieving
compliance with applicable securities
laws and regulations and with Exchange
rules. Each member organization would
be required to establish and maintain
supervisory procedures that must take
into consideration, among other things,
the firm’s size, organizational structure,
scope of business activities, number and
location of the firm’s offices, the nature
and complexity of the products and
services offered by the firm, the volume
of business done, the number of
associated persons assigned to a
location, the disciplinary history of
registered representatives or associated
persons, and any indicators of
irregularities or misconduct (i.e., ‘‘red
flags’’), etc. The procedures established
and reviews conducted would have to
provide that the quality of supervision
at remote locations is sufficient to
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ensure compliance with applicable
securities laws and regulations and with
Exchange rules. A member organization
would have to be especially diligent in
establishing procedures and conducting
reasonable reviews with respect to a
non-branch location where a registered
representative engages in securities
activities. Based on the factors outlined
above, member organizations might
need to impose reasonably designed
supervisory procedures for certain
locations or may need to provide for
more frequent reviews of certain
locations.
Proposed Supplementary Material .13
to Rule 3110—Equities would provide
additional guidance to proposed Rule
3110(c)(1)(C)—Equities, which would
require a member organization to
inspect on a regular periodic schedule
every non-branch location. In
establishing a non-branch location
inspection schedule, there would be a
general presumption that a non-branch
location will be inspected at least every
three years, even in the absence of any
indicators of irregularities or
misconduct (i.e., ‘‘red flags’’). If a
member organization establishes a
longer periodic inspection schedule, the
member organization would be required
to document in its written supervisory
and inspection procedures the factors
used in determining that a longer
periodic inspection cycle is appropriate.
Proposed Supplementary Material .14
to Rule 3110—Equities would provide
that a member organization’s
determination that it is not possible to
comply with proposed Rule
3110(c)(3)(B)—Equities with respect to
who is not allowed to conduct a
location’s inspection will generally arise
in instances where:
• The member organization has only
one office; or
• The member organization has a
business model where small or singleperson offices report directly to an OSJ
manager who is also considered the
offices’ branch office manager.
Proposed Supplementary Material .15
to Rule 3110—Equities would provide a
definition for ‘‘associated person’’ for
the purposes of proposed Rule 3110—
Equities.
Proposed Rule 3120—Equities
(Supervisory Control System)
Proposed Rule 3120(a)—Equities,
which is based on FINRA Rule 3120(a),
would provide that each member
organization must designate and
specifically identify to the Exchange one
or more principals who must establish,
maintain, and enforce a system of
supervisory control policies and
procedures that:
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• Test and verify that the member
organization’s supervisory procedures
are reasonably designed with respect to
the activities of the member
organization and its associated persons,
to achieve compliance with applicable
securities laws and regulations, and
with applicable Exchange rules; and
• Create additional or amend
supervisory procedures where the need
is identified by such testing and
verification.
Similar to the requirements of current
Rule 342.30—Equities, the designated
principal or principals would be
required to submit to the member
organization’s senior management no
less than annually, a report detailing
each member organization’s system of
supervisory controls, the summary of
the test results and significant identified
exceptions, and any additional or
amended supervisory procedures
created in response to the test results.
Proposed Rule 3120(b)—Equities
would provide that each report
provided to senior management
pursuant to proposed Rule 3120(a)—
Equities in the calendar year following
a calendar year in which a member
organization reported $200 million or
more in gross revenue must include, to
the extent applicable to the member
organization’s business:
• A tabulation of the reports
pertaining to customer complaints and
internal investigations made to the
Exchange during the preceding year;
and
• Discussion of the preceding year’s
compliance efforts, including
procedures and educational programs,
in each of the following areas:
• Trading and market activities;
• Investment banking activities;
• Antifraud and sales practices;
• Finance and operations;
• Supervision; and
• Anti-money laundering.
The categories listed above are
incorporated from the annual report
content requirements of current Rule
342.30—Equities, which apply to all
member organizations regardless of
revenue. The proposed rule change
seeks to mitigate compliance costs and
burdens with respect to proposed Rule
3120—Equities’ annual reporting
requirements by requiring that only
member organizations reporting $200
million or more in gross revenues in the
preceding year include in their annual
reports supplemental information from
current Rule 342.30—Equities’ annual
report content requirements. The
Exchange also believes that the
proposed threshold strikes the
appropriate balance as it encompasses
larger member organizations, member
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organizations engaged in significant
underwriting activities and substantial
trading activities or market making
business, and member organizations
with extensive sales platforms.
Proposed Rule 3120(c)—Equities
would provide that, for purposes of
proposed Rule 3120(b)—Equities, ‘‘gross
revenue’’ is defined as:
• Total revenue as reported on
FOCUS Form Part II or IIA (line item
4030) less commodities revenue (line
item 3990), if applicable; or
• Total revenue as reported on
FOCUS Form Part II CSE (line item
4030) less, if applicable:
• Commissions on commodity
transactions (line item 3991); and
• Commodities gains or losses (line
items 3924 and 3904).
Proposed Supplementary Material .01
to Rule 3120—Equities would provide a
definition for ‘‘associated person’’ for
the purposes of proposed Rule 3120—
Equities.
Proposed Rule 3150—Equities (Holding
of Customer Mail)
Proposed Rule 3150(a)—Equities
would provide that a member
organization may hold mail for a
customer who will not be receiving mail
at his or her usual address, provided
that:
• The member organization receives
written instructions from the customer
that include the time period during
which the member organization is
requested to hold the customer’s mail. If
the requested time period included in
the instructions is longer than three
consecutive months (including any
aggregation of time periods from prior
requests), the customer’s instructions
must include an acceptable reason for
the request (e.g., safety or security
concerns). Convenience is not an
acceptable reason for holding mail
longer than three months;
• The member organization:
• Informs the customer in writing
of any alternate methods, such as email
or access through the member
organization’s Web site, that the
customer may use to receive or monitor
account activity and information; and
• Obtains the customer’s
confirmation of the receipt of such
information; and
• The member organization verifies at
reasonable intervals that the customer’s
instructions still apply.
Proposed Rule 3150(b)—Equities
would provide that, during the time that
a member organization is holding mail
for a customer, the member organization
must be able to communicate with the
customer in a timely manner to provide
important account information (e.g.,
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privacy notices and the Securities
Investor Protection Corporation
information disclosures required by
Rule 2266—Equities), as necessary.
Proposed Rule 3150(c)—Equities
would provide that a member
organization holding a customer’s mail
pursuant to proposed Rule 3150—
Equities must take actions reasonably
designed to ensure that the customer’s
mail is not tampered with, held without
the customer’s consent, or used by an
associated person of the member
organization in any manner that would
violate Exchange rules or the federal
securities laws.
The Exchange currently does not have
a rule comparable to proposed Rule
3150—Equities. The Exchange believes
that adding proposed Rule 3150—
Equities would help protect customers.
Proposed Supplementary Material .01
to Rule 3150—Equities would provide a
definition for ‘‘associated person’’ for
the purposes of proposed Rule 3150—
Equities.
Proposed Rule 3170—Equities (Tape
Recording of Registered Persons by
Certain Firms)
Proposed Rule 3170(a)—Equities
would provide the following definitions
for purposes of proposed Rule 3170—
Equities:
• The term ‘‘registered person’’ would
mean any person registered with the
Exchange.
• The term ‘‘disciplined firm’’ would
mean:
• A member organization that, in
connection with sales practices
involving the offer, purchase, or sale of
any security, has been expelled from
membership or participation in any
securities industry SRO or is subject to
an order of the SEC revoking its
registration as a broker-dealer;
• A futures commission merchant
or introducing broker that has been
formally charged by either the
Commodity Futures Trading
Commission or a registered futures
association with deceptive
telemarketing practices or promotional
material relating to security futures,
those charges have been resolved, and
the futures commission merchant or
introducing broker has been closed
down and permanently barred from the
futures industry as a result of those
charges; or
• A futures commission merchant
or introducing broker that, in
connection with sales practices
involving the offer, purchase, or sale of
security futures is subject to an order of
the SEC revoking its registration as a
broker or dealer.
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70247
• The term ‘‘disciplinary history’’
would mean a finding of a violation by
a registered person in the past five years
by the SEC, an SRO, or a foreign
financial regulatory authority of one or
more of the following provisions (or
comparable foreign provision) or rules
or regulations thereunder:
• Violations of the types
enumerated in Section 15(b)(4)(E) of the
Act;
• Section 15(c) of the Act;
• Section 17(a) of the Securities Act
of 1933;
• Rules 10b–5 and 15g–1 through
15g–9 under the Act;
• NASD Rule 2110 (Standards of
Commercial Honor and Principles of
Trade) or FINRA Rule 2010 (Standards
of Commercial Honor and Principles of
Trade) or Rule 2010—Equities
(Standards of Commercial Honor and
Principles of Trade) or NYSE MKT Rule
476(a)(6) (Failure to Observe High
Standards of Commercial Honor and
Just and Equitable Principles of Trade)
(only if the finding of a violation of
NASD Rule 2110, FINRA Rule 2010,
Rule 2010—Equities or NYSE MKT Rule
476(a)(6) is for unauthorized trading,
churning, conversion, material
misrepresentations or omissions to a
customer, front-running, trading ahead
of research reports or excessive
markups), FINRA Rule 5280 (Trading
Ahead of Research Reports), NASD Rule
2120 (Use of Manipulative, Deceptive or
Other Fraudulent Devices) or FINRA
Rule 2020 (Use of Manipulative,
Deceptive or Other Fraudulent Devices)
or Rule 2020—Equities (Use of
Manipulative, Deceptive or Other
Fraudulent Devices) or NYSE MKT Rule
476(a)(5) (effecting any transaction in, or
inducing the purchase or sale of, any
security by means of any manipulative,
deceptive or other fraudulent device or
contrivance), NASD Rule 2310
(Recommendations to Customers
(Suitability)) or FINRA Rule 2111
(Suitability) or Rule 405—Equities
(Diligence as to Accounts), NASD Rule
2330 (Customers’ Securities or Funds)
or FINRA Rule 2150 (Improper Use of
Customers’ Securities or Funds;
Prohibition Against Guarantees and
Sharing in Accounts) or Rule 2150—
Equities (Improper Use of Customers’
Securities or Funds; Prohibition Against
Guarantees and Sharing in Accounts),
NASD Rule 2440 (Fair Prices and
Commissions), NASD Rule 3010
(Supervision) or FINRA Rule 3110
(Supervision) or Rule 3110—Equities
(Supervision) or NYSE MKT Rule 342
(Offices—Approval, Supervision and
Control) (failure to supervise only for
both NASD Rule 3010, FINRA Rule
3110, Rule 3110—Equities or NYSE
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MKT Rule 342), NASD Rule 3310
(Publication of Transactions and
Quotations) or FINRA Rule 5210
(Publication of Transactions and
Quotations), and NASD Rule 3330
(Payment Designed to Influence Market
Prices, Other than Paid Advertising) or
FINRA Rule 5230 (Payments Involving
Publications that Influence the Market
Price of a Security), and MSRB Rules G–
19, G–30, and G–37(b) & (c).
• The term ‘‘tape recording’’ would
include without limitation, any
electronic or digital recording that meets
the requirements of proposed Rule
3170—Equities.
• The term ‘‘taping firm’’ would
mean:
• A member organization with at
least five but fewer than ten registered
persons, where 40% or more of its
registered persons have been associated
with one or more disciplined firms in a
registered capacity within the last three
years;
• A member organization with at
least ten but fewer than twenty
registered persons, where four or more
of its registered persons have been
associated with one or more disciplined
firms in a registered capacity within the
last three years;
• A member organization with at
least twenty registered persons where
20% or more of its registered persons
have been associated with one or more
disciplined firms in a registered
capacity within the last three years.
• For purposes of calculating the
number of registered persons who have
been associated with one or more
disciplined firms in a registered
capacity within the last three years
pursuant to proposed Rule 3170(a)(5)—
Equities, member organizations should
not include registered persons who:
• Have been registered for an
aggregate total of 90 days or less with
one or more disciplined firms within
the past three years; and
• Do not have a disciplinary
history.
Proposed Rule 3170(b)—Equities
would provide that each member
organization that either is notified by
the Exchange or otherwise has actual
knowledge that it is a taping firm must
establish, maintain, and enforce special
written procedures for supervising the
telemarketing activities of all of its
registered persons. A taping firm
required to establish, maintain, and
enforce special written procedures
pursuant to proposed Rule 3170(b)—
Equities would have to establish and
implement the procedures within 60
days of receiving notice from the
Exchange or obtaining actual knowledge
that it is a taping firm.
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The procedures required by proposed
Rule 3170(b)—Equities would include
procedures for tape recording all
telephone conversations between the
taping firm’s registered persons and
both existing and potential customers
and for reviewing the tape recordings to
ensure compliance with applicable
securities laws and regulations and
applicable Exchange rules. The
procedures would have to be
appropriate for the taping firm’s
business, size, structure, and customers,
and must be maintained for a period of
three years from the date that the taping
firm establishes and implements the
procedures. All tape recordings made
pursuant to the requirements of
proposed Rule 3170(b)—Equities would
have to be retained for a period of not
less than three years from the date the
tape was created, the first two years in
an easily accessible place. Each taping
firm would be required to catalog the
retained tapes by registered person and
date. By the 30th day of the month
following the end of each calendar
quarter, each taping firm subject to the
requirements of proposed Rule
3170(b)—Equities would have to submit
to the Exchange a report on the taping
firm’s supervision of the telemarketing
activities of its registered persons.
Proposed Rule 3170(c)—Equities
would provide that a member
organization that becomes a taping firm
for the first time may reduce its staffing
levels to fall below the threshold levels
within 30 days after receiving notice
from the Exchange pursuant to the
provisions of proposed Rule
3170(b)(1)—Equities or obtaining actual
knowledge that it is a taping firm,
provided the member organization
promptly notifies the Exchange’s
Department of Member Regulation in
writing of its becoming subject to the
rule. Once the member organization has
reduced its staffing levels to fall below
the threshold levels, it could not rehire
a person terminated to accomplish the
staff reduction for a period of 180 days.
On or prior to reducing staffing levels
pursuant to proposed Rule 3170(c)—
Equities, a member organization would
be required to provide the Exchange’s
Department of Member Regulation with
written notice identifying the
terminated person(s).
Proposed Rule 3170(d)—Equities
would provide that the Exchange may,
in exceptional circumstances, taking
into consideration all relevant factors,
exempt any taping firm unconditionally
or on specified terms and conditions
from the requirements of proposed Rule
3170—Equities. A taping firm seeking
an exemption would be required to file
a written application with the
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Exchange 23 within 30 days after
receiving notice from the Exchange or
obtaining actual knowledge that it is a
taping firm. A member organization that
becomes a taping firm for the first time
could elect to reduce its staffing levels
pursuant to the provisions of proposed
Rule 3170(c)—Equities or, alternatively,
could seek an exemption pursuant to
proposed Rule 3170(d)—Equities, as
appropriate. A taping firm could not
seek relief from proposed Rule 3170—
Equities by both reducing its staffing
levels pursuant to proposed Rule
3170(c)—Equities and requesting an
exemption.
The Exchange does not currently have
a rule comparable to proposed Rule
3170–Equities. The Exchange believes
that adopting proposed Rule 3170–
Equities would provide for more
effective supervision of member
organizations that have a significant
number of registered persons with
disciplinary history, thereby resulting is
enhanced customer protection.
Conforming Changes
The Exchange also proposes to make
certain conforming changes to Rules
476A, 36–Equities, 70–Equities, 86–
Equities, 345–Equities, 405–Equities,
407–Equities, 408–Equities, 410–
Equities, 416A–Equities, 472–Equities,
and 2210–Equities to delete or update
cross-references to the proposed rules as
applicable. The Exchange also proposes
certain technical changes within Rule
86–Equities, which are unrelated to this
proposal.24
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b) of the Act,25 in general, and
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5)
of the Act,26 in particular, because it is
designed to promote just and equitable
23 FINRA Rule 3170(d) requires written
applications for an exemption to be made pursuant
to the FINRA Rule 9600 Series, which sets forth the
procedures for seeking exemptive relief. The
Exchange has not adopted the FINRA Rule 9600
Series, and therefore proposes that a taping firm
seeking an exemption file a written application
with the Exchange within 30 days after receiving
notice from the Exchange or obtaining actual
knowledge that it is a taping firm.
24 The Exchange proposes to update a cross
reference in Rule 86—Equities, which should refer
to Rule 4522—Equities instead of Rule 440—
Equities. See Exchange Act Release No. 64887 (Jul.
14, 2011), 76 FR 43357 (Jul. 20, 2011) (SR–
NYSEAmex–2011–51). NYSE submitted a similar
proposal at that time, which included the change
to NYSE Rule 86 that the Exchange is proposing
herein. See Exchange Act Release No. 64888 (Jul.
14, 2011), 76 FR 43366 (Jul. 20, 2011) (SR–NYSE–
2011–33). The Exchange also proposes to update a
reference to Rules 17a–3 and 17a–4 of the Act.
25 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
26 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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principles of trade and to remove
impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market
and a national market system.
Specifically, the Exchange believes that
the proposed rule change supports the
objectives of the Act by providing
greater harmonization between
Exchange rules and FINRA rules of
similar purpose, resulting in less
burdensome and more efficient
regulatory compliance. In particular,
Exchange member organizations that are
also FINRA members are subject to
Exchange supervisory rules and FINRA
Rules 3110, 3120, 3150, and 3170, and
harmonizing these rules by adopting
proposed Rules 3110–Equities, 3120–
Equities, 3150–Equities, and 3170–
Equities would promote just and
equitable principles of trade by
requiring a single standard for
supervision. The Exchange believes that
to the extent it has proposed changes
that differ from the FINRA version of
the Exchange rules, such changes are
generally technical in nature and do not
change the substance of the proposed
rules. The Exchange also believes that
the proposed rule change would update
and add specificity to the requirements
governing supervision, which would
promote just and equitable principles of
trade and help to protect investors. As
such the Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change meets the
requirements of Section 6(b)(5) of the
Act.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will result in
any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act. The
Exchange believes that the proposed
rule change is not intended to address
competitive issues but rather to achieve
greater consistency between the
Exchange’s rules and FINRA’s rules
concerning supervision.
wreier-aviles on DSK4TPTVN1PROD 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 Exchange has filed the proposed
rule change pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 27 and Rule
27 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:41 Nov 24, 2014
Jkt 235001
19b–4(f)(6) thereunder.28 Because the
proposed rule change does not: (i)
Significantly affect the protection of
investors or the public interest; (ii)
impose any significant burden on
competition; and (iii) become operative
prior to 30 days from the date on which
it was filed, or such shorter time as the
Commission may designate, if
consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest, the
proposed rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)
of the Act and Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii)
thereunder.
A proposed rule change filed under
Rule 19b–4(f)(6) normally does not
become operative prior to 30 days after
the date of the filing.29 However,
pursuant to Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii), the
Commission may designate a shorter
period of time if such action is
consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest.30 The
Exchange has asked the Commission to
waive the 30-day operative delay so that
the proposal may become operative
immediately upon filing.
The Commission believes that
waiving the 30-day operative delay is
consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest,
because it allows the Exchange to
immediately conform its supervision
rules to corresponding FINRA rules.
This will ensure that dual members of
the Exchange and FINRA generally will
be subject to a single set of rules
governing supervision. As noted by the
Exchange, the proposal will harmonize
NYSE MKT and FINRA rules, resulting
in less burdensome and more efficient
regulatory compliance. In addition, the
proposal will update and add specificity
to the Exchange’s requirements
governing supervision, which will
promote just and equitable principles of
trade and help to protect investors. For
these reasons, the Commission
designates the proposed rule change to
be operative upon filing.31
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of such proposed rule change, the
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend such rule change if
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
28 17
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
29 Id.
30 17
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).
purposes of waiving the 30-day operative
delay, the SEC has considered the proposed rule’s
impact on efficiency, competition, and capital
formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
31 For
PO 00000
Frm 00094
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
70249
under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act to
determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or
disapproved.32
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–
NYSEMKT–2014–93 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSEMKT–2014–93. 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 Section, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549–1090 on official
business days between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
filing will also be available for
inspection and copying at the NYSE’s
principal office. 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–2014–93 and should be
submitted on or before December 16,
2014.
32 15
E:\FR\FM\25NON1.SGM
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
25NON1
70250
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 227 / Tuesday, November 25, 2014 / Notices
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.33
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–27839 Filed 11–24–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–73644; File No. SR–NSCC–
2014–10]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
National Securities Clearing
Corporation; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change To Clarify That Federal
Reserve Banks, Central
Counterparties, and Central Securities
Depositories Shall Not Be Considered
Either ‘‘Mandatory Purchaser
Participants’’ or ‘‘Voluntary Purchaser
Participants’’
November 19, 2014.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on November
12, 2014, National Securities Clearing
Corporation (‘‘NSCC’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I, II and III
below, which Items have been prepared
by NSCC. NSCC filed the proposed rule
change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) 3
of the Act and Rule 19b–4(f)(1) 4
thereunder. The proposed rule change
was effective upon filing with the
Commission. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
wreier-aviles on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
I. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
Terms of Substance of the Proposed
Rule Change
The proposed rule change consists of
amendments to Rule 64 Rules &
Procedures (‘‘Rules’’) of NSCC in order
to clarify that Federal Reserve Banks,
central counterparties, and central
securities depositories shall not be
considered either ‘‘Mandatory Purchaser
Participants’’ or ‘‘Voluntary Purchaser
Participants’’ as such terms are defined
therein, as more fully described below.
33 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
4 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(1).
1 15
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:41 Nov 24, 2014
II. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the
Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission,
NSCC 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. NSCC has prepared
summaries, set forth in sections A, B,
and C below, of the most significant
aspects of such statements.
(A) Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the
Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
Pursuant to the Third Amended and
Restated Shareholders Agreement, dated
as of December 7, 2005 (‘‘Shareholders
Agreement’’), by and among The
Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation
(‘‘DTCC’’), The Depository Trust
Company (‘‘DTC’’), NSCC, Fixed Income
Clearing Corporation (‘‘FICC’’) and the
other parties thereto, and NSCC Rule 64:
(1) Members (as such term is defined in
the Rules 5) other than non-U.S. based
central securities depositories are
required to be ‘‘Mandatory Purchaser
Participants’’ (as such term is defined in
Rule 64) and be parties to the
Shareholders Agreement; (2) users
whose use of NSCC is more limited and
does not include the guaranteed
services, i.e., Fund Members, Insurance
Carrier/Retirement Services Members,
Municipal Comparison Only Members,
and Mutual Fund/Insurance Services
Members (as such terms are defined in
the Rules), are permitted, but not
required, to purchase and own shares of
DTCC common stock (‘‘Common
Shares’’) and be parties to the
Shareholders Agreement; and (3) all
other users i.e., Data Services Only
Members, Commission Billing Members,
Settling Bank Only Members,
Investment Manager/Agent Members,
TPP Members, TPA Members, AIP
Members, and AIP Settling Bank Only
Members (as such terms are defined in
the Rules), are not permitted to
purchase and own Common Shares or
be parties to the Shareholders
Agreement.
NSCC is proposing to amend Rule 64,
as marked on Exhibit 5 hereto, in order
to make clear Federal Reserve Banks,
central counterparties, and central
securities depositories shall not be
considered either Mandatory Purchaser
Participants or Voluntary Purchaser
5 NSCC’s Rules are available at https://dtcc.com/
legal/rules-and-procedures.aspx.
Jkt 235001
PO 00000
Frm 00095
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Participants (as such terms are defined
in Rule 64). NSCC has interpreted Rule
64 to exclude from its provisions: (1)
Federal Reserve Banks, because it was
never intended that such governmental
authorities should be required to own
shares in DTCC notwithstanding that
they may use certain services of NSCC;
and (2) central counterparties and
central securities depositories, because
link arrangements between NSCC and
these entities are for the purpose of
extending clearing agency services
across borders or among closely related
activities and products, but not for
ownership purposes.
2. Statutory Basis
The proposed rule change is
consistent with the Act, and the rules
and regulations thereunder, in
particular Section 17A(b)(3)(C) which
requires that the rules of NSCC ‘‘assure
a fair representation of its shareholders
(or members) and participants in the
selection of its directors and
administration of its affairs . . . [and
the Commission] may determine that
the representation of participants is fair
if they are afforded a reasonable
opportunity to acquire voting stock of
the clearing agency, directly or
indirectly, in reasonable proportion to
their use of such clearing agency.’’ 6
NSCC implements and meets this
requirement through NSCC Rule 64,
which afford NSCC’s Members a
reasonable opportunity to acquire voting
stock indirectly in the clearing agency
in reasonable proportion to their use of
the clearing agency.7 The proposed rule
change constitutes a stated policy,
practice, or interpretation with respect
to the meaning, administration, or
enforcement of this existing rule.
(B) Clearing Agency’s Statement on
Burden on Competition
The proposed rule change will not
have any impact, or impose any burden,
on competition.
(C) Clearing Agency’s Statement on
Comments on the Proposed Rule
Change Received From Members,
Participants, or Others
Written comments relating to the
proposed rule change have not yet been
solicited or received. NSCC will notify
6 15
U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(C).
Commission orders approving NSCC and
DTC’s rule filings which implemented the current
stock ownership structure that satisfies the fair
representation requirements. Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 41800 (August 27, 1999), 64 FR
48694 (September 7, 1999) (SR–NSCC–1999–10);
and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 41786
(August 24, 1999), 64 FR 47882 (September 1, 1999)
(SR–DTC–1999–17).
7 See
E:\FR\FM\25NON1.SGM
25NON1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70237-70250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27839]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-73640; File No. SR-NYSEMKT-2014-93]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Amending Its Rules
Concerning Supervision To Harmonize the Rules With Certain Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Rules and Making Other Conforming
Changes
November 19, 2014.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the ``Act'') and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given
that on November 5, 2014, NYSE MKT LLC (``NYSE MKT'' or ``Exchange'')
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or
[[Page 70238]]
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been substantially prepared by the Exchange.
The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the
proposed rule change from interested persons. The Exchange has
designated the proposed rule change as constituting a ``non-
controversial'' rule change under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) of the Act,\3\ which
renders the proposal effective upon receipt of this filing by the
Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
\3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend its NYSE MKT rules concerning
supervision to harmonize the rules with certain Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc. (``FINRA'') rules and make other conforming
change. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the
Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the
Exchange, 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 Exchange 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 those statements may be examined at the places specified in
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant parts of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend its rules concerning supervision to
harmonize them with certain FINRA rules and make other conforming
changes. Set forth below are descriptions of the harmonization process,
the current NYSE MKT rules, and the proposed NYSE MKT rules.
Specifically, the Exchange proposes to: (1) Adopt new rule text that is
substantially similar to FINRA Rules 3110, 3120, 3150, and 3170; (2)
delete the following rules: Rule 342--Equities (except for certain text
in Rule 342.13--Equities regarding qualifications and exam requirements
for individuals with supervisory responsibilities), Rule 351(e)--
Equities, Rule 354--Equities, Rule 401--Equities, and Rule 401A--
Equities; and (3) make other conforming changes.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ References to rules are to NYSE MKT rules unless otherwise
indicated.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background
On July 30, 2007, FINRA's predecessor, the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (``NASD''), and NYSE Regulation, Inc.
(``NYSER'') consolidated their member firm regulation operations into a
combined organization, FINRA. Pursuant to Rule 17d-2 under the Act, New
York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE''), NYSER, and FINRA entered into an
agreement (the ``Agreement'') to reduce regulatory duplication for
their members by allocating to FINRA certain regulatory
responsibilities for NYSE rules and rule interpretations (``FINRA
Incorporated NYSE Rules'').\5\ The Exchange became a party to the
Agreement effective December 15, 2008.\6\
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\5\ See Exchange Act Release Nos. 56148 (Jul. 26, 2007), 72 FR
42146 (Aug. 1, 2007) (File No. 4-544) (order approving the
Agreement); 56147 (Jul. 26, 2007), 72 FR 42166 (Aug. 1, 2007) (SR-
NASD-2007-054) (order approving the incorporation of certain NYSE
Rules as ``Common Rules'').
\6\ See Exchange Act Release No. 60409 (Jul. 30, 2009), 74 FR
39353 (Aug. 6, 2009) (File No. 4-587) (order approving the amended
and restated Agreement, adding the Exchange as a party). Paragraph
2(b) of the Agreement sets forth procedures regarding proposed
changes by FINRA, NYSE or the Exchange to the substance of any of
the Common Rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As part of its effort to reduce regulatory duplication and relieve
firms that are members of FINRA, the Exchange, and NYSE of conflicting
or unnecessary regulatory burdens, FINRA is now engaged in the process
of reviewing and amending the NASD and FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules in
order to create a consolidated FINRA rulebook.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ FINRA's rulebook currently has three sets of rules: (1) NASD
Rules, (2) FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules, and (3) consolidated FINRA
Rules. The FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules apply only to those members
of FINRA that are also members of the NYSE (``Dual Members''), while
the consolidated FINRA Rules apply to all FINRA members. For more
information about the FINRA rulebook consolidation process, see
FINRA Information Notice, March 12, 2008.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINRA recently harmonized NASD and FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules
and interpretations concerning supervision. More particularly, FINRA:
(1) Adopted FINRA Rules 3110 and 3120 to largely replace NASD Rules
3010 and 3012, respectively; (2) incorporated into FINRA Rule 3110 and
its supplementary material the requirements of NASD IM-1000-4, NASD IM-
3010-1, FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rule 401A, and FINRA Incorporated NYSE
Rule 342.21; (3) replaced NASD Rule 3010(b)(2) with new FINRA Rule
3170; (4) replaced NASD Rule 3110(i) with new FINRA Rule 3150; and (5)
deleted the following FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules and NYSE Rule
Interpretations: (i) NYSE Rule 342 and related NYSE Rule
Interpretations; (ii) NYSE Rule 343 and related NYSE Rule
Interpretations; (iii) NYSE Rule 351(e) and related NYSE Rule
Interpretation; (iv) NYSE Rule 354; (v) NYSE Rule 401; and (vi) NYSE
Rule 401A.\8\
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\8\ See Exchange Act Release No. 71179 (Dec. 23, 2013), 78 FR
79542 (Dec. 30, 2013) (SR-FINRA-2013-025).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINRA has announced that the effective date for its rule change
will be December 1, 2014. The Exchange proposes to make its proposed
rule change effective on the same date as FINRA and will announce the
effective date via an Information Memo.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ There is one exception. On April 22, 2014, the Commission
issued an order approving proposed rule changes that coincided with
related changes to Form BR. Specifically, the Exchange deleted Rule
343--Equities, and FINRA deleted the related FINRA Incorporated NYSE
Rule and NYSE Rule Interpretations. The proposed changes became
effective as of April 7, 2014. See FINRA Regulatory Notices 14-10
and 14-11 and Exchange Act Release No. 71988 (Apr. 22, 2014), 79 FR
23393 (Apr. 28, 2014) (SR-NYSEMKT-2014-34). See also Exchange Act
Release No. 73346 (Oct. 14, 2014), 79 FR 62693 (Oct. 20, 2014) (SR-
NYSEMKT-2014-88) (conforming amendments related to the deletion of
NYSE MKT Rule 343--Equities).
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Current Supervision Rules
Rule 342(a)--Equities requires each office, department or business
activity of a member or member organization (including foreign
incorporated branch offices) to be under the supervision and control of
the member or member organization establishing it and of the personnel
delegated such authority and responsibility. The person in charge of a
group of employees must reasonably discharge his or her duties and
obligations in connection with supervision and control of the
activities of those employees related to the business of their employer
and compliance with securities laws and regulations.
Rule 342(b)--Equities provides that the general partners or
directors of each member organization must provide for appropriate
supervisory control and must designate a general partner or principal
executive to assume overall authority and responsibility for internal
supervision and control of the organization and compliance with
securities laws and regulations. This person must:
Delegate to qualified principals or employees
responsibility and authority
[[Page 70239]]
for supervision and control of each office, department or business
activity, and provide for appropriate procedures of supervision and
control; and
Establish a separate system of follow-up and review to
determine that the delegated authority and responsibility is being
properly exercised.
Rule 342(c)--Equities provides that prior consent of the Exchange
must be obtained for each office established by a member or member
organization, other than a main office.
Rule 342(d)--Equities provides that qualified persons acceptable to
the Exchange must be in charge of:
Any office of a member or member organization;
Any regional or other group of offices; and
Any sales department or activity.
Rule 342(e)--Equities provides that the amounts and types of credit
extended by a member organization must be supervised by members or
principal executives qualified by experience for such control in the
types of business in which the member organization extends credit.
Supplementary Materials 342.10-.30--Equities provide additional
guidance relating to the definition of branch offices, annual fees,
foreign branch offices, the acceptability of supervisors, the
experience of senior management, small offices, the supervision of
registered representatives, the review of communications with the
public, bookkeeping, the supervision of producing managers, information
requests, trade review and investigation, the definition of related
financial instrument, internal controls, annual branch office
inspection, risk-based surveillance and branch office identification,
criteria for inspection programs, and annual reports and
certifications.
Rule 351(e)--Equities provides that each member not associated with
a member organization and a principal executive of each member
organization must take one or both of the following two actions in
relation to the trades that are subject to the review procedures
required by Rule 342.21(a)--Equities:
Sign a written statement in the form specified in the rule
and deliver it to the Exchange by the 15th day of the month following
the calendar quarter in which the trade occurred.
As to any such trade that is the subject of an internal
investigation pursuant to Rule 342.21(b)--Equities, but has not been
both resolved and included in the written statement, report in writing
to the Exchange:
The commencement of the internal investigation, the
identity of the trade and the reason why the trade could not be the
subject of the written statement (report by the 15th day of the month,
following the calendar quarter in which the trade occurred);
the quarterly progress of each open investigation (report
by the 15th day of the month following the quarter); and
the completion of the investigation, detailing the
methodology and results of the investigation, any internal disciplinary
action taken, and any referral of the matter to the Exchange, another
self-regulatory organization (``SRO''), the Commission or another
federal agency, and including, where no internal disciplinary action
has been taken and no such referral has been made, a written statement
in relation to the trade in the form specified below (report within one
week after completion of the investigation).
Rule 351(e)--Equities also provides that when a statement pertains
to one or more trades that have been the subject of an internal
investigation pursuant to Rule 342.21(b)--Equities but as to which no
internal disciplinary action has been taken and no referral of the
matter to the Exchange, another SRO, or a federal agency has been made,
the written statement must also refer to the particular trade(s)
(rather than to the trades of a particular calendar quarter) and must
omit the clause excepting trades reported as the subject of an
investigation.
Rule 354(a)--Equities provides that, by April 1 of each year, each
member organization must submit a copy of its Rule 342.30--Equities
annual report on supervision and compliance to its control person(s)
or, if the member organization has no control person, to the audit
committee of its Board of Directors or its equivalent committee or
group. In the case of a control person that is an organization (a
``controlling organization''), the member organization must submit the
report to the general counsel of the controlling organization and to
the audit committee of the controlling organization's Board of
Directors or its equivalent committee or group.
Rule 354(b)--Equities provides that, for the purpose of Rule
354(a)--Equities, ``control person'' means a person who controls the
member organization within the meaning of Rule 2--Equities otherwise
than solely by virtue of being a director, general partner, or
principal executive (or person occupying a similar status or performing
similar functions) of the member organization.
Rule 401(b)--Equities provides that each member and member
organization must maintain written policies and procedures,
administered pursuant to the internal control requirements prescribed
under Rule 342.23--Equities, specifically with respect to the following
activities:
Transmittals of funds (e.g., wires, checks, etc.) or
securities:
from customer accounts to third-party accounts (i.e., a
transmittal that would result in a change of beneficial ownership);
from customer accounts to outside entities (e.g., banks,
investment companies, etc.);
from customer accounts to locations other than a
customer's primary residence (e.g., post office box, ``in care of''
accounts, alternate address, etc.); and
between customers and registered representatives
(including the hand-delivery of checks).
Customer changes of address.
Customer changes of investment objectives.
The policies and procedures required under Rule 401(b)(1), (2), and
(3)--Equities must include a means/method of customer confirmation,
notification, or follow-up that can be documented.
Rule 401A(a)--Equities provides that, for every customer complaint
they receive that is subject to the reporting requirements of Rule
4530(d)--Equities,\10\ members and member organizations must:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ Originally, firms had to acknowledge and respond to both
written and oral customer complaints. However, as part of the effort
to harmonize the NASD and NYSE MKT rules in the interim period
before completion of the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook, current Rule
4530(d)--Equities was amended to limit the definition of ``customer
complaint'' to include only written complaints, thereby making the
definition substantially similar to that in FINRA Rule 4530(d). The
Exchange adopted the text of FINRA Rule 4530 to replace comparable
provisions in Rule 351. See Exchange Act Release No. 64784 (Jun. 30,
2011), 76 FR 39947 (Jul. 7, 2011) (SR-NYSEAmex-2011-42).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acknowledge receipt of the complaint within 15 business
days of receiving it, and
Respond to the issues raised in the complaint within a
reasonable period of time.
Rule 401A(b)--Equities provides that each acknowledgement and
response required by this rule must be conveyed to the complaining
customer by an appropriate method. More specifically:
Acknowledgements and responses to written complaints must
be either:
in writing, mailed to the complaining customer's last
known address, or
electronically transmitted to the email address from which
the complaint
[[Page 70240]]
was sent (method only permissible for electronically transmitted
complaints).
Acknowledgements and responses to verbal complaints must
be either:
in writing, mailed to the complaining customer's last
known address, or
made verbally to the complaining customer, and recorded in
a log of verbal acknowledgements and responses to customer complaints.
Rule 401A(c)--Equities provides that written records of the
acknowledgements, responses, and logs required by this rule must be
retained in accordance with Rule 440--Equities.
Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to delete the foregoing rules relating to
supervision (except as noted below), which are, in main part, either
duplicative of, or do not align with, the proposed supervision
requirements discussed below, and adopt the text of FINRA Rules 3110,
3120, 3150, and 3170, subject to certain technical and conforming
changes.\11\ As noted in Rule 0--Equities, NYSE MKT rules that refer to
NYSER, NYSER staff or departments, Exchange staff, and Exchange
departments should be understood as also referring to FINRA staff and
FINRA departments acting on behalf of the Exchange pursuant to the
Agreement, as applicable.
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\11\ The technical and conforming changes are that the Exchange
would: (1) Substitute the term ``member organization'' for
``member,'' (2) substitute the term ``Exchange'' for ``FINRA,'' (3)
change certain cross-references to FINRA rules to cross-references
to Exchange rules, and (4) add supplementary material to define the
term ``associated person'' in proposed Rules 3110--Equities, 3120--
Equities, and 3150--Equities.
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The Exchange proposes to retain the requirements contained in Rule
342.13(a) and (b)--Equities regarding qualifications and exam
requirements for individuals with supervisory responsibilities. The
proposed new version of Rule 342(a)--Equities, corresponding to current
Rule 342.13(a)--Equities, would provide that any member or employee
identified as in charge of: (1) any office of a member or member
organization, (2) any regional or other group of offices, or (3) any
sales department or activity must have a creditable record and pass the
General Securities Sales Supervisor Qualification Examination (Series
9/10) or another examination acceptable to the Exchange. The proposed
new version of Rule 342(a) would also adopt the current requirement
contained in the Interpretation to NYSE Rule 342 \12\ that every branch
office or sales manager must have at least three years' experience as a
registered representative or substantial experience in a related sales
or managerial position and must pass the Series 9/10.
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\12\ Exchange Rule 342 is based on the counterpart rule of its
NYSE affiliate, which recently amended its rules concerning
supervision to harmonize with those of FINRA. See Exchange Act
Release No. 73554 (Nov. 6, 2014), 79 FR 67508 (Nov. 13, 2014) (SR-
NYSE-2014-56) (incorporating into NYSE Rule 342 the requirement from
the related NYSE Interpretation that every branch office or sales
manager must have at least three years' experience as a registered
representative or substantial experience in a related sales or
managerial position and must pass the Series 9/10).
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Further, the proposed new version of Rule 342(a)--Equities would
adopt the current examples of a related sales or managerial position in
the Interpretation to NYSE Rule 342 and the requirement that in order
to qualify as a supervisory person, a principal executive \13\ should
have at least three years' experience as a registered representative
unless granted an exception. The proposed new version of Rule 342(a)--
Equities would also incorporate from the related NYSE Interpretation
that the General Securities Principal Examination (Series 24) is an
acceptable alternative for persons whose duties do not include the
supervision of options or municipal securities sales activity and that
the examination requirement may be waived at the discretion of the
Exchange. Finally, the proposed new version of Rule 342(a)--Equities
would incorporate the requirement from the NYSE Interpretation that in
the case of a firm applying for registered broker-dealer status, the
supervisory candidates must have at least one year of direct experience
or two years of related experience in the subject area to be supervised
in addition to the requirements outlined above.
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\13\ The Interpretation to NYSE Rule 342 refers to ``allied
members,'' a category the NYSE and the Exchange eliminated and
replaced with ``principal executive,'' which has substantially the
same meaning. See Exchange Act Release Nos. 58549 (Sept. 15, 2008),
73 FR 54444 (Sept. 19, 2008) (SR-NYSE-2008-80); 559022 (Nov. 26,
2008), 73 FR 73683 (Dec. 3, 2008) (SR-NYSEALTR-2008-10).
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The proposed new version of Rule 342(b)--Equities, corresponding to
current Rule 342.13(b)--Equities, would provide that the individuals
designated as having day-to-day compliance responsibilities for their
respective firms, or who supervise ten or more persons engaged in
compliance activities, have the knowledge necessary to carry out their
job responsibilities (i.e., overall knowledge of the securities laws
and Exchange rules) and pass the Compliance Official Examination (the
``Series 14'') or, in the case of compliance supervisors of member
organizations that conduct a Designated Market Maker (``DMM'')
business, the DMM Compliance Official Examination (the ``Series 14A'').
The proposed new version of Rule 342(b)--Equities would also adopt the
current requirement in the Interpretation to NYSE Rule 342 that member
organizations engaged in a public business in addition to a DMM
business must have a qualified compliance supervisor who has passed
both the Series 14 and Series 14A Examinations. Finally, the proposed
new version of Rule 342(b)--Equities would incorporate the following
exemptions from the Series 14 Examination requirement contained in the
Interpretation to NYSE Rule 342:
Compliance supervisors at member organizations whose
activities are solely related to execution of orders on the Exchange
trading floor and who do not conduct any business with the public;
Compliance supervisors at member organizations whose
commissions and other fees from public business (retail and
institutional) are under $500,000 in the preceding calendar year and
who introduce to another broker-dealer; and
Supervisors of ten or more persons whose compliance
responsibilities are limited to the registration of member organization
employees with the various regulators and SROs.
Proposed Rule 3110--Equities (Supervision)
Proposed Rule 3110--Equities is based primarily on requirements in
the FINRA rulebook and current Rule 342--Equities relating to, among
other things, supervisory systems, written procedures, internal
inspections, and review of correspondence.
Proposed Rule 3110(a)--Equities
Proposed Rule 3110(a)--Equities would cover supervisory systems and
would require each member organization to establish and maintain a
system to supervise the activities of each associated person that is
reasonably designed to achieve compliance with applicable securities
laws and regulations, and with applicable Exchange rules. Under the
proposed rule, final responsibility for proper supervision would rest
with the member organization. In addition, a member organization's
supervisory system would be required to provide, at a minimum, for the
following:
The establishment and maintenance of written procedures as
required by proposed Rule 3110--Equities.
The designation, where applicable, of an appropriately
registered principal with authority to carry out the supervisory
responsibilities of the member organization for each type of business
in which it engages for which
[[Page 70241]]
registration as a broker-dealer is required.
The registration and designation as a branch office or an
office of supervisory jurisdiction (``OSJ'') of each location,
including the main office, that meets the definitions contained in
proposed Rule 3110(e)--Equities.\14\
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\14\ Although to date the Exchange and FINRA have used the same
definition for ``branch office,'' the Exchange has not previously
designated OSJs. As such, the requirements relating to OSJs
described hereinafter would be new for member organizations.
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The designation of one or more appropriately registered
principals in each OSJ and one or more appropriately registered
representatives or principals in each non-OSJ branch office with
authority to carry out the supervisory responsibilities assigned to
that office by the member organization.
The assignment of each registered person to an
appropriately registered representative or principal who would be
responsible for supervising that person's activities.
The use of reasonable efforts to determine that all
supervisory personnel are qualified, either by virtue of experience or
training, to carry out their assigned responsibilities.
The participation of each registered representative and
registered principal, either individually or collectively, no less than
annually, in an interview or meeting conducted by persons designated by
the member organization at which compliance matters relevant to the
activities of the representative and principal are discussed, which may
occur in conjunction with the discussion of other matters and may be
conducted at a central or regional location or at the representative's
or principal's place of business.
Proposed Rule 3110(b)--Equities
In proposed Rule 3110(b)--Equities, the Exchange proposes to
consolidate provisions from current Rule 401A--Equities relating to the
review of customer complaints, with various provisions and rules from
the FINRA rulebook that currently require written procedures, including
provisions relating to the supervision and review of registered
representatives' transactions and correspondence. In addition, proposed
supplementary material, which is discussed in detail below, would
codify and expand guidance in these areas.
Proposed Rule 3110(b)(1)--Equities would address written procedures
and would require each member organization to establish, maintain, and
enforce written procedures to supervise the types of business in which
it engages and the activities of its associated persons that are
reasonably designed to achieve compliance with applicable securities
laws and regulations and applicable Exchange rules.
Under proposed Rule 3110(b)(2)--Equities, the supervisory
procedures required by proposed Rule 3110(b)--Equities would include
procedures for the review by a registered principal, evidenced in
writing, of all transactions relating to the investment banking or
securities business of the member organization. Consistent with FINRA
Rule 3110(b)(3), proposed Rule 3110(b)(3)--Equities would be marked
``Reserved.''
Under proposed Rule 3110(b)(4)--Equities, the supervisory
procedures required by proposed Rule 3110(b)--Equities would also
include procedures for the review of incoming and outgoing written
(including electronic) correspondence and internal communications
relating to the member organization's investment banking or securities
business and be appropriate for the member organization's business,
size, structure, and customers. The supervisory procedures would
require the member organization's review of:
Incoming and outgoing written (including electronic)
correspondence to properly identify and handle in accordance with firm
procedures, customer complaints, instructions, funds and securities,
and communications that are of a subject matter that require review
under Exchange rules and federal securities laws; and
Internal communications to properly identify those
communications that are of a subject matter that require review under
Exchange rules and federal securities laws.
Such reviews must be conducted by a registered principal and must
be evidenced in writing, either electronically or on paper. Those
communications include (without limitation):
Communications between non-research and research
departments concerning a research report's contents (Rule 472(b)(3)--
Equities);
Certain communications with the public that require a
principal's pre-approval (Rule 2210--Equities); and
The identification and reporting to the Exchange of
customer complaints (Rule 4530--Equities).\15\
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\15\ With respect to customer complaints, proposed Rule
3110(b)(5)--Equities also would affirmatively require members to
capture, acknowledge, and respond to all written (including
electronic) customer complaints.
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Proposed Rule 3110(b)(5)--Equities, would require a member
organization's supervisory procedures to include procedures to capture,
acknowledge, and respond to all written (including electronic) customer
complaints, essentially incorporating the customer complaint
requirement in current Rule 401A--Equities, including the limitation on
including only written (including electronic) customer complaints. The
Exchange believes that oral complaints are difficult to capture and
assess, and that they raise competing views as to the substance of the
complaint being alleged. Consequently, the Exchange believes that oral
complaints do not lend themselves as effectively to a review program as
written complaints, which are more readily documented and retained.
However, the Exchange reminds member organizations that the failure to
address any customer complaint, written or oral, may be a violation of
Rule 2010--Equities.
Under proposed Rule 3110(b)(6)--Equities, the supervisory
procedures required by proposed Rule 3110(b)--Equities must set forth
the supervisory system established by the member organization pursuant
to proposed Rule 3110(a)--Equities, and would include:
The titles, registration status, and locations of the
required supervisory personnel and the responsibilities of each
supervisory person as these relate to the types of business engaged in,
applicable securities laws and regulations, and Exchange rules.
A record, preserved by the member organization for a
period of not less than three years, the first two years in an easily
accessible place, of the names of all persons who are designated as
supervisory personnel and the dates for which such designation is or
was effective.
Procedures prohibiting associated persons who perform a
supervisory function from:
Supervising their own activities; and
Reporting to, or having their compensation or continued
employment determined by, a person or persons they are supervising.
If a member organization determines, with respect to any
of its supervisory personnel, that compliance with the preceding two
bullets is not possible because of the member organization's size or a
supervisory personnel's position within the firm, the member
organization would be required to document:
The factors the member organization used to reach such
determination; and
[[Page 70242]]
How the supervisory arrangement with respect to such
supervisory personnel otherwise complies with proposed Rule 3110(a)--
Equities.
Procedures reasonably designed to prevent the supervisory
system required pursuant to proposed Rule 3110(a)--Equities from being
compromised due to the conflicts of interest that may be present with
respect to the associated person being supervised, including the
position of such person, the revenue such person generates for the
firm, or any compensation that the associated person conducting the
supervision may derive from the associated person being supervised.\16\
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\16\ The Exchange currently does not have a comparable rule.
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Proposed Rule 3110(b)(7)--Equities would require a member
organization to keep and maintain a copy of its written supervisory
procedures, or such relevant portions, in each OSJ and at each location
where supervisory activities are conducted on behalf of the member
organization. Each member organization would be required to promptly
amend its written supervisory procedures to reflect changes in
applicable securities laws or regulations, including Exchange rules,
and as changes occur in its supervisory system. Each member
organization would be responsible for promptly communicating its
written supervisory procedures and amendments to all associated persons
to whom such written supervisory procedures and amendments are relevant
based on their activities and responsibilities.
Proposed Rule 3110(c)--Equities
Proposed Rule 3110(c)--Equities would cover internal inspections.
Proposed Rule 3110(c)(1)--Equities would require each member
organization to conduct a review, at least annually (on a calendar-year
basis), of the businesses in which it engages. The review must be
reasonably designed to assist the member organization in detecting and
preventing violations of, and achieving compliance with, applicable
securities laws and regulations, and with applicable Exchange rules.
Each member organization would be required to review the activities of
each office, which would include the periodic examination of customer
accounts to detect and prevent irregularities or abuses. Each member
organization would also be required to retain a written record of the
date upon which each review and inspection is conducted.
In addition, proposed Rule 3110(c)(1)--Equities would require each
member organization to inspect at least annually (on a calendar-year
basis) every OSJ and any branch office that supervises one or more non-
branch locations. Each member organization would also be required to
inspect at least every three years every branch office that does not
supervise one or more non-branch locations. In establishing how often
to inspect each non-supervisory branch office, the member organization
would be required to consider whether the nature and complexity of the
securities activities for which the location is responsible, the volume
of business done at the location, and the number of associated persons
assigned to the location require the non-supervisory branch office to
be inspected more frequently than every three years. If a member
organization establishes a more frequent inspection cycle, the member
organization would be required to ensure that at least every three
years, the inspection requirements enumerated in proposed Rule
3110(c)(2)--Equities have been met. The member organization's written
supervisory and inspection procedures would have to set forth the non-
supervisory branch office examination cycle, an explanation of the
factors the member organization used in determining the frequency of
the examinations in the cycle, and the manner in which a member
organization would comply with proposed Rule 3110(c)(2)--Equities if
using more frequent inspections than every three years.
Under proposed Rule 3110(c)(1)--Equities, each member organization
would also be required to inspect every non-branch location on a
regular, periodic schedule. In establishing such schedule, the member
organization would be required to consider the nature and complexity of
the securities activities for which the location is responsible and the
nature and extent of contact with customers. The member organization's
written supervisory and inspection procedures would have to set forth
the schedule and an explanation regarding how the member organization
determined the frequency of the examination.
Proposed Rule 3110(c)(2)--Equities would require that the
inspection and review by a member organization pursuant to proposed
Rule 3110(c)(1)--Equities be reduced to a written report and kept on
file by the member organization for a minimum of three years, unless
the inspection is being conducted pursuant to proposed Rule
3110(c)(1)(C)--Equities and the regular periodic schedule is longer
than a three-year cycle, in which case the report would have to be kept
on file at least until the next inspection report has been written. If
applicable to the location being inspected, proposed Rule
3110(c)(2)(A)--Equities would require that location's written
inspection report to include, without limitation, the testing and
verification of the member organization's policies and procedures,
including supervisory policies and procedures in the following areas:
Safeguarding of customer funds and securities;
Maintaining books and records;
Supervision of supervisory personnel;
Transmittals of funds (e.g., wires or checks, etc.) or
securities from customers to third-party accounts; from customer
accounts to outside entities (e.g., banks, investment companies, etc.);
from customer accounts to locations other than a customer's primary
residence (e.g., post office box, ``in care of'' accounts, alternate
address, etc.); and between customers and registered representatives,
including the hand-delivery of checks; and
Changes of customer account information, including address
and investment objectives changes and validation of such changes.
Under proposed Rule 3110(c)(2)(B)--Equities, the policies and
procedures regarding transmittals of funds must include a means or
method of customer confirmation, notification, or follow-up that can be
documented. Member organizations could use reasonable risk-based
criteria to determine the authenticity of the transmittal instructions.
Under proposed Rule 3110(c)(2)(C)--Equities, the policies and
procedures regarding changes in customer account information would have
to include, for each change processed, a means or method of customer
confirmation, notification, or follow-up that can be documented and
that complies with Rules 17a-3(a)(17)(i)(B)(2) and 17a-
3(a)(17)(i)(B)(3) under the Act.\17\
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\17\ 17 CFR 240.17a-3(a)(17)(i)(B)(2) and 17 CFR 240.17a-
3(a)(17)(i)(B)(3).
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Pursuant to proposed Rule 3110(c)(2)(D)--Equities, if a member
organization does not engage in all of the activities enumerated in the
bullets immediately above at the location being inspected, the member
organization would be required to identify those activities in the
member organization's written supervisory procedures or the location's
written inspection report and document in the member organization's
written supervisory procedures or the
[[Page 70243]]
location's written inspection report that supervisory policies and
procedures for such activities must be in place at that location before
the member organization can engage in them.
Under proposed Rule 3110(c)(3)--Equities, for each inspection
conducted pursuant to the proposed rule, a member organization would be
required to:
Have procedures reasonably designed to prevent the
effectiveness of inspections from being compromised due to conflicts of
interest that may be present with respect to the location being
inspected, including but not limited to, economic, commercial, or
financial interests in the associated persons and businesses being
inspected; and
Ensure that the person conducting an inspection is not an
associated person assigned to the location or is not directly or
indirectly supervised by, or otherwise reporting to, an associated
person assigned to the location.\18\
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\18\ If a member organization determines that compliance with
this requirement is not possible either because of a member
organization's size or its business model, the member organization
would be required to document in the inspection report both the
factors the member organization used to make its determination and
how the inspection otherwise complies with proposed Rule
3110(c)(1)--Equities.
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By way of comparison, under current Rules 342.24--Equities and
342.25--Equities, each branch office must be inspected annually, unless
the member organization obtained an exemption by submitting to the
Exchange written policies and procedures for systematic risk-based
surveillance of its branch offices, in which case each branch office
must be inspected at least every three years. The proposed subject
matter requirements for inspection reports are substantially the same
as the current subject matter requirements.
Proposed Rule 3110(d)--Equities
Section 15(g) of the Act, adopted as part of the Insider Trading
and Securities Fraud Enforcement Act of 1988,\19\ requires every
registered broker or dealer to establish, maintain, and enforce written
policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the misuse of
material, non-public information by the broker or dealer or any
associated person of the broker or dealer.\20\ Current Rule 342.21--
Equities sets forth specific supervisory procedures for compliance with
Section 15(g) by requiring firms to review trades in Exchange-listed or
Exchange-traded securities and related financial instruments that are
effected for the member organization's account or for the accounts of
the member organization's employees and family members. Current Rule
342.21--Equities also requires member organizations to promptly conduct
an internal investigation into any trade the firm identifies that may
have violated insider trading laws or rules.
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\19\ See Insider Trading and Securities Fraud Enforcement Act of
1988, Pub. L. 100-704, 102 Stat. 4677.
\20\ 15 U.S.C. 78o(g).
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Proposed Rule 3110(d)--Equities incorporates provisions of current
Rule 342.21--Equities, with some modifications, and extends the
requirement beyond Exchange-listed and Exchange-traded securities and
related financial instruments to cover all securities.
Proposed Rule 3110(d)--Equities would cover transaction reviews and
investigations. Proposed Rule 3110(d)(1)--Equities would require each
member organization to include in its supervisory procedures a process
for the review of securities transactions reasonably designed to
identify trades that may violate the provisions of the Act, the rules
thereunder, or Exchange rules prohibiting insider trading and
manipulative and deceptive devices that are effected for the:
Accounts of the member organization;
Accounts introduced or carried by the member organization
in which a person associated with the member organization has a
beneficial interest or the authority to make investment decisions;
Accounts of a person associated with the member
organization that are disclosed to the member organization pursuant to
Rule 407--Equities or NASD Rule 3050, as applicable; and
Covered accounts.
Under proposed Rule 3110(d)(2)--Equities, each member organization
would be required to promptly conduct an internal investigation into
any such trade to determine whether a violation of those laws or rules
has occurred.
In addition, under proposed Rule 3110(d)(3)--Equities, a member
organization engaging in investment banking services would be required
to file written reports with the Exchange, signed by a senior officer
of the member organization, at such times and, without limitation,
including such content, as follows:
Within ten business days of the end of each calendar
quarter, a written report describing each internal investigation
initiated in the previous calendar quarter pursuant to proposed Rule
3110(d)(2)--Equities, including the identity of the member
organization, the date each internal investigation commenced, the
status of each open internal investigation, the resolution of any
internal investigation reached during the previous calendar quarter,
and, with respect to each internal investigation, the identity of the
security, trades, accounts, associated persons of the member
organization, or associated person of the member organization's family
members holding a covered account, under review, and that includes a
copy of the member organization's policies and procedures required by
proposed Rule 3110(d)(1)--Equities.
Within five business days of completion of an internal
investigation pursuant to proposed Rule 3110(d)(2)--Equities in which
it was determined that a violation of the provisions of the Act, the
rules thereunder, or Exchange rules prohibiting insider trading and
manipulative and deceptive devices had occurred, a written report
detailing the completion of the investigation, including the results of
the investigation, any internal disciplinary action taken, and any
referral of the matter to the Exchange, another SRO, the SEC, or any
other federal, state, or international regulatory authority.
For purposes of proposed Rule 3110(d)(4)--Equities, the following
definitions would apply:
The term ``covered account'' would include any account
introduced or carried by the member organization that is held by:
The spouse of a person associated with the member
organization;
A child of the person associated with the member
organization or such person's spouse, provided that the child resides
in the same household as or is financially dependent upon the person
associated with the member organization;
Any other related individual over whose account the person
associated with the member organization has control; or
Any other individual over whose account the associated
person of the member organization has control and to whose financial
support such person materially contributes.
The term ``investment banking services'' would include,
without limitation, acting as an underwriter, participating in a
selling group in an offering for the issuer, or otherwise acting in
furtherance of a public offering of the issuer; acting as a financial
adviser in a merger or acquisition; providing venture capital or equity
lines of credit or serving as placement agent for the issuer or
otherwise acting in furtherance of a private offering of the issuer.
[[Page 70244]]
Proposed Rule 3110(e)--Equities
Proposed Rule 3110(e)--Equities would define ``OSJ'' and ``branch
office.'' As noted above, ``OSJ'' would be a new designation for the
Exchange and the definition of the term would substantially mirror
FINRA's definition. The term ``OSJ'' would mean any office of a member
organization at which any one or more of the following functions take
place:
Order execution or market making;
Structuring of public offerings or private placements;
Maintaining custody of customers' funds or securities;
Final acceptance (approval) of new accounts on behalf of
the member organization;
Review and endorsement of customer orders;
Final approval of retail communications for use by persons
associated with the member organization, pursuant to Rule 2210(b)(1)--
Equities, except for an office that solely conducts final approval of
research reports; or
Responsibility for supervising the activities of persons
associated with the member organization at one or more other branch
offices of the member organization.
The definition of ``branch office'' would be substantially the same
as current Rule 342.10--Equities. It would mean any location where one
or more associated persons of a member organization regularly conducts
the business of effecting any transactions in, or inducing or
attempting to induce the purchase or sale of, any security, or is held
out as such, excluding:
Any location that is established solely for customer
service or back office type functions where no sales activities are
conducted and that is not held out to the public as a branch office;
Any location that is the associated person's primary
residence, provided that:
Only one associated person, or multiple associated
persons who reside at that location and are members of the same
immediate family, conduct business at the location;
The location is not held out to the public as an office
and the associated person does not meet with customers at the location;
Neither customer funds nor securities are handled at that
location;
The associated person is assigned to a designated branch
office, and such designated branch office is reflected on all business
cards, stationery, retail communications and other communications to
the public by such associated person;
The associated person's correspondence and communications
with the public are subject to the firm's supervision in accordance
with proposed Rule 3110--Equities;
Electronic communications (e.g., email) are made through
the member organization's electronic system;
All orders are entered through the designated branch
office or an electronic system established by the member organization
that is reviewable at the branch office;
Written supervisory procedures pertaining to supervision
of sales activities conducted at the residence are maintained by the
member organization; and
A list of the residence locations is maintained by the
member organization.
Any location, other than a primary residence, that is used
for securities business for less than 30 business days \21\ in any one
calendar year, provided the member organization complies with the first
eight of the nine immediately preceding bullet points;
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\21\ The term ``business day'' would not include any partial
business day provided that the associated person spends at least
four hours on such business day at his or her designated branch
office during the hours that such office is normally open for
business.
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Any office of convenience, where associated persons
occasionally and exclusively by appointment meet with customers, which
is not held out to the public as an office; \22\
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\22\ Where such office of convenience is located on bank
premises, signage necessary to comply with applicable federal and
state laws, rules and regulations and applicable rules and
regulations of other SROs, and securities and banking regulators
could be displayed and would not be deemed ``holding out'' for
purposes of this section.
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Any location that is used primarily to engage in non-
securities activities and from which the associated person(s) effects
no more than 25 securities transactions in any one calendar year;
provided that any retail communication identifying such location also
sets forth the address and telephone number of the location from which
the associated person(s) conducting business at the non-branch
locations are directly supervised;
The floor of a registered national securities exchange
where a member organization conducts a direct access business with
public customers; or
A temporary location established in response to the
implementation of a business continuity plan.
Notwithstanding the exclusions for branch offices described above,
any location that is responsible for supervising the activities of
persons associated with the member organization at one or more non-
branch locations of the member organization would be considered a
branch office.
Proposed Supplementary Materials to Proposed Rule 3110--Equities
Proposed Supplementary Material .01 to Rule 3110--Equities would
require a member organization's main office location to be registered
and designated as a branch office or OSJ if it meets the definitions of
a ``branch office'' or ``office of supervisory jurisdiction'' as set
forth in proposed Rule 3110(e)--Equities. In general, the nature of
activities conducted at a main office will satisfy the requirements of
such terms.
Proposed Supplementary Material .02 to Rule 3110--Equities would
provide that, in addition to the locations that meet the definition of
OSJ in proposed Rule 3110(e)--Equities, each member organization must
also register and designate other offices as OSJs as is necessary to
supervise its associated persons in accordance with the standards set
forth in proposed Rule 3110--Equities. In making a determination as to
whether to designate a location as an OSJ, the member organization
should consider the following factors:
Whether registered persons at the location engage in
retail sales or other activities involving regular contact with public
customers;
Whether a substantial number of registered persons conduct
securities activities at, or are otherwise supervised from, such
location;
Whether the location is geographically distant from
another OSJ of the firm;
Whether the member organization's registered persons are
geographically dispersed; and
Whether the securities activities at such location are
diverse or complex.
Proposed Supplementary Material .03 to Rule 3110--Equities would
provide additional guidance relating to proposed Rule 3110(a)(4)--
Equities, which would require a member organization to designate one or
more appropriately registered principals in each OSJ with the authority
to carry out the supervisory responsibilities assigned to that office
(``on-site principal''). The proposed Supplementary Material would
provide that the designated on-site principal for each OSJ must have a
physical presence, on a regular and routine basis, at each OSJ for
which the principal has supervisory responsibilities. Consequently,
there would be a general presumption that a principal will not be
designated and assigned to be the on-site principal pursuant to
proposed Rule 3110(a)(4)--
[[Page 70245]]
Equities to supervise more than one OSJ. If a member organization
determines it is necessary to designate and assign one appropriately
registered principal to be the on-site principal pursuant to proposed
Rule 3110(a)(4)--Equities to supervise two or more OSJs, the member
organization would be required to take into consideration, among
others, the following factors:
Whether the on-site principal is qualified by virtue of
experience and training to supervise the activities and associated
persons in each location;
Whether the on-site principal has the capacity and time to
supervise the activities and associated persons in each location;
Whether the on-site principal is a producing registered
representative;
Whether the OSJ locations are in sufficiently close
proximity to ensure that the on-site principal is physically present at
each location on a regular and routine basis; and
The nature of activities at each location, including size
and number of associated persons, scope of business activities, the
nature and complexity of products and services offered, volume of
business done, the disciplinary history of persons assigned to such
locations, and any other indicators of irregularities or misconduct.
The proposed Supplementary Material would provide that a member
organization must establish, maintain, and enforce written supervisory
procedures regarding the supervision of all OSJs. In all cases where a
member organization designates and assigns one on-site principal to
supervise more than one OSJ, the member organization would be required
to document in the member organization's written supervisory and
inspection procedures the factors used to determine why the member
organization considers such supervisory structure to be reasonable, and
the determination by the member organization will be subject to
scrutiny.
Proposed Supplementary Material .04 to Rule 3110--Equities would
provide that a member organization is not required to conduct in-person
meetings with each registered person or group of registered persons to
comply with the annual compliance meeting (or interview) required by
proposed Rule 3110(a)(7)--Equities. A member organization that chooses
to conduct compliance meetings using other methods (e.g., on-demand
webcast or course, video conference, interactive classroom setting,
telephone, or other electronic means) would be required to ensure, at a
minimum, that each registered person attends the entire meeting (e.g.,
an on-demand annual compliance webcast would require each registered
person to use a unique user ID and password to gain access and use a
technology platform to track the time spent on the webcast, provide
click-as-you go confirmation, and have an attestation of completion at
the end of a webcast) and is able to ask questions regarding the
presentation and receive answers in a timely fashion (e.g., an on-
demand annual compliance webcast that allows registered persons to ask
questions via an email to a presenter or a centralized address or via a
telephone hotline and receive timely responses directly or view such
responses on the member organization's intranet site).
Proposed Supplementary Material .05 to Rule 3110--Equities would
provide that a member organization could use a risk-based review system
to comply with proposed Rule 3110(b)(2)--Equities' requirement that a
registered principal review all transactions relating to the investment
banking or securities business of the member organization. A member
organization would not be required to conduct detailed reviews of each
transaction if it is using a reasonably designed risk-based review
system that provides the member organization with sufficient
information that permits it to focus on the areas that pose the
greatest numbers and risks of violation.
Proposed Supplementary Material .06 to Rule 3110--Equities would
provide that, by employing risk-based principles, a member organization
must decide the extent to which additional policies and procedures for
the review of:
Incoming and outgoing written (including electronic)
correspondence that fall outside of the subject matters listed in
proposed Rule 3110(b)(4)--Equities are necessary for its business and
structure. If a member organization's procedures do not require that
all correspondence be reviewed before use or distribution, the
procedures must provide for:
The education and training of associated persons
regarding the firm's procedures governing correspondence;
The documentation of such education and training; and
Surveillance and follow-up to ensure that such procedures
are implemented and followed.
Internal communications that are not of a subject matter
that require review under Exchange rules and federal securities laws
are necessary for its business and structure.
Proposed Supplementary Material .07 to Rule 3110--Equities would
provide that the evidence of review required in proposed Rule
3110(b)(4)--Equities must be chronicled either electronically or on
paper and must clearly identify the reviewer, the internal
communication or correspondence that was reviewed, the date of review,
and the actions taken by the member organization as a result of any
significant regulatory issues identified during the review. Merely
opening a communication would not be sufficient review.
Proposed Supplementary Material .08 to Rule 3110--Equities would
provide that, in the course of the supervision and review of
correspondence and internal communications required by proposed Rule
3110(b)(4)--Equities, a supervisor/principal may delegate certain
functions to persons who need not be registered. However, the
supervisor/principal would remain ultimately responsible for the
performance of all necessary supervisory reviews, irrespective of
whether he or she delegates functions related to the review.
Accordingly, supervisors/principals would have to take reasonable and
appropriate action to ensure delegated functions are properly executed
and would be required to evidence performance of their procedures
sufficiently to demonstrate overall supervisory control.
Proposed Supplementary Material .09 to Rule 3110--Equities would
provide that each member organization must retain the internal
communications and correspondence of associated persons relating to the
member organization's investment banking or securities business for the
period of time and accessibility specified in Rule 17a-4(b) under the
Act. The names of the persons who prepared outgoing correspondence and
who reviewed the correspondence would have to be ascertainable from the
retained records, and the retained records would have to be readily
available to the Exchange, upon request.
Proposed Supplementary Material .10 to Rule 3110--Equities would
provide that a member organization's determination that it is not
possible to comply with proposed Rules 3110(b)(6)(C)(i)--Equities or
(b)(6)(C)(ii)--Equities prohibiting supervisory personnel from
supervising their own activities and from reporting to, or otherwise
having compensation or continued employment determined by, a person or
persons they are supervising generally will arise in instances where:
The member organization is a sole proprietor in a single-
person firm;
A registered person is the member organization's most
senior executive officer (or similar position); or
A registered person is one of several of the member
organization's most
[[Page 70246]]
senior executive officers (or similar positions).
Proposed Supplementary Material .11 to Rule 3110--Equities would
provide that a member organization may use electronic media to satisfy
its obligation to communicate its written supervisory procedures, and
any amendment thereto, pursuant to proposed Rule 3110(b)(7)--Equities,
provided that:
The written supervisory procedures have been promptly
communicated to, and are readily accessible by, all associated persons
to whom such supervisory procedures apply based on their activities and
responsibilities through, for example, the member organization's
intranet system;
All amendments to the written supervisory procedures are
promptly posted to the member organization's electronic media;
Associated persons are notified when amendments relevant
to their activities and responsibilities have been made to the written
supervisory procedures;
The member organization has reasonable procedures to
monitor and maintain the security of the material posted to ensure that
it cannot be altered by unauthorized persons; and
The member organization retains current and prior versions
of its written supervisory procedures in compliance with the applicable
record retention requirements of Rule 17a-4(e)(7) under the Act.
Proposed Supplementary Material .12 to Rule 3110--Equities would
provide that, in fulfilling its obligations under proposed Rule
3110(c)--Equities, each member organization must conduct a review, at
least annually, of the businesses in which it engages. The review would
have to be reasonably designed to assist in detecting and preventing
violations of and achieving compliance with applicable securities laws
and regulations and with Exchange rules. Each member organization would
be required to establish and maintain supervisory procedures that must
take into consideration, among other things, the firm's size,
organizational structure, scope of business activities, number and
location of the firm's offices, the nature and complexity of the
products and services offered by the firm, the volume of business done,
the number of associated persons assigned to a location, the
disciplinary history of registered representatives or associated
persons, and any indicators of irregularities or misconduct (i.e.,
``red flags''), etc. The procedures established and reviews conducted
would have to provide that the quality of supervision at remote
locations is sufficient to ensure compliance with applicable securities
laws and regulations and with Exchange rules. A member organization
would have to be especially diligent in establishing procedures and
conducting reasonable reviews with respect to a non-branch location
where a registered representative engages in securities activities.
Based on the factors outlined above, member organizations might need to
impose reasonably designed supervisory procedures for certain locations
or may need to provide for more frequent reviews of certain locations.
Proposed Supplementary Material .13 to Rule 3110--Equities would
provide additional guidance to proposed Rule 3110(c)(1)(C)--Equities,
which would require a member organization to inspect on a regular
periodic schedule every non-branch location. In establishing a non-
branch location inspection schedule, there would be a general
presumption that a non-branch location will be inspected at least every
three years, even in the absence of any indicators of irregularities or
misconduct (i.e., ``red flags''). If a member organization establishes
a longer periodic inspection schedule, the member organization would be
required to document in its written supervisory and inspection
procedures the factors used in determining that a longer periodic
inspection cycle is appropriate.
Proposed Supplementary Material .14 to Rule 3110--Equities would
provide that a member organization's determination that it is not
possible to comply with proposed Rule 3110(c)(3)(B)--Equities with
respect to who is not allowed to conduct a location's inspection will
generally arise in instances where:
The member organization has only one office; or
The member organization has a business model where small
or single-person offices report directly to an OSJ manager who is also
considered the offices' branch office manager.
Proposed Supplementary Material .15 to Rule 3110--Equities would
provide a definition for ``associated person'' for the purposes of
proposed Rule 3110--Equities.
Proposed Rule 3120--Equities (Supervisory Control System)
Proposed Rule 3120(a)--Equities, which is based on FINRA Rule
3120(a), would provide that each member organization must designate and
specifically identify to the Exchange one or more principals who must
establish, maintain, and enforce a system of supervisory control
policies and procedures that:
Test and verify that the member organization's supervisory
procedures are reasonably designed with respect to the activities of
the member organization and its associated persons, to achieve
compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations, and with
applicable Exchange rules; and
Create additional or amend supervisory procedures where
the need is identified by such testing and verification.
Similar to the requirements of current Rule 342.30--Equities, the
designated principal or principals would be required to submit to the
member organization's senior management no less than annually, a report
detailing each member organization's system of supervisory controls,
the summary of the test results and significant identified exceptions,
and any additional or amended supervisory procedures created in
response to the test results.
Proposed Rule 3120(b)--Equities would provide that each report
provided to senior management pursuant to proposed Rule 3120(a)--
Equities in the calendar year following a calendar year in which a
member organization reported $200 million or more in gross revenue must
include, to the extent applicable to the member organization's
business:
A tabulation of the reports pertaining to customer
complaints and internal investigations made to the Exchange during the
preceding year; and
Discussion of the preceding year's compliance efforts,
including procedures and educational programs, in each of the following
areas:
Trading and market activities;
Investment banking activities;
Antifraud and sales practices;
Finance and operations;
Supervision; and
Anti-money laundering.
The categories listed above are incorporated from the annual report
content requirements of current Rule 342.30--Equities, which apply to
all member organizations regardless of revenue. The proposed rule
change seeks to mitigate compliance costs and burdens with respect to
proposed Rule 3120--Equities' annual reporting requirements by
requiring that only member organizations reporting $200 million or more
in gross revenues in the preceding year include in their annual reports
supplemental information from current Rule 342.30--Equities' annual
report content requirements. The Exchange also believes that the
proposed threshold strikes the appropriate balance as it encompasses
larger member organizations, member
[[Page 70247]]
organizations engaged in significant underwriting activities and
substantial trading activities or market making business, and member
organizations with extensive sales platforms.
Proposed Rule 3120(c)--Equities would provide that, for purposes of
proposed Rule 3120(b)--Equities, ``gross revenue'' is defined as:
Total revenue as reported on FOCUS Form Part II or IIA
(line item 4030) less commodities revenue (line item 3990), if
applicable; or
Total revenue as reported on FOCUS Form Part II CSE (line
item 4030) less, if applicable:
Commissions on commodity transactions (line item 3991);
and
Commodities gains or losses (line items 3924 and 3904).
Proposed Supplementary Material .01 to Rule 3120--Equities would
provide a definition for ``associated person'' for the purposes of
proposed Rule 3120--Equities.
Proposed Rule 3150--Equities (Holding of Customer Mail)
Proposed Rule 3150(a)--Equities would provide that a member
organization may hold mail for a customer who will not be receiving
mail at his or her usual address, provided that:
The member organization receives written instructions from
the customer that include the time period during which the member
organization is requested to hold the customer's mail. If the requested
time period included in the instructions is longer than three
consecutive months (including any aggregation of time periods from
prior requests), the customer's instructions must include an acceptable
reason for the request (e.g., safety or security concerns). Convenience
is not an acceptable reason for holding mail longer than three months;
The member organization:
Informs the customer in writing of any alternate methods,
such as email or access through the member organization's Web site,
that the customer may use to receive or monitor account activity and
information; and
Obtains the customer's confirmation of the receipt of
such information; and
The member organization verifies at reasonable intervals
that the customer's instructions still apply.
Proposed Rule 3150(b)--Equities would provide that, during the time
that a member organization is holding mail for a customer, the member
organization must be able to communicate with the customer in a timely
manner to provide important account information (e.g., privacy notices
and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation information
disclosures required by Rule 2266--Equities), as necessary.
Proposed Rule 3150(c)--Equities would provide that a member
organization holding a customer's mail pursuant to proposed Rule 3150--
Equities must take actions reasonably designed to ensure that the
customer's mail is not tampered with, held without the customer's
consent, or used by an associated person of the member organization in
any manner that would violate Exchange rules or the federal securities
laws.
The Exchange currently does not have a rule comparable to proposed
Rule 3150--Equities. The Exchange believes that adding proposed Rule
3150--Equities would help protect customers.
Proposed Supplementary Material .01 to Rule 3150--Equities would
provide a definition for ``associated person'' for the purposes of
proposed Rule 3150--Equities.
Proposed Rule 3170--Equities (Tape Recording of Registered Persons by
Certain Firms)
Proposed Rule 3170(a)--Equities would provide the following
definitions for purposes of proposed Rule 3170--Equities:
The term ``registered person'' would mean any person
registered with the Exchange.
The term ``disciplined firm'' would mean:
A member organization that, in connection with sales
practices involving the offer, purchase, or sale of any security, has
been expelled from membership or participation in any securities
industry SRO or is subject to an order of the SEC revoking its
registration as a broker-dealer;
A futures commission merchant or introducing broker that
has been formally charged by either the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission or a registered futures association with deceptive
telemarketing practices or promotional material relating to security
futures, those charges have been resolved, and the futures commission
merchant or introducing broker has been closed down and permanently
barred from the futures industry as a result of those charges; or
A futures commission merchant or introducing broker that,
in connection with sales practices involving the offer, purchase, or
sale of security futures is subject to an order of the SEC revoking its
registration as a broker or dealer.
The term ``disciplinary history'' would mean a finding of
a violation by a registered person in the past five years by the SEC,
an SRO, or a foreign financial regulatory authority of one or more of
the following provisions (or comparable foreign provision) or rules or
regulations thereunder:
Violations of the types enumerated in Section 15(b)(4)(E)
of the Act;
Section 15(c) of the Act;
Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933;
Rules 10b-5 and 15g-1 through 15g-9 under the Act;
NASD Rule 2110 (Standards of Commercial Honor and
Principles of Trade) or FINRA Rule 2010 (Standards of Commercial Honor
and Principles of Trade) or Rule 2010--Equities (Standards of
Commercial Honor and Principles of Trade) or NYSE MKT Rule 476(a)(6)
(Failure to Observe High Standards of Commercial Honor and Just and
Equitable Principles of Trade) (only if the finding of a violation of
NASD Rule 2110, FINRA Rule 2010, Rule 2010--Equities or NYSE MKT Rule
476(a)(6) is for unauthorized trading, churning, conversion, material
misrepresentations or omissions to a customer, front-running, trading
ahead of research reports or excessive markups), FINRA Rule 5280
(Trading Ahead of Research Reports), NASD Rule 2120 (Use of
Manipulative, Deceptive or Other Fraudulent Devices) or FINRA Rule 2020
(Use of Manipulative, Deceptive or Other Fraudulent Devices) or Rule
2020--Equities (Use of Manipulative, Deceptive or Other Fraudulent
Devices) or NYSE MKT Rule 476(a)(5) (effecting any transaction in, or
inducing the purchase or sale of, any security by means of any
manipulative, deceptive or other fraudulent device or contrivance),
NASD Rule 2310 (Recommendations to Customers (Suitability)) or FINRA
Rule 2111 (Suitability) or Rule 405--Equities (Diligence as to
Accounts), NASD Rule 2330 (Customers' Securities or Funds) or FINRA
Rule 2150 (Improper Use of Customers' Securities or Funds; Prohibition
Against Guarantees and Sharing in Accounts) or Rule 2150--Equities
(Improper Use of Customers' Securities or Funds; Prohibition Against
Guarantees and Sharing in Accounts), NASD Rule 2440 (Fair Prices and
Commissions), NASD Rule 3010 (Supervision) or FINRA Rule 3110
(Supervision) or Rule 3110--Equities (Supervision) or NYSE MKT Rule 342
(Offices--Approval, Supervision and Control) (failure to supervise only
for both NASD Rule 3010, FINRA Rule 3110, Rule 3110--Equities or NYSE
[[Page 70248]]
MKT Rule 342), NASD Rule 3310 (Publication of Transactions and
Quotations) or FINRA Rule 5210 (Publication of Transactions and
Quotations), and NASD Rule 3330 (Payment Designed to Influence Market
Prices, Other than Paid Advertising) or FINRA Rule 5230 (Payments
Involving Publications that Influence the Market Price of a Security),
and MSRB Rules G-19, G-30, and G-37(b) & (c).
The term ``tape recording'' would include without
limitation, any electronic or digital recording that meets the
requirements of proposed Rule 3170--Equities.
The term ``taping firm'' would mean:
A member organization with at least five but fewer than
ten registered persons, where 40% or more of its registered persons
have been associated with one or more disciplined firms in a registered
capacity within the last three years;
A member organization with at least ten but fewer than
twenty registered persons, where four or more of its registered persons
have been associated with one or more disciplined firms in a registered
capacity within the last three years;
A member organization with at least twenty registered
persons where 20% or more of its registered persons have been
associated with one or more disciplined firms in a registered capacity
within the last three years.
For purposes of calculating the number of registered
persons who have been associated with one or more disciplined firms in
a registered capacity within the last three years pursuant to proposed
Rule 3170(a)(5)--Equities, member organizations should not include
registered persons who:
Have been registered for an aggregate total of 90 days or
less with one or more disciplined firms within the past three years;
and
Do not have a disciplinary history.
Proposed Rule 3170(b)--Equities would provide that each member
organization that either is notified by the Exchange or otherwise has
actual knowledge that it is a taping firm must establish, maintain, and
enforce special written procedures for supervising the telemarketing
activities of all of its registered persons. A taping firm required to
establish, maintain, and enforce special written procedures pursuant to
proposed Rule 3170(b)--Equities would have to establish and implement
the procedures within 60 days of receiving notice from the Exchange or
obtaining actual knowledge that it is a taping firm.
The procedures required by proposed Rule 3170(b)--Equities would
include procedures for tape recording all telephone conversations
between the taping firm's registered persons and both existing and
potential customers and for reviewing the tape recordings to ensure
compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations and
applicable Exchange rules. The procedures would have to be appropriate
for the taping firm's business, size, structure, and customers, and
must be maintained for a period of three years from the date that the
taping firm establishes and implements the procedures. All tape
recordings made pursuant to the requirements of proposed Rule 3170(b)--
Equities would have to be retained for a period of not less than three
years from the date the tape was created, the first two years in an
easily accessible place. Each taping firm would be required to catalog
the retained tapes by registered person and date. By the 30th day of
the month following the end of each calendar quarter, each taping firm
subject to the requirements of proposed Rule 3170(b)--Equities would
have to submit to the Exchange a report on the taping firm's
supervision of the telemarketing activities of its registered persons.
Proposed Rule 3170(c)--Equities would provide that a member
organization that becomes a taping firm for the first time may reduce
its staffing levels to fall below the threshold levels within 30 days
after receiving notice from the Exchange pursuant to the provisions of
proposed Rule 3170(b)(1)--Equities or obtaining actual knowledge that
it is a taping firm, provided the member organization promptly notifies
the Exchange's Department of Member Regulation in writing of its
becoming subject to the rule. Once the member organization has reduced
its staffing levels to fall below the threshold levels, it could not
rehire a person terminated to accomplish the staff reduction for a
period of 180 days. On or prior to reducing staffing levels pursuant to
proposed Rule 3170(c)--Equities, a member organization would be
required to provide the Exchange's Department of Member Regulation with
written notice identifying the terminated person(s).
Proposed Rule 3170(d)--Equities would provide that the Exchange
may, in exceptional circumstances, taking into consideration all
relevant factors, exempt any taping firm unconditionally or on
specified terms and conditions from the requirements of proposed Rule
3170--Equities. A taping firm seeking an exemption would be required to
file a written application with the Exchange \23\ within 30 days after
receiving notice from the Exchange or obtaining actual knowledge that
it is a taping firm. A member organization that becomes a taping firm
for the first time could elect to reduce its staffing levels pursuant
to the provisions of proposed Rule 3170(c)--Equities or, alternatively,
could seek an exemption pursuant to proposed Rule 3170(d)--Equities, as
appropriate. A taping firm could not seek relief from proposed Rule
3170--Equities by both reducing its staffing levels pursuant to
proposed Rule 3170(c)--Equities and requesting an exemption.
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\23\ FINRA Rule 3170(d) requires written applications for an
exemption to be made pursuant to the FINRA Rule 9600 Series, which
sets forth the procedures for seeking exemptive relief. The Exchange
has not adopted the FINRA Rule 9600 Series, and therefore proposes
that a taping firm seeking an exemption file a written application
with the Exchange within 30 days after receiving notice from the
Exchange or obtaining actual knowledge that it is a taping firm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange does not currently have a rule comparable to proposed
Rule 3170-Equities. The Exchange believes that adopting proposed Rule
3170-Equities would provide for more effective supervision of member
organizations that have a significant number of registered persons with
disciplinary history, thereby resulting is enhanced customer
protection.
Conforming Changes
The Exchange also proposes to make certain conforming changes to
Rules 476A, 36-Equities, 70-Equities, 86-Equities, 345-Equities, 405-
Equities, 407-Equities, 408-Equities, 410-Equities, 416A-Equities, 472-
Equities, and 2210-Equities to delete or update cross-references to the
proposed rules as applicable. The Exchange also proposes certain
technical changes within Rule 86-Equities, which are unrelated to this
proposal.\24\
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\24\ The Exchange proposes to update a cross reference in Rule
86--Equities, which should refer to Rule 4522--Equities instead of
Rule 440--Equities. See Exchange Act Release No. 64887 (Jul. 14,
2011), 76 FR 43357 (Jul. 20, 2011) (SR-NYSEAmex-2011-51). NYSE
submitted a similar proposal at that time, which included the change
to NYSE Rule 86 that the Exchange is proposing herein. See Exchange
Act Release No. 64888 (Jul. 14, 2011), 76 FR 43366 (Jul. 20, 2011)
(SR-NYSE-2011-33). The Exchange also proposes to update a reference
to Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4 of the Act.
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2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\25\ in general, and furthers the
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\26\ in particular, because it
is designed to promote just and equitable
[[Page 70249]]
principles of trade and to remove impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system.
Specifically, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change
supports the objectives of the Act by providing greater harmonization
between Exchange rules and FINRA rules of similar purpose, resulting in
less burdensome and more efficient regulatory compliance. In
particular, Exchange member organizations that are also FINRA members
are subject to Exchange supervisory rules and FINRA Rules 3110, 3120,
3150, and 3170, and harmonizing these rules by adopting proposed Rules
3110-Equities, 3120-Equities, 3150-Equities, and 3170-Equities would
promote just and equitable principles of trade by requiring a single
standard for supervision. The Exchange believes that to the extent it
has proposed changes that differ from the FINRA version of the Exchange
rules, such changes are generally technical in nature and do not change
the substance of the proposed rules. The Exchange also believes that
the proposed rule change would update and add specificity to the
requirements governing supervision, which would promote just and
equitable principles of trade and help to protect investors. As such
the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change meets the
requirements of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\25\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\26\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange
believes that the proposed rule change is not intended to address
competitive issues but rather to achieve greater consistency between
the Exchange's rules and FINRA's rules concerning supervision.
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 Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \27\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\28\
Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the
protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to
30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as
the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.
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\27\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
\28\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally does
not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing.\29\
However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), the Commission may
designate a shorter period of time if such action is consistent with
the protection of investors and the public interest.\30\ The Exchange
has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that
the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\29\ Id.
\30\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is
consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest,
because it allows the Exchange to immediately conform its supervision
rules to corresponding FINRA rules. This will ensure that dual members
of the Exchange and FINRA generally will be subject to a single set of
rules governing supervision. As noted by the Exchange, the proposal
will harmonize NYSE MKT and FINRA rules, resulting in less burdensome
and more efficient regulatory compliance. In addition, the proposal
will update and add specificity to the Exchange's requirements
governing supervision, which will promote just and equitable principles
of trade and help to protect investors. For these reasons, the
Commission designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon
filing.\31\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\31\ For purposes of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the SEC
has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency,
competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if 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) of the Act to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or disapproved.\32\
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\32\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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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-NYSEMKT-2014-93 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEMKT-2014-93. 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 Section, 100 F Street
NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090 on official business days between the
hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing will also be
available for inspection and copying at the NYSE's principal office.
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-2014-
93 and should be submitted on or before December 16, 2014.
[[Page 70250]]
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\33\
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
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\33\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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[FR Doc. 2014-27839 Filed 11-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P