Applications by Security-Based Swap Dealers or Major Security-Based Swap Participants for Statutorily Disqualified Associated Persons To Effect or Be Involved in Effecting Security-Based Swaps, 51683-51722 [2015-19662]

Agencies

• SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 164 (Tuesday, August 25, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51683-51722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19662]



[[Page 51683]]

Vol. 80

Tuesday,

No. 164

August 25, 2015

Part III





Securities and Exchange Commission





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17 CFR Part 201





Applications by Security-Based Swap Dealers or Major Security-Based 
Swap Participants for Statutorily Disqualified Associated Persons To 
Effect or Be Involved in Effecting Security-Based Swaps; Proposed Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 164 / Tuesday, August 25, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

17 CFR Part 201

[Release No. 34-75612; File No. S7-14-15]
RIN 3235-AL76


Applications by Security-Based Swap Dealers or Major Security-
Based Swap Participants for Statutorily Disqualified Associated Persons 
To Effect or Be Involved in Effecting Security-Based Swaps

AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 15F(b)(6) of the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934 (``Exchange Act''), as added by Section 764(a) of Title VII of 
the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (``Dodd-
Frank Act''), the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') 
is proposing Rule of Practice 194. Proposed Rule of Practice 194 would 
provide a process for a registered security-based swap dealer or major 
security-based swap participant (collectively, ``SBS Entity'') to make 
an application to the Commission for an order permitting an associated 
person who is subject to a statutory disqualification to effect or be 
involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity. 
Proposed Rule of Practice 194 also would exclude an SBS Entity, subject 
to certain limitations, from the prohibition in Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6) with respect to associated persons that are not natural 
persons for a period of 30 days following the associated person 
becoming subject to a statutory disqualification or 30 days following 
the person that is subject to a statutory disqualification becoming an 
associated person of an SBS Entity; for a period of 180 days following 
the filing of a complete application under proposed Rule of Practice 
194 and notice if the application and notice are filed within the same 
30-day time period; and for a period of 180 days following the filing 
of a complete application with, or initiation of a process by, the 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC''), a self-regulatory 
organization (``SRO'') or a registered futures association pending a 
final decision with respect to an application or process with respect 
to the associated person for the membership, association, registration 
or listing as a principal, where the application has been filed or 
process started prior to or within the same 30-day time period and a 
notice has been filed with the Commission within the same 30-day time 
period. The proposed Rule of Practice 194 also would provide, in 
certain circumstances, for an extension of the temporary exclusion from 
the prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) with respect to 
associated persons that are not natural persons to comply with the 
prohibition in Section 15F(b)(6). Finally, proposed Rule of Practice 
194 would provide that, subject to certain conditions, an SBS Entity 
may permit an associated person that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on its behalf, without making an application pursuant to the 
proposed rule, where the Commission, CFTC, an SRO or a registered 
futures association has granted a prior application or otherwise 
granted relief from a statutory disqualification with respect to that 
associated person.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 26, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/other.shtml); or
     Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number S7-14-15 on the subject line; or
     Use the Federal Rulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov). Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

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 S7-14-15. This file number 
should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help us 
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 (http://www.sec/gov/rules/other.shtml). Comments are 
also 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. 
All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission 
does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You 
should only submit information that you wish to make publicly 
available.
    Studies, memoranda or other substantive items may be added by the 
Commission or staff to the comment file during this rulemaking. A 
notification of the inclusion in the comment file of any such materials 
will be made available on the Commission's Web site. To ensure direct 
electronic receipt of such notifications, sign up through the ``Stay 
Connected'' option at www.sec.gov to receive notifications by email.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula R. Jenson, Deputy Chief Counsel, 
Joseph Furey, Assistant Chief Counsel, Bonnie Gauch, Senior Special 
Counsel, Joanne Rutkowski, Senior Special Counsel, Natasha Vij Greiner, 
Branch Chief, Jonathan C. Shapiro, Special Counsel, at 202-551-5550, 
Division of Trading and Markets, Securities and Exchange Commission, 
100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-7010.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission is proposing for public 
comment Rule of Practice 194 [17 CFR 201.194], under Exchange Act 
Section 15F(b)(6) [15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6)].

Table of Contents

I. Background
    A. Registration Proposing Release
    B. Registration Adopting Release
II. Discussion
    A. Overview of Proposed Rule
    B. Consistency With Other Processes for Permitting Association 
Notwithstanding a Statutory Disqualification or Other Bar
    1. Rule of Practice 193
    2. FINRA Eligibility Proceedings
    3. CFTC's Approach to Associated Persons of Swap Entities 
Subject to a Statutory Disqualification
    C. Proposed Rule of Practice 194
    1. Scope of the Rule
    2. Required Showing
    3. Form of Application for Natural Persons and Entities
    4. Written Statement for Natural Persons and Entities
    5. Prior Applications or Processes
    6. Notification to Applicant and Written Statement
    7. Orders under Proposed Rule of Practice 194
    8. Temporary Exclusion for Other Persons
    9. Notice in Lieu of an Application
    10. Note to Proposed Rule of Practice 194
III. Request For Comment
IV. Paperwork Reduction Act
    A. Summary of Collection of Information
    B. Proposed Use of Information
    C. Respondents
    D. Total Burden Estimates Relating to Proposed Rule of Practice 
194
    E. Confidentiality
    F. Request for Comment
V. Economic Analysis
    A. Introduction
    B. General Economic Considerations
    C. Economic Baseline
    1. Affected Participants
    2. Incidence of Disqualification
    3. Existing Regulatory Frameworks

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    D. Benefits, Costs, and Effects on Efficiency, Competition, and 
Capital Formation
    1. Anticipated Benefits
    2. Anticipated Costs
    3. Effects on Efficiency, Competition, and Capital Formation
    E. Rule Alternatives
    1. Relief for All Entities from Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6)
    2. A Modified Temporary Exclusion
    3. Relief for Non-Investment-Related Offenses
    4. No Relief for CFTC, SRO, Registered Futures Association 
Review
    5. No Relief for Entities from Exchange Act Section 15(F)(b)(6)
    F. Request for Comment
VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
    A. Regulatory Framework
    B. Assessment of Impact
    C. Certification and Request for Comment
VII. Consideration of Impact on the Economy
VIII. Statutory Authority

I. Background

    Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6), as added by Section 764(a) of the 
Dodd-Frank Act, makes it unlawful for an SBS Entity to permit an 
associated person \1\ who is subject to a statutory disqualification to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
the SBS Entity if the SBS Entity knew, or in the exercise of reasonable 
care should have known, of the statutory disqualification, ``[e]xcept 
to the extent otherwise specifically provided by rule, regulation, or 
order of the Commission.'' \2\ In this regard, Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6) gives the Commission the discretion to determine, by order, 
that a statutorily disqualified associated person may effect or be 
involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of an SBS Entity, 
and/or to establish rules concerning the statutory prohibition in 
Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6).
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    \1\ Exchange Act Section 3(a)(70) generally defines the term 
``persons associated with'' an SBS Entity to include (i) any 
partner, officer, director, or branch manager of an SBS Entity (or 
any person occupying a similar status or performing similar 
functions); (ii) any person directly or indirectly controlling, 
controlled by, or under common control with an SBS Entity; or (iii) 
any employee of an SBS Entity. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(70). The 
definition generally excludes persons whose functions are solely 
clerical or ministerial. Id. The definition of ``person'' under 
Exchange Act Section 3(a)(9) is not limited to natural persons, but 
extends to both entities and natural persons. 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(9) 
(``The term `person' means a natural person, company, government, or 
political subdivision, agent, or instrumentality of a 
government.'').
    \2\ Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) provides: ``Except to the 
extent otherwise specifically provided by rule, regulation, or order 
of the Commission, it shall be unlawful for a security-based swap 
dealer or a major security-based swap participant to permit any 
person associated with a security-based swap dealer or a major 
security-based swap participant who is subject to a statutory 
disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting security-
based swaps on behalf of the security-based swap dealer or major 
security-based swap participant, if the security-based swap dealer 
or major security-based swap participant knew, or in the exercise of 
reasonable care should have known, of the statutory 
disqualification.'' 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6).
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    To date, however, the Commission has not established a separate, 
more specific rule by which an SBS Entity may apply to the Commission 
to permit an associated person who is subject to a statutory 
disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity. This proposal, if adopted, would 
establish such a rule. The proposal would specify the process for 
obtaining relief from the statutory prohibition in Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6), including by setting forth the required showing, the form of 
application and the items to be addressed with respect to associated 
persons that are natural persons and that are not natural persons.
    The proposal would provide a temporary exclusion from the 
prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) that would apply both to 
the case where (i) an associated person entity that is already 
effecting or involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of an 
SBS Entity becomes subject to a statutory disqualification, and (ii) an 
entity that is already subject to a statutory disqualification becomes 
an associated person that is effecting or involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on behalf of an SBS Entity. Specifically, an SBS 
Entity would be temporarily excluded from the prohibition in Exchange 
Act Section 15F(b)(6) with respect to associated person entities (i) 
for a period of 30 days following the associated person becoming 
subject to a statutory disqualification or 30 days following the person 
that is subject to a statutory disqualification becoming an associated 
person of an SBS Entity; (ii) for a period of 180 days following the 
filing of a complete application under proposed Rule of Practice 194 
and notice if the application and notice are filed within the same 30-
day time period; and (iii) for a period of 180 days following the 
filing of a complete application with, or initiation of a process by, 
the CFTC, an SRO \3\ or a registered futures association with respect 
to the associated person for the membership, association, registration 
or listing as a principal, where the application has been filed or 
process started prior to or within the same 30-day time period and a 
notice is filed with the Commission within the same 30-day period. The 
proposed Rule of Practice 194 also provides, in certain circumstances, 
an extension of the temporary exclusion from the prohibition in 
Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) with respect to associated person 
entities to comply with the prohibition in Section 15F(b)(6) in cases 
where the temporary exclusion expires or where there is an adverse 
decision.
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    \3\ ``Self-regulatory organization'' is defined in Section 
3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)) as ``any 
national securities exchange, registered securities association, or 
registered clearing agency, or (soley for the purposes of sections 
19(b), 19(c) and 23(b) of [the Exchange Act]) the Municipal 
Securities Rulemaking Board established by section 15B of [the 
Exchange Act].''
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    Finally, this proposal would provide that an SBS Entity may permit, 
subject to certain conditions, an associated person (whether a natural 
person or an entity) that is subject to a statutory disqualification to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
the SBS Entity, without making an application, where the Commission, 
CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures association has granted a prior 
application or otherwise granted relief from a statutory 
disqualification with respect to the associated person.

A. Registration Proposing Release

    On October 12, 2011, the Commission proposed requirements for an 
SBS Entity to register with the Commission, as well as additional 
provisions related to registration.\4\ In the Registration Proposing 
Release, the Commission solicited comment on potentially developing an 
alternative process, in accordance with Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6), 
to establish exceptions to the statutory prohibition in Exchange Act 
Section 15F(b)(6).\5\ In doing so, the Commission noted that Section 
15F(b)(6) expressly authorizes the Commission to establish exceptions 
to the prohibition by rule, regulation or order.\6\ The Commission also 
solicited comment on whether the Commission should consider excepting 
entities from the statutory prohibition in Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6).\7\
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    \4\ Registration of Security-Based Swap Dealers and Major 
Security-Based Swap Participants, Exchange Act Release No. 65543 
(Oct. 12, 2011), 76 FR 65784 (Oct. 24, 2011) (``Registration 
Proposing Release'').
    \5\ Id. at 65797.
    \6\ Id.
    \7\ Id. at 65797 (Question 90).
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    The Commission received one comment relevant to potentially 
developing an alternative process to establish exceptions to Exchange 
Act Section 15F(b)(6).\8\ The commenter

[[Page 51686]]

stated that, based on the Commission's definition of the phrase 
``involved in effecting,'' SBS Entities could have hundreds, if not 
thousands, of associated natural persons who will effect or will be 
involved in effecting security-based swaps.\9\ Moreover, the commenter 
stated that the definition of ``associated person'' could be read to 
extend not just to natural persons, but also to non-natural persons 
(e.g., entities) that are affiliates of SBS Entities.\10\ As a result, 
the commenter stated, prohibiting statutorily disqualified entities 
from effecting or being involved in effecting security-based swaps 
could result in ``considerable'' business disruptions and other 
ramifications.\11\
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    \8\ See Letter from Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr., Securities Industry 
and Financial Markets Association, dated December 16, 2011 (``12/16/
2011 SIFMA Letter''), at 8.
    \9\ Id.
    \10\ Id.
    \11\ Id. The commenter did not provide supporting data to 
quantify the number of associated persons or the magnitude of any 
potential business disruptions.
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    To address these concerns, the commenter stated that the Commission 
should narrow the scope of the associated persons considered to be 
effecting or involved in effecting security-based swaps, or, 
alternatively, exercise its statutory authority to grant exceptions to 
the general ban on an SBS Entity from associating with a person subject 
to a statutory disqualification.\12\


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    \12\ Id.
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B. Registration Adopting Release

    Concurrent with the issuance of this proposing release,\13\ the 
Commission is adopting registration requirements for SBS Entities.\14\ 
Several aspects of the adopted rules relate to the statutory 
prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6). In particular, the 
Commission adopted Exchange Act Rule 15Fb6-1,\15\ which provides that, 
unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, an SBS Entity, when it 
files an application to register with the Commission as a security-
based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant, may permit 
an associated person that is not a natural person and that is subject 
to a statutory disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on its behalf, provided that the statutory 
disqualification(s) under Exchange Act Section 3(a)(39)(A) through (F) 
\16\ occurred prior to the compliance date set forth in the 
Registration Adopting Release. SBS Entities seeking to avail themselves 
of the relief for disqualified associated entities will have to provide 
a list of disqualified associated entities, which will be made public 
by the Commission as part of the registration application.\17\
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    \13\ On June 15, 2011, the Commission issued an order that, 
among other things, granted temporary relief from compliance with 
Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6), and Exchange Act Section 29(b), 15 
U.S.C. 78cc(b), concerning enforceability of contracts that would 
violate, among other provisions, Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6). See 
Temporary Exemptions and Other Temporary Relief, Together With 
Information on Compliance Dates for New Provisions of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 Applicable to Security-Based Swaps, Exchange 
Act Release No. 64678 (June 15, 2011), 76 FR 36287, 36301, 36305-07 
(June 22, 2011) (``Temporary Exemptions Order''). Under the 
Temporary Exemptions Order, persons subject to a statutory 
disqualification who were, as of July 16, 2011, associated with an 
SBS Entity and who effected or were involved in effecting security-
based swaps on behalf of such SBS Entity could continue to be 
associated with an SBS Entity until the date upon which rules 
adopted by the Commission to register SBS Entities became effective. 
The Commission will consider separately the expiration date of the 
temporary relief.
    \14\ Registration Process for Security-Based Swap Dealers and 
Major Security-Based Swap Participants, Exchange Act Release No. 
75611 (Aug. 5, 2015) (the ``Registration Adopting Release'').
    \15\ 17 CFR 240.15Fb6-1.
    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(39)(A)-(F). As stated in the Registration 
Adopting Release, we intend for this description to parallel 
Exchange Act Section 3(a)(39). If Congress were to amend the 
definition of statutory disqualification in Exchange Act Section 
3(a)(39), we believe it would be appropriate for the Commission to 
consider amending Exchange Act Rule 15Fb6-2, 17 CFR 240.14Fb6-2, to 
assure that this description remains consistent with the statutory 
definition. See Registration Adopting Release, at Note 63.
    \17\ See Registration Adopting Release, at Section II.B.1.i.
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    The Commission also adopted a requirement in Rule 15Fb6-2 that the 
Chief Compliance Officer of an SBS Entity certify on Form SBSE-C that 
it has performed background checks on all of its associated persons 
that are natural persons who effect or are involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on its behalf, and neither knows, nor in the 
exercise of reasonable care should have known, that any of its 
associated persons that effect or are involved in effecting security-
based swaps on its behalf are subject to a statutory disqualification, 
unless otherwise specifically provided by rule, regulation or order of 
the Commission.\18\
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    \18\ See Rule 15Fb6-2(a) and Form SBSE-C; see also Registration 
Adopting Release, at Section II.B.3.
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    Finally, the Commission modified its guidance on the scope of the 
phrase ``involved in effecting'' security-based swaps, as that phrase 
is used in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6).\19\
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    \19\ Specifically, the Commission stated that the term 
``involved in effecting security-based swaps'' generally means 
engaged in functions necessary to facilitate the SBS Entity's 
security-based swap business, including, but not limited to the 
following activities: (1) Drafting and negotiating master agreements 
and confirmations; (2) recommending security-based swap transactions 
to counterparties; (3) being involved in executing security-based 
swap transactions on a trading desk; (4) pricing security-based swap 
positions; (5) managing collateral for the SBS Entity; and (6) 
directly supervising persons engaged in the activities described in 
items (1) through (5) above. See Registration Adopting Release, at 
Section II.B.1.ii.
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II. Discussion

A. Overview of Proposed Rule

    The Commission is proposing Rule of Practice 194, which would 
provide a process by which an SBS Entity could apply to the Commission 
for an order permitting an associated person to effect or be involved 
in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity where the 
associated person is subject to a statutory disqualification \20\ and 
is thereby otherwise prohibited from effecting or being involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on behalf of an SBS Entity under 
Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6). For the Commission to issue an order 
granting relief under proposed Rule of Practice 194, an SBS Entity 
would be required to make a showing that it would be consistent with 
the public interest to permit the associated person to effect or be 
involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity, 
notwithstanding the statutory disqualification.
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    \20\ Under Exchange Act Rule 15Fb6-1, 17 CFR 240.15Fb6-1, unless 
otherwise ordered by the Commission, an SBS Entity, when it files an 
application to register with the Commission as a security-based swap 
dealer or major security-based swap participant, may permit an 
associated person that is not a natural person and that is subject 
to a statutory disqualification to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on its behalf, provided that the 
statutory disqualification(s) under Exchange Act Section 3(a)(39)(A) 
through (F), 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(39)(A)-(F), occurred prior to the 
compliance date set forth in the Registration Adopting Release, and 
provided that it identifies each such associated person on Schedule 
C of Form SBSE, Form SBSE-A, or Form SBSE-BD, as appropriate. As a 
result, at the time a security-based swap dealer or major security-
based swap participant submits an application to register as an SBS 
Entity, it would not have to file an application with the Commission 
under proposed Rule of Practice 194 with respect to an associated 
person entity that is subject to a statutory disqualification that 
occurred prior to the compliance date set forth in the Registration 
Adopting Release. See Registration Adopting Release, at Section 
II.B.1.i.
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    The rule would prescribe the form of application and the items to 
be addressed with respect to an associated person that is a natural 
person or entity. The rule would also provide for notice to the 
applicant in cases where the Commission staff anticipates making an 
adverse recommendation to the Commission with respect to an application 
made pursuant to this rule. In such cases, the applicant would be 
provided with a written statement of the reasons for the Commission 
staff's preliminary recommendation, and the applicant would have 30 
days to submit a written statement in response.
    The Commission is also proposing paragraph (i) to proposed Rule of

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Practice 194, which would provide that an SBS Entity shall be 
temporarily excluded from the prohibition in Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6) with respect to a statutorily disqualified associated person 
that is not a natural person (i) for a period of 30 days following the 
associated person becoming subject to a statutory disqualification or 
30 days following the person that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification becoming an associated person of an SBS Entity, (ii) 
for a period of 180 days following the filing of a complete application 
under proposed Rule of Practice 194 and notice if the application and 
notice are filed within the same 30-day time period; and (iii) for a 
period of 180 days following the filing of a complete application with, 
or initiation of a process by, the CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures 
association with respect to the associated person for the membership, 
association, registration or listing as a principal, where the 
application has been filed or process started prior to or within the 
same 30-day time period and a notice has been filed with the Commission 
within the same 30-day time period. Proposed Rule of Practice 194(i) 
also provides in paragraphs (i)(1)(ii), (i)(1)(iii) and (i)(3) for an 
extension of the temporary exclusion to comply with the statutory 
prohibition in Exchange Section 15F(b)(6).
    In addition, the Commission is proposing paragraph (j) to Rule of 
Practice 194, which provides that, where certain conditions are met, an 
SBS Entity would not need to file an application under proposed Rule of 
Practice 194 to permit a statutorily disqualified associated person to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
the SBS Entity. Specifically, paragraph (j) to proposed Rule of 
Practice 194 would allow an SBS Entity, subject to certain conditions, 
to permit a statutorily disqualified associated person to effect or be 
involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity 
without making an application to the Commission, where the Commission, 
CFTC, an SRO (e.g., FINRA or a national securities exchange), or a 
registered futures association (e.g., the National Futures Association 
(``NFA'')) has granted a prior application or otherwise granted relief 
from a statutory disqualification with respect to that associated 
person. In such cases where an SBS Entity meets the requirements of 
proposed paragraph (j), the SBS Entity would be permitted to file 
notice with the Commission (in lieu of an application).

B. Consistency With Other Processes for Permitting Association 
Notwithstanding a Statutory Disqualification or Other Bar

    Under the federal securities laws, certain registered entities have 
various procedural avenues to be able to associate, where warranted, 
with persons subject to a statutory disqualification or other bar, 
including the Commission's Rule of Practice 193 \21\ and Financial 
Industry Regulatory Authority (``FINRA'') eligibility proceedings 
(under the process set forth in Exchange Act Rule 19h-1).\22\ As 
detailed below in Section II.C, Proposed Rule of Practice 194 is 
modeled on these existing processes where persons can reenter the 
industry despite previously being barred by the Commission or to 
associate with a member of an SRO notwithstanding a statutory 
disqualification. Proposed Rule of Practice 194 would establish a 
procedural framework that is similar to processes that are familiar to 
market participants.
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    \21\ 17 CFR 201.193.
    \22\ 17 CFR 240.19h-1.
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1. Rule of Practice 193
    Rule of Practice 193 provides a process by which individuals that 
are not regulated by an SRO (e.g., employees of an investment adviser, 
an investment company, or a transfer agent) can seek to reenter the 
securities industry despite previously being barred by the 
Commission.\23\
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    \23\ 17 CFR 201.193; see also Registration Proposing Release, 76 
FR at 65797; Applications by Barred Individuals for Consent to 
Associate With a Registered Broker, Dealer, Municipal Securities 
Dealer, Investment Adviser or Investment Company, Exchange Act 
Release No. 20783, Investment Company Act Release No. 13839, 
Investment Advisers Act Release No. 903, 49 FR 12204 (Mar. 29, 1984) 
(``Applications by those barred individuals who seek to associate 
with an investment adviser, investment company, or other entity that 
is not a member of an SRO, should be submitted directly to the 
Commission pursuant to Rule 29 [current Rule 193]'').
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    The rule requires the filing of an affidavit from the individual, 
addressing, among other items, (1) the time period since the imposition 
of the bar; (2) any restitution or similar action taken by the 
individual to recompense any person injured by the misconduct that 
resulted in the bar; (3) the individual's employment during the period 
subsequent to imposition of the bar; (4) the capacity or position in 
which the individual proposes to be associated; (5) the manner and 
extent of supervision to be exercised over such individual and, where 
applicable, by such individual and (6) any relevant courses, seminars, 
examinations or other actions completed by the individual subsequent to 
imposition of the bar to prepare for his or her return to the 
securities business.\24\
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    \24\ 17 CFR 201.193(b), (d).
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    Rule 193 also requires a written statement from the proposed 
employer, describing, among other things, the terms and conditions of 
employment and the supervision to be exercised over the barred 
individual.\25\
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    \25\ 17 CFR 201.193(b)(4)(i)-(iv).
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2. FINRA Eligibility Proceedings
    Under Exchange Act Section 15A(g)(2), ``[a] registered securities 
association may, and in cases in which the Commission, by order, 
directs as necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the 
protection of investors shall, deny membership to any registered broker 
or dealer, and bar from becoming associated with a member any person, 
who is subject to a statutory disqualification.'' \26\ Consistent with 
that provision, Article III, Section 3 of the FINRA By-Laws provides 
that no person shall be associated with a member, continue to be 
associated with a member, or transfer association to another member if 
such person is or becomes subject to a disqualification; and, that no 
person shall be admitted to membership, and no member shall be 
continued in membership, if any person associated with it is subject to 
a disqualification.\27\ Under Article III, Section 4 of the FINRA By-
Laws, a person is subject to a ``disqualification'' with respect to 
membership, or association with a member, if such person is subject to 
any ``statutory disqualification'' as such term is defined in Exchange 
Act Section 3(a)(39).\28\ Article III, Section 3(d) of FINRA's By-Laws 
permits a disqualified person or member to request permission to enter 
or remain in the securities industry.\29\ Consistent with Exchange Act 
Section 15A(g)(2),\30\ under Article 3, Section 3(d) of the FINRA By-
Laws, the FINRA Board may, in its discretion approve the continuance in 
membership, and may also approve the association or continuance of 
association of any person, if the FINRA Board determines that such 
approval is consistent with the

[[Page 51688]]

public interest and the protection of investors.\31\
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    \26\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(g)(2).
    \27\ See FINRA By-laws, Article III, Section 3, http://finra.complinet.com/en/display/display_main.html?rbid=2403&element_id=4606.
    \28\ See FINRA By-Laws, Article III, Section 4, http://finra.complinet.com/en/display/display_main.html?rbid=2403&element_id=4607; 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(39).
    \29\ See FINRA By-laws, Article III, Section 3, at Note 27, 
supra.
    \30\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(g)(2).
    \31\ See FINRA Rules 9522(e), 9524(b)(1).
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    The FINRA Rule 9520 Series sets forth procedures for a person to 
become or remain associated with a member, notwithstanding the 
existence of a statutory disqualification, and for a current member or 
person associated with a member to obtain relief from the eligibility 
or qualification requirements of the FINRA By-Laws and rules.\32\ A 
member (or new member applicant) seeking to associate with a natural 
person subject to a statutory disqualification must seek approval from 
FINRA by filing a Form MC-400 application.\33\ Members (and new member 
applicants) that are themselves subject to a disqualification that wish 
to obtain relief from the eligibility requirements are required to 
submit a Form MC-400A application.\34\
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    \32\ See FINRA Rule 9520 Series, http://finra.complinet.com/en/display/display_viewall.html?rbid=2403&element_id=3985&record_id=5063&filtered_tag=.
    \33\ See FINRA Form MC-400, Membership Continuance Application, 
http://www.finra.org/web/groups/industry/@ip/@enf/@adj/documents/industry/p011542.pdf.
    \34\ See FINRA Form MC-400A, Membership Continuance Application: 
Member Firm Disqualification Application, http://www.finra.org/web/groups/industry/@ip/@enf/@adj/documents/industry/p013339.pdf.
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    Where required, FINRA sends a notice or notification to the 
Commission of its proposal to admit or continue the membership of a 
person or association with a member notwithstanding statutory 
disqualification in accordance with Exchange Act Rule 19h-1.\35\ 
Exchange Act Rule 19h-1 provides for Commission review of notices filed 
by SROs proposing to admit any person to, or continue any person in, 
membership or association with a member, notwithstanding statutory 
disqualification. However, Exchange Act Rule 19h-1(a)(2) \36\ and (3) 
\37\ provide that, for certain persons, and in limited circumstances, a 
notice does not need to be filed. With respect to certain persons 
subject to a statutory disqualification, under Exchange Act Rule 19h-
1(a)(4),\38\ an SRO is required to furnish to the Commission a 
notification (containing less information than a notice). Under 
Exchange Act Section 15A(g)(2),\39\ where it is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors, 
the Commission may, by order, direct the SRO to deny membership to any 
registered broker or dealer, and bar from becoming associated with a 
member any person, who is subject to a statutory disqualification.
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    \35\ 17 CFR 240.19h-1.
    \36\ Exchange Act Rule 19h-1(a)(2), 17 CFR 240.19h-1(a)(2), 
provides that a notice need not be filed with the Commission, 
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 19h-1, regarding an associated person 
subject to a statutory disqualification if the person's activities 
with respect to the member are solely clerical or ministerial in 
nature and such person does not have access to funds, securities, or 
books and records.
    \37\ Exchange Act Rule 19h-1(a)(3), 17 CFR 240.19h-1(a)(3), 
provides that a notice need not be filed with the Commission, 
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 19h-1, regarding a person or member 
subject to a statutory disqualification if the person or member 
proposed for continued association or membership, respectively, 
satisfies the requirements of Exchange Act Rule 19h-1(a)(3)(i)-(vi).
    \38\ 17 CFR 240.19h-1(a)(4). A notification must be filed if the 
person or member proposed for continued association or membership, 
respectively, satisfies the requirements of Exchange Act Rule 19h-
1(a)(3)(ii), (iv) or (v). 17 CFR 240.19h-1(a)(3)(ii), (iv), (v).
    \39\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(g)(2).
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3. CFTC's Approach to Associated Persons of Swap Entities Subject to a 
Statutory Disqualification
    The statutory prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) \40\ is 
parallel to a statutory provision for a swap dealer or major swap 
participant (collectively ``Swap Entity'') as set forth in Section 
4s(b)(6) of the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'').\41\ With respect to 
statutorily disqualified associated persons of Swap Entities, the CFTC, 
among other things:
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    \40\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6).
    \41\ See 7 U.S.C. 6s(b)(6), which states, ``Except to the extent 
otherwise specifically provided by rule, regulation, or order, it 
shall be unlawful for a swap dealer or a major swap participant to 
permit any person associated with a swap dealer or a major swap 
participant who is subject to a statutory disqualification to effect 
or be involved in effecting swaps on behalf of the swap dealer or 
major swap participant, if the swap dealer or major swap participant 
knew, or in the exercise of reasonable care should have known, of 
the statutory disqualification.''
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     Defined associated persons of Swap Entities to be limited 
to natural persons.\42\ As a result, the prohibition in Section 
4s(b)(6) of the CEA \43\ applies to natural persons associated with a 
Swap Entity (not entities).
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    \42\ Specifically, the CFTC amended CEA Regulation 1.3(aa), 17 
CFR 1.3(aa), which generally defines the term ``associated person'' 
for purposes of entities registered with it, to cover Swap Entities. 
Consequently, with respect to Swap Entities, the definition reads, 
``(aa) Associated Person. This term means any natural person who is 
associated in any of the following capacities with: . . . (6) A swap 
dealer or major swap participant as a partner, officer, employee, 
agent (or any natural person occupying a similar status or 
performing similar functions), in any capacity that involves: (i) 
The solicitation or acceptance of swaps (other than in a clerical or 
ministerial capacity); or (ii) The supervision of any person or 
persons so engaged.''
    \43\ See 7 U.S.C. 6s(b)(6).
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     Adopted Regulation 23.22(b), permitting association with a 
Swap Entity with respect to a person who is already listed as a 
principal, registered as an associated person of another CFTC 
registrant, or registered as a floor broker or floor trader, 
notwithstanding that the person is subject to a statutory 
disqualification under the CEA.\44\ With respect to those applicants or 
registrants, NFA Registration Rule 504 sets forth procedures governing 
applicants and registrants statutorily disqualified from registration 
under CEA Section 8a(2), 8a(3) or 8a(4).\45\ Under NFA Registration 
Rules 504(b)(2) and 507, the applicant or registrant must show that, 
notwithstanding the existence of a statutory disqualification, his 
registration would pose no substantial risk to the public.\46\ 
Likewise, under CFTC Regulation 3.60(b)(2)(i), (e)(1) and (2) \47\ an 
applicant or registrant must show that registration would not pose a 
substantial risk to the public despite the existence of the statutory 
disqualification.\48\
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    \44\ See Registration of Swap Dealers and Major Swap 
Participants, 77 FR 2613, 2315 (Jan. 19, 2012) (``CFTC Registration 
Release''). Specifically, CFTC Regulation 23.22(b) provides: ``No 
swap dealer or major swap participant may permit a person who is 
subject to a statutory disqualification under section 8a(2) or 8a(3) 
of the [CEA] to effect or be involved in effecting swaps on behalf 
of the [Swap Entity], if the [Swap Entity] knows, or in the exercise 
of reasonable care should know, of the statutory disqualification; 
Provided, however, that the prohibition set forth in this paragraph 
(b) shall not apply to any person listed as a principal or 
registered as an associated person of a futures commission merchant, 
retail foreign exchange dealer, introducing broker, commodity pool 
operator, commodity trading advisor, or leverage transaction 
merchant, or any person registered as a floor broker or floor 
trader, notwithstanding that the person is subject to a 
disqualification from registration under section 8a(2) or 8a(3) of 
the [CEA].'' 17 CFR 23.22(b).
    \45\ 7 U.S.C. 12a(2), (3) or (4).
    \46\ Specifically, under NFA Registration Rule 507(a)(1), in 
actions involving statutory disqualification set forth in CEA 
Section 8a(2), 7 U.S.C. 12a(2), the applicant or registrant must 
make a clear and convincing showing that, notwithstanding the 
existence of the statutory disqualification, full or conditioned 
registration would not pose a substantial risk to the public; under 
NFA Registration Rule 507(a)(2), in actions involving statutory 
disqualification set forth in CEA Section 8a(3) or 8a(4), 7 U.S.C. 
12a(3) or (4), the applicant or registrant must show by a 
preponderance of the evidence that, notwithstanding the existence of 
the statutory disqualification, full or conditioned registration 
would not pose a substantial risk to the public.
    \47\ 17 CFR 3.60(b)(2)(i), (e)(1), (e)(2).
    \48\ Under CFTC Regulation 3.60(e)(1), 17 CFR 3.60(e)(1), in 
actions involving statutory disqualifications set forth in CEA 
Section 8a(2), 7 U.S.C. 12a(2), the applicant or registrant must 
make a clear and convincing showing that full, conditioned or 
restricted registration would not pose a substantial risk to the 
public despite the existence of the statutory disqualification. 
Under CFTC Regulation 3.60(e)(2), 17 CFR 3.60(e)(2), in actions 
involving statutory disqualifications set forth in CEA Section 8a(3) 
or 8a(4), 7 U.S.C. 12a(3) or (4), the applicant or registrant must 
make a showing by a preponderance of the evidence that full, 
conditioned or restricted registration would not pose a substantial 
risk to the public despite the existence of the statutory 
disqualification.

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[[Page 51689]]

     In addition, CFTC staff has issued no-action relief to 
Swap Entities that allows them to permit a statutorily disqualified 
associated person to effect or be involved in effecting swap 
transactions on behalf of a Swap Entity, provided that NFA provides 
notice to the Swap Entity that, had the person applied for registration 
as an associated person, NFA would have granted such registration.\49\ 
NFA has established a process by which such associated persons of Swap 
Entities may apply for relief from CEA Section 4s(b)(6).\50\
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    \49\ See Staff No-Action Positions: Registration Relief for 
Certain Persons, CFTC Letter No. 12-15, at 5-8 (Oct. 11, 2012) 
(``CFTC Staff No-Action Letter''), available at http://www.cftc.gov/ucm/groups/public/@lrlettergeneral/documents/letter/12-15.pdf.
    \50\ See NFA, EasyFile AP Statutory Disqualification Form 
Submission, https://www.nfa.futures.org/NFA-electronic-filings/easyFile-statutory-disqualification.HTML.
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C. Proposed Rule of Practice 194

1. Scope of the Rule
    Proposed paragraph (a) defines the scope of proposed Rule of 
Practice 194, providing a process for submitting applications by an SBS 
Entity seeking an order of the Commission permitting an associated 
person that is subject to a statutory disqualification to effect or be 
involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity. 
The proposed rule would allow an SBS Entity to voluntarily submit an 
application to the Commission to request an order where an associated 
person of an SBS Entity is subject to a statutory disqualification and 
thereby prohibited from effecting or being involved in effecting 
security based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity under Exchange Act 
Section 15F(b)(6).\51\
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    \51\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6).
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    Notably, however, where the conditions set forth in proposed 
paragraph (j) are met, an SBS Entity would not need to file an 
application under Rule of Practice 194 to permit a statutorily 
disqualified associated person to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity. In such instances, a 
more limited notification would be required.
2. Required Showing
    Proposed paragraph (b) sets forth the required showing for an 
application under proposed Rule of Practice 194. For the Commission to 
issue an order granting relief under proposed Rule of Practice 194, the 
Commission would need to find that it would be consistent with the 
public interest to permit the associated person of the SBS Entity who 
is subject to a statutory disqualification to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity.
    In meeting the burden of showing that permitting the associated 
person to effect or be involved in effecting security based swaps on 
behalf of the SBS Entity is consistent with the public interest, the 
application and supporting documentation must demonstrate that the 
terms or conditions of association, procedures, or proposed supervision 
(if the associated person is a natural person), for an associated 
person are reasonably designed to ensure that the statutory 
disqualification does not negatively impact upon the ability of the 
associated person to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity in compliance with the applicable 
statutory and regulatory framework. In addition to the items set forth 
in paragraphs (d) and (f) of proposed Rule of Practice 194, the 
Commission would consider the nature of the findings that resulted in 
the statutory disqualification in determining whether the association 
is consistent with the public interest.
    The Commission preliminarily believes that the public interest 
standard is appropriate because it is consistent with the overall 
purpose of the Exchange Act, and specifically for ``transactions in 
securities . . . [to be] effected with a national public interest which 
makes it necessary to provide for regulation and control of such 
transactions and of practices and matters related thereto.'' \52\ By 
prohibiting an SBS Entity from allowing a statutorily disqualified 
associated person from effecting or being involved in effecting 
security-based swap transactions, absent Commission relief, we believe 
that Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) is designed to limit the potential 
that associated persons who have engaged in certain types of ``bad 
acts'' will be able to negatively impact the security-based swap 
market, and the participants and investors in that market. However, 
Section 15F(b)(6) also specifically provides that the Commission can 
allow SBS Entities to continue to permit such statutorily disqualified 
associated persons to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swap transactions. The Commission preliminarily believes that the 
public interest standard is intended to capture those situations where 
the risk of the associated person engaging in security-based swap 
activity that may harm the market or the participants in the market is 
mitigated. For example, other items including, but not limited to, 
other misconduct in which the associated person may have engaged, the 
nature and disciplinary history of the associated person and SBS Entity 
requesting such relief, and the supervision to be accorded the 
associated person, would be relevant to the Commission's consideration 
of whether the risks of permitting such associated persons to effect or 
be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS 
Entity are sufficiently mitigated. The Commission preliminarily 
believes that the public interest standard appropriately reflects this 
type of analysis.\53\
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    \52\ See, e.g., Exchange Act Section 2, 15 U.S.C. 78b.
    \53\ A public interest standard also is consistent with the 
standard in Rule of Practice 193. See 17 CFR 201.193(c).
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3. Form of Application for Natural Persons and Entities
    Proposed paragraphs (c) and (e) specify the form of the application 
to be submitted under proposed Rule of Practice 194 for natural persons 
and entities (respectively). Proposed paragraphs (c) and (e) would 
require that each application with respect to an associated person 
subject to a statutory disqualification shall be supported by a written 
statement, signed by a knowledgeable person authorized by the SBS 
Entity, which addresses the items in proposed Rule of Practice 194(d) 
and (f).\54\
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    \54\ In addition to the information required in proposed 
paragraph (c)-(g), the Commission reserves the right to request from 
the applicant supplementary information to assist in its review. See 
proposed Rule of Practice 194, Appendix, paragraph (c), and Section 
II.C.10, infra.
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    The Commission proposes that the SBS Entity (rather than the 
associated person) submit the application, including by providing the 
signed written statement under proposed paragraphs (c) and (e), for 
several reasons. First, the SBS Entity is the person that is subject to 
the restrictions under Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6). Second, 
requiring an SBS Entity to submit the written statement with respect to 
an associated person would reinforce, in certain circumstances, the 
necessity of additional oversight by the SBS Entity over the associated 
person that is subject to a statutory disqualification, as SBS Entities 
would determine what information and documents to include in an 
application with respect to an associated person.\55\ Third, as 
specified below, the Commission is proposing to require information 
(e.g., concerning the supervision by the SBS Entity over the

[[Page 51690]]

associated person) that is within the possession of the SBS Entity 
itself. \56\
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    \55\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194, Appendix, paragraph (b).
    \56\ In addition, requiring an SBS Entity to submit the 
application would provide a familiar practice, as it is consistent 
with the current practice for SBS Entities that are registered with 
FINRA under FINRA Form MC-400. In particular, under FINRA Form MC-
400, an application for a statutorily disqualified associated person 
who is a natural person of a member firm is submitted by a member 
firm (not by the individual). See FINRA Form MC-400, Note 33, supra; 
see also Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry 
Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change 
to Adopt FINRA Rule 1113 (Restriction Pertaining to New Member 
Applications) and to Amend the FINRA Rule 9520 Series (Eligibility 
Proceedings), Exchange Act Release No. 63933 (Feb. 18, 2011), 76 FR 
10629, 10630 (Feb. 25, 2011) (``A member (or new member applicant) 
seeking to associate with a person subject to a disqualification 
must seek approval from FINRA by filing a Form MC-400 application, 
pursuant to the FINRA Rule 9520 Series.'').
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    The application would be filed pursuant to Rules of Practice 151, 
152 and 153.\57\ The Commission believes filing pursuant to these rules 
would provide the Commission with the information that it needs to 
assess an application under proposed Rule of Practice 194.
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    \57\ 17 CFR 201.151, 201.152, 201.153. Rule of Practice 151, 17 
CFR 201.151, concerns the procedure for filing of papers with the 
Commission; Rule of Practice 152, 17 CFR 201.152, concerns the form 
of filing papers with the Commission; Rule of Practice 153, 17 CFR 
201.153, concerns the signature requirement and effect of filing 
papers.
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    Proposed paragraphs (c) and (e) would require that the following 
exhibits be included with an application to help the Commission assess 
whether it is consistent with the public interest to allow the 
associated person to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of an SBS Entity:
     Proposed paragraphs (c)(1) and (e)(1) would require a copy 
of the order or other applicable document that resulted in the 
associated person being subject to a statutory disqualification. The 
proposed requirement would help inform the Commission about the nature 
of the conduct that led to the statutory disqualification. For example, 
in the event that the statutory disqualification arose from misconduct 
relating to security-based swap transactions in particular, or is 
otherwise investment-related, it may inform the Commission's decision 
of whether it is consistent with the public interest for the associated 
person to effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on 
behalf of an SBS Entity.
     Proposed paragraphs (c)(2) and (e)(2) would require an 
undertaking by the applicant to notify the Commission promptly in 
writing if any information submitted in support of the application 
becomes materially false or misleading while the application is 
pending. This proposed requirement is designed to require that 
information provided by the applicant be complete and accurate so that 
the Commission is provided the necessary information in order to 
effectively evaluate the pending application.
     Proposed paragraphs (c)(4) and (e)(5) would require a copy 
of any decision, order, or document issued with respect to any 
proceedings \58\ resulting in the imposition of disciplinary sanctions 
or pending proceeding against the associated person by the Commission, 
CFTC, any federal or state or law enforcement regulatory agency, 
registered futures association, foreign financial regulatory authority, 
registered national securities association, or any other SRO, or 
commodities exchange, or any court, that occurred during the five years 
preceding the filing of the application pursuant to proposed Rule of 
Practice 194. The Commission believes that the information required by 
this proposed provision would be useful to assess the disciplinary 
history of the associated person. The disciplinary history of the 
associated person subject to a statutory disqualification provides the 
Commission with relevant information to help assess the risk that the 
associated person may engage in future misconduct. The Commission is 
requesting the underlying decision, order, or other document itself (as 
opposed to a description or record of the decision), so that the 
Commission can directly review the materials to assess the disciplinary 
history of the associated person. Where the associated person has a 
history of misconduct, in addition to the conduct that triggered the 
statutory disqualification, the Commission generally would be less 
likely to find it in the public interest to permit the associated 
person to effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on 
behalf of an SBS Entity. In addition, this proposed requirement would 
help inform the Commission of any pending proceedings against the 
associated person, which may factor into the totality of the 
information when the Commission makes a determination as to whether the 
associated person should be allowed to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity. In this 
context, the Commission preliminarily believes that the five-year 
timeframe is appropriate. We balanced the burden that may be imposed by 
requiring SBS Entities to provide older materials and documents that 
may not be as readily available with our need to evaluate the context 
and circumstances underlying the application.
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    \58\ For purposes of providing the information requested by 
paragraphs (c)(4) and (c)(5), applicants should look to the 
definition of ``proceeding'' in Form SBSE, which states that a 
``proceeding'' includes ``a formal administrative or civil action 
initiated by a governmental agency, self-regulatory organization or 
a foreign financial regulatory authority; a felony criminal 
indictment or information (or equivalent formal charge); or a 
misdemeanor criminal information (or equivalent formal charge). Does 
not include other civil litigation, investigations, or arrests or 
similar charges effected in the absence of a formal criminal 
indictment or information (or equivalent formal charge).'' See 
Registration Adopting Release, at Section II.G.1, and Form SBSE.
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    In addition to the information above, proposed paragraph (c) of the 
proposed rule would require that each application with respect to an 
associated person that is a natural person include the following 
information and documents:
     Proposed paragraph (c)(3) would require a copy of the 
questionnaire or application for employment specified in Exchange Act 
Rule 15Fb6-2(b) with respect to the associated person,\59\ which would 
provide the Commission with basic background information concerning the 
associated person, as well as the disciplinary history of the 
associated person. Information concerning the disciplinary history of 
the associated person is important because it may help the Commission 
assess the risk of future misconduct by the associated person.
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    \59\ See Registration Adopting Release, at Section II.B.2.
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    Additionally, proposed paragraph (e) of the proposed rule would 
require that each application with respect to an associated person that 
is not a natural person include the following information and 
documents:
     Proposed paragraph (e)(3) would require a copy of any 
organizational charts of the associated person, if available. To the 
extent that the associated person employs any natural persons subject 
to a statutory disqualification (which would be required to be 
disclosed pursuant to paragraph (e)(6) of proposed Rule of Practice 
194, discussed infra), organizational charts would assist the 
Commission in assessing whether such natural persons are supervising or 
being supervised by other natural persons that are also subject to a 
statutory disqualification, whether directly (i.e., an immediate 
supervisor) or indirectly. This information would assist the Commission 
in making its determination because, for example, the concentration of 
statutorily disqualified natural persons in an associated person entity 
could pose a greater risk of future misconduct by such associated 
person entity.

[[Page 51691]]

     Proposed paragraph (e)(4) would require a copy of policies 
and procedures relating to the conduct resulting in the statutory 
disqualification that the associated person entity has in place to 
ensure compliance with any federal or state securities laws, the CEA, 
the rules or regulations thereunder, or the rules of the Municipal 
Securities Rulemaking Board, any SRO, or any foreign regulatory 
authority, as applicable. Such information would help inform the 
Commission as to whether the associated person entity has adequate 
policies and procedures in place, to the extent applicable, to ensure 
compliance with the federal securities laws or SRO rules. The 
information requested here is also consistent with the statutory 
scheme, as violations of the statutes and regulations listed here may 
result in a statutory disqualification under Exchange Act Section 
3(a)(39).\60\ Given that violations of any of the statutes and 
regulations listed here may result in a statutory disqualification 
under Section 3(a)(39) of the Exchange Act, the Commission believes 
that information about the associated person entity's policies and 
procedures would help inform the Commission as to steps taken to reduce 
the risk of further misconduct by the associated person entity. In 
particular, the Commission believes that where the associated person 
entity does not have sufficient policies and procedures to help ensure 
compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, there is a 
greater risk that the entity will engage in future misconduct.
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    \60\ See 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(39); 15 U.S.C. 78o(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Proposed paragraph (e)(6) would require the name of any 
natural persons employed by the associated person that are subject to a 
statutory disqualification and would effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity. For any such natural 
person, the applicant should indicate whether the individual is an 
officer, partner, direct or indirect owner of the associated person. 
Because an SBS Entity separately would be required to seek relief under 
proposed Rule of Practice 194 for any such natural persons to be able 
to effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
the SBS Entity, the application would only require a list of the names, 
not any further information that would be included in those separate 
applications.
4. Written Statement for Natural Persons and Entities
    Proposed paragraphs (d) and (f) under Rule of Practice 194 set 
forth the items to be addressed for applications with respect to 
natural persons and entities (respectively). Each of the items in 
proposed paragraphs (d) and (f) would be addressed in the written 
statement required by proposed paragraphs (c) and (e). The Commission 
believes that the items listed are important to help the Commission 
assess whether it would be consistent with the public interest to allow 
the associated person subject to a statutory disqualification to effect 
or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS 
Entity.
     Proposed paragraphs (d)(1) and (f)(2) would require an 
applicant to address the associated person's compliance with any order 
resulting in the statutory disqualification, including whether the 
associated person has paid fines or penalties, disgorged monies, made 
restitution or paid any other monetary compensation required by any 
such order. Whether an associated person has complied in full with any 
order resulting in the statutory disqualification (including with all 
monetary penalties imposed) could be relevant to assessing whether it 
is consistent with the public interest to allow the associated person 
to effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
an SBS Entity. This information could be relevant because the 
Commission believes that it generally would not be consistent with the 
public interest to issue an order granting relief under proposed Rule 
of Practice 194 with respect to persons that have failed to abide by 
the terms of a prior order resulting in a statutory disqualification. 
The Commission believes that the failure to comply with an order 
resulting in the statutory disqualification may be relevant for 
assessing the risk of whether an associated person subject to a 
statutory disqualification may engage in future misconduct.
     Proposed paragraphs (d)(3) and (f)(3) would require the 
applicant to address the capacity or position in which the associated 
person subject to a statutory disqualification proposes to be 
associated with the SBS Entity. In addressing the capacity or position 
in which the associated person subject to a statutory disqualification 
proposes to be associated with the SBS Entity, the applicant should 
provide a description of the proposed duties and responsibilities of 
the associated person. An associated person effecting or ``involved in 
effecting'' \61\ security-based swaps on behalf of an SBS Entity may 
operate in a varied range of capacities or positions, each presenting 
different risks. As a result, the information requested by paragraphs 
(d)(3) and (f)(3) would provide information about the nature of the 
activity that the associated person will be providing for the SBS 
Entity, and thus may help the Commission assess whether the associated 
person is engaging in activities that may create greater risks to SBS 
Entities, counterparties or other persons. In the event a prior 
application has been submitted with respect to the associated person, 
as set forth in proposed paragraph (g) to proposed Rule of Practice 
194, the SBS Entity should describe in what manner the association will 
differ, if at all, from the association in any such prior application.
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    \61\ See Registration Adopting Release, at Section II.B.1.ii, 
for discussion of guidance about what it means to be ``involved in 
effecting'' security-based swaps in the context of Section 15F(b)(6) 
of the Exchange Act.
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     Proposed paragraphs (d)(6) and (f)(6) would require the 
applicant to describe the compliance and disciplinary history, during 
the five years preceding the filing of the application, of the SBS 
Entity. In addition to the description of the compliance and 
disciplinary history, the applicant may provide any relevant 
documentation during the five years preceding the filing of the 
application, including, but not be limited to, the disclosure reporting 
pages on Forms SBSE, SBSE-A and SBSE-BD \62\ for the SBS Entity with 
respect to events occurring, along with any letters of caution, 
deficiency letters or similar documents received from the Commission, 
an SRO or other law enforcement or regulatory agency. The Commission 
believes that information regarding the compliance and disciplinary 
history of the SBS Entity could be useful to the Commission in 
assessing the risk that the associated person subject to a statutory 
disqualification may engage in future misconduct. In cases where an 
associated person subject to a statutory disqualification will be 
employed at an SBS Entity with significant compliance and disciplinary 
issues during the five years preceding the filing of an application 
under proposed Rule of Practice 194, the Commission would consider, 
among other things noted in this rule, the nature of the conduct that 
resulted in the statutory disqualification in determining whether the 
association

[[Page 51692]]

is consistent with the public interest. In this context, the Commission 
preliminarily believes that the five-year timeframe is appropriate. We 
balanced the burden that may be imposed by requiring SBS Entities to 
provide older materials and documents that may not be as readily 
available with our need to evaluate the circumstances underlying the 
application.
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    \62\ See Registration Adopting Release, at Sections II.G.1, 
II.G.2, and II.G.3.
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     Proposed paragraphs (d)(9) and (f)(5) would require a 
detailed statement of why the associated person should be permitted to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
the SBS Entity, including what steps the associated person or applicant 
have taken, or will take, to ensure that the statutory disqualification 
does not negatively impact upon the ability of the associated person to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
the SBS Entity in compliance with the applicable statutory and 
regulatory framework. This proposed requirement is designed to provide 
an opportunity for an applicant to provide a narrative or rationale to 
explain why it is consistent with the public interest to allow the 
associated person to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity.
     Proposed paragraphs (d)(10) and (f)(7) would require an 
applicant to discuss whether, during the five years preceding the 
filing of the application, the associated person has been involved in 
any litigation concerning investment or investment-related activities 
\63\ or whether there are there any unsatisfied judgments outstanding 
against the associated person concerning investment or investment-
related activities, to the extent not otherwise covered by proposed 
paragraph (d)(9); if so, the applicant should provide details regarding 
such litigation or unsatisfied judgments. The Commission believes 
information concerning such litigation may factor into the totality of 
the information when the Commission makes a determination as to whether 
the associated person should be allowed to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity. Information 
concerning unsatisfied judgments outstanding against the associated 
person concerning investment or investment-related activities may help 
inform the Commission as to whether the associated person subject to a 
statutory disqualification has abided by any judgment or order, or has 
failed to compensate persons as required by a court or other relevant 
authority. In this context, the Commission preliminarily believes that 
the five-year timeframe is appropriate. We balanced the burden that may 
be imposed by requiring SBS Entities to provide older information that 
may not be as readily available with our need to evaluate the 
circumstances underlying the application.
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    \63\ For purposes of providing the information requested by 
paragraphs (d)(10) and (f)(7), applicants should look to the 
definition of ``investment or investment-related'' in Form SBSE, 
which states that ``investment or investment-related'' includes 
``pertaining to securities, commodities, banking, savings 
association activities, credit union activities, insurance, or real 
estate (including, but not limited to, acting as or being associated 
with a broker-dealer, municipal securities dealer, government 
securities broker or dealer, issuer, investment company, investment 
adviser, futures sponsor, bank, security-based swap dealer, major 
security-based swap participant, savings association, credit union, 
insurance company, or insurance agency).'' See Registration Adopting 
Release, Form SBSE.
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     Proposed paragraphs (d)(11) and (f)(8) would require any 
other information that the applicant believes to be material to the 
application. This provision is designed to require an applicant to 
provide all information that likely will be material to the 
Commission's consideration of an application under proposed Rule of 
Practice 194, notwithstanding that such information may not be 
specifically required by the rule. This provision also is designed to 
provide the applicant with an opportunity to provide any additional 
information that the applicant believes is important to the 
Commission's consideration of the SBS Entity's application under 
proposed Rule of Practice 194, but that is not specifically required by 
the rule.
    In addition to the items discussed above, proposed paragraph (d) of 
the proposed rule would require applications with respect to natural 
persons to address the following items:
     Proposed paragraph (d)(2) would require the applicant to 
address the associated person's employment during the period subsequent 
to the issuance of the statutory disqualification. Where the associated 
person subject to a statutory disqualification has been employed 
without issue since the conduct resulting in the statutory 
disqualification, that fact may be relevant to the Commission's 
assessment as to whether it would be consistent with the public 
interest for the person to effect or be involved in effecting security-
based swaps on behalf of an SBS Entity.
     Proposed paragraph (d)(4) would require the applicant to 
describe the terms and conditions of employment and supervision to be 
exercised over the associated person and, where applicable, by such 
associated person. The Commission is proposing this requirement so that 
the Commission will be able to better assess the extent to which the 
terms and conditions of employment and supervision may create or 
mitigate the risk that the associated person subject to a statutory 
disqualification may engage in future misconduct. Moreover, the 
Commission is proposing to require that the applicant describe any 
supervision to be exercised by the associated person because the 
Commission believes that there could be a greater risk of harm where an 
associated person that is subject to a statutory disqualification has 
greater supervisory responsibilities, or is supervising another person 
that is also subject to a statutory disqualification. In the event a 
prior application has been submitted with respect to the associated 
person, as set forth in proposed paragraph (g) to proposed Rule of 
Practice 194, the SBS Entity should describe in what manner the terms 
and conditions of employment and supervision will differ, if at all, 
from the supervision in any such prior application.
     Proposed paragraph (d)(5) would require the applicant to 
list the qualifications, experience, and disciplinary history \64\ of 
the proposed supervisor(s) of the associated person. This provision is 
designed to assist the Commission in considering the capacity of the 
supervisor to oversee the associated person subject to a statutory 
disqualification in assessing whether the supervision of a person is 
likely to minimize the risk of future misconduct by the associated 
person. The Commission believes that the qualifications and experience 
of the supervisor of an associated person subject to a statutory 
disqualification has a bearing on the potential for future misconduct 
by that person.
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    \64\ Disciplinary history would include, for example, the items 
contained in Exchange Act Rule 17a-3(a)(12)(i)(D)-(G), 17 CFR 
240.17a-3(a)(12)(i)(D)-(G), which items are required to be collected 
by broker-dealers with respect to their associated persons and are 
required to be provided on Form U-4. Such items include, among other 
things, a record of any disciplinary action taken, or sanction 
imposed, upon the associated person by any federal or state agency, 
or national securities exchange or national securities association, 
a record of any permanent or temporary injunction entered against 
the associated person, or a record of any arrest or indictment for 
any felony or certain specified types of misdemeanors. See also 
Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements for Security-Based Swap 
Dealers, Major Security-Based Swap Participants, and Broker-Dealers; 
Capital Rule for Certain Security-Based Swap Dealers, Exchange Act 
Release No. 71958 (Apr. 17, 2014), 79 FR 25194, 25205, 25308-09 (May 
2, 2014).
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     Proposed paragraph (d)(7) would require the applicant to 
list the names of any other associated persons at the SBS Entity who 
have previously been

[[Page 51693]]

subject to a statutory disqualification, and whether they are to be 
supervised by the associated person. Proposed Rule of Practice 
194(d)(7) is designed to assist the Commission in assessing whether 
there could be a greater risk of misconduct where an associated person 
that is subject to a statutory disqualification is working directly 
with or is supervising another person that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification.
     Proposed paragraph (d)(8) would require the applicant to 
address whether the associated person has taken any relevant courses, 
seminars, examinations or other actions subsequent to becoming subject 
to a statutory disqualification to prepare for his or her participation 
in the security-based swap business. The information provided by 
proposed paragraph (d)(8) would inform the Commission as to whether the 
associated person has taken steps to apprise himself of relevant 
obligations under the federal securities or other laws or regulations, 
and, as a result, may factor into the Commission's decision as to 
whether it would be consistent with the public interest for the person 
to effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
an SBS Entity.
    In addition to the items discussed above, proposed paragraph (f) of 
the proposed rule would require applications with respect to persons 
that are not natural persons to address the following items:
     Proposed paragraph (f)(1) would require general background 
information about the associated person, including (i) the number of 
employees, (ii) the number and location of offices, (iii) the type(s) 
of business(es) in which the associated person is engaged; and (iv) the 
SRO memberships and effective dates of such membership of the 
associated person, if applicable. This requirement would assist the 
Commission in understanding the business of the associated person, 
including determining what SROs, if any, oversee the associated person. 
The Commission believes that obtaining basic background information 
about the firm would aid the Commission in understanding the entity 
that is an associated person, and therefore aid in its assessment of 
whether it is in the public interest to permit the associated person to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
the SBS Entity.
     Proposed paragraph (f)(4) would require a description of 
whether, with respect to the statutory disqualification and the 
sanctions imposed, the associated person was ordered to undertake any 
changes to its organizational structure or policies and procedures set 
forth in proposed Rule of Practice 194(e)(4), and to the extent that 
such changes were mandated, to describe what changes were mandated and 
whether the associated person has implemented them. This proposed 
requirement may aid the Commission in assessing whether the applicant 
has made changes to mitigate the occurrence of any future conduct that 
may result in statutory disqualification.
5. Prior Applications or Processes
    Proposed paragraph (g) would require an applicant to provide as 
part of the application any order, notice or other applicable document 
reflecting the grant, denial or other disposition (including any 
dispositions on appeal) of any prior application concerning the 
associated person under proposed Rule of Practice 194 and other similar 
processes.\65\ This provision is designed to inform the Commission when 
a similar application made with respect to the associated person has 
been granted or denied (or been subject to some other disposition).
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    \65\ In cases where a statutorily disqualified person was 
formerly associated with another SBS Entity, an applicant should use 
reasonable efforts to obtain relevant documentation from the other 
SBS Entity.
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    Information concerning the grant or denial (or other disposition) 
of a prior application or other request for relief, and the reasons for 
the grant or denial, may be relevant to the Commission's assessment as 
to whether it would be consistent with the public interest for the 
person to effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on 
behalf of an SBS Entity. For example, in the event that a prior 
application has been granted, but the terms and conditions of 
employment with the other registrant are materially different from the 
SBS Entity, the Commission could consider whether the terms and 
conditions at the SBS Entity that are different may result in any 
greater risk of future misconduct. In addition, if a prior application 
has been denied the Commission may take into consideration the prior 
application or request for relief in its determination of whether 
permitting an associated person to effect or be involved in effecting 
security based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity would be consistent 
with the public interest to grant an application under Rule of Practice 
194. Notably, under such circumstances (i.e., a denial or where the 
terms and conditions of employment are not the same), an SBS Entity 
could not avail itself of paragraph (j) of proposed Rule of Practice 
194 \66\ and therefore would be required to file an application under 
proposed Rule of Practice 194 in order to permit an associated person 
subject to a statutory disqualification to be able to effect or be 
involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of an SBS Entity.
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    \66\ See Section II.C.9, infra.
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     Proposed paragraph (g)(1) would require an applicant to 
provide any order, notice or other applicable document where an 
application has previously been made for the associated person pursuant 
to Rule of Practice 194.
     Proposed paragraph (g)(2) would require an applicant to 
provide any order, notice or other applicable document where an 
application has previously been made for the associated person pursuant 
to Rule of Practice 193.\67\
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    \67\ 17 CFR 201.193.
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     Proposed paragraph (g)(3) would require an applicant to 
provide any order, notice or other applicable document where an 
application has previously been made on behalf of the associated person 
pursuant to Section 9(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 
(``Investment Company Act'').\68\ Similar to proposed Rule of Practice 
194, under Investment Company Act Section 9(c), any person who is 
ineligible under Investment Company Act Section 9(a) \69\ may file with 
the Commission an application for an exemption.\70\
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    \68\ 15 U.S.C. 80a-9(c).
    \69\ Under Investment Company Act Section 9(a), it is unlawful 
for any persons to serve or act in the capacity of employee, 
officer, director, member of an advisory board, investment adviser, 
or depositor of any registered investment company, or principal 
underwriter for any registered open-end company, registered unit 
investment trust, or registered face-amount certificate company 
where, among other things: (1) that person (or an affiliated person) 
within ten years has been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor 
involving the purchase or sale of any security or arising out of 
such person's conduct as an underwriter, broker, dealer, investment 
adviser, or in other specified categories; or (2) that person (or an 
affiliated person), by reason of any misconduct, has been 
permanently or temporarily enjoined by order, judgment, or decree of 
any court of competent jurisdiction from acting as an underwriter, 
broker, dealer, investment adviser, or in other specified 
categories. See 15 U.S.C. 80a-9(a).
    \70\ Under Investment Company Act Section 9(c), the Commission 
will grant such application if it is established that: (i) the 
prohibition is unduly or disproportionately severe; or (ii) the 
conduct of such person has been such as not to make it against the 
public interest or protection of investors to grant such 
application. See 15 U.S.C. 80a-9(c).
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     Proposed paragraph (g)(4) would require an applicant to 
provide any order, notice or other applicable document where an 
application has previously been made on behalf of the associated person 
pursuant to Exchange Act Section 19(d),\71\ Exchange Act Rule

[[Page 51694]]

19h-1 \72\ or a proceeding by an SRO for a person to become or remain a 
member, or an associated person of a member, notwithstanding the 
existence of a statutory disqualification. For example, for broker-
dealers, where FINRA has granted or denied an application for consent 
to be a member or an associated person of a member, or to continue to 
be a member or an associated person of a member, notwithstanding the 
statutory disqualification, the applicant would provide such 
information to the Commission in accordance with proposed paragraph 
(g)(4).
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    \71\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(d).
    \72\ 17 CFR 240.19h-1.
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     Proposed paragraph (g)(5) would require an applicant to 
provide any order, notice or other applicable document reflecting the 
grant, denial or other disposition (including any dispositions on 
appeal) of any prior process concerning the associated person by the 
CFTC or a registered futures association for listing as a principal, or 
for registration, including as an associated person, notwithstanding 
the existence of a statutory disqualification. Specifically, paragraph 
(g)(5) would provide as follows:
     Proposed paragraph (g)(5)(i) addresses the exception in 
CFTC Regulation 23.22(b).\73\ Under that provision, the CFTC allows 
association with a Swap Entity with respect to a person who is already 
listed as a principal, registered as an associated person of another 
CFTC registrant, or registered as a floor broker or floor trader, 
notwithstanding that the person is subject to a statutory 
disqualification under section 8a(2) or 8a(3) \74\ of the CEA.\75\ 
Under proposed paragraph (g)(5)(i), an SBS Entity would be required to 
provide any order or other applicable document providing that the 
associated person may be listed as a principal, registered as an 
associated person of another CFTC registrant, or registered as a floor 
broker or floor trader, notwithstanding the statutory disqualification.
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    \73\ 17 CFR 23.22(b).
    \74\ 7 U.S.C. 12a(2), (3).
    \75\ See Note 44, supra.
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     Proposed paragraph (g)(5)(ii) addresses the CFTC and NFA's 
current process for granting relief from CEA Section 4s(b)(6),\76\ the 
provision that is parallel to Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6), with 
respect to persons that are not exempt from that provision pursuant to 
CFTC Regulation 23.22(b).\77\ Under that process, available through no-
action relief granted by CFTC staff, a Swap Entity may make an 
application to NFA to permit an associated person of a Swap Entity 
subject to a statutory disqualification to effect or be involved in 
effecting swaps on behalf of the Swap Entity. NFA will provide notice 
to a Swap Entity whether or not NFA would have granted the person 
registration as an associated person.\78\ Proposed paragraph (g)(5)(ii) 
would require the SBS Entity to submit any determination by NFA (the 
sole registered futures association \79\) with respect to that grant of 
no-action relief.
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    \76\ 7 U.S.C. 6s(b)(6).
    \77\ 17 CFR 23.22(b).
    \78\ See CFTC Staff No-Action Letter, supra Note 49, at 8.
    \79\ See CFTC Registration Release, 77 FR at 2624.
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6. Notification to Applicant and Written Statement
    Proposed paragraph (h) governs the procedure where there is an 
adverse recommendation proposed by the Commission staff with respect to 
an application under proposed Rule of Practice 194. Consistent with 
Rule of Practice 193(e),\80\ proposed Rule of Practice 194(h) would 
provide that where there is such an adverse recommendation, the 
applicant shall be so advised and provided with a written statement by 
the Commission staff of the reasons for such recommendation.
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    \80\ 17 CFR 201.193(e).
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    Under proposed paragraph (h), Commission staff would be required to 
provide a written statement for the reasons for an adverse 
recommendation. Consistent with Rule of Practice 193(e),\81\ the 
applicant would then have 30 days to submit to the Commission a written 
statement in response. This proposed provision is designed to give an 
applicant an opportunity to directly address an adverse recommendation 
by Commission staff and to assist the Commission's evaluation of 
applications under proposed Rule of Practice 194.
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    \81\ Id.
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7. Orders Under Proposed Rule of Practice 194
    Where the Commission determines that it would be consistent with 
the public interest to permit the associated person of the SBS Entity 
to effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
the SBS Entity, the Commission would issue an order granting relief. 
Where the Commission does not or cannot make the determination that it 
is in the public interest to permit the associated person of the SBS 
Entity to effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on 
behalf of the SBS Entity, the Commission would issue an order denying 
the application. Orders issued in accordance with Rule of Practice 194 
would be made publicly available. Applications and supporting materials 
would be kept confidential subject to applicable law.\82\
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    \82\ However, a notice pursuant to paragraph (i)(2) to proposed 
Rule of Practice 194 would be made publicly available on the 
Commission's Web site. See Section II.C.8, infra.
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8. Temporary Exclusion for Other Persons
    Proposed paragraph (i) would provide for temporary relief from the 
statutory prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) with respect to 
associated persons that are not natural persons and that are subject to 
a statutory disqualification. Proposed paragraph (i) is designed to 
address the situation where an operating SBS Entity becomes subject to 
the statutory prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) \83\ with 
respect to an associated person that is not a natural person--either as 
a result of an associated person that effects or is involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity becoming 
subject to a statutory disqualification, or as a result of a person 
that is subject to a statutory disqualification becoming an associated 
person effecting or involved in effecting security-based swaps on 
behalf of the SBS Entity.\84\
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    \83\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6).
    \84\ As stated in Section I.B, supra, the Commission has 
separately adopted Exchange Act Rule 15Fb6-1, 17 CFR 240.15Fb6-1, 
which provides that unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, an 
SBS Entity, when it files an application for registration as an SBS 
Entity, may permit a person associated with such SBS Entity that is 
not a natural person and that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting security-
based swaps on its behalf, provided that the statutory 
disqualification(s) occurred prior to the compliance date set forth 
in the Registration Adopting Release. SBS Entities seeking to avail 
themselves of this provision will have to provide a list of 
disqualified associated entities, which will be made public by the 
Commission as part of the registration application.
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    As noted in a separate release adopting registration rules for SBS 
Entities, the scope of the prohibition in Section 15F(b)(6) of the 
Exchange Act covers a wide range of actions, given the definitions of 
statutory disqualification and associated person, and the meaning of 
``involved in effecting'' a security-based swap transaction, and the 
conduct that led to a statutory disqualification may pertain to 
management practices that occurred a long time ago or acts engaged in 
by personnel that are no longer employed by the associated person.\85\ 
A commenter to the Registration Proposing Release stated that 
prohibiting statutorily disqualified

[[Page 51695]]

entities from effecting or being involved in effecting security-based 
swaps could result in ``considerable'' business disruptions and other 
ramifications.\86\
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    \85\ See Registration Adopting Release, at Section II.B.1.i.
    \86\ See 12/16/11 SIFMA Letter, at 8, Note 8, supra.
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    The Commission is concerned about the potential for business 
disruption to SBS Entities, and disruption to the security-based swap 
market, if SBS Entities engaged in the business must either cease 
operations, even temporarily, due to not being able to utilize the 
services of their associated entities, or move services to another 
entity that may not be as equipped to handle them pending a 
determination by the Commission on their application for relief under 
proposed Rule of Practice 194 or pending a determination by another 
regulator for similar relief.\87\ Therefore, to provide for a fair and 
orderly process when an SBS Entity files an application with respect to 
associated person entities pursuant to proposed Rule of Practice 194, 
the Commission preliminarily believes that it is appropriate to provide 
a temporary exclusion, subject to certain limitations and conditions, 
to allow an SBS Entity to permit an associated person entity that is 
subject to a statutory disqualification to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on its behalf pending a determination by 
the Commission or other regulatory body. In such cases, SBS Entities 
may consider implementing safeguards pending a determination by the 
Commission or other regulatory body to ensure that the statutory 
disqualification does not negatively impact upon the ability of the 
associated person to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity in compliance with the applicable 
statutory and regulatory framework.
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    \87\ Proposed Rule of Practice 194(j) provides that, subject to 
certain conditions, an SBS Entity may permit an associated person 
that is subject to a statutory disqualification to effect or be 
involved in effecting security-based swaps on its behalf, without 
making an application pursuant to the proposed rule, where the 
Commission, CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures association has 
granted a prior application or otherwise granted relief from a 
statutory disqualification with respect to that associated person. 
See proposed Rule of Practice 194(j) and Section II.C.9, infra.
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    The Commission preliminarily believes that the approach in proposed 
Rule of Practice 194(i) would appropriately consider the potentially 
competing objectives of minimizing the likelihood for business or 
market disruption while maintaining strong investor protections. In 
particular, while the rule would provide targeted relief with respect 
to associated person entities, it would not provide relief with respect 
to associated persons who are natural persons. The Commission believes 
that replacing, even temporarily, a natural person performing a 
particular security-based swap function would not create the same 
practical issues as with moving the services provided by an associated 
person entity to another entity.\88\ Further, associated persons that 
are natural persons are the persons responsible for actually performing 
or overseeing the functions necessary to effect security-based swap 
activities. As such, the Commission preliminarily does not believe the 
scope of proposed Rule of Practice 194(i) should be extended to cover 
associated persons that are natural persons.
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    \88\ For example, we believe that moving the cash and collateral 
management services from one entity to another would have a much 
more significant impact on the ability of the SBS Entity to operate 
than assigning a different natural person to negotiate and execute 
security-based swap transactions. See Registration Adopting Release, 
at Section II.B.1.i.
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    Under proposed paragraph (i)(1)(i), an SBS Entity would be 
temporarily excluded from the prohibition in Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6) with respect to an associated person that is not a natural 
person (1) for 30 days following the associated person becoming subject 
to a statutory disqualification, or (2) 30 days following the person 
that is subject to a statutory disqualification becoming an associated 
person of an SBS Entity.\89\ This provision is designed to provide an 
applicant with an initial time period to determine whether the 
applicant should file an application (or a notice in lieu of an 
application pursuant proposed paragraph (j)) with the Commission under 
proposed Rule of Practice 194, and to afford the applicant sufficient 
time to gather the materials for, draft, and file an application with 
respect to that associated person. The Commission preliminarily 
believes that allowing longer than 30 days would permit the associated 
person that is subject to a statutory disqualification to continue to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
the SBS Entity for too long a period of time without filing an 
application or notice under proposed Rule of Practice 194. Moreover, 
the Commission believes that an SBS Entity should be able to submit an 
application or notice within 30 days, as the information requested 
should already be readily available or accessible to the SBS Entity.
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    \89\ Because a person would not become an associated person of 
an SBS Entity until the entity itself becomes a security-based swap 
dealer or a major security-based swap participant pursuant to the 
Commission's rules (see 17 CFR 240.3a67-8, 240.3a67-9, 240.3a71-2), 
proposed paragraph (i) to Rule of Practice 194 would not apply until 
such time as the relevant entity is first deemed to be either a 
security-based swap dealer or a major security-based swap 
participant. For example, a person whose security-based swap dealing 
activity crosses a de minimis threshold contained in Exchange Act 
Rule 3a71-2 (17 CFR 240.3a71-a) would not be deemed to be a 
security-based swap dealer until the earlier of the date on which it 
submits a complete application for registration pursuant to Exchange 
Act Section 15F(b), 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b), or two months after the end 
of the month in which that person becomes no longer able to take 
advantage of the de minimis exception. Therefore, the SBS Entity 
would be able to rely on the temporary exclusion contained in 
proposed paragraph (i) to Rule of Practice 194 if the SBS Entity is 
associated with any entity that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification that effects or is involved in effecting security-
based swaps on its behalf if: (1) The entity has filed a complete 
application with the Commission to become registered with the 
Commission as an SBS Entity within the time periods specified in the 
applicable Commission rules; and (2) the entity has filed a complete 
application under proposed Rule of Practice 194 within 30 days from 
the date on which it filed its application with the Commission to 
become registered as an SBS Entity.
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    Under proposed paragraph (i)(1)(ii), the SBS Entity would be 
excluded from the prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) with 
respect to the associated person for 180 days following the filing of a 
complete application and notice pursuant to proposed Rule of Practice 
194 by the SBS Entity if the application and notice is filed within the 
time period specified in proposed paragraph (i)(1)(i) (i.e., 30 days), 
or until such time the Commission makes a determination on such 
application within the 180-day time period. The Commission 
preliminarily believes that 180 days should provide a sufficient 
maximum amount of time for the Commission to review the application, 
including obtaining any supplementary information from the applicant, 
and any recommendation by Commission staff and any response thereto by 
the applicant, and to make a determination on the application. The 
Commission anticipates that many applications under proposed Rule of 
Practice 194 will be instances where the Commission has not previously 
reviewed or acted on the underlying conduct by the associated person 
entity that resulted in the statutory disqualification. As such, the 
180-day time period would afford the Commission a sufficient maximum 
amount of time to appropriately evaluate an application under proposed 
Rule of Practice 194.
    Proposed paragraph (i)(1)(ii) does not limit the Commission from 
making a determination on the application prior to the expiration of 
the 180-day time period, and the Commission anticipates

[[Page 51696]]

that it would do so as appropriate.\90\ The Commission may act sooner 
in cases, for example, where the misconduct of an associated person is 
already familiar to the Commission or otherwise conducive to immediate 
consideration. The Commission may also need to act quickly if there are 
imminent concerns regarding potential investor or counterparty harm.
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    \90\ The Commission expects that it will expeditiously process 
applications and take necessary steps to facilitate timely action.
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    While we expect that most applications could be acted upon within 
the proposed 180-day time period, a decision could be delayed for a 
number of reasons, such as when an application raises complex issues 
associated with the Commission's determination whether to grant 
permanent relief from the statutory prohibition in Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6). Proposed paragraph (i)(1)(ii) thus would address the 
situation where the Commission does not render a decision on the Rule 
of Practice 194 application within the 180-day time period. 
Specifically, proposed paragraph (i)(1)(ii) provides that where the 
Commission does not render a decision within 180 days following the 
filing of an application under proposed Rule of Practice 194, the SBS 
Entity would have 60 additional days to conform its activities to 
comply with the prohibition set forth in Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6). As a result, the proposed rule would provide that if the 
Commission does not act on the application within 180 days, the 
statutory prohibition would apply.
    As noted, Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) prohibits SBS Entities 
from permitting associated persons that are subject to a statutory 
disqualification from effecting or being involved in effecting 
security-based swap transactions on behalf of the SBS Entity, except to 
the extent otherwise provide by rule, regulation or order of the 
Commission. The Commission is proposing to provide in paragraph 
(i)(1)(ii) that, if the Commission does not act on the application 
within the specified time period, the statutory prohibition would apply 
(subject to a 60-day period to provide an SBS Entity time to conform 
its activities to the statutory prohibition, as discussed below). The 
Commission preliminarily believes that in the context of this statutory 
framework, the proposed time period provided for in paragraph 
(i)(1)(ii) is appropriately tailored. In proposing to proceed in this 
manner and provide a period of time for the exception from the 
prohibition to continue, the Commission has taken into consideration 
the potential for the risk of market and business disruptions and the 
objective of maintaining strong investor and market protections, as 
discussed above. We preliminarily believe that the approach has taken 
into consideration these factors.\91\ We note that it would also 
provide an SBS Entity certainty about the applicable process and time 
frames, including the 60 additional days to comply, as discussed below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \91\ See Sections V.D and E, infra.
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    Proposed paragraph (i)(1)(ii) also would provide that where the 
Commission does not render a decision within 180 days, the SBS Entity 
would have 60 additional days to comply with the prohibition set forth 
in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6). This provision is designed to 
provide the applicant, where the Commission does not act on an 
application under proposed Rule of Practice 194 within 180 days and the 
SBS Entity becomes immediately subject to the statutory prohibition set 
forth in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6), sufficient time to implement 
any structural or other changes necessary to ensure that the SBS Entity 
would not have the associated person that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity. The 60-day time period is designed 
to provide the SBS Entity a sufficient amount of time to make any 
structural or other changes necessary to ensure compliance with the 
prohibition set forth in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) to avoid 
disruption, but not so long as to continue to allow an SBS Entity to 
permit an associated person that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity for longer than necessary to avoid 
potential market or business disruptions.
    Under proposed paragraph (i)(1)(iii), the SBS Entity would be 
excluded from the prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) for a 
period of 180 days following the filing of a complete application with, 
or initiation of a process by,\92\ the CFTC, an SRO or a registered 
futures association with respect to the associated person for the 
membership, association, registration or listing as a principal, where 
such application has been filed or process started prior to or within 
the time period specified in paragraph (i)(1)(i) and a notice has been 
filed with the Commission within the time period specified in proposed 
paragraph (i)(1)(i). This provision is designed to provide a temporary 
exclusion to an SBS Entity such that an SBS Entity could avail itself 
of filing a notice in lieu of an application, as set forth in proposed 
paragraph (j), and thus would provide temporary relief to the SBS 
Entity from the prohibition set forth in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) 
during the pendency of an application or process by the CFTC, an SRO or 
a registered futures association. As with the provisions of proposed 
paragraph (i)(1)(ii) with regard to the Commission's consideration of 
an application under proposed Rule of Practice 194, this provision is 
designed to address the Commission's concerns about potential market or 
business disruptions while the SBS Entity has an application or process 
pending before the CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures association 
with regard to the associated person subject to a statutory 
disqualification. The Commission preliminarily believes that 180 days 
should generally provide a sufficient amount of time for the CFTC, an 
SRO or a registered futures association to make a determination on the 
application, and would also be consistent with the time period proposed 
in paragraph (i)(1)(ii).
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    \92\ The commencement of the 180-day time period would begin at 
the time of filing of an application with an SRO (e.g., Form MC-
400A) or the initiation of a proceeding under NFA Registration Rule 
504 (e.g., a Notice of Intent to Revoke Registration) or CFTC 
Regulation 3.60, 17 CFR 3.60.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, under proposed paragraph (i)(1)(iii), where the CFTC, 
an SRO or a registered futures association does not render a decision 
or renders an adverse decision with respect to the associated person 
within the 180-day time period, the SBS Entity would have 60 additional 
days to conform its activities to comply with the prohibition set forth 
in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6). Similar to proposed paragraph 
(i)(1)(ii), this provision is aimed at preventing market or business 
disruptions that may result from the scenario where the CFTC, an SRO or 
a registered futures association does not render a decision or renders 
an adverse decision with respect to the associated person within the 
180-day time period, and the SBS Entity therefore becomes immediately 
subject to the statutory prohibition set forth in Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6). The 60-day time period is designed to provide the SBS Entity 
a sufficient amount of time to make any structural or other necessary 
changes to ensure compliance with the prohibition set forth in Exchange 
Act Section 15F(b)(6), but not so long as to continue to allow an SBS 
Entity to permit an associated person that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification to

[[Page 51697]]

effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
the SBS Entity for longer than necessary to avoid potential market or 
business disruptions where the CFTC, an SRO or registered futures 
association has not made a decision or has rendered an adverse decision 
within the 180-day time period.
    The SBS Entity would not be able to avail itself of the temporary 
exclusion set forth in proposed paragraph (i)(1) in two circumstances. 
First, the temporary exclusion from the prohibition in Exchange Act 
Section 15F(b)(6) would not be available where the Commission has 
otherwise ordered--for example, where the Commission, by order, has 
censured, placed limitations on the activities or functions of the 
associated person, or suspended or barred such person from being 
associated with an SBS Entity. Second, the temporary exclusion from the 
prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) would not be available in 
cases where the Commission, CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures 
association has previously denied membership, association, registration 
or listing as a principal with respect to the associated person that is 
the subject of the pending application. In both circumstances, the 
Commission, CFTC, an SRO or registered futures association will have 
affirmatively made a determination to not allow an associated person to 
participate in the financial industry. The Commission preliminarily 
believes that, in such cases, the SBS Entity should not be able to 
avail itself of the temporary exclusion with respect to the associated 
person because doing so would enable an associated person to 
participate in the security-based swap market notwithstanding that the 
Commission or another regulator has otherwise prohibited the associated 
person from participating in another sector of the financial industry.
    Proposed paragraph (i)(2) would provide that an SBS Entity would be 
excluded from the statutory prohibition in Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6) \93\ as provided in proposed paragraph (i)(1)(ii) and 
(i)(1)(iii) only where the SBS Entity has filed (within the 30-day 
timeframe) a notice with the Commission setting forth the name of the 
SBS Entity and the name of the associated person that is subject to a 
statutory disqualification, and attaching as an exhibit to the notice a 
copy of the order or other applicable document that resulted in the 
associated person being subject to a statutory disqualification.\94\ 
The Commission proposes to make publicly available on its Web site the 
notice provided under proposed paragraph (i)(2). The Commission is 
proposing to require such notice to help inform market participants of 
the fact that an SBS Entity is availing itself of the temporary 
exclusion set forth in proposed paragraph (i) with respect to an 
associated person entity subject to a statutory disqualification that 
is effecting or involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
an SBS Entity.
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    \93\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6).
    \94\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(c)(1), (e)(1); Section 
II.C.3, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission is not proposing to require such notice with respect 
to associated persons that are natural persons, because natural persons 
would not be able to avail themselves of the temporary exclusion 
proposed in paragraph (i). As a result, a natural person that is 
subject to a statutory disqualification would not be permitted to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of an 
SBS Entity while an application is pending. Additionally, where the 
association, registration or listing as a principal has been granted or 
otherwise approved with respect to an associated person that is a 
natural person by the Commission, CFTC, an SRO or registered futures 
association, notwithstanding that the associated person is subject to a 
statutory disqualification, such an order or other relevant document 
would be made publicly available,\95\ and thus would provide 
information to market participants with respect to the associated 
person and the statutory disqualification.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \95\ See Section II.C.7, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed paragraph (i)(3) would provide that where the Commission 
denies an application pursuant to proposed Rule of Practice 194 with 
respect to an associated person that is not a natural person, the 
Commission may provide by order an extension of the exclusion provided 
for in proposed paragraph (i)(1)(ii) as is necessary or appropriate to 
allow the applicant to comply with the prohibition in Exchange Act 
Section 15F(b)(6). Under this proposed provision, the Commission would 
extend the temporary exclusion provided for in proposed paragraph 
(i)(1)(ii) where the Commission determines that doing so is necessary 
or appropriate. The Commission believes that proposed paragraph (i)(3) 
provides the Commission with sufficient flexibility so that the 
Commission may determine, based on its discretionary review of the 
particular facts and circumstances with respect to an application, 
whether or not it is necessary or appropriate to extend the temporary 
exclusion provided for in proposed paragraph (i)(1)(ii). For example, 
under certain circumstances, the Commission may determine that is 
necessary or appropriate to provide a certain amount of time for an SBS 
Entity to wind down operations with an associated person entity that is 
subject to a statutory disqualification in order to avoid disruptions 
to the security-based swaps business of the SBS Entity or to the 
security-based swap market. In other instances, there may not be a risk 
of market or business disruptions in the event that an SBS Entity is 
prohibited from permitting an associated person entity to effect or be 
involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity. 
In such instances, the Commission may specify in an order denying an 
application under proposed Rule of Practice 194 that no extension of 
the exclusion provided for in proposed paragraph (i)(1)(ii) would be 
necessary or appropriate.
    Although the Commission is proposing paragraph (i)(1) at this time, 
the Commission is also soliciting comment on two alternative approaches 
with respect to this provision. First, the Commission solicits comment 
on whether proposed paragraph (i)(1)(ii) should alternatively provide 
that, if the Commission does not render a decision within the 
appropriate time frame, the application shall be deemed granted. Under 
this alternative, the Commission would consider the extent to which 
providing that the application would be deemed granted if the 
Commission does not act in the 180-day time period would help to avoid 
potential market and business disruptions that may result when the 
temporary exclusion expires after day 180 (as opposed to providing a 
60-day conformity period). The Commission would also consider how such 
an approach would impact counterparty and investor protection in cases 
where the Commission has not made a specific finding that it is 
consistent with the public interest to permit a statutorily 
disqualified associated person entity to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on behalf of an SBS Entity.
    Second, the Commission solicits comment on whether, alternatively, 
the Commission should provide an exclusion to permit an SBS Entity to 
allow associated person entities subject to a statutory 
disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of SBS Entities. As noted in Section II.B.3, the CFTC 
has

[[Page 51698]]

defined associated persons of Swap Entities to be limited to natural 
persons,\96\ which results in the application of Section 4s(b)(6) of 
the CEA \97\ to natural persons associated with a Swap Entity (not 
entities). As a result, this alternative would result in consistency 
with the CFTC. As with the first alternative, under this alternative, 
the Commission would take into consideration the extent to which the 
approach, by providing an exclusion from the statutory prohibition in 
Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) with respect to associated person 
entities, would minimize potential disruptions to the business of SBS 
Entities that could lead to possible market disruption. The Commission 
would also consider how this approach, which would apply the statutory 
prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) to associated persons 
that are natural persons, but not to associated person entities, would 
impact counterparty and investor protection.\98\
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    \96\ See Note 42, supra.
    \97\ See 7 U.S.C. 6s(b)(6).
    \98\ Moreover, although SBS Entities would be excluded from the 
statutory prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) with respect 
to associated person entities under this alternative, the Commission 
nonetheless could, by order, censure, place limitations on the 
activities or functions of the associated person, or suspend or bar 
such person from being associated with an SBS Entity. See 15 U.S.C. 
78o-10(l)(3).
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9. Notice in Lieu of an Application
    Paragraph (j) of proposed Rule of Practice 194 would limit the 
applicability of the prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) by 
prescribing the conditions under which an SBS Entity may permit a 
person associated with it that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on its behalf without being required to file an application under 
Rule of Practice 194.\99\ Generally, proposed paragraph (j) would 
permit associated persons that are subject to a statutory 
disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of SBS Entities where the Commission or other 
regulatory authority previously reviewed the matter and permitted the 
person subject to a statutory disqualification to be a member, 
associated with a member, registered or listed as a principal of a 
regulated entity notwithstanding statutory disqualification.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \99\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(j).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the proposed rules, the Commission, the CFTC, an SRO or a 
registered futures association will have specifically reviewed the 
underlying basis for the statutory disqualification and made an 
affirmative finding to grant or otherwise approve membership, 
association, registration or listing as a principal, notwithstanding 
the statutory disqualification. So long as the terms and conditions are 
adhered to in the context of the association with the SBS Entity, the 
Commission believes it would not be necessary for the Commission (other 
than in cases where the person is subject to a Commission bar) to re-
examine an event for which relief has already been granted. The 
Commission further notes, consistent with the CFTC in adopting an 
analogous provision in Regulation 23.22(b),\100\ that it would 
generally be anomalous for a person to be able to engage in securities 
transactions with members of the retail public--for example, as an 
associated person of a broker-dealer--but be prohibited from effecting 
or being involved in effecting security-based swap transactions with 
significantly more sophisticated clients as an associated person of a 
SBS Entity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \100\ In adopting Regulation 23.22(b), the CFTC stated that, if 
it did not provide an exception as suggested, a person could be 
permitted to direct futures-related activities or solicit futures-
related business with members of the retail public--e.g., as, 
respectively, a principal or associated person of futures commission 
merchant or commodity pool operator--but that same person would be 
barred from soliciting, accepting, or otherwise effecting or being 
involved in effecting swaps transactions with significantly more 
sophisticated clients as an associated person of a Swap Entity. See 
CFTC Registration Release, 77 FR at 2615.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Specifically, subject to the conditions specified in proposed 
paragraph (j)(2), proposed Rule of Practice of Practice 194(j)(1) would 
provide as follows:
    Proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(1)(i) would permit a person 
associated with an SBS Entity that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity where the person has admitted to or 
continued in membership, or participation or association with a member, 
of an SRO, such as FINRA, notwithstanding that such person is subject 
to a statutory disqualification under Exchange Act Section 
3(a)(39).\101\
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    \101\ See 17 CFR 240.19h-1. As discussed in Section II.B.2, 
supra, Exchange Act Rule 19h-1 prescribes the form and content, and 
provides for Commission review of proposals submitted by SROs to 
allow a member or associated person subject to a statutory 
disqualification to become or remain a member or associated person 
of a member.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(1)(ii) would permit a person 
associated with an SBS Entity that is a natural person and that is 
subject to a statutory disqualification to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity where the 
person has been granted consent to associate pursuant to Rule of 
Practice 193.\102\ As stated in Section II.B.1, supra, Rule of Practice 
193 provides a process by which persons that are not regulated by an 
SRO (e.g., employees of an investment adviser, an investment company, 
or a transfer agent) can seek to reenter the securities industry 
despite previously being barred by the Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \102\ 17 CFR 201.193.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(1)(iii) would permit a person 
associated with an SBS Entity that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity where an application has previously 
been granted under proposed Rule of Practice 194 with respect to the 
associated person. For example, proposed paragraph (j)(1)(iii) would 
include instances where an SBS Entity had previously received approval 
of an application under proposed Rule of Practice 194 with respect an 
associated person, and the same person becomes an associated person of 
a different SBS Entity.
    Proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(1)(iv) would permit a person 
associated with an SBS Entity to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity where, notwithstanding 
the a statutory disqualification under CEA Sections 8a(2) or 
8a(3),\103\ the person (1) has been registered as or listed as a 
principal of a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange 
dealer, introducing broker, commodity pool operator, commodity trading 
advisor, or leverage transaction merchant, registered as an associated 
person of any of the foregoing, registered as or listed as a principal 
of a swap dealer or major swap participant, or registered as a floor 
broker or floor trader, and (2) is not subject to a Commission bar 
pursuant to Sections 15(b), 15B, 15E, 15F or 17A of the Exchange Act 
(15 U.S.C. 78o(b), 78o-4, 78o-7, 78o-10, 78q-1), Section 9(b) of the 
Investment Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-9(b)) or Section 203(f) of the 
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3(f)). This provision is 
designed to exclude from scope of the statutory prohibition in Exchange 
Act Section 15F(b)(6) persons that have previously been permitted to be 
registered or listed as a principal by the CFTC or the NFA, 
notwithstanding that such persons are subject to a statutory 
disqualification, including those persons that fall within the scope of 
the exclusion in CFTC Regulation 23.22(b) (thereby harmonizing the 
approach of

[[Page 51699]]

the Commission with the CFTC in that respect).\104\ However, the 
provision would exclude instances where the Commission itself has made 
an affirmative determination to bar or suspend the associated person. 
In such cases, the Commission believes that it should be afforded an 
opportunity to review an application with regard to such barred person 
or during the pendency of the suspension in cases where an SBS Entity 
requests relief from the statutory prohibition in Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6).\105\
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    \103\ 7 U.S.C. 12a(2), (3).
    \104\ See Sections II.B.3 and II.C.5, supra, concerning CFTC 
Regulation 23.22(b), 17 CFR 23.22(b). Under the proposed rule, such 
relief would not be available in cases where a registered futures 
association has made a determination that, had the associated person 
applied for registration as an associated person of an SBS Entity, 
notwithstanding a statutory disqualification, the application would 
have been granted. See CFTC Staff No-Action Letter, supra Note 49, 
at 5-8.
    \105\ A suspension remains in effect for a period not exceeding 
twelve months. Once the suspension is lifted, the person is not 
deemed to be subject to a statutory disqualification, and thus would 
not need to apply to the Commission to reassociate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Paragraph (j)(2) of proposed Rule of Practice 194 would set forth 
the conditions necessary for an SBS Entity to meet in order to permit 
an associated person that is subject to a statutory disqualification to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
the SBS Entity. An SBS Entity seeking to rely on proposed Rule of 
Practice 194(j)(1) would have to meet all of the conditions specified 
in proposed paragraph (j)(2).
    Under proposed paragraph (j)(2)(i), all matters giving rise to a 
statutory disqualification under Exchange Act Section 3(a)(39)(A) 
through (F) must have been subject to an application or process where 
the membership, association, registration or listing as a principal has 
been granted or otherwise approved by the Commission, CFTC, an SRO or 
registered futures association. This provision is designed to ensure 
that either the Commission, CFTC, an SRO (e.g., FINRA) or a registered 
futures association (i.e., NFA) has specifically reviewed the 
underlying basis for each and every statutory disqualification under 
Exchange Act Section 3(a)(39)(A) through (F),\106\ and made an 
affirmative finding to permit or continue the membership, association, 
registration or listing as a principal, notwithstanding the statutory 
disqualification. For example, the mere fact that an associated person 
is permitted to effect or be involved in effecting swaps on behalf of a 
Swap Entity because of the applicability of the exclusion in CFTC 
Regulation 23.22(b) would not, by itself, allow the associated person 
of the SBS Entity to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on its behalf. Rather, the CFTC or NFA must have reviewed all 
matters giving rise to a statutory disqualification for purposes of 
Exchange Act Section 3(a)(39)(A) through (F).\107\ The Commission 
believes that it is consistent with investor protection to provide an 
exclusion for an SBS Entity from the statutory prohibition in Exchange 
Act Section 15F(b)(6) where an appropriate regulatory authority has 
previously affirmatively considered and granted relief with respect to 
the conduct underlying each statutory disqualification of an associated 
person of the SBS Entity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \106\ 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(39)(A)-(F).
    \107\ For example, an associated person of an SBS Entity could 
potentially be subject to a statutory disqualification for purposes 
of Exchange Act Section 3(a)(39)(A) through (F), but not for 
purposes of CEA Section 8a(2) or (3). Compare 15 U.S.C. 
78c(a)(39)(A)-(F), 7 U.S.C. 12a(2), (3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(ii) would provide that an SBS 
Entity may permit a person associated with it that is subject to a 
statutory disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on its behalf, without filing an application under 
proposed Rule of Practice 194, only where the terms and conditions of 
the association with the SBS Entity are the same in all material 
respects as those approved in connection with the prior order, notice 
or other applicable document granting the membership, association, 
registration or listing as a principal provided for in paragraph 
(j)(1). In short, to obtain relief from the statutory prohibition in 
Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6), the associated person of the SBS Entity 
must be subject to the same terms and conditions--including, for 
example, supervisory requirements--as those previously imposed by the 
agency, an SRO or a registered future association (i.e., the 
Commission, CFTC, NFA or SRO).\108\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \108\ See also, e.g., Exchange Act Rule 19h-1(a)(3)(i), 17 CFR 
240.19h-1(a)(3)(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission is proposing this provision so that an associated 
person subject to a statutory disqualification remains subject to the 
same terms and conditions with respect to the SBS Entity. For example, 
where relief previously granted by FINRA includes specific supervisory 
requirements following an eligibility proceeding, but a person is not 
subject to the same requirements by the SBS Entity, the Commission 
believes that it should review whether the terms and conditions of the 
association with the SBS Entity are appropriate under an application 
under proposed Rule of Practice 194.
    Proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iii) would provide that, where 
an SBS Entity seeks for an associated person that is a natural person 
to be permitted to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity without filing an application 
pursuant to proposed Rule of Practice 194(j), the SBS Entity would be 
required to file a notice with the Commission. Specifically, proposed 
Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iii) would require the following information 
in the notice:
     The name of the SBS Entity; \109\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \109\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iii)(A).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The name of the associated person subject to a statutory 
disqualification; \110\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \110\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iii)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The name of the associated person's prospective 
supervisor(s) at the SBS Entity; \111\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \111\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iii)(C).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The place of employment for the associated person subject 
to a statutory disqualification; \112\ and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \112\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iii)(D).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The identity of any agency, SRO or registered futures 
association that has indicated its agreement with the terms and 
conditions of the proposed association, registration or listing as a 
principal.\113\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \113\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iii)(E).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission believes that the information requested by the 
notice under proposed paragraphs (j)(2)(iii) would aid the Commission 
and its staff in assessing risk at SBS Entities, including for 
examination purposes. By knowing the name of the SBS Entity, name and 
location of the associated person subject to a statutory 
disqualification, and the name of the supervisor of the associated 
person, the Commission will obtain information that may be useful for 
examination purposes, such as determining whether to examine a 
particular SBS Entity and whom to speak to at the SBS Entity. The 
identity of an agency, SRO or registered futures association that has 
indicated its agreement with the terms and conditions of the proposed 
association could be useful to the Commission because the Commission 
staff could use the information to confer with or seek information from 
that agency, SRO or registered futures association, if necessary.
    Proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iv) would provide that, where 
an SBS Entity seeks for an associated person that is not a natural 
person to be permitted to effect or be involved in effecting security-
based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity without filing an application 
pursuant to proposed Rule

[[Page 51700]]

of Practice 194(j), the SBS Entity would be required to file a notice 
with the Commission. Specifically, proposed Rule of Practice 
194(j)(2)(iv), would require the following information in the notice:
     The name of the SBS Entity; \114\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \114\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iv)(A).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The name of the associated person that is subject to a 
statutory disqualification;\115\ and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \115\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iv)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The identification of any agency, SRO or a registered 
futures association that has indicated its agreement with the terms and 
conditions of the proposed association, registration or listing as a 
principal.\116\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \116\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iv)(C).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission believes that knowing the name of the statutorily 
disqualified associated person would aid the Commission and its staff 
in assessing risk at SBS Entities, including for examination purposes. 
Additionally, the identity of an agency, SRO or registered futures 
association that has indicated its agreement with the terms and 
conditions of the proposed association could be useful to the 
Commission because the Commission staff could use the information to 
confer with or seek information from that agency, SRO or registered 
futures association, if necessary.
10. Note to Proposed Rule of Practice 194
    The proposed Note, which is similar to the Preliminary Note to Rule 
of Practice 193, is designed to advise applicants of the importance of 
having adequate supervision in place at the SBS Entity so as to 
minimize the risk of subsequent occurrences of misconduct.
    In particular, the Note to proposed Rule of Practice 194 would 
provide that:
     An application made pursuant to the rule must show that it 
would be consistent with the public interest to permit the associated 
person of the SBS Entity to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity.\117\
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    \117\ See Section II.C.2, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The nature of the supervision that an associated person 
will receive or exercise as an associated person with a registered 
entity is an important matter bearing upon the public interest. The 
Commission believes that this statement would inform applicants that 
associated persons that are subject to a statutory disqualification 
should have adequate supervision so as to prevent potential future harm 
to counterparties, SBS Entities themselves, or other persons. The 
Commission would generally be less likely to issue an order granting 
relief under Rule of Practice 194 where the associated person subject 
to a statutory disqualification is not subject to adequate 
supervision.\118\ Second, there may be an increased risk of harm to 
counterparties, the SBS Entity and other market participants where the 
associated person subject to a statutory disqualification supervises 
other persons--in particular, where the supervision is over other 
persons that are also subject to a statutory disqualification.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \118\ See In the Matter of Shupack, Investment Advisers Act 
Release No. 1061 (Mar. 23, 1987), 48 SE.C. 697, 700-01 (1987) (``In 
light of Shupack's record, including the misrepresentation contained 
in his original Rule 29 [the predecessor to Rule of Practice 193] 
application, we conclude that he should not be allowed to re-enter 
the advisory field when no effective supervision would be exercised 
over his activities.''); In the Matter of Sample, Investment 
Advisers Act Release No. 4021, 2015 SEC LEXIS 466, at *8 (Feb. 4, 
2015) (Division of Enforcement, pursuant to delegated authority, 
rejecting application under Rule of Practice 193 where ``[t]he 
supervision proposed in the application appears to be no different 
from that exercised over [the barred person] during his prior 
association with [the registered investment adviser]'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     In meeting the burden of showing that permitting the 
associated person to effect or be involved in effecting security based 
swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity is consistent with the public 
interest, the application and supporting documentation must demonstrate 
that the terms or conditions of association, procedures, or proposed 
supervision (if the associated person is a natural person), are 
reasonably designed to ensure that the statutory disqualification does 
not negatively impact upon the ability of the associated person to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
the SBS Entity in compliance with the applicable statutory and 
regulatory framework. The Commission is proposing to include this 
statement to advise applicants of the importance of these items to the 
Commission's consideration of whether to grant relief.
     Normally, the applicant's burden of demonstrating that 
permitting the associated person to effect or be involved in effecting 
security based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity is consistent with the 
public interest will be difficult to meet where the associated person 
is to be supervised by, or is to supervise, another statutorily 
disqualified individual. The Commission is proposing to include this 
statement because the Commission believes that there may be a greater 
risk of harm where a person that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification is supervising another person that is subject to a 
statutory disqualification.
     Where the associated person wishes to become the sole 
proprietor of a registered entity and thus is seeking that the 
Commission issue an order permitting the associated person who is 
subject to a statutory disqualification to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on behalf of an SBS Entity 
notwithstanding an absence of supervision, the applicant's burden will 
be difficult to meet. The Commission is proposing to include this 
statement because, as stated, the Commission believes that there is a 
greater risk of harm where the associated person subject to a statutory 
disqualification is not subject to adequate supervision.
     The associated person may be limited to association in a 
specified capacity with a particular registered entity and may also be 
subject to specific terms and conditions. The Commission is proposing 
to include this statement to advise applicants that the Commission may 
consider whether to impose limitations on permitting an associated 
person subject to a statutory disqualification to effect or be involved 
in effecting security-based swap transactions on behalf of an SBS 
Entity. Those terms and conditions may concern, for example, heightened 
supervisory conditions or other procedures with respect to the 
associated person subject to a statutory disqualification.
    Finally, the proposed Note discusses various procedural aspects of 
proposed Rule of Practice 194, including the following:
     In addition to the information specifically required by 
the rule, applications with respect to natural persons should be 
supplemented, where appropriate, by written statements of individuals 
who are competent to attest to the associated person's character, 
employment performance, and other relevant information. This statement 
is designed to encourage applicants to provide written statements from 
individuals other than the applicant and the associated person, to help 
the Commission better assess whether issuing an order granting relief 
under proposed Rule of Practice 194 is consistent with the public 
interest.
     In addition to the information required by the rule, the 
Commission staff may request additional information to assist in the 
Commission's review. This statement is designed to inform applicants 
that the Commission staff may request additional information beyond 
that provided by the SBS Entity in its application. For example, where

[[Page 51701]]

the information contained in an application raises additional questions 
regarding the nature of the conduct resulting in the statutory 
disqualification, the capacity or position of the associated person, or 
the terms and conditions of the association with the SBS Entity, the 
Commission staff may request additional information to assist in the 
review of the pending application.
     Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact may 
constitute criminal violations of 18 U.S.C. 1001, et seq. and other 
provisions of law. This proposed statement is designed to help ensure 
that the Commission receives accurate information in connection with an 
application under Proposed Rule of Practice 194. In addition, providing 
a misstatement in an application would weigh against a finding that 
providing relief by the Commission under Rule of Practice 194 would be 
consistent with the public interest.
     The Commission will not consider any application that 
attempts to reargue or collaterally attack the findings that resulted 
in the statutory disqualification. This statement is designed to advise 
applicants that Rule of Practice 194 may not be used as an appeals 
process for the underlying findings. The Commission notes there are 
other appropriate avenues for challenging decisions.

III. Request for Comment

    The Commission is requesting comment regarding all aspects of 
proposed Rule of Practice 194, including any investor protection or 
other concerns. The Commission particularly requests comment from 
entities that intend to register as SBS Entities and that anticipate 
making an application under proposed Rule of Practice 194, were it to 
be adopted, as well as counterparties to such SBS Entities. This 
information will help inform the Commission's consideration of the 
appropriate process through which SBS Entities could seek relief from 
the prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6).\119\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \119\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission also seeks comment on the particular questions 
below. The Commission will carefully consider all comments and 
information received, and will benefit especially from detailed 
responses.
    Q-1. Is it necessary for the Commission to have a rule that 
specifies the process, such as that proposed in Rule of Practice 194, 
for SBS Entities to seek relief for their associated persons who are 
subject to a statutory disqualification to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps? Why or why not?
    Q-2. How many SBS Entities are likely to submit applications 
pursuant to the proposed rule? Please specify the number of 
applications that would likely relate to an associated person that is a 
natural person versus an entity.
    Q-3. Should the Commission make its determination based on whether 
it would be consistent with the public interest to permit the person 
associated with the SBS Entity who is subject to a statutory 
disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity? Should the Commission adopt a 
different standard of review? If so, what should it be, and why?
    Q-4. Should the Commission look to Rule of Practice 193 and FINRA 
Forms MC-400 and MC-400A in establishing the form of application in 
proposed Rule of Practice 194? Please explain why or why not. In 
addition, if the Commission should not model the proposed rule on Rule 
of Practice 193 or FINRA Forms MC-400 and MC-400A, what alternatives 
(if any) should the Commission consider and why?
    Q-5. Is the information requested in proposed Rule of Practice 
194(c) for natural persons appropriate? Should the Commission request 
any additional information? If so, what items? Please explain the 
reasons for excluding any information or including any additional 
information, as well as the costs and benefits of doing so.
    Q-6. With respect to the requirement in proposed Rule of Practice 
194(c)(1) and (e)(1) to provide a copy of the order or other applicable 
document that resulted in the associated person being subject to a 
statutory disqualification, is there information other than that which 
would be contained in such order or other applicable document that the 
Commission should require the applicant to provide (e.g., the record 
from an underlying proceeding resulting in a statutory 
disqualification)? If so, please specify what additional information 
and the reasons for including such information.
    Q-7. Proposed Rule of Practice 194(c)(4) and (e)(5) require a copy 
of a decision, order or other document issued other than with respect 
to a proceeding resulting in the imposition of disciplinary sanctions 
or pending proceeding against the associated person issued by a court, 
state agency, agency, SRO or foreign financial regulator. Is there 
additional information other than that which would be contained in such 
documents that the Commission should require the applicant to provide? 
If so, in what instances? Should the Commission not require documents 
issued in connection with pending proceedings (e.g., orders instituting 
proceedings, indictments, informations and other similar documents)?
    Q-8. With respect to the requirement in proposed Rule of Practice 
194(c)(4) and (e)(5), is five years an appropriate time period with 
respect to requiring a copy of any decision, order, or document issued 
by a court, state agency, agency, SRO or foreign financial regulator? 
Should the Commission require a different time period? If so, please 
explain why.
    Q-9. Are the items required to be addressed by proposed Rule of 
Practice 194(d) for natural persons appropriate? Should the Commission 
require that additional items be addressed? If so, what additional 
items? Please explain the reasons for excluding any item or including 
any additional item, as well as the costs and benefits of doing so.
    Q-10. With respect to the requirement in proposed Rule of Practice 
194(d)(6) and (f)(6), should the Commission require the compliance and 
disciplinary history during the five years preceding the filing of the 
application of the SBS Entity? Should the Commission limit the 
requirement, for example, by requiring only the compliance and 
disciplinary history of an office or location of an SBS Entity?
    Q-11. With respect to the requirement in proposed Rule of Practice 
194(d)(6) and (f)(6), is five years an appropriate time period with 
respect to the compliance and disciplinary history of the SBS Entity? 
Should the Commission require a different time period? If so, please 
explain why.
    Q-12. With respect to the requirement in proposed Rule of Practice 
194(d)(10) and (f)(7), is five years an appropriate time period with 
respect to litigation or unsatisfied judgments concerning investment or 
investment-related activities? Should the Commission require a 
different time period? If so, please explain why. Should the request 
for information with respect to litigation or unsatisfied judgments be 
limited to those concerning investment or investment-related 
activities? Should the request for information with respect to 
litigation or unsatisfied judgments be expanded to those concerning 
swaps or other financial instruments? If so, please explain why.
    Q-13. Are the items requested in proposed Rule of Practice 194(e) 
for entities appropriate? For example, should the Commission request 
organizational charts of an associated person entity under proposed 
paragraph

[[Page 51702]]

(e)(3)? Should the Commission request any additional information? If 
so, what items? Please explain the reasons for excluding any item or 
including any additional information, as well as the costs and benefits 
of doing so.
    Q-14. Are the items to be addressed in proposed Rule of Practice 
194(f) for entities appropriate? Should the Commission request that any 
additional items be addressed? If so, what additional items? Please 
explain the reasons for excluding any item or including any additional 
item, as well as the costs and benefits of doing so.
    Q-15. Should the Commission request information regarding prior 
applications or processes concerning the associated person, as proposed 
in Rule of Practice 194(g)? If not, why not? Are there any other prior 
applications or processes concerning associated persons that are 
relevant that the Commission should request? Proposed paragraph (g) 
requests information regarding prior applications or processes with 
respect to market intermediaries, such as broker-dealers. Should the 
Commission request information regarding prior applications or 
processes with respect to other types of persons, such as issuers?
    Q-16. Are there any restrictions (e.g., state or foreign law) on 
SBS Entities providing any of the information required to be provided 
in connection with an application under proposed Rule of Practice 194? 
If so, please identify the specific restrictions and the potential 
impact of those restrictions.
    Q-17. Is the process set forth in proposed Rule of Practice 194(h) 
appropriate? Does 30 days provide a sufficient time to provide a 
written statement in response to a notice of an adverse recommendation 
by Commission staff? Should the time period set forth in proposed 
paragraph (h) (30 days for a response by the applicant) be shorter or 
longer, and, if so, why?
    Q-18. Should the Commission provide the temporary exclusion set 
forth in proposed Rule of Practice 194(i)(1)? Does the temporary 
exclusion set forth in proposed paragraph (i) adequately consider the 
interest in providing regulatory certainty and addressing concerns 
about potential investor or counterparty harm? Is it consistent with 
the Commission's investor protection mandate? Is it consistent with the 
Commission's mandates to maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets 
and facilitate capital formation? Should the temporary exclusion be 
modified in any way? If so, please explain how the temporary exclusion 
should be modified and the benefits and costs of such an approach. For 
example, should the temporary exclusion be applicable only to 
associated persons that are not natural persons, as proposed, should it 
also be applicable to associated persons that are natural persons, or 
should the temporary exclusion not be provided to any associated person 
at all?
    Q-19. Should the Commission provide for an exclusion from the 
prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) with respect to 
associated person entities for 30 days following the associated person 
becoming subject to a statutory disqualification or 30 days following 
the person that is subject to a statutory disqualification becoming an 
associated person of an SBS Entity, as set forth in proposed Rule of 
Practice 194(i)(1)(i)?
    Q-20. Should the Commission apply the temporary exclusion in 
proposed paragraph (i)(1) with respect to both filings made within 30 
days of an associated person becoming subject to a statutory 
disqualification and those made within 30 days of a person that is 
subject to a statutory disqualification becoming an associated person 
of an SBS Entity?
    Q-21. Does 30 days provide a sufficient time period to file an 
application pursuant to proposed Rule of Practice 194 such that an 
entity may be able to avail itself of the temporary exclusion set forth 
in proposed Rule of Practice 194(i)(1)(ii) or (iii)? Should the 
Commission provide for a process by which an applicant can submit a 
request for an extension of time? For example, where good cause is 
shown, should the Commission or its staff be able to extend the 30-day 
time period provided for in proposed Rule of Practice 194(i)(1) upon 
request by an SBS Entity? If so, during the time period for 
consideration of that request, should the SBS Entity be temporarily 
excluded from the prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6)?
    Q-22. As proposed in paragraph (i)(1)(ii), should the Commission 
provide that an SBS Entity would be excluded from the prohibition in 
Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) for 180 days following the filing of a 
complete application pursuant to proposed Rule of Practice 194 by an 
SBS Entity if the application is filed within the time period specified 
in proposed paragraph (i)(1)(i) (i.e., 30 days)? If so, why; if not, 
why not. If so, is the proposed 180-day time period set forth in 
proposed paragraph (i)(1)(ii) a reasonable time period for the 
Commission to appropriately evaluate an application under proposed Rule 
of Practice 194? Should it be shorter or longer, and, if so, why? For 
example, should proposed paragraph (i)(1)(ii) instead require that the 
Commission act on an application within fewer days (e.g., 45 or 60 
days), with an option for the Commission to extend the temporary 
exclusion by additional days (e.g., 120 or 135 days), if necessary? 
Alternatively, should the time period afford the Commission additional 
time to evaluate an application (e.g., 210 or 270 days)? Or should the 
rule not specify a time period and provide that the temporary exclusion 
will remain in effect during the pendency of the Commission's review of 
an application under proposed Rule of Practice 194? Do commenters 
believe that there are circumstances in which the Commission's decision 
may be delayed beyond 180 days such that the time period should be 
extended? Should the Commission consider adopting any additional 
procedures or measures to promote timely consideration of applications?
    Q-23. As proposed, if the Commission does not render a decision on 
the application within 180 days, the temporary exclusion expires and 
the SBS Entity becomes subject to the statutory prohibition in Exchange 
Act Section 15F(b)(6). As an alternative, as discussed above in Section 
II.C.8, should the Commission provide that where the Commission does 
not render a decision within 180 days following the filing of a 
complete application pursuant to proposed Rule of Practice 194, the 
application shall be deemed granted? Please explain why, as well as the 
costs and the benefits of this alternative approach.
    Q-24. Proposed paragraph (i)(1)(iii) provides that an SBS Entity 
would be excluded from the prohibition in Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6) for 180 days following the filing of a complete application 
with, or initiation of a process by, the CFTC, an SRO or a registered 
futures association with respect to an application or process with 
respect to the associated person for the membership, association, 
registration or listing as a principal, where such application has been 
filed or process started prior to or within the time period specified 
in paragraph (i)(1)(i) (i.e., 30 days). Is the proposed 180-day time 
period set forth in proposed paragraph (i)(1)(iii) an appropriate time 
period for an SBS Entity to determine whether it needs to file an 
application pursuant to proposed Rule of Practice 194 or a notice 
pursuant to proposed Rule of Practice 194(j) (see Question 33, infra)? 
Should it be shorter or longer (e.g., the length of the proceeding), 
and, if so, why? What would be the impact of having a 180-day time 
period? For

[[Page 51703]]

example, does the 180-day time period provide a sufficient amount of 
time for the CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures association to make a 
determination with respect to membership, association, registration or 
listing as a principal with respect to a statutorily disqualified 
associated person entity? Why or why not? Would SBS Entities seek to 
file applications under proposed Rule of Practice 194 when there is a 
parallel application pending with the CFTC, an SRO or registered 
futures association because of the risk that a decision will not be 
rendered by the CFTC, an SRO or registered futures association within 
180 days? If so, how should such parallel applications (and 
determinations with respect to such applications) be addressed, 
including any potential inconsistencies in substance or timing between 
the two?
    Q-25. Should the proposed rule provide for either of the 60-day 
time periods set forth in proposed paragraph (i)(1)(ii) and (iii) to 
comply to the prohibition set forth in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6)? 
If so, why; if not, why not. Should the Commission provide for a 
process by which an applicant can submit a request for an extension of 
time of these time periods? For example, where good cause is shown, 
should the rule specify that the Commission or its staff may extend the 
60-day time period provided for in proposed Rule of Practice 
194(i)(1)(ii) and (iii) upon request by an SBS Entity? If so, during 
the time period for consideration of such request, should the SBS 
Entity be temporarily excluded from the prohibition in Exchange Act 
Section 15F(b)(6)?
    Q-26. Should the Commission, as proposed in paragraph (i)(2), 
require that an SBS Entity file a notice with the Commission setting 
forth the name of the SBS Entity, the name of the associated person 
that is subject to a statutory disqualification, and attaching as an 
exhibit to the notice a copy of the order or other applicable document 
that resulted in the associated person being subject to a statutory 
disqualification in order to qualify for the temporary exclusion 
provided in proposed paragraph (i)(1)(ii) and (i)(1)(iii)? Should any 
information be included or excluded from the notice? If so, please 
specify what information should be included or excluded.
    Q-27. Should the notice required under proposed paragraph (i)(2) be 
made public? Why or why not? Should any additional information be made 
public, such as the application and any corresponding exhibits required 
under proposed paragraphs (c) through (g)?
    Q-28. Should the Commission provide that, where the Commission 
denies an application with respect to an associated person entity, the 
Commission may provide by order an extension of the temporary exclusion 
as is necessary or appropriate to allow the applicant to comply with 
the prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6), as set forth in 
proposed paragraph (i)(3)? Should the Commission provide by rule a 
limitation on the maximum time period allowed for any such extension?
    Q-29. In addition to providing the Commission with the ability to 
extend the temporary exclusion when the Commission denies an 
application, as proposed paragraph (i)(3), should the Commission 
specify a minimum period of time for such an extension of the temporary 
exclusion following the issuance of an adverse decision (e.g., 30 or 60 
days following an adverse decision)? If so, please explain what minimum 
time period and why.
    Q-30. As noted in Section II.B.3, the CFTC rules provide that 
associated persons of swap dealers and major swap participants are 
natural persons.\120\ As a result, the prohibition in Section 4s(b)(6) 
of the CEA \121\ applies to natural persons associated with a Swap 
Entity, but not entities associated with the Swap Entity. As discussed 
above in Section II.C.8, should the Commission similarly limit the 
scope of the statutory prohibition set forth in Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6) to natural persons associated with an SBS Entity, beyond the 
parameters set forth in Exchange Act Rule 15Fb6-1? For example, should 
the Commission provide, by rule, that an SBS Entity may permit an 
associated person that is not a natural person that is subject to a 
statutory disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on its behalf, without making an application under 
proposed Rule of Practice 194? What would be the comparative 
advantages, disadvantages, costs and/or benefits of such an approach?
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    \120\ See Note 42, supra.
    \121\ See 7 U.S.C. 6s(b)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Q-31. If the prohibition set forth in Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6) were limited to natural persons associated with an SBS 
Entity, what would be the impact on SBS Entities, counterparties and 
other market participants? For example, what would be the impact, if 
any, on the legal and compliance burden on SBS Entities (including any 
restructuring costs)? What would be the impact, if any, on 
counterparties' evaluation of the risk of entering into security-based 
swaps with an SBS Entity that had associated person entities subject to 
a statutory disqualification? What would be the impact on investor 
protections and the fair and orderly operation of the security-based 
swap market?
    Q-32. If the prohibition set forth in Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6) were limited to natural persons associated with an SBS 
Entity, should the Commission require that an SBS Entity provide a 
notice to the Commission that would set forth the name of the 
associated person entity that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification? Why or why not? What information should any such 
notice contain or attach (e.g., a copy of the order or other applicable 
document that resulted in the associated person entity being subject to 
a statutory disqualification)? Should any such notice be made publicly 
available? What would be the comparative advantages, disadvantages, 
costs and benefits of providing such a notice to the public?
    Q-33. Proposed paragraph (j) would, in part, permit associated 
persons that are subject to a statutory disqualification to effect or 
be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of SBS 
Entities, without making an application pursuant to the proposed rule, 
in cases where another regulatory authority (i.e., the CFTC, an SRO or 
registered futures association) has specifically reviewed the 
underlying basis for the statutory disqualification and made an 
affirmative finding, notwithstanding the statutory disqualification. 
Should the Commission adopt this approach? Why or why not? What would 
be the comparative advantages, disadvantages, costs and/or benefits of 
adopting such an approach? For example, how should the Commission 
consider the impact of such an approach in circumstances where the 
Commission has not itself reviewed the facts giving rise to the 
statutory disqualification, nor the steps taken by the SBS Entity with 
respect to assuring sufficient oversight of the associated person?
    Q-34. As an alternative, except with regard to cases where the 
Commission has previously granted relief under the Commission's Rule of 
Practice 193 or proposed Rule of Practice 194, should the Commission 
remove the approach outlined in proposed Rule of Practice 194(j), and 
require the Commission to make the relevant determination to permit an 
associated person that is subject to a statutory disqualification to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of an 
SBS Entity?
    Q-35. Should proposed Rule of Practice 194(j) be limited to only

[[Page 51704]]

associated persons that are natural persons? If so, please explain why.
    Q-36. Should proposed Rule of Practice 194(j) be limited to only 
associated persons that are not natural persons (i.e., entities)? If 
so, please explain why.
    Q-37. If the Commission were to provide an exclusion from the 
prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) where another regulatory 
authority has previously made an affirmative finding with respect to 
the statutory disqualification as proposed in paragraph (j)(1)(i) and 
(iv), what regulatory authorities should be included in the scope of 
such a rule? For example, should the Commission limit proposed Rule of 
Practice 194(j) only to persons that have been admitted to or continued 
in membership, or participation or association with a member, of a 
national securities association (i.e., FINRA)? Or should the Commission 
include as proposed other SROs, the CFTC or a registered futures 
association? What would be the comparative advantages, disadvantages, 
costs and/or benefits of any such approach? Should the Commission only 
provide an exclusion where the CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures 
association has made a determination with respect to an associated 
person that is not registered with the Commission?
    Q-38. Should the exclusion from the statutory prohibition in 
Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) where another regulatory authority has 
previously made an affirmative finding, as provided in proposed Rule of 
Practice 194(j)(1)(i) and (iv), be limited only to certain types of 
conduct resulting in a statutory disqualification (e.g., conduct that 
is not investment-related and certain other conduct)?
    Q-39. Should the Commission exclude from the scope of Exchange Act 
Section 15F(b)(6), as proposed in paragraph (j)(1)(iv), a CFTC 
registrant notwithstanding that the person is subject to a statutory 
disqualification under CEA Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3)? Are there any 
categories of CFTC registrants that the Commission should not exclude? 
If so, please explain why.
    Q-40. Should the Commission exclude from the scope of the 
prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) associated persons whom 
NFA has determined pursuant to the CFTC Staff No-Action Letter \122\ 
that, had the associated person applied for registration as an 
associated person of a swap dealer or a major swap participant, 
notwithstanding statutory disqualification, the application would have 
been granted? If so, please explain why.
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    \122\ See Note 49, supra, at 5-8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Q-41. Under proposed Rule of Practice 194(j), are there any other 
types of registrants or persons that the Commission should exclude from 
the statutory prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6)? For 
example, should the Commission exclude any persons associated with an 
entity regulated by a prudential regulator or a foreign financial 
regulatory authority where the prudential regulator or foreign 
financial regulatory authority has previously granted relief with 
respect to the statutory disqualification? If so, please specify the 
regulator, and explain how the process that regulator uses to assess an 
associated person subject to a statutory disqualification is comparable 
to the applications or processes covered by proposed Rule of Practice 
194(j).
    Q-42. Under proposed Rule of Practice 194(j), are there any 
additional categories of associated persons of SBS Entities that the 
Commission should exclude from the statutory prohibition in Exchange 
Act Section 15F(b)(6)? If so, please provide the additional category 
and provide the reasons for including the category.
    Q-43. As proposed in paragraph (j)(1)(ii), should the Commission 
allow SBS Entities to permit associated persons that are natural 
persons that are subject to a statutory disqualification to effect or 
be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS 
Entity, without making an application pursuant to the proposed rule, in 
cases where the natural person has been permitted to associate pursuant 
to the Rule of Practice 193? If so, why; if not, why not?
    Q-44. As proposed in paragraph (j)(1)(iii), should the Commission 
allow SBS Entities to permit associated persons (natural persons and 
entities) that are subject to a statutory disqualification to effect or 
be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS 
Entity, without making an application pursuant to the proposed rule, in 
cases where the person has previously been permitted to effect or be 
involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity 
pursuant to the Rule of Practice 194? If so, why; if not, why not?
    Q-45. As proposed, for the exclusion in proposed Rule of Practice 
194(j) to apply, should the Commission require that all matters giving 
rise to a statutory disqualification under Exchange Act Section 
3(a)(39)(A) through (F) must have been subject to a process where the 
membership, association, registration or listing as a principal has 
been granted or otherwise approved? If so, please explain why. Should 
proposed Rule of Practice 194 address the scenario where there were 
prior applications or processes arising from the same matter resulting 
in statutory disqualification, but where one application was denied 
while the other one was granted? For example, should the event that is 
later in time control whether the Commission should permit the person 
subject to a statutory disqualification to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swap transactions? If so, please explain why.
    Q-46. For the exclusion in proposed Rule of Practice 194(j) to 
apply, should the Commission require that the terms and conditions of 
the association with the SBS Entity be the same in all material 
respects as those approved in connection with a previous order, notice 
or other applicable document granting the membership, association, 
registration or listing as a principal, as set forth in proposed Rule 
of Practice 194(j)(2)(ii)? If so, why; if not, why not?
    Q-47. For the exclusion in proposed Rule of Practice 194(j) to 
apply, should the Commission require the notice set forth in proposed 
Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iii) and (iv)? If so, why; if not, why not? 
Should the Commission require any additional information in either 
notice? Are there any categories of information in either notice that 
the Commission should exclude? If so, please provide the category and 
the reasons for excluding it. Should the Commission adopt a different 
format for either notice, such as a form? If so, please explain why and 
provide a description of the format for the notice. Should the notice 
required under proposed paragraph (j)(2)(iii) and (iv) be made public? 
Why or why not?
    Q-48. With respect to associated person entities, should the scope 
of proposed Rule of Practice 194(j) be limited to entities that have 
previously been granted relief under proposed Rule of Practice 194, as 
set forth in proposed paragraph (j)(1)(iii)? Should the Commission 
exclude from the scope of proposed Rule of Practice 194(j) entities 
that have previously been granted relief under another process (e.g., 
entities granted relief by the CFTC, an SRO or NFA)?
    Q-49. Should the Commission have a different process with respect 
to associated persons that are subject to a statutory disqualification 
as a result of certain types of conduct (e.g., conduct that is not 
investment-related)? If so, please specify what process and the reasons 
for such an approach. Should the Commission exclude from the scope of 
the statutory prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) any types 
of

[[Page 51705]]

statutory disqualifications that are not investment-related?

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act

    Proposed Rule of Practice 194 contains ``collection of information 
requirements'' within the meaning of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (``PRA''). The Commission has submitted the information to the 
Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for review in accordance with 
44 U.S.C. 3507 and 5 CFR 1320.11. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, 
and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information 
unless it displays a current valid control number. The title of this 
collection is ``Rule of Practice 194.'' OMB has not yet assigned a 
Control Number for this collection. The collections of information 
required by Rule of Practice 194 would be necessary for an SBS Entity 
to seek relief pursuant to the proposed rule or to rely on the 
exception in the rule for associated persons.

A. Summary of Collection of Information

    Proposed Rule of Practice 194 would provide a process by which an 
SBS Entity could apply for Commission for an order permitting an 
associated person to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity notwithstanding a statutory 
disqualification. To make an application under proposed Rule of 
Practice 194, the SBS Entity filing an application with respect to an 
associated person that is a natural person would provide to the 
Commission:
     Exhibits required by proposed paragraph (c) to Rule of 
Practice 194, including a copy of the order or other applicable 
document that resulted in the associated person being subject to a 
statutory disqualification; an undertaking by the applicant to notify 
promptly the Commission in writing if any information submitted in 
support of the application becomes materially false or misleading while 
the application is pending; a copy of the questionnaire or application 
for employment specified in Rule 15Fb6-2(b),\123\ with respect to the 
associated person; in cases where the associated person has been 
subject of any proceedings resulting in the imposition of disciplinary 
sanctions during the five years preceding the filing of the application 
or is the subject of a pending proceeding by the Commission, CFTC, any 
federal or state regulatory or law enforcement agency, registered 
futures association, foreign financial regulatory authority, registered 
national securities association, or any other SRO, or commodities 
exchange or any court, a copy of the related order, decision, or 
document issued by the court, agency or SRO.
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    \123\ 17 CFR 240.15Fb6-2(b).
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     A written statement that includes the information 
specified in proposed paragraphs (d) and (g) to Rule of Practice 194, 
including, but not limited to: The associated person's compliance with 
any order resulting in statutory disqualification; the capacity or 
position in which the person subject to a statutory disqualification 
proposes to be associated with the SBS Entity; the terms and conditions 
of employment and supervision to be exercised over such associated 
person and, where applicable, by such associated person; the compliance 
and disciplinary history, during the five years preceding the filing of 
the application, of the SBS Entity; information concerning prior 
applications or processes.
    To make an application under proposed Rule of Practice 194, the SBS 
Entity filing an application with respect to an associated person that 
is not a natural person would provide to the Commission:
     Exhibits required by proposed paragraph (e) to Rule of 
Practice 194, including a copy of the order or other applicable 
document that resulted in the associated person being subject to a 
statutory disqualification; an undertaking by the applicant to notify 
promptly the Commission in writing if any information submitted in 
support of the application becomes materially false or misleading while 
the application is pending; organizational charts of the associated 
person (if available); certain applicable policies and procedures of 
the associated person; a copy of an order, decision, or document issued 
by the court, agency or SRO issued during the five years preceding the 
filing of the application; in cases where the associated person has 
been subject of any proceedings resulting in the imposition of 
disciplinary sanctions during the five years preceding the filing of 
the application or is the subject of a pending proceeding by the 
Commission, CFTC, any federal or state regulatory or law enforcement 
agency, registered futures association, foreign financial regulatory 
authority, registered national securities association, or any other 
SRO, or commodities exchange or any court, a copy of the related order, 
decision, or document issued by the court, agency or SRO; the names of 
any natural persons employed by the associated person that are subject 
to a statutory disqualification and that would effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity.
     A written statement that includes the information 
specified in proposed paragraphs (f) and (g) to Rule of Practice 194, 
including, but not limited to: General background information about the 
associated person; the associated person's compliance with any order 
resulting in statutory disqualification; the capacity or position in 
which the person subject to a statutory disqualification proposes to be 
associated with the SBS Entity; the compliance and disciplinary 
history, during the five years preceding the filing of the application, 
of the SBS Entity; information concerning prior applications or 
processes.
     To be eligible for the temporary exclusion set forth in 
paragraph (i)(1)(ii) and (i)(1)(iii) to proposed Rule of Practice 194, 
under proposed paragraph (i)(2), the SBS Entity would be required to 
file with the application a notice setting forth the name of the SBS 
Entity and the name of the associated person that is subject to a 
statutory disqualification, and attaching as an exhibit to the notice a 
copy of the order or other applicable document that resulted in the 
associated person being subject to a statutory disqualification.
    Under paragraph (h) to proposed Rule of Practice 194, an applicant 
could submit a written statement in response to any adverse 
recommendation proposed by Commission staff with respect to an 
application under proposed Rule of Practice 194.
    An SBS Entity would not be required to file an application under 
proposed Rule of Practice 194 with respect to certain associated 
persons that are subject to a statutory disqualification, as provided 
for in proposed paragraph (j) of proposed Rule of Practice 194. To meet 
those requirements, however, the SBS Entity would be required to file a 
notice with the Commission. For associated persons that are natural 
persons, the notice in proposed paragraph (j)(2)(iii) would set forth: 
(1) The name of the SBS Entity; (2) the name of the associated person 
subject to a statutory disqualification; (3) the name of the associated 
person's prospective supervisor(s) at the SBS Entity; (4) the place of 
employment for the associated person subject to a statutory 
disqualification; and (5) identification of any SRO or agency that has 
indicated its agreement with the terms and conditions of the proposed 
association, registration or listing as a principal. For associated 
persons that are not natural persons, the notice in proposed paragraph 
(j)(2)(iv) would set forth: (1) The name of the SBS Entity; (2) the

[[Page 51706]]

name of the person associated that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification and that will effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity; and (3) 
identification of any SRO or agency that has indicated its agreement 
with the terms and conditions of the proposed association, registration 
or listing as a principal.
    The information sought in connection with proposed Rule of Practice 
194 would assist the Commission in determining whether allowing 
associated persons to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of a SBS Entity, notwithstanding statutory 
disqualification, is consistent with the public interest.
    The Commission has sought to minimize the burdens and costs 
associated with proposed Rule of Practice 194. First, the Commission is 
not requiring an application under proposed Rule of Practice 194 with 
respect to certain associated persons subject to a statutory 
disqualification previously granted relief (i.e., by Commission, CFTC, 
SRO, or NFA). Rather, in such instances, SBS Entities would only be 
required to provide a brief notice to the Commission under proposed 
Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iii) (with respect to associated persons 
that are natural persons) and (j)(2)(iv) (with respect to associated 
person entities). Second, proposed Rule of Practice 194 generally 
requires information that is already required by Rule of Practice 193 
\124\ and FINRA Forms MC400 \125\ and MC-400A.\126\ Because the 
requirements in proposed Rule of Practice 194 would generally be 
similar to pre-existing requirements in Rule of Practice 193 and FINRA 
Forms MC-400 and MC-400A (and largely use the same terminology), 
proposed Rule of Practice 194 should provide a familiar process for 
respondents.\127\ Third, where appropriate, the Commission has limited 
the scope of certain requirements, including by limiting the time 
period (for example, paragraphs (c)(4), (d)(6), (d)(10), (e)(5), 
(f)(6), and (f)(7) to proposed Rule of Practice 194) or the scope of 
information sought (for example, paragraph (d)(10) and (f)(7) to 
proposed Rule of Practice 194). Finally, the documents that are 
requested to be provided with the written statement in paragraphs (c) 
and (e) of proposed Rule of Practice 194 (e.g., a copy of the order or 
other applicable document that resulted in statutory disqualification) 
should be readily available or accessible to the SBS Entity or to the 
associated person.
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    \124\ 17 CFR 201.193.
    \125\ See FINRA Form MC-400, Note 33, supra.
    \126\ See FINRA Form MC-400A, Note 34, supra.
    \127\ The Commission has estimated that approximately 16 
registered SBS Entities will be broker-dealers, and thus registered 
with FINRA. See Registration Adopting Release, at Section IV.C.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Proposed Use of Information

    Information collected in connection with an application under 
proposed Rule of Practice 194 would assist the Commission in 
determining whether an associated person of an SBS Entity should be 
permitted to effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on 
behalf of the SBS Entity, notwithstanding that the associated person is 
subject to a statutory disqualification. Although, absent the proposed 
rule, an SBS Entity could nonetheless submit an application for an 
exemptive order directly under Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6),\128\ 
proposed Rule of Practice 194 would specify the information the 
Commission needs to evaluate such an application, and under what 
standard the Commission will consider whether to grant such relief.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \128\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Information collected in connection with the notices provided by 
Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iii) and (j)(2)(iv) would assist the 
Commission for examination purposes by identifying associated persons 
that are subject to a statutory disqualification (and other basic 
information).

C. Respondents

    The Commission has previously stated that it believes that, based 
on data obtained from the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation and 
conversations with market participants, approximately fifty entities 
may fit within the definition of security-based swap dealer and up to 
five entities may fit within the definition of major security-based 
swap participant--55 SBS Entities in total.\129\
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    \129\ See Application of ``Security-Based Swap Dealer'' and 
``Major Security-Based Swap Participant'' Definitions to Cross-
Border Security-Based Swap Activities, Exchange Act Release No. 
72472 (June 25, 2014), 79 FR 47278, 47300 (Aug. 12, 2014) (``Cross-
Border Adopting Release'').
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    With respect to associated persons that are natural persons, as 
discussed in Section V.C.1 below, the Commission has estimated that 
there will be 423 total associated persons that are natural persons at 
each SBS dealer and 63 total associated persons that are natural 
persons at each major participant, or 21,465 total associated persons 
that are natural persons.\130\ The Commission anticipates that, on an 
average annual basis, only a small fraction of the natural persons 
would be subject to a statutory disqualification. By way of comparison, 
of the nearly 4,000 currently registered broker-dealers and 
approximately 272,000 registered representatives,\131\ for 2014, FINRA 
received 24 MC-400 applications with respect to individuals subject to 
a statutory disqualification seeking relief under the FINRA Rule 9520 
Series.\132\ Given that the Commission estimates that there will be far 
fewer SBS Entities (55) and associated persons of SBS Entities that are 
natural persons (21,465 total associated persons that are natural 
persons), the Commission anticipates that SBS Entities will file for 
relief under Rule of Practice 194 with respect to substantially fewer 
associated persons that are natural persons.
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    \130\ One commenter questioned the Commission's estimate, 
stating that some entities ``could have hundreds, if not thousands, 
of associated natural persons that will effect or will be involved 
in effecting security-based swaps.'' See 12/16/11 SIFMA Letter, at 
8. However, the commenter did not provide supporting data. The 
Commission nonetheless has revised its estimate of the number of 
associated persons. See Registration Adopting Release, at Section 
IV.D.4.
    \131\ Based on an analysis of regulatory filings, as of December 
31, 2014, there are 3,954 broker-dealers that employed full-time 
registered representatives and were doing a public business; these 
broker-dealers each employed on average 69 registered 
representatives, or approximately 272,000 in total. See Note 158, 
infra.
    \132\ See Section V.C.2, infra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, to estimate the number of such persons, the Commission 
staff has conferred with NFA to assess how many associated persons of 
the 112 provisionally registered Swap Entities \133\ have applied for 
relief from CEA 4s(b)(6) \134\ (the analogous provision to Exchange Act 
Section 15F(b)(6) \135\ for SBS Entities) for determination by NFA 
that, had the associated person applied for registration as an 
associated person of a Swap Entity, notwithstanding statutory 
disqualification, the application would have been granted.\136\ NFA has 
informed Commission staff that, from October 2012 to July 22, 2015, NFA 
determined that in 9 out of 11 requests NFA would have granted 
registration with respect to the associated person subject to a 
statutory disqualification.
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    \133\ See NFA SD/MSP Registry, https://www.nfa.futures.org/NFA-swaps-information/regulatory-info-sd-and-msp/SD-MSP-registry.HTML.
    \134\ 7 U.S.C. 6s(b)(6).
    \135\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6); see Section II.B.3, supra.
    \136\ See EasyFile AP Statutory Disqualification Form 
Submission, NFA, https://www.nfa.futures.org/NFA-electronic-filings/easyFile-statutory-disqualification.HTML, supra Note 50.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Accordingly, based on that available data, the Commission estimates 
that, on an average annual basis, SBS Entities would seek relief in 
accordance with proposed Rule of Practice 194 for five

[[Page 51707]]

natural persons subject to a statutory disqualification, and SBS 
Entities would provide notices pursuant to proposed Rule of Practice 
194(j)(2)(iii) for five natural persons.
    With respect to associated persons that are not natural persons, as 
discussed in Section V.C.1 below, the Commission has estimated that as 
many as 868 entity persons may be associating with all SBS 
Entities.\137\ In the Registration Adopting Release, the Commission 
adopted Exchange Act Rule 15Fb6-1,\138\ which provides that, unless 
otherwise ordered by the Commission, an SBS Entity, when it files an 
application to register with the Commission as a security-based swap 
dealer or major security-based swap participant, may permit an 
associated person associated that is not a natural person and that is 
subject to a statutory disqualification to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on its behalf, provided that the 
statutory disqualification(s) under Exchange Act Section 3(a)(39)(A) 
through (F) \139\ occurred prior to the compliance date set forth in 
the Registration Adopting Release, and provided that it identifies each 
such associated person in the registration application. Therefore, such 
SBS Entities will not file an application or notice under proposed Rule 
of Practice 194 where Exchange Act Rule 15Fb6-1 \140\ is applicable.
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    \137\ See Note 159, infra.
    \138\ 17 CFR 240.15Fb6-1.
    \139\ 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(39)(A)-(F).
    \140\ 17 CFR 240.15Fb6-1.
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    The Commission preliminarily believes that Exchange Act Rule 15Fb6-
1 will apply to the bulk of statutorily disqualified associated persons 
that are not natural persons, and that, on an average annual basis, a 
limited number of the associated persons that are not natural persons 
would be subject to a statutory disqualification. By way of comparison, 
in 2014, of the nearly 4,000 registered broker-dealers, FINRA received 
10 MC-400A applications with respect to member firms (nine of which 
were related to the entity, while one was due to an owner/control 
person of the member firm being subject to a statutory 
disqualification),\141\ and the total number of MC-400A applications 
received during that five year period (from 2010-2014) was 63.\142\ 
Because there would be far fewer SBS Entities, the Commission 
preliminarily estimates that, on an average annual basis, SBS Entities 
would seek relief in accordance with proposed Rule of Practice 194 for 
two associated persons that are not natural persons and that are 
subject to a statutory disqualification, and SBS Entities would provide 
notices pursuant to proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iv) for two 
associated persons that are not natural persons.
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    \141\ See Section V.C.2, infra.
    \142\ We note that under FINRA rules, only the FINRA member 
itself (i.e., the broker-dealer entity) would apply under Form MC-
400A, not associated persons that are entities. Therefore, these 
estimates may more closely represent the number of affected broker-
dealers, rather than the number of statutorily disqualified entities 
seeking to associate. However, under Exchange Act Section 
3(a)(39)(E), 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(39)(E), a person may be subject to a 
statutory disqualification if that person has associated with him 
any person who is known, or in the exercise of reasonable care 
should be known, to him to be a person described by paragraphs (A), 
(B), (C), or (D) of Exchange Act Section 3(a)(39). For purposes of 
identifying whether a member of an SRO is subject to a statutory 
disqualification under Exchange Act Section 3(a)(39), an associated 
person may include persons that are not natural persons. See FINRA 
Regulatory Notice 09-19, at 3.
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    Therefore, the Commission anticipates that, on an average annual 
basis, SBS Entities would file five applications under proposed Rule of 
Practice 194 with respect to associated persons that are natural 
persons, two applications under proposed Rule of Practice 194 with 
respect to associated persons that are entities, and seven notices for 
natural persons and entities under proposed Rule of Practice 
194(j)(2)(iii) and (j)(2)(iv). The Commission seeks comment on these 
estimates.

D. Total Burden Estimates Relating to Proposed Rule of Practice 194

    It is likely that the time necessary to complete an application 
under proposed Rule of Practice 194 would vary depending on the number 
of exhibits required to be submitted in accordance with proposed Rule 
of Practice 194(c) and (e), and the amount of information that would 
need to be discussed in the written statement, as specified in proposed 
Rule of Practice 194(d), (f) and (g).
    Based on the Commission staff's estimates and experience,\143\ the 
Commission estimates that the average time necessary for an SBS Entity 
to research the questions, and complete and file an application under 
Rule of Practice 194 (including any response under proposed Rule of 
Practice 194(h)), as well as the notice provided for in proposed 
paragraph (i)(2), if applicable, with respect to an associated person 
that is an entity would be approximately one work week, or 40 hours. 
The Commission believes that, for applications with respect to 
associated persons that are natural persons, the information requested 
under proposed Rule of Practice 194 is on average less than for 
entities, and that the written statement and supporting papers would 
require less time to complete. The Commission therefore estimates that 
for associated persons that are natural persons it would take SBS 
Entities approximately 75% of the time that it would take to research 
the questions, and complete and file an application under Rule of 
Practice 194 for associated persons that are entities, or 30 hours. In 
addition, the Commission believes that the average time necessary for 
an SBS Entity to research the questions, complete and file the brief 
notice under proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iii) or 194(j)(2)(iv) 
would be less than for a full application under proposed Rule of 
Practice 194 and the Commission estimates that it would take 
approximately 3 hours.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \143\ For example, based on the experience relative to Form BD, 
the Commission has estimated the average time necessary for an SBS 
Entity to research the questions and complete and file a Form SBSE, 
including the accompanying schedules and disclosure reporting 
pages--which solicit information regarding statutory 
disqualification--to be approximately one work week, or 40 hours. 
See Registration Adopting Release, at Section IV.D.1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Given that the Commission estimates that, on an average annual 
basis, there will be five applications under proposed Rule of Practice 
194 with respect to associated persons that are natural persons, two 
applications under proposed Rule of Practice 194 with respect to 
associated persons that are entities, and seven notices under proposed 
Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iii) and (j)(2)(iv), the Commission 
estimates the total burden associated with filing such applications and 
notices on average to be 251 hours on an annual basis.\144\ The 
Commission seeks comment on these estimates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \144\ This estimate is based on the following: [(40 hours) x (2 
SBS Entities applying with respect to associated persons that are 
entities) + (30 hours) x (5 SBS Entities applying with respect to 
associated persons that are natural persons) + (3 hours) x (7 SBS 
Entities filing notices under proposed Rule of Practice 
194(j)(2)(iii) and (j)(2)(iv))] = 251 hours total.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission seeks comment on the collection of information 
burdens associated with proposed Rule of Practice 194.
    Q-50. Is the estimate for the number of applications under Rule of 
Practice 194 appropriate? Is the estimate for the number of notices 
under proposed Rule of Practice 194(j)(2)(iii) and (j)(2)(iv) 
appropriate?
    Q-51. Is the estimate for the amount of time that it would take on 
average for an SBS Entity to complete an application (and, if 
applicable, the accompanying notice provided for in proposed paragraph 
(i)(2)) under Rule of Practice 194 appropriate? Is the estimate for the 
amount of time that it would take

[[Page 51708]]

on average for an SBS Entity to complete a notice under proposed Rule 
of Practice 194(j)(2)(iii) and (j)(2)(iv) appropriate?
    Q-52. Would SBS Entities incur costs for outside counsel in 
preparing applications under proposed Rule of Practice 194? If so, 
please provide estimates and any supporting data, if available.

E. Confidentiality

    The information collected pursuant to proposed Rule of Practice 194 
will be kept confidential, subject to the provisions of applicable law.

F. Request for Comment

    Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)(B), the Commission solicits 
comment to:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection is necessary for the 
proper performance of our functions, including whether the information 
shall have practical utility;
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information;
    3. Determine whether there are ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
    4. Evaluate whether there are ways to minimize the burden of 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Persons submitting comments on the collection of information 
requirements should direct them to the Office of Management and Budget, 
Attention: Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20503, and 
should also send a copy of their comments to Brent J. Fields, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090, with referenced to File No. S7-14-15. 
Requests for materials submitted to OMB by the Commission with regard 
to this collection of information should be in writing, with reference 
to File No. S7-14-15, and be submitted to the Securities and Exchange 
Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 
20549. As OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collections 
of information between 30 and 60 days after publication, a comment to 
OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 
30 days of publication.

V. Economic Analysis

A. Introduction

    Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) \145\ prohibits an SBS Entity from 
permitting an associated person who is subject to a statutory 
disqualification from effecting or being involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity if the SBS Entity 
knew, or in the exercise of reasonable care should have known, of the 
statutory disqualification. Exchange Act Section 15(b)(6) also 
authorizes the Commission to provide relief from the statutory 
prohibition by rule, regulation, or order.
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    \145\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) imposes a general prohibition on 
statutorily disqualified associated persons from effecting or being 
involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of an SBS Entity 
unless otherwise permitted by the Commission. Concurrently with this 
proposal, the Commission is adopting final rules and forms establishing 
the registration process for SBS Entities. Among other things, these 
rules reference the events in the existing definition of statutory 
disqualification in Exchange Act Section 3(a)(39)(A) through (F) \146\ 
and apply them to Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6). This definition 
disqualifies associated persons from effecting or being involved in 
effecting security-based swaps due to violations of the securities 
laws, but also for all felonies and certain misdemeanors, including 
felonies and misdemeanors not related to the securities laws and/or 
financial markets. Under Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6), absent 
Commission action, SBS Entities will be unable to utilize any 
associated person, including associated entities and natural persons 
with potentially valuable capabilities, skills or expertise, to effect 
or be involved in effecting security-based swaps if they have been 
disqualified for any reason, including non-investment-related conduct 
that may not pose a risk to security-based swap market 
participants.\147\
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    \146\ 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(39)(A)-(F). See Note 16, supra.
    \147\ Final registration rules also require the Chief Compliance 
Officer of an SBS Entity, or his or her designee, to certify on its 
registration form that none of its associated persons that effect or 
are involved in effecting security-based swaps on its behalf are 
subject to a statutory disqualification. See Registration Adopting 
Release, at Section II.B.3.
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    Under the final registration rules, the statutory prohibition in 
Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) applies to all associated persons, 
including both natural persons and associated entities of SBS Entities. 
The Commission is proposing Rule of Practice 194 to provide a process 
for a registered SBS Entity to make an application to the Commission to 
issue an order permitting an associated person who is subject to a 
statutory disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity. Among other things, 
the proposed rule would:
     Specify how SBS Entities may apply to the Commission to 
permit an associated person subject to a statutory disqualification to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of an 
SBS Entity, including the form of application, items to be addressed, 
and standard of review and requiring applicants to make a showing that 
permitting the associated person to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps is consistent with the public interest;
     Provide a temporary exclusion from the general statutory 
prohibition pending a Commission, CFTC, SRO or registered futures 
association decision on an application regarding associated person 
entities effecting or involved in effecting security-based swaps on 
behalf of SBS Entities, if the application is filed within 30 days of 
the disqualification event or of the beginning of an association with a 
previously disqualified entity and a notice has been filed with the 
Commission within the same 30-day time period. The temporary exclusion 
expires 180 days following the filing of a complete application with, 
or initiation of a process by, the CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures 
association, and in the event of an adverse decision an SBS Entity will 
have 60 days to conform with the general statutory prohibition. The 
temporary exclusion pending Commission decision expires 180 days from 
the date of filing a complete application if the Commission has not 
rendered a decision on the application, after which SBS Entities will 
have 60 days to conform with the general statutory prohibition;
     Allow SBS Entities, under certain conditions, to permit 
associated persons who are subject to a statutory disqualification to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on their 
behalf, provided the Commission, the CFTC, an SRO or a registered 
futures association has granted a prior application or otherwise 
granted relief after a statutory disqualification review of that 
associated person, and provided appropriate notice has been filed.
    Proposed Rule of Practice 194 is intended to establish a framework 
for SBS Entities seeking relief from the statutory prohibition in 
Exchange Act

[[Page 51709]]

Section 15F(b)(6). Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) gives the Commission 
flexibility to address statutory disqualification situations, including 
by order. Under this section, the prohibition with respect to 
statutorily disqualified persons applies ``[e]xcept to the extent 
otherwise specifically provided by rule, regulation, or order of the 
Commission.'' \148\ This statutory provision gives the Commission 
discretion to determine that a statutorily disqualified person may 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of an 
SBS Entity. Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6), however, does not specify 
what information should be provided to the Commission when an SBS 
Entity seeks relief, nor does it set forth the standard under which the 
Commission would evaluate requests for relief. Proposed Rule of 
Practice 194 specifies the information and documents that SBS Entities 
should provide to the Commission, as well as the applicable procedures 
and standard of review, for seeking relief from the statutory 
prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6). While the Exchange Act 
provides the Commission with the authority to make a determination with 
respect to a statutorily disqualified person, the structured process 
outlined in proposed Rule of Practice 194 is designed to ensure that 
the Commission has sufficient information to evaluate whether providing 
relief for an associated person under Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) is 
consistent with the public interest.
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    \148\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6).
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B. General Economic Considerations

    In considering proposed Rule of Practice 194 and alternative 
regulatory approaches to a process for addressing statutory 
disqualification, we are mindful of the costs imposed by and the 
benefits obtained from our rules. Section 3(f) of the Exchange Act 
\149\ provides that whenever the Commission is engaged in rulemaking 
pursuant to the Exchange Act and is required to consider or determine 
whether an action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, 
the Commission shall also consider, in addition to the protection of 
investors, whether the action will promote efficiency, competition, and 
capital formation. In addition, Section 23(a)(2) of the Exchange Act 
\150\ requires the Commission, when making rules under the Exchange 
Act, to consider the impact such rules would have on competition. 
Exchange Act Section 23(a)(2) also provides that the Commission shall 
not adopt any rule which would impose a burden on competition that is 
not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the 
Exchange Act. The discussion below addresses the potential economic 
effects of the proposed Rule of Practice 194, including the likely 
benefits and costs of the rules and their potential impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation.
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    \149\ 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \150\ 15 U.S.C. 78w(a)(2).
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    As we have noted, Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) gives the 
Commission authority to provide relief from the statutory prohibition 
against associating with disqualified persons by rule, regulation, or 
order, and the Commission is not bound by any particular approach in 
exercising its discretion to provide relief. In particular, in the 
absence of the proposed rule or any other proposed approach, SBS 
Entities would still be able to apply for relief from Exchange Act 
Section 15F(b)(6) and the Commission would be able to issue an order 
either granting or denying relief. When determining whether to make an 
application for relief with respect to an associated person, an SBS 
Entity will weigh the scarcity and value of the particular skills of an 
associated person that is a natural person or the profits generated by 
an associated person entity's security-based swap business against (1) 
the application costs and reputational costs that come with choosing to 
associate with disqualified persons, and (2) their beliefs as to the 
likelihood of an approval or denial decision by the Commission. To the 
extent that proposed Rule of Practice 194 alters an SBS Entity's 
assessment of either application and reputational costs or beliefs 
about likely outcomes and the decision to apply with the Commission, 
economic costs and benefits may accrue to SBS Entities, associated 
persons, and counterparties to SBS Entities.
    The Commission preliminarily believes that the primary benefits of 
the proposed approach are in (1) providing SBS Entities clarity 
regarding the items to be addressed, the information and supporting 
documentation to be submitted, and the standard of review (affecting 
application costs and beliefs about likely outcomes), and (2) ensuring 
that the Commission has sufficient information to make a meaningful 
determination that allowing an SBS Entity to permit statutorily 
disqualified associated persons to effect security-based swaps is 
consistent with the public interest. Finally, we note that regardless 
of the regulatory approach chosen, SBS Entities may find it less costly 
to disassociate with, or reassign, disqualified persons than to apply 
for relief.
    The Commission lacks data on the complexity and variety of current 
SBS Entity business structures and activities, the degree of SBS Entity 
business reliance on associated persons subject to a statutory 
disqualification, the location and specificity of expertise of such 
persons, as well as the reputational costs of associating with 
disqualified persons. Further, the economic effects of various 
provisions of proposed Rule of Practice 194 hinge on whether and how 
significantly SBS Entities may be affected by the statutory prohibition 
in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6); how market participants will react 
to SBS Entities seeking relief through a Commission order compared to 
relief under proposed Rule of Practice 194, which will affect the 
reputational costs of the application under Rule of Practice 194 
relative to baseline; and how other SBS Entities will react to the 
newly opened market share should some SBS Entities temporarily cease 
effecting security-based swaps or exit due to the statutory prohibition 
in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6). To the best of our knowledge, no 
such data are publicly available. We, therefore, cannot quantify many 
of the effects, including the tradeoff behind an SBS Entity's choice to 
pursue relief and face potential reputational losses versus 
disassociating with the statutorily disqualified associated person. 
Where we cannot quantify, we discuss in qualitative terms the relevant 
economic effects, including the costs and benefits of proposed Rule of 
Practice 194 and alternative approaches.

C. Economic Baseline

    To assess the economic impact of proposed Rule of Practice 194, the 
Commission is using as a baseline the regulation of SBS Entities as it 
exists at the time of this proposal, including applicable rules we have 
adopted, but excluding rules that we have proposed but not yet 
finalized. Included in our baseline are final rules establishing 
registration requirements for SBS Entities, which are being adopted 
concurrently with this proposal.\151\
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    \151\ See Registration Adopting Release.
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    Our economic baseline presumes that the general prohibition in 
Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) \152\ is in effect, and compliance with 
registration requirements is required. However, we note that prior to 
adoption of final registration rules, the Commission previously 
provided temporary relief

[[Page 51710]]

from Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) for certain associated persons. 
Specifically, on June 15, 2011, the Commission issued an order granting 
temporary relief from Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) for persons 
subject to a statutory disqualification who were associated with an SBS 
Entity as of July 16, 2011.\153\ As discussed in the Registration 
Adopting Release, SBS Entities are required to comply with the 
statutory prohibition set forth in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6).\154\ 
However, under Exchange Act Rule 15Fb6-1,\155\ unless otherwise ordered 
by the Commission, an SBS Entity, when it files an application to 
register with the Commission as a security-based swap dealer or major 
security-based swap participant, may permit statutorily disqualified 
associated person entities to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on its behalf, provided that the statutory 
disqualification occurred prior to the compliance date set forth in the 
Registration Adopting Release, and provided that the SBS Entity 
identifies each such associated person on Schedule C of the applicable 
registration form. Additionally, we note that the compliance date of 
final registration rules will not occur until, among other things, the 
Commission adopts final rules establishing a process for a registered 
SBS Entity to apply for relief from the statutory disqualification 
provision in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6).\156\
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    \152\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6).
    \153\ See Note 13, supra.
    \154\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6); see Registration Adopting Release, 
at Section II.B.1.i. The compliance date set forth in the 
Registration Adopting Release is the later of: Six months after the 
date of publication in the Federal Register of a final rule release 
adopting rules establishing capital, margin and segregation 
requirements for SBS Entities; the compliance date of final rules 
establishing recordkeeping and reporting requirements for SBS 
Entities; the compliance date of final rules establishing business 
conduct requirements under Exchange Act Sections 15F(h) and 15F(k); 
or the compliance date for final rules establishing a process for a 
registered SBS Entity to make an application to the Commission to 
allow an associated person who is subject to a statutory 
disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting security-
based swaps on the SBS Entity's behalf. See Registration Adopting 
Release, at 1.
    \155\ 17 CFR 240.15Fb6-1.
    \156\ See Note 154, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Thus, there are currently no registered entities that are required 
to comply with either the statutory disqualification certifications in 
the final registration rules or the statutory prohibition in Exchange 
Act Section 15F(b)(6). Nevertheless, the Commission believes that in 
order to perform a meaningful assessment of proposed Rule of Practice 
194, the appropriate baseline is one where compliance with final 
registration rules is required, the general statutory prohibition is in 
effect, and the Commission may use its authority under Exchange Act 
Section 15F(b)(6) to issue an order providing relief.
1. Affected Participants
    Because final registration rules are being adopted concurrently 
with this proposal, but compliance is not yet required, we do not have 
data on the actual number of SBS Entities that will register with the 
Commission, or the number of persons associated with registered SBS 
Entities. However, in the Registration Adopting Release, the Commission 
estimated that up to 50 entities may register with the Commission as 
security-based swap dealers, and up to five additional entities may 
register as major security-based swap participants.\157\ Furthermore, 
we estimate that as many as 423 natural persons may associate with each 
dealer and as many as 63 natural persons may associate with each major 
participant, or 21,465 in total.\158\ In addition, we estimate that 868 
entity persons may be associating with all SBS Entities.\159\ We note 
that SBS Entities currently intermediating security-based swaps are 
frequently part of complex organizational structures, which may include 
thousands of natural persons and hundreds of entities. Further, we 
preliminarily believe that SBS Entities may adjust their organizational 
structures and activities in response to the associated person and 
other requirements of final registration rules and the pending 
substantive Title VII rules. We also preliminarily anticipate that 
there may be a high degree of heterogeneity in business structures and 
organizational complexity among SBS Entities. The Commission lacks data 
on SBS Entity associations with disqualified entities effecting or 
involved in effecting security-based swaps on their behalf. It is, 
therefore, difficult to estimate with a high degree of certainty the 
number of associated persons and associated persons currently 
intermediating security-based swaps on behalf of SBS Entities that may 
be affected by the proposed rules.
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    \157\ See Registration Adopting Release, at Section IV.C; 
Section V.B, supra.
    \158\ Based on an analysis of broker-dealer FOCUS reports, as of 
December 31, 2014, there were 3,954 broker-dealers that employed 
full-time registered representatives and were doing a public 
business; these broker-dealers each employed on average 69 
registered representatives, or approximately 272,000 in total. 
However, based on our review of the 50 entities we believe may 
register as security-based swap dealers, the Commission believes the 
subset of clearing broker-dealers provides a better estimate. As of 
December 31, 2014, there were 447 clearing broker-dealers which had, 
on average, each employed 423 persons who were registered 
representatives; we use this average as the basis for our estimate 
of 21,150 natural persons associated with dealers. Note, however, 
that SBS Entities will be limited to sales of security-based swaps, 
whereas broker-dealers are generally engaged in the sale of a 
broader range of financial instruments, as well as other business 
lines such as prime brokerage services. Thus, it is possible that 
fewer people would be needed to facilitate this business.
    Since registration requirements for major security-based swap 
participants are triggered by position thresholds, as opposed to 
activity thresholds for dealer registration, we anticipate that 
entities which may seek to register with the Commission as major 
security-based swap participants may more closely resemble hedge 
funds and investment advisors. To estimate the number of natural 
persons associated with major security-based swap participants, we 
use Form ADV filings by registered investment advisers. Based on 
this analysis, as of January 2, 2015 there were 11,506 registered 
investment advisers; these investment advisers had an average 63 
employees each. We use this average as the basis for our estimate of 
315 natural persons associated with major security-based swap 
participants.
    \159\ Based on an analysis of historical Form BD filings, 
broker-dealers with control affiliates had an average of 6.84 
control affiliates that started to associate between 2000 and 2014, 
and have not ended the association by December 31, 2014. We 
preliminarily believe that it may be appropriate to scale the figure 
by a factor of two to account for complexity in business structures 
and for the fact that security-based swap dealers are likely to 
resemble some of the larger broker dealers, which results in an 
estimate of up to 684 (6.84 * 50 * 2 = 684) entities associated with 
security-based swap dealers. As discussed in our estimates of 
associated natural persons, SBS Entities will be limited to sales of 
security-based swaps, whereas broker-dealers are generally engaged 
in the sale of a broader range of financial instruments, and it is 
possible that fewer entities would be needed to facilitate this 
business.
    Using historical Form ADV filings for investment advisers with 
control persons as of March 2015, investment advisors with control 
persons had an average of approximately 18.35 control persons listed 
as firms or organizations that started to associate between 2000 and 
2014, and have not ended the association by December 31, 2014. We 
preliminarily believe that it may be appropriate to scale the figure 
by a factor of two to account for complexity in business structures 
and for the fact that major swap participants are likely to be 
similar to some of the larger investment advisors, which results in 
an estimate of up to approximately 184 (18.35 * 5 * 2 = 183.5) 
entities associated with major security-based swap market 
participants.
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2. Incidence of Disqualification
    While the Commission lacks data on the incidence of statutory 
disqualifications in the security-based swap market, we look to the 
securities market and the experience of broker-dealers as a guide.\160\ 
Based on

[[Page 51711]]

information provided by FINRA to the Commission, in 2014 FINRA received 
24 MC-400 applications for individuals subject to a statutory 
disqualification seeking relief under the FINRA Rule 9520 Series. Of 
these applications, 13 were for investment-related disqualification, 10 
were non-investment-related, and one was for both investment and non-
investment disqualifications. Further, in 2014, FINRA received an 
additional 10 MC-400A applications for statutorily disqualified member 
firms under Rule 9520 Series. Of the MC-400A applications received by 
FINRA, nine were related to the entity, while one was due to an owner/
control person of the member firm being disqualified (all with 
investment-related trigger events).
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    \160\ We have also requested data from NFA. According to NFA 
staff, between October 11, 2012 and July 22, 2015, 11 applications 
had been made by Swap Entities to NFA for NFA to provide notice to 
the Swap Entity that, had the person applied for registration as an 
associated person, NFA would have granted such registration. See 
CFTC Staff No-Action Letter, supra Note 49, at 5-8. The Commission 
has estimated that up to 55 SBS Entities may seek registration, 
while the CFTC has provisionally registered 112 Swap Entities 
(https://www.nfa.futures.org/NFA-swaps-information/regulatory-info-sd-and-msp/SD-MSP-registry.HTML; last accessed July 24, 2015). Using 
the above data from NFA concerning 11 applications over 
approximately 2.78 years, results in an estimate of approximately 2 
applications per year (11 * 55/112)/2.78~ = 1.94).
    The Commission, however, recognizes that the number of 
applications received by NFA may only present a partial picture of 
the potential impact of a disqualification because, inter alia, (1) 
the CFTC defines ``associated person'' of a Swap Entity to be 
limited solely to natural persons, not entities (see 17 CFR 
1.3(aa)(6)); (2) in CFTC Regulation 23.22(b), 17 CFR 23.22(b), the 
CFTC provided an exception from the prohibition set forth in CEA 
Section 4s(b)(6), 7 U.S.C. 6s(b)(6), for any person subject to a 
statutory disqualification who is already listed as a principal, 
registered as an associated person of another CFTC registrant, or 
registered as a floor broker or floor trader.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission preliminarily believes that the incidence of 
statutory disqualification among broker-dealers serves as a reasonable 
basis to estimate the incidence of disqualification among SBS Entities, 
because both broker-dealers and SBS Entities are engaged in the 
business of intermediating trade in financial instruments. As described 
above, in 2014 FINRA received 24 applications for individuals and 10 
applications for member firms, out of approximately 272,000 registered 
representatives and 4,000 currently registered broker-dealers. We 
estimate that 55 entities will register with the Commission as SBS 
Entities, with an estimated 21,465 associated natural persons and 868 
associated person entities. Assuming the number of applications for 
association with statutorily disqualified persons at SBS Entities is 
the same as at broker-dealers results in an estimate of approximately 
two applications for natural persons and one application for entities 
per year.\161\ Recognizing that this is an estimate, we preliminarily 
believe it is reasonable to estimate that the Commission will receive 
up to five applications per year with respect to natural persons and up 
to two applications per year with respect to entities.\162\
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    \161\ For natural persons: 21,465 * (24/272,000) = 1.89. For 
entities: 868 * (10/4000) = 2.18.
    \162\ Notably, paragraph (j) of proposed Rule of Practice 194 
provides that an SBS Entity may permit, subject to certain 
circumstances, statutorily disqualified associated persons to effect 
or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the 
SBS Entity where the Commission, CFTC, an SRO or a registered 
futures association has granted a prior application or otherwise 
granted relief from a statutory disqualification with respect to the 
associated person. See Section II.C.9, supra. As a result, to the 
extent that SBS Entities are using the same personnel to effect 
security-based swaps, swaps, and transact in underlying securities, 
the number of applications the Commission receives may be lower.
     We also note that registered broker-dealers retain the option 
of complying with statutory disqualification provisions by 
disassociating with or reassigning disqualified persons. As a 
result, many instances of disqualification may resolve through 
disassociation or reassignment. Registered entities would likely 
take advantage of the provision only when the benefits of 
associating with a disqualified person outweigh the costs, including 
reputational costs, of making an application.
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3. Existing Regulatory Frameworks
    As reflected in Section II.B, the Commission, CFTC, FINRA, and NFA 
have already established processes that enable various persons subject 
to a statutory disqualification or other bars to be permitted to 
associate with regulated entities transacting in equity, bond, 
commodity, swap, and other markets. The numerous financial markets are 
integrated, often attracting the same market participants that trade 
across corporate bond, swap, and security-based swap markets, among 
others. The Commission has elsewhere estimated that approximately 
thirty-five entities currently registered with the CFTC as Swap 
Entities are expected to have sufficiently large security-based swap 
transaction volume or positions to require registration with the 
Commission as SBS Entities. We further estimated that sixteen market 
participants expected to register as SBS Entities have already 
registered with the Commission as broker-dealers \163\ and, therefore, 
are subject to oversight by FINRA or a national securities exchange. In 
total, all but four entities that the Commission has estimated as 
potential registered SBS Entities are expected to be subject to 
regulatory oversight from the CFTC, FINRA, or a national securities 
exchange.\164\ Therefore, we preliminarily expect SBS Entities to 
associate with persons effecting or involved in effecting transactions 
across the various markets overseen by the CFTC, FINRA and NFA.
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    \163\ See Registration Adopting Release, at Section IV.C.
    \164\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    More broadly, swaps and security-based swaps enable market 
participants to trade on the risks of underlying reference securities, 
and these markets are integrated. As a result of cross-market 
participation, informational efficiency, pricing and liquidity in swaps 
and security-based swaps markets may influence reference security 
markets, and vice versa.\165\
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    \165\ See, e.g., M. Massa & L. Zhang, CDS and the Liquidity 
Provision in the Bond Market (INSEAD Working Paper No. 2012/114/FIN, 
2012), available at http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2164675; M. Oehmke & A. Zawadowski, The 
Anatomy of the CDS Market (Working Paper, 2014), available at http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2023108; S. Das, M. 
Kalimipalli & S. Nayak, Did CDS Trading Improve the Market for 
Corporate Bonds?, 111 J. Fin. Econ. 495 (2014); H. Tookes, E. 
Boehmer & S. Chava, Related Securities and Equity Market Quality: 
The Cases of CDS, forthcoming, J. Fin. & Quant. Analysis.
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D. Benefits, Costs, and Effects on Efficiency, Competition, and Capital 
Formation

    Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) provides the Commission with the 
authority to provide relief from the prohibition against using 
associated natural persons subject to a statutory disqualification to 
effect security-based swaps.\166\ As discussed above, clarity provided 
by the proposed rule regarding the materials to be submitted, the items 
to be considered, and the standard of review, which may alter an SBS 
Entity's assessment of (1) the application costs and reputational costs 
that come with choosing to associate with disqualified persons, and (2) 
their beliefs as to the likelihood of an approval or denial decision by 
the Commission. To the extent that any such alteration leads to greater 
or fewer applications for relief under Rule of Practice 194 relative to 
the baseline with no process rule in place, economic costs and benefits 
may accrue to SBS Entities, associated persons, and counterparties to 
SBS Entities.
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    \166\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Broadly, limiting the involvement of statutorily disqualified 
persons in security-based swap markets on behalf of SBS Entities 
mitigates compliance and counterparty risks arising from 
disqualification and may facilitate competition among higher quality 
SBS Entities, better supervision and integrity of security-based swap 
markets. However, limits on disqualified persons may require SBS 
Entities to undergo business restructuring in the event of 
disqualification or to apply with the Commission for relief, the costs 
of which may be passed on to counterparties. Below we discuss this 
economic tradeoff as it pertains to individual rule provisions and 
alternatives being considered.

[[Page 51712]]

    We estimate that the Commission will receive seven or fewer 
applications under proposed Rule of Practice 194 per year (with respect 
to both associated persons that are natural persons and entities), and 
we preliminarily believe that SBS Entities may be able to easily 
reassign or disassociate from disqualified natural persons for the 
purposes of effecting security-based swaps on behalf of SBS Entities. 
Therefore, we preliminarily believe the overall economic impact of the 
proposed rule will depend on how many associated person entities of SBS 
Entities become disqualified after the compliance date of final 
registration rules, the relative market share and structure of 
bilateral relationships of affected SBS Entities, and the response of 
other SBS Entities and market participants. We are mindful of the 
economic tradeoffs inherent in our policy choices and their impact on 
the securities markets. We discuss these economic effects in more 
detail below.
1. Anticipated Benefits
a. Benefits to SBS Entities
    Proposed Rule of Practice 194 establishes a structured process that 
provides SBS Entities clarity and guidelines on the form of 
application, the items to be considered, and the standard of review. 
Furthermore, the proposed rule ensures that the Commission will have 
sufficient information to make a meaningful determination that 
providing relief for an associated person is consistent with the public 
interest.
    Under the baseline scenario, absent proposed Rule of Practice 194, 
SBS Entities would still be able to apply to the Commission, and the 
Commission would still be able to exercise its authority to grant 
relief.\167\ Therefore, the proposed process does not affect the set of 
options available to either SBS Entities or the Commission, nor does it 
affect the range of possible outcomes. However, a key benefit of 
proposed Rule of Practice 194 is that, by articulating the materials to 
be submitted, the items to be considered, and the standard of review, 
it provides a structured process to SBS Entities, as well as clarity 
about the process.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \167\ See 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6); see also Section V.C, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Absent proposed Rule of Practice 194, we preliminarily believe that 
SBS Entities seeking to apply for relief from Section 15F(b)(6) may 
apply to the Commission directly, outside of a formal process, possibly 
looking to either Rule of Practice 193 \168\ or an analogous process as 
a guide.\169\ However, we also believe that such applications, due to 
the lack of clarity, would be more time-consuming, and would be more 
prone to errors or more likely to be deemed to contain insufficient 
information to allow the Commission to make a determination. Under 
proposed Rule of Practice 194, SBS Entities should generally be aware 
of the information they are required to provide, as well as the 
standard of review. We also believe that clarity about the items that 
the Commission will consider in making a determination, while not 
altering the set of possible outcomes, will allow SBS Entities to make 
more-informed assessments as to the likelihood that the Commission will 
either grant or deny relief. Thus, proposed Rule of Practice 194 may 
conserve resources and may allow SBS Entities to make more-informed 
evaluations about the tradeoff between pursuing an application and 
either disassociating with or, in the case of natural persons, 
reassigning a person subject to a statutory disqualification.
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    \168\ 17 CFR 201.193.
    \169\ See Section II.0, supra.
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    Finally, paragraph (j) of proposed Rule of Practice 194 provides 
relief in cases where the Commission, the CFTC, an SRO, or a registered 
futures association has granted a prior application or otherwise 
granted relief from a statutory disqualification with respect to that 
associated person. To the extent that SBS Entities, Swap Entities, and 
broker-dealers use the same personnel or entities to effect security-
based swaps, swaps, and securities transactions, this proposed rule may 
conserve resources in the sense that SBS Entities will not have to 
undergo duplicate review when decisions about relief from statutory 
disqualifications have already been made by the Commission or another 
regulatory authority. These benefits are discussed in greater detail in 
Section V.D.1.c below.\170\
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    \170\ We note that under paragraph (j) associated persons may be 
permitted to effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps 
on behalf of SBS Entities where the Commission would not have made 
an individualized positive determination in the context of such 
person effecting or being involved in effecting security-based swap 
transactions. These potential effects are discussed in Section 
V.D.2.b below.
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b. Benefits to Counterparties of SBS Entities
    As stated in Section II.C.7 above, orders issued in accordance with 
Rule of Practice 194 would be made publicly available. Further, for SBS 
Entities to be able to avail themselves of the temporary exclusion set 
forth in proposed paragraphs (i)(1)(ii) and (i)(1)(iii), applications 
related to disqualified associated entities would have to include a 
notice, which would be publicly disseminated by the Commission. The 
notice would set forth the name of the SBS Entity and the name of the 
associated person that is subject to a statutory disqualification, and 
attach as an exhibit to the notice a copy of the order or other 
applicable document that resulted in the associated person being 
subject to a statutory disqualification. Publicly available and 
publicly disseminated information regarding applications under proposed 
Rule of Practice 194 would provide market participants with information 
they may find useful in assessing their counterparties. In particular, 
market participants may use knowledge about whether an SBS Entity has 
applied for relief and/or whether an SBS Entity currently employs or 
associates with disqualified persons to effect security-based swaps 
when choosing counterparties. In general, such information may be 
valued by market participants when selecting counterparties, if they 
believe such knowledge is informative about the quality of a 
counterparty.
    In addition, we note that this information may be useful to other 
SBS Entities. In particular, publicly available information regarding 
the outcome of Rule of Practice 194 applications may inform other SBS 
Entities' assessments of the likelihood that the Commission would grant 
relief in particular circumstances. For example, SBS Entities could 
look to outcomes in applications where disqualifications were for 
similar reasons; such information may be useful in determining whether 
it is cost effective to seek relief.
c. Benefits of the Commission, CFTC, SRO, Registered Futures 
Association Provision
    Beyond establishing a process for submitting applications, proposed 
Rule of Practice 194 allows an SBS Entity, subject to certain 
conditions, to permit an associated person that is subject to a 
statutory disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity without making an 
application to the Commission, if the associated person's membership, 
association, registration or listing as a principal has been granted or 
otherwise approved by the Commission, CFTC, an SRO or a registered 
futures association.\171\ In such cases where an SBS Entity meets the

[[Page 51713]]

requirements of proposed paragraph (j), these SBS Entities would be 
able to provide notice to the Commission in lieu of having to compile 
the same information and documentation for a repeated review, thereby 
eliminating redundancy and decreasing SBS Entity costs.
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    \171\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(j); see also Section 
II.C.9, supra.
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    The proposed rule concerning associated persons previously granted 
relief by the Commission, CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures 
association provides SBS Entities with flexibility in hiring and 
assigning employees, and associating with entities, depending on 
business needs and required capabilities. Specifically, this provision 
would benefit SBS Entities transacting across markets through 
disqualified associated persons previously granted relief by the 
Commission, CFTC, NFA or FINRA, by enabling them to avoid costs of a 
separate application process under proposed Rule of Practice 194 or 
business restructuring. We also recognize that this provision reduces 
costs to SBS Entities from associating with disqualified persons 
previously granted relief by the Commission, CFTC, NFA or FINRA, so it 
may benefit these persons by potentially improving their employment 
options and business outcomes.
d. Benefits of the Temporary Exclusion
    The temporary exclusion pending decision by the Commission, the 
CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures association with respect to an 
associated person entity \172\ prevents potentially unnecessary 
business restructuring or business disruption costs for SBS Entities 
that are affiliated with disqualified entities but have not yet 
received a decision on their application. Under this provision, 
provided that the conditions in proposed paragraph (i) are met, SBS 
Entities would not have to comply with the statutory prohibition in 
Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) with respect to associated person 
entities while an application before the Commission, the CFTC, an SRO 
or a registered futures association is pending. If the Commission, the 
CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures association does not render a 
decision on the application within 180 days, an SBS Entity will have 60 
days to disassociate or otherwise restructure their business such that 
the disqualified associated person entity is not effecting or involved 
in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the SBS Entity.\173\ In 
cases where the CFTC, an SRO or registered futures association makes an 
adverse decision on a pending application, an SBS Entity will have 60 
days to conform with the general statutory prohibition, whereas for 
applications under Rule of Practice 194 denied by the Commission, a 
conformance period may be provided by order as necessary and 
appropriate.\174\
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    \172\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(i); see also Section 
II.C.8, supra.
    \173\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(i)(1)(ii), (iii).
    \174\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(i)(1)(iii).
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    The time-limited nature of the temporary exclusion pending review 
\175\ may introduce uncertainty concerning the eventual need to 
restructure before the Commission, the CFTC, an SRO or registered 
futures association has rendered a decision on the application. To the 
extent that the process under proposed Rule of Practice 194 provides 
benefits to SBS Entities and their counterparties by not requiring them 
to incur the costs of restructuring and complying with the statutory 
prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) until they have received 
certainty on their application, the time-limited nature of the 
temporary exclusion pending review may reduce these benefits.
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    \175\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(i)(1)(ii).
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    We highlight that, as discussed in the Registration Adopting 
Release, inter-dealer transactions account for greater than 60% of 
single-name CDS transactions.\176\ The high level of inter-dealer 
trading activity reflects the central position of a small number of 
dealers, each of which may intermediate trades between many hundreds of 
counterparties. In the absence of a temporary exclusion pending 
application review, some SBS Entities may have to bear costs of 
restructuring or disassociating from disqualified entities. Given the 
small number of dealers, as well as the potential reach of dealers to 
hundreds of counterparties, this may increase transaction costs for 
counterparties should disruptions to existing bilateral relationships 
occur. The temporary exclusion,\177\ as well as the 60-day conformance 
period \178\ and the possibility of an extension of temporary exclusion 
by Commission order in cases where review applications are denied,\179\ 
may mitigate these effects.
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    \176\ See Registration Adopting Release, at Section V.C.1.ii.
    \177\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(i)(1).
    \178\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(i)(1)(ii), (iii).
    \179\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(i)(3).
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    At the same time, without the temporary exclusion, other SBS 
Entities are likely to step in and intermediate the trades. The 
potential benefits of the temporary exclusion for market quality and 
competition, therefore, depend on the relative importance of existing 
bilateral relationships and on which SBS Entities would increase their 
participation, if some SBS Entities are temporarily unable to 
intermediate swaps due to statutory disqualification absent the 
temporary exclusion.
    It is important to note that the temporary exclusion will not apply 
to associated person entities with respect to which the Commission has 
otherwise ordered, or with respect to which the Commission, CFTC, an 
SRO or registered futures association has previously denied an 
application.\180\ Temporarily excluding such associated person entities 
from the statutory prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6), and 
allowing SBS Entities to permit associated person entities to effect or 
be involved in effecting security-based swaps pending review may pose 
significant counterparty and compliance risks. However, we recognize 
that this aspect of the proposed rule mitigates the potential benefits 
described above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \180\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(i)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We further note that the proposed temporary exclusion covers 
applications regarding associated person entities only, and excludes 
applications regarding associated persons that are natural persons. As 
a practical matter, an SBS Entity may be able to reassign or 
disassociate from a statutorily disqualified natural person effecting 
or involved in effecting security-based swaps, whereas disassociating 
from statutorily disqualified entities may require more costly 
restructuring.
2. Anticipated Costs
a. Application Costs
    Based on the Commission's experience with similar applications, the 
Commission preliminarily estimates that the average time necessary for 
an SBS Entity to research the questions, and complete and file an 
application under Rule of Practice 194 would be approximately 40 hours 
for applications regarding entities, and 30 hours for applications 
regarding natural persons.\181\ Furthermore, the Commission 
preliminarily estimates that SBS Entities would make fewer than seven 
applications on an average annual basis.\182\ Based on those figures, 
the Commission estimates the economic costs to prepare, review, and 
submit applications under proposed Rule of Practice 194 to be less than 
$95,380 per

[[Page 51714]]

year.\183\ The Commission seeks comment on the reasonableness and 
accuracy of these estimates.
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    \181\ See Section IV.D, supra.
    \182\ See id.
    \183\ This estimate is based on the following. Total burden 
hours = [(40 hours) x (2 SBS Entities applying with respect to 
associated persons that are entities) + (30 hours) x (5 SBS Entities 
applying with respect to associated persons that are natural 
persons) + (3 hours) x (7 SBS Entities filing notices]. Attorney at 
$380 per hour x 251 burden hours = $95,380. The hourly cost figure 
is based upon data from SIFMA's Management & Professional Earnings 
in the Securities Industry 2013 (modified by the Commission staff to 
account for an 1,800-hour-work-year and multiplied by 5.35 to 
account for bonuses, firm size, employee benefits, and overhead).
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    Notably, an SBS Entity would only submit such applications where 
the SBS Entity believed that the economic value of retaining a 
particular person to effect security-based swaps or continuing 
association with a statutorily disqualified entity outweighed the 
application costs associated with proposed Rule of Practice 194. In 
other words, any application costs would be incurred by SBS Entities on 
a voluntary basis. Furthermore, the decision to incur application costs 
would also reflect an SBS Entity's assessment of the likelihood of the 
Commission granting relief under the public interest standard set forth 
in proposed Rule of Practice 194(b).
    We also note that, under the baseline, an SBS Entity would not be 
precluded under Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) from seeking Commission 
relief.\184\ However, as already discussed, SBS Entities would lack 
clarity about the application process and, though they may look to Rule 
of Practice 193 or similar processes as a guide, could potentially 
expend more resources than necessary due to process uncertainty. Thus, 
notwithstanding the cost estimates above, the proposed rule may 
mitigate application costs relative to the baseline due to the 
structured process. We expect that this cost mitigation would be most 
significant for SBS Entities that would be among the first to seek 
relief; SBS Entities seeking relief later would have the benefit of 
learning by observing the process experienced by first-movers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \184\ See Section V.C, supra.
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b. Costs of the Commission, CFTC, SRO, Registered Futures Association 
Provision
    Exchange Act Rule 19h-1 provides for Commission review of notices 
filed by SROs proposing to admit any person to, or continue any person 
in, membership or association with a member, notwithstanding statutory 
disqualification.\185\ The Commission does not review or approve 
statutory disqualification decisions of NFA or CFTC. As a result, 
associated persons may be able to transact in security-based swap 
markets on behalf of SBS Entities where the Commission would not have 
made a determination on an individualized basis that it is consistent 
with the public interest to permit them to do so had these persons been 
reviewed independently by the Commission. Since this provision would 
result in a potentially greater number of disqualified associated 
persons being permitted to effect or be involved in effecting security-
based swaps on behalf of SBS Entities, it may increase compliance and 
counterparty risks, but may decrease costs of business restructuring by 
affected SBS Entities, as discussed in section V.D.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \185\ 17 CFR 240.19h-1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

c. Costs of the Temporary Exclusion
    The temporary exclusion pending decision by the Commission, the 
CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures association\186\ is designed to 
mitigate SBS Entity costs of reassigning or disassociating from 
statutorily disqualified associated person entities during the review 
process. However, the provision allows associated person entities to 
continue to effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on 
behalf of an SBS Entity after conduct that triggered statutory 
disqualification and before the Commission, the CFTC, an SRO or a 
registered futures association has made an individualized favorable 
determination. Statutory disqualification triggers may point to risks 
of repeated misconduct or compliance shortcomings, and a review by the 
Commission, the CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures association may 
result in a determination that permitting such associations is not 
consistent with the public interest. In these instances, statutorily 
disqualified associated person entities would have been effecting or 
involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of SBS Entities, 
raising counterparty risks during the review process as a result of the 
temporary exclusion. We note that if the Commission, the CFTC, an SRO 
or a registered futures association does not render a decision within 
180 days, the temporary exclusion expires and SBS Entities will have 60 
days to conform with the general statutory prohibition.\187\ The time-
limited nature of the exclusion pending review partially mitigates the 
potential risks to counterparties from disqualified entities effecting 
or being involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of SBS 
Entities before the Commission renders a decision on the application.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \186\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(i).
    \187\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(i)(1)(ii), (iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, if the CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures association 
renders an adverse decision with respect to an entity that is an 
associated person an SBS Entity, SBS Entities will have 60 days to 
conform with the general statutory prohibition.\188\ In cases where the 
Commission has made a determination that allowing an SBS Entity to 
permit an associated person entity that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps is not consistent with the public interest, the Commission may 
provide an extension to the temporary exclusion by order.\189\ 
Associated person entities that are subject to a statutory 
disqualification would be able to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on behalf of SBS Entities where the Commission, 
the CFTC, an SRO or NFA have made an adverse determination based on the 
assessment of the facts and circumstances of the application, which may 
pose risks to counterparties. However, these provisions provide time 
for SBS Entities to restructure and comply with the statutory 
prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) after disposition of the 
application. Further, with respect to the temporary exclusion pending 
review by the Commission, in cases where an application has been 
disapproved, the Commission will only provide an extension to the 
temporary exclusion where it deems doing so is necessary or 
appropriate.\190\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \188\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(i)(1)(iii).
    \189\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(i)(3).
    \190\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

d. Additional Costs
    As we noted above, under proposed Rule of Practice 194, the 
Commission will make public orders either approving or denying an 
application under the rule.\191\ We note that SBS Entities may prefer 
for such information to remain private if they believe that 
counterparties will use this information as a signal of quality. 
Therefore, the reputational costs associated with going through the 
process and potentially associating with statutorily disqualified 
persons may discourage some SBS Entities from applying for relief under 
the proposed rule; such SBS Entities may instead choose to disassociate 
with disqualified persons or reassign them (in the case of natural 
persons) to responsibilities that do not involve

[[Page 51715]]

effecting or being involved in effecting security-based swaps.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \191\ See Section II.C.7, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Disassociation itself may be costly, particularly for SBS Entities 
associated with a statutorily disqualified entity that is responsible 
for a large share of security-based swap business. In considering 
disassociation, an SBS Entity will weigh reputational costs against the 
cost of disassociation. For disqualified natural persons, such costs 
include the cost to an SBS Entity of replacing an employee (or other 
associated person), and will depend on the scarcity and value of a 
particular person's skills. For statutorily disqualified associated 
person entities, such costs may include the cost of eliminating or 
restructuring an entire business line.
3. Effects on Efficiency, Competition, and Capital Formation
    The Commission has preliminarily assessed the effects arising from 
proposed Rule of Practice 194 on efficiency, competition, and capital 
formation. As noted above, limiting the ability of statutorily 
disqualified persons to effect security-based swaps on behalf of SBS 
Entities may mitigate compliance and counterparty risks and may 
facilitate competition among higher quality SBS Entities, enhancing 
integrity of security-based swap markets. At the same time, limits on 
disqualified person participation in security-based swap markets may 
involve costly business restructuring or costs of applying to the 
Commission for relief. As with the other economic effects already 
discussed, effects on efficiency, competition, and capital formation 
flow primarily from how the rule alters an SBS Entity's evaluation of 
the tradeoff between the value of an associated person's skill and 
expertise in effecting security-based swaps against the costs of 
applying for relief, and how the rule alters an SBS Entity's ultimate 
decision to seek relief.
    As noted above, by providing a structured process and clarity as to 
the standard of review, proposed Rule of Practice 194 may conserve 
resources relative to the baseline for SBS Entities applying for relief 
under Section 15F(b)(6), and therefore create a more efficient process 
for SBS Entities that choose to apply. To the extent that the savings 
resulting from the proposed rule may encourage more SBS Entities to 
apply for relief, especially in the case of associated person entities, 
a greater number of SBS Entities may be able to effect security-based 
swaps without potentially costly business restructuring.
    SBS Entities incur reputational and application costs of permitting 
statutorily disqualified persons to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps, and weigh these costs against the level and 
substitutability of disqualified persons' skills and expertise. Should 
more SBS Entities apply for relief, a greater number of disqualified 
persons may seek employment and business opportunities in security-
based swap markets. However, persons eligible to rely on paragraph (j) 
to proposed Rule of Practice 194, regarding disqualifications already 
reviewed by the Commission, the CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures 
association, may enjoy a competitive advantage over persons not 
eligible for the same treatment. Because SBS Entities would not need to 
expend resources filing an application, they may prefer associating 
with persons who can rely on proposed Rule of Practice 194(j) over 
their disqualified counterparts. If SBS Entities exhibit a preference 
for persons that can take advantage of proposed Rule of Practice 
194(j), it could create competitive disparities among associated 
persons.
    A temporary exclusion pending review by the Commission, the CFTC, 
an SRO or a registered futures association, set forth in paragraph (i) 
to proposed Rule of Practice 194, would enable SBS Entities to continue 
their security-based swap market participation without incurring the 
costs of reassigning or disassociating from disqualified persons. As a 
result, SBS Entities associating with entities that become subject to a 
statutory disqualification can continue dealing in security-based swaps 
without incurring costs of business restructuring until the disposition 
of the application.\192\ SBS Entities that begin to associate with 
statutorily disqualified entities would be eligible for the same 
temporary relief, conditional on timeliness of the application. If the 
Commission denies the application under proposed Rule of Practice 194 
related to an associated person entity that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification, the Commission may by order grant a temporary 
extension of the exclusion to enable the SBS Entity to become compliant 
with the statutory prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6).\193\ 
Broadly, this temporary exclusion may lower costs to SBS Entities of 
associating or beginning to associate with statutorily disqualified 
entities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \192\ We note that with respect to applications for Commission 
review the proposed temporary exclusion is time limited. If the 
Commission has not rendered a decision within 180 days of filing a 
completed application under the Proposed Rule of Practice 194, SBS 
Entities will have 60 days to become in compliance with the general 
statutory prohibition. See proposed Rule of Practice 194(i)(1)(ii). 
If the Commission approves the application after the temporary 
exclusion has expired, SBS Entities will again be able to permit the 
disqualified associated entity to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on their behalf.
    \193\ See proposed Rule of Practice 194(i)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The overall effects of the temporary exclusion from the general 
statutory prohibition pending review are unclear. On the one hand, it 
may serve to mitigate potential disruptions should associated entities 
of a number of SBS Entities become disqualified, leading some SBS 
Entities to temporarily cease dealing activity pending Commission, 
CFTC, an SRO or registered futures association review, or to effect 
business restructuring. At the same time, the presence and magnitude of 
the potential market disruption is unclear, since other SBS Entities 
are likely to begin competing for the newly opened market share. The 
overall effects of this provision on security-based swap market quality 
and competition depend primarily on whether and which SBS Entities are 
able to win the newly opened market share in such cases.
    Clarity about the items that the Commission will consider in making 
determinations may allow SBS Entities to make informed assessments 
about whether a particular application is likely to be approved or 
denied. Increased certainty about the process may, in turn, alter an 
SBS Entity's evaluation of its own cost-benefit tradeoff in determining 
whether to file an application for relief, enabling the entity to more 
efficiently expend resources.
    Finally, while security-based swaps are important financial 
instruments that may facilitate the capital formation process, we 
preliminarily believe that the impact of proposed Rule of Practice 194 
on capital formation will be de minimis. Given that nothing about the 
statute precludes either SBS Entities from seeking relief or the 
Commission from granting relief in the absence of a rule, and given the 
low expected incidence of statutory disqualification among natural 
persons associated with SBS Entities, we do not believe the rule will 
materially affect the ability of either issuers to raise capital or 
financial intermediaries to hedge their investments with issuers. 
Therefore, we do not expect the rule to have a material effect on 
capital formation, either positively or negatively.

E. Rule Alternatives

    In addition to proposed Rule of Practice 194, the Commission has 
considered five primary alternative

[[Page 51716]]

approaches. We discuss these approaches below.
1. Relief for All Entities From Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6)
    The Commission has considered blanket relief from the general 
prohibition in Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) with respect to all 
associated person entities. Under this alternative, SBS Entities cross-
registered as Swap Entities with the CFTC would experience potential 
economies of scope in associating with persons that are entities. 
Further, SBS Entities will avoid all costs of business restructuring if 
associated person entities become statutorily disqualified, or in the 
event of new associations with statutorily disqualified associated 
person entities effecting or involved in effecting security-based swaps 
on their behalf.
    Relative to the proposed temporary exclusion approach, SBS Entities 
would be less constrained by the general statutory prohibition and 
would be able to associate with any and all disqualified entity persons 
in any capacity without applying for relief under Exchange Act Section 
15F(b)(6) or under Rule of Practice 194. Further, the uniform entity 
exemption approach gives SBS Entities certainty about their ability to 
permit disqualified entity persons to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps, whereas the proposed temporary 
exclusion expires after 180 days, and SBS Entities have 60 days to 
conform to the general statutory prohibition if the Commission, the 
CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures association does not render a 
decision on the application within that timeframe.
    At the same time, the counterparty and compliance risks under the 
uniform entity exemption approach may be greater than those under the 
proposed approach. If the Commission excludes all disqualified 
associated entities from the scope of the general statutory 
prohibition, the Commission would be unable to make an individualized 
determination under proposed Rule of Practice 194 about whether 
permitting an associated person entity that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of an SBS Entity is consistent with the public 
interest.\194\ Further, statutory disqualification and an inability to 
continue associating with SBS Entities may create a disincentive 
against underlying misconduct for associated persons, and a blanket 
exception for disqualified associated persons that are entities may 
reduce the disincentive against misconduct.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \194\ However, the Commission could, by order, censure, place 
limitations on the activities or functions of the associated person, 
or suspend or bar such person from being associated with an SBS 
Entity. See 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(l)(3) and Note 98, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The overall effects of this alternative on security-based swap 
markets are unclear. Under this alternative, disqualified persons would 
not undergo substantive review and all disqualified entity persons 
would be able to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps on behalf of SBS Entities, which may increase counterparty and 
compliance risks. However, SBS Entities associating with disqualified 
persons would not have to undergo business restructuring, the costs of 
which may flow through to counterparties, further mitigating the risk 
of disruptions.
2. A Modified Temporary Exclusion
    The Commission could adopt a modified temporary exclusion, where if 
the Commission does not render a decision within 180 days the 
application would be considered granted. This alternative would 
effectively default to relief from the statutory prohibition for 
applications for Commission review, since SBS Entities would be able to 
permit disqualified associated entities to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on their behalf, unless the Commission 
makes an individualized determination that it is not consistent with 
the public interest to enable them to do so within 180 days of the 
application being filed. This may benefit SBS Entities by lowering 
uncertainty about the need to restructure the business and disassociate 
from the disqualified entity person. However, it may lead some 
applications to be considered granted before the Commission is able to 
perform an individualized assessment of the facts of each case, 
particularly in complex cases that may require an extensive review. 
These modifications may benefit SBS Entities, but may allow some 
disqualified associated entities to be able to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on behalf of SBS Entities where the 
Commission would not have deemed it consistent with the public interest 
to permit them to do so.
3. Relief for Non-Investment-Related Offenses
    The Commission could also adopt the approach of automatically 
excepting SBS Entities that associate with statutorily disqualified 
persons if the matters that triggered the statutory disqualification 
were non-investment-related, while requiring SBS Entities to apply for 
relief under the proposed rules for investment-related statutory 
disqualifications.\195\ Such an approach would eliminate restructuring 
or application costs for SBS Entities associating with statutorily 
disqualified persons when statutory disqualification arises out of non-
investment related offenses, which may increase competition among SBS 
Entity associated persons and attract new natural persons into the SBS 
Entity labor market. SBS Entities associating with persons statutorily 
disqualified for investment-related offenses would have to bear costs 
of disassociating or applying for relief and would have to compete with 
a greater number of SBS Entities that do not have to apply for relief.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \195\ As discussed in the baseline, in a somewhat analogous 
scenario for broker dealers, 10 out of 24, or approximately 42% of 
MC-400 applications for relief for individuals received by FINRA in 
2014 were for exclusively non-investment-related disqualifications. 
Over a 5 year period between 2010 and 2014, 2 out of 5 re-offenses 
by individuals were not investment-related (177 MC-400 applications 
have been received over the same time period). Reoffenses include 
subsequent regulatory actions and criminal offense convictions after 
previous approvals to associate pursuant to Rule 19h-1, 17 CFR 
240.19h-1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Statutory disqualification and the potential inability to deal in 
various markets may present an incentive against misconduct, including 
non-investment-related misconduct. This alternative would also lower 
the information benefits of reviewing applications and supporting 
materials, including information concerning supervisory structure, 
terms of employment and other items, which will inform Commission 
understanding of SBS Entity associations and ongoing oversight. 
Finally, some statutory disqualification triggers that may not fall in 
the ``investment related offense'' category (e.g., thefts) may point to 
a higher risk of future misconduct, including violations of securities 
laws, federal rules and regulations thereunder. Uniformly excepting 
such statutorily disqualified associated persons without an opportunity 
for the Commission to review the circumstances of each case and to make 
a determination that allowing SBS Entities to permit them to effect 
security-based swaps is consistent with the public interest may pose 
risks to counterparties and security-based swap markets.
4. No Relief for CFTC, SRO, Registered Futures Association Review
    The proposed rules allow SBS Entities to permit statutorily 
disqualified persons to effect or be involved in

[[Page 51717]]

effecting security-based swaps on their behalf without an application 
to the Commission, if the associated person's membership, association, 
registration or listing as a principal has been granted or otherwise 
approved by the CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures association. The 
proposed approach also provides a time limited temporary exclusion for 
disqualified associated entities while their application before the 
CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures association is pending; the 
proposed exclusion expires 180 days after the filing of an application 
or initiation of a similar process, after which point SBS Entities have 
60 days to conform with the general statutory prohibition. The 
Commission could adopt an alternative approach, under which such 
disqualified associated persons would not be automatically permitted to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
SBS Entities, and would have to apply directly for a substantive review 
by the Commission under Rule of Practice 194. The temporary exclusion 
pending Commission review would apply as proposed.
    This alternative approach would allow the Commission to review the 
facts and circumstances of each case and make an individualized public 
interest determination with respect to each disqualified associated 
person concerning whether they should be permitted to effect or be 
involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of SBS Entities, 
and under which conditions. If fewer SBS Entities choose to go through 
a separate review by the Commission, this alternative may result in a 
smaller number of disqualified associated persons effecting or involved 
in effecting security-based swaps. To the extent that statutory 
disqualification and terms and conditions of reassociation may indicate 
compliance and counterparty risks, this may improve compliance and 
counterparty protections for security-based swap market participants.
    However, this alternative may increase costs for SBS Entities. 
Specifically, this alternative would require SBS Entities to incur the 
application costs under Rule of Practice 194 with respect to associated 
persons that have already been approved by the CFTC, SRO or a 
registered futures association, or costs of restructuring the business 
or disassociating from such persons altogether. If the application is 
denied, SBS Entities would need to restructure the business or 
disassociate from the associated person. In addition, in light of the 
high degree of integration among swap and security-based swap markets 
and expected cross-registration, many SBS Entities are expected to 
transact across swap, security-based swap and reference security 
markets, and some SBS Entities may be relying on the same personnel and 
entities in effecting, for instance, single name and index CDS. This 
approach would limit SBS Entity flexibility in hiring and retaining 
disqualified associated persons where the SBS Entity believes the 
person's quality and expertise outweigh the reputational costs of 
associating with a disqualified person and where the CFTC, an SRO or a 
registered futures association has made a favorable finding with 
respect to the associated person.
    The effects of this alternative on security-based swap markets will 
depend on the extent of reliance by SBS Entities on disqualified 
persons approved by the CFTC, an SRO or a registered futures 
association, magnitude of the above business restructuring costs, 
significance of bilateral counterparty relationships, and the severity 
of compliance and counterparty risks posed by disqualified associated 
persons. As discussed in earlier sections, we lack data or other 
information to quantify these effects with any degree of certainty.
5. No Relief for Entities From Exchange Act Section 15(F)(b)(6)
    Lastly, the Commission could establish a uniform prohibition on 
associated person entities subject to statutory disqualification 
effecting or being involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf 
of SBS Entities. Under this approach, all disqualified associated 
entities not covered by the exemption in final registration rules would 
be barred from intermediating security-based swaps on behalf of SBS 
Entities. To the extent that past disqualifications can point to higher 
compliance and counterparty risks, this alternative could potentially 
strengthen counterparty protections. Further, the inability to 
participate in various markets due to disqualification disincentivizes 
misconduct. Adopting this approach would strengthen these incentive 
effects, which may improve compliance with federal securities laws, 
rules and regulations.
    However, barring all disqualified associated entities from 
effecting or being involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf 
of SBS Entities would impose costs of business restructuring for a 
number of SBS Entities, which may in turn affect market quality. In the 
event of a disqualification after the compliance date of the final 
registration rules, SBS Entities would be required to cease 
intermediating security-based swaps and restructure their business to 
disassociate from all disqualified entities. If a number of entities 
associated with different SBS Entities become disqualified at the same 
time, a number of SBS Entities may become temporarily unable to effect 
security-based swaps due to disqualification. Currently, inter-dealer 
transactions account for over 60% of single-name CDS transactions, 
which reflects the central position of a small number of dealers, each 
of which may intermediate trades between many hundreds of 
counterparties. If some of the central dealers are temporarily unable 
to effect security-based swaps, higher transaction costs or market 
disruptions may occur. However, we note that other SBS Entities may 
step in to pick up the market share. The overall economic effects will 
depend on: (i) The costs and the required length of time for business 
restructuring; (ii) which SBS Entities would be able to pick up the 
newly available market share; and (iii) the relative importance of 
bilateral relationships between SBS Entities and counterparties.
    Lastly, this alternative may decrease the number of entities 
seeking to associate with SBS Entities since disqualified entity 
persons will no longer be able to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps. Such disqualified entities may seek to associate 
with security-based swap market participants that are not required to 
register (entities falling within the de minimis exception set forth in 
Exchange Act Rule 3a71-2 \196\).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \196\ 17 CFR 240.3a-71-2.F. Request for Comment
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission is requesting comments regarding the economic 
analysis set forth here. To the extent possible, the Commission 
requests that market participants and other commenters provide 
supporting data and analysis with respect to the benefits, costs, and 
effects on competition, efficiency, and capital formation of adopting 
proposed Rule of Practice 194, or any reasonable alternatives.
    Although the Commission is seeking comments on the economic 
analysis generally, the Commission is also soliciting comment on the 
following specific issues:
    Q-53. Has the Commission accurately characterized the costs and 
benefits of proposed Rule of Practice 194? If not, why not? Should any 
of the costs or benefits be modified? What, if any, other costs or 
benefits should the Commission take into account?

[[Page 51718]]

    Q-54. Has the Commission accurately characterized the effects on 
competition, efficiency, and capital formation arising from proposed 
Rule of Practice 194? If not, why not?
    Q-55. Has the Commission reasonably estimated the application costs 
associated with proposed Rule of Practice 194? Has the Commission 
reasonably estimated the average number of applicants per year (with 
respect to both natural persons and entities)? Are there any other 
costs that the Commission should take into account regarding preparing, 
reviewing, and submitting an application under proposed Rule of 
Practice 194? If the application costs are too high, how specifically 
should the Commission modify proposed Rule of Practice 194 to reduce 
application costs?
    Q-56. Is it a reasonable characterization that the effects of the 
rule on capital formation will be de minimis? If not, why not?
    Q-57. Has the Commission accurately characterized the costs, 
benefits, and effects on competition, efficiency, and capital formation 
of the alternatives specified above? If not, why not? Should any of the 
costs or benefits be modified? What, if any, other costs or benefits 
should the Commission take into account?
    Q-58. Are there other reasonable alternatives that the Commission 
should consider? What are the costs, benefits, and effects on 
competition, efficiency, and capital formation of any other 
alternatives?

VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

A. Regulatory Framework

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (``RFA'') \197\ requires federal 
agencies, in promulgating rules, to consider the impact of those rules 
on small entities. Section 603(a) \198\ of the Administrative Procedure 
Act,\199\ as amended by the RFA, generally requires the Commission to 
undertake a regulatory flexibility analysis of all proposed rules, or 
proposed rule amendments, to determine the impact of such rulemaking on 
``small entities.'' \200\ Section 605(b) of the RFA provides that this 
requirement shall not apply to any proposed rule or proposed rule 
amendment, which if adopted, would not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities.\201\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \197\ 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
    \198\ 5 U.S.C. 603(a).
    \199\ 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.
    \200\ Although Section 601(b) of the RFA defines the term 
``small entity,'' the statute permits the Commission to formulate is 
own definition. The Commission has adopted definitions for the term 
small entity for the purposes of Commission rulemaking in accordance 
with the RFA. Those definitions, as relevant to this proposed 
rulemaking, are set forth in Rule 0-10, 17 CFR 240.0-10. See 
Exchange Act Release No. 18451, 47 FR 5212 (Feb. 4, 1982).
    \201\ See 5 U.S.C. 605(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For purposes of Commission rulemaking in connection with the RFA, a 
small entity includes: (i) When used with reference to an ``issuer'' or 
a ``person,'' other than an investment company, an ``issuer'' or 
``person'' that, on the last day of its most recent fiscal year, had 
total assets of $5 million or less,\202\ or (ii) a broker-dealer with 
total capital (net worth plus subordinated liabilities) of less than 
$500,000 on the date in the prior fiscal year as of which its audited 
financial statements were prepared pursuant to Rule 17a-5(d) under the 
Exchange Act,\203\ or, if not required to file such statements, a 
broker-dealer with total capital (net worth plus subordinated 
liabilities) of less than $500,000 on the last day of the preceding 
fiscal year (or in the time that it has been in business, if shorter); 
and is not affiliated with any person (other than a natural person) 
that is not a small business or small organization.\204\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \202\ See 17 CFR 240.0-10(a).
    \203\ See 17 CFR 240.17a-5(d).
    \204\ See 17 CFR 240.0-10(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the standards adopted by the Small Business Administration, 
small entities in the finance and insurance industry include the 
following:
    (i) For entities engaged in certain credit intermediation and 
related activities, entities with $550 million or less in assets; \205\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \205\ See 13 CFR 121.201 (Subsector 522).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (ii) for entities engaged in non-depository credit intermediation 
and certain other activities, entities with $38.5 million or less in 
annual receipts; \206\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \206\ See id. at Subsector 522.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (iii) for entities engaged in financial investments and related 
activities, entities with $38.5 million or less in annual receipts; 
\207\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \207\ See id. at Subsector 523.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (iv) for insurance carriers and entities engaged in related 
activities, entities with $38.5 million or less in annual receipts, or 
1,500 employees for direct property and casualty insurance carriers; 
\208\ and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \208\ See id. at Subsector 524.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (v) for funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles, entities with 
$32.5 million or less in annual receipts.\209\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \209\ See id. at Subsector 525.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SBA definitions of small businesses apply to a firm's parent 
company and all affiliates as a single entity.\210\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \210\ See 13 CFR 121.201 (``The number of employees or annual 
receipts indicates the maximum allowed for a concern and its 
affiliates to be considered small.'') (emphasis added); see also 13 
CFR 121.103 (listing how SBA determines affiliation).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Assessment of Impact

    Proposed Rule of Practice 194 would, if adopted, establish rules 
concerning an application by SBS Entity to the Commission for an order 
permitting an associated person that is a natural person and that is 
subject to a statutorily disqualification to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on behalf of an SBS Entity. With respect 
to SBS Entities, based on feedback from market participants and our 
information about the security-based swap markets, the Commission 
continues to believe that (1) the types of entities that would engage 
in more than a de minimis amount of dealing activity involving 
security-based swap--which generally would be large financial 
institutions--would not be ``small entities'' for purposes of the RFA; 
and (2) the types of entities that may have security-based swap 
positions above the level required to be a ``major security-based swap 
participant'' would not be ``small entities'' for purposes of the 
RFA.\211\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \211\ See Cross-Border Adopting Release, 79 FR at 47368.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Certification and Request for Comment

    For the foregoing reasons, the Commission certifies that the 
proposed Rule of Practice 194 would not, if adopted, have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities for purposes 
of the RFA.
    The Commission encourages written comments regarding this 
certification. The Commission requests that commenters describe the 
nature of any impact on small entities and provide supporting data to 
support the extent of the impact.

VII. Consideration of Impact on the Economy

    For purposes of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
Act of 1996 (``SBREFA'') \212\ the Commission requests comment on the 
potential effect of proposed Rule of Practice 194 on the United States 
economy on an annual basis. The Commission also requests comment on any 
potential increases in costs or prices for consumers or individual 
industries, and any potential effect on competition, investment, or

[[Page 51719]]

innovation. Commenters are requested to provide empirical data and 
other factual support for their views to the extent possible.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \212\ Public Law 104-121, Tit. II, 110 Stat. 857 (1996).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

VIII. Statutory Authority

    The Commission is proposing Rule of Practice 194 pursuant to 
Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(4) and (6),\213\ as added by Section 764(a) 
of the Dodd-Frank Act, and Exchange Act Section 23(a).\214\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \213\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(4), (6).
    \214\ 15 U.S.C. 78w(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In accordance with the foregoing, the Securities and Exchange 
Commission is proposing to amend Title 17, Chapter II of the Code of 
Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 201--RULES OF PRACTICE

0
1. The authority citation for subpart D is revised to read as follows:

    Authority:  15 U.S.C. 77f, 77g, 77h, 77h-1, 77j, 77s, 77u, 
77sss, 77ttt, 78(c)(b), 78d-1, 78d-2, 78l, 78m, 78n, 78o(d), 78o-3, 
78o-10(b)(6), 78s, 78u-2, 78u-3, 78v, 78w, 80a-8, 80a-9, 80a-37, 
80a-38, 80a-39, 80a-40, 80a-41, 80a-44, 80b-3, 80b-9, 80b-11, 80b-
12, 7202, 7215, and 7217.

0
2. Add Sec.  201.194 to subpart D to read as follows:


Sec.  201.194.  Applications by security-based swap dealers or major 
security-based swap participants for statutorily disqualified 
associated persons to effect or be involved in effecting security-based 
swaps.

    A security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap 
participant making an application under this section should refer to 
Appendix A to Sec.  201.194--Note Concerning Applications by Security-
Based Swap Dealers or Major Security-Based Swap Participants for 
Statutorily Disqualified Associated Persons To Effect or Be Involved In 
Effecting Security-Based Swaps.
    (a) Scope of rule. Applications by a security-based swap dealer or 
major security-based swap participant for the Commission to permit an 
associated person (as provided in 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(70)) to effect or be 
involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of a registered 
security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant, or 
to change the terms and conditions thereof, may be made pursuant to 
this section where the associated person is subject to a statutory 
disqualification and thereby prohibited from effecting or being 
involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of a security-
based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant under 
Exchange Act Section 15F(b)(6) (15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6)).
    (b) Required showing. The applicant shall make a showing that it 
would be consistent with the public interest to permit the person 
associated with the security-based swap dealer or major security-based 
swap participant who is subject to a statutory disqualification to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
the security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap 
participant.
    (c) Form of application--natural persons. Each application with 
respect to an associated person that is a natural person that is 
subject to a statutory disqualification shall be supported by a written 
statement, signed by a knowledgeable person authorized by the security-
based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant, which 
addresses the items set forth in paragraph (d) of this section. The 
application shall be filed pursuant to Rules of Practice 151, 152 and 
153 (17 CFR 201.151, 201.152 and 201.153). Each application shall 
include as exhibits:
    (1) A copy of the order or other applicable document that resulted 
in the associated person being subject to a statutory disqualification;
    (2) An undertaking by the applicant to notify promptly the 
Commission in writing if any information submitted in support of the 
application becomes materially false or misleading while the 
application is pending;
    (3) A copy of the questionnaire or application for employment 
specified in 17 CFR 240.15Fb6-2(b), with respect to the associated 
person; and
    (4) If the associated person has been the subject of any proceeding 
resulting in the imposition of disciplinary sanctions during the five 
years preceding the filing of the application or is the subject of a 
pending proceeding by the Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission, any federal or state regulatory or law enforcement agency, 
registered futures association (as provided in 7 U.S.C. 21), foreign 
financial regulatory authority, registered national securities 
association, or any other self-regulatory organization (as provided in 
15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)), or commodities exchange, or any court, the 
applicant should include a copy of any order, decision, or document 
issued by the court, agency, self-regulatory organization (as provided 
in 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)) or other relevant authority involved.
    (d) Written statement--natural persons. The written statement 
required by paragraph (c) of this section shall address each of the 
following, to the extent applicable:
    (1) The associated person's compliance with any order resulting in 
statutory disqualification, including whether the associated person has 
paid fines or penalties, disgorged monies, made restitution or paid any 
other monetary compensation required by any such order;
    (2) The associated person's employment during the period subsequent 
to becoming subject to a statutory disqualification;
    (3) The capacity or position in which the person subject to a 
statutory disqualification proposes to be associated with the security-
based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant;
    (4) The terms and conditions of employment and supervision to be 
exercised over such associated person and, where applicable, by such 
associated person;
    (5) The qualifications, experience, and disciplinary history of the 
proposed supervisor(s) of the associated person;
    (6) The compliance and disciplinary history, during the five years 
preceding the filing of the application, of the applicant;
    (7) The names of any other associated persons at the applicant who 
have previously been subject to a statutory disqualification and 
whether they are to be supervised by the associated person;
    (8) Any relevant courses, seminars, examinations or other actions 
completed by the associated person subsequent to becoming subject to a 
statutory disqualification to prepare for his or her participation in 
the security-based swap business;
    (9) Notwithstanding the event resulting in statutory 
disqualification, the applicant should provide a detailed statement of 
why the associated person should be permitted to effect or be involved 
in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the security-based swap 
dealer or major security-based swap participant, including what steps 
the associated person or applicant has taken, or will take, to ensure 
that the statutory disqualification does not negatively impact upon the 
ability of the associated person to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on behalf of the security-based swap dealer or 
major security-based swap participant in compliance with the applicable 
statutory and regulatory framework;
    (10) Whether the associated person has been involved in any 
litigation during the five years preceding the filing of the 
application concerning investment or investment-related activities or 
whether there are any unsatisfied judgments outstanding

[[Page 51720]]

against the associated person concerning investment or investment-
related activities, to the extent not otherwise covered by paragraph 
(d)(9) of this section. If so, the applicant should provide details 
regarding such litigation or unsatisfied judgments; and
    (11) Any other information that the applicant believes to be 
material to the application.
    (e) Form of application--other persons. Each application with 
respect to an associated person that is not a natural person and that 
is subject to a statutory disqualification shall be supported by a 
written statement, signed by a knowledgeable person authorized by the 
security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant, 
which addresses the items set forth in paragraph (f) of this section. 
The application shall be filed pursuant to Rules of Practice 151, 152 
and 153 (17 CFR 201.151, 201.152 and 201.153). Each application shall 
include as exhibits:
    (1) A copy of the order or other applicable document that resulted 
in the associated person being subject to a statutory disqualification;
    (2) An undertaking by the applicant to notify immediately the 
Commission in writing if any information submitted in support of the 
application becomes materially false or misleading while the 
application is pending;
    (3) Organizational charts of the associated person, if available;
    (4) Policies and procedures relating to the conduct resulting in 
the statutory disqualification that the associated person has in place 
to ensure compliance with the federal or state securities laws, the 
Commodity Exchange Act, the rules or regulations thereunder, or the 
rules of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, or any self-
regulatory organization (as provided in 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)), or any 
foreign regulatory authority, as applicable;
    (5) If the associated person has been the subject of any 
proceedings resulting in the imposition of disciplinary sanctions 
during the five years preceding the filing of the application or is the 
subject of a pending proceeding by the Commission, the Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission, any federal or state regulatory or law 
enforcement agency, registered futures association (as provided in 7 
U.S.C. 21), foreign financial regulatory authority, registered national 
securities association, or any other self-regulatory organization (as 
provided in 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)), or commodities exchange, or any 
court, the applicant should include a copy of any order, decision, or 
document issued by the court, agency, self-regulatory organization (as 
provided in 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)) or other relevant authority involved, 
if available; and
    (6) The names of any natural persons employed by the associated 
person that are subject to a statutory disqualification and that would 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of 
the security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap 
participant. For any such natural person, the applicant should indicate 
if the individual is an officer, partner, direct or indirect owner of 
the associated person.
    (f) Written statement--other persons. The written statement 
required by paragraph (e) of this section shall address each of the 
following, to the extent applicable:
    (1) General background information about the associated person, 
including number of employees; number and location of offices; the 
type(s) of business(es) in which the associated person is engaged; and 
self-regulatory organization (as provided in 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)) 
memberships of the associated person and the effective dates of 
membership, if applicable;
    (2) The associated person's compliance with any order resulting in 
a statutory disqualification, including whether the associated person 
has paid fines or penalties, disgorged monies, made restitution or paid 
any other monetary compensation required by any such order;
    (3) The capacity or position in which the person subject to a 
statutory disqualification proposes to be associated with the security-
based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant;
    (4) A description of whether, with respect to the statutory 
disqualification and the sanctions imposed, the associated person was 
ordered to undertake any changes to its organizational structure or 
policies and procedures set forth in paragraph (e)(4) of this section. 
To the extent that such changes were mandated, describe what changes 
were mandated and whether the associated person has implemented them;
    (5) Notwithstanding the conduct resulting in a statutory 
disqualification, the applicant should provide a detailed statement of 
why the associated person should be permitted to effect or be involved 
in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the security-based swap 
dealer or major security-based swap participant, including what steps 
the associated person or applicant have taken, or will take, to ensure 
that the statutory disqualification does not negatively impact upon the 
ability of the associated person to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on behalf of the security-based swap dealer or 
major security-based swap participant in compliance with the applicable 
statutory and regulatory framework;
    (6) The compliance and disciplinary history, during the five years 
preceding the filing of the application, of the applicant;
    (7) Whether the associated person has been involved in any 
litigation during the five years preceding the filing of the 
application concerning investment or investment-related activities or 
whether there are any unsatisfied judgments outstanding against the 
associated person concerning investment or investment-related 
activities, to the extent not otherwise covered by paragraph (f)(6) of 
this section. If so, the applicant should provide details regarding 
such litigation or unsatisfied judgments; and
    (8) Any other information that the applicant believes to be 
material to the application.
    (g) Prior applications or processes. In addition to the information 
specified above, any person making an application under this rule shall 
provide any order, notice or other applicable document reflecting the 
grant, denial or other disposition (including any dispositions on 
appeal) of any prior application or process concerning the associated 
person:
    (1) Pursuant to this section;
    (2) Pursuant to Rule of Practice 193 (17 CFR 201.193);
    (3) Pursuant to Investment Company Act Section 9(c) (15 U.S.C. 80a-
9(c));
    (4) Pursuant to Section 19(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (15 U.S.C. 78s(d)), Rule 19h-1 under the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934 (17 CFR 240.19h-1), or a proceeding by a self-regulatory 
organization (as provided in 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)) for a person to 
become or remain a member, or an associated person of a member, 
notwithstanding the existence of a statutory disqualification; or
    (5) By the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or a registered 
futures association (as provided in 7 U.S.C. 21) for registration, 
including as an associated person, or listing as a principal, 
notwithstanding the existence of a statutory disqualification, 
including:
    (i) Any order or other document providing that the associated 
person may be listed as a principal or registered as an associated 
person of a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange 
dealer, introducing broker,

[[Page 51721]]

commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor, or leverage 
transaction merchant, or any person registered as a floor broker or a 
floor trader, notwithstanding that the person is subject to a statutory 
disqualification from registration under Section 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the 
Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 12a(2), (3)); or
    (ii) Any determination by a registered futures association (as 
provided in 7 U.S.C. 21) that had the associated person applied for 
registration as an associated person of a swap dealer or a major swap 
participant, notwithstanding statutory disqualification, the 
application would have been granted or denied.
    (h) Notification to applicant and written statement. In the event 
an adverse recommendation is proposed by Commission staff with respect 
to an application made pursuant to this rule, the applicant shall be so 
advised and provided with a written statement of the reasons for such 
recommendation. The applicant shall then have 30 days thereafter to 
submit a written statement in response.
    (i) Temporary exclusion for other persons. (1) Unless otherwise 
ordered by the Commission, or the Commission, Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission, self-regulatory organization (as provided in 15 U.S.C. 
78c(a)(26)) or a registered futures association (as provided in 7 
U.S.C. 21) has previously denied membership, association, registration 
or listing as a principal with respect to the associated person, the 
security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant 
shall be excluded from the prohibition in Section 15F(b)(6) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6)) with respect 
to an associated person that is not a natural person and that is 
subject to a statutory disqualification as follows:
    (i) For 30 days following the associated person becoming subject to 
a statutory disqualification or 30 days following the person that is 
subject to a statutory disqualification becoming an associated person 
of a security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap 
participant; and
    (ii) For 180 days following the filing of a complete application 
pursuant to this section and a notice pursuant to paragraph (i)(2) by a 
security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant if 
the application and notice are filed within the time period specified 
in paragraph (i)(1)(i), or until such time the Commission makes a 
determination on such application within the 180-day time period; 
provided that where the Commission does not render a decision within 
180 days following the filing of such application, the applicant shall 
have 60 days to comply with the prohibition in Section 15F(b)(6) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6)); or
    (iii) For 180 days following the filing of a complete application 
with, or initiation of a process by, the Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission, self-regulatory organization (as provided in 15 U.S.C. 
78c(a)(26)) or a registered futures association (as provided in 7 
U.S.C. 21) with respect to the associated person for the membership, 
association, registration or listing as a principal, where such 
application has been filed or process started prior to or within the 
time period specified in paragraph (i)(1)(i) of this section and a 
notice has been filed with the Commission pursuant to (i)(2) of this 
section within the time period specified in paragraph (i)(1)(i); 
provided that where the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, self-
regulatory organization (as provided in 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)) or a 
registered futures association (as provided in 7 U.S.C. 21) does not 
render a decision or renders an adverse decision with respect to the 
associated person within the 180-day time period, the applicant shall 
have 60 days to comply with the prohibition in Section 15F(b)(6) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6)).
    (2) A security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap 
participant shall be excluded from the prohibition in Section 15F(b)(6) 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6)) as 
provided in paragraph (i)(1)(ii) or (iii) of this section where the 
security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant has 
filed a notice with the Commission setting forth the name of the 
security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant and 
the name of the associated person that is subject to a statutory 
disqualification, and attaching as an exhibit to the notice a copy of 
the order or other applicable document that resulted in the associated 
person being subject to a statutory disqualification.
    (3) Where the Commission denies an application pursuant to this 
section with respect to an associated person that is not a natural 
person, the Commission may provide by order an extension of the 
exclusion provided for in paragraph (i)(1)(ii) of this section as is 
necessary or appropriate to allow the applicant to comply with the 
prohibition in Section 15F(b)(6) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6)).
    (j) Notice in lieu of an application. (1) A security-based swap 
dealer or major security-based swap participant may permit a person 
associated with it that is subject to a statutory disqualification to 
effect or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on its behalf, 
without making an application pursuant to this section, where the 
conditions in paragraph (j)(2) of this section are met, and where:
    (i) The person has been admitted to or continued in membership, or 
participation or association with a member, of a self-regulatory 
organization (as provided in 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)), notwithstanding 
that such person is subject to a statutory disqualification under 
Section 3(a)(39)(A) through (F) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(39)(A) through (F));
    (ii) The person is a natural person and has been granted consent to 
associate pursuant to the Rule of Practice 193 (17 CFR 201.193);
    (iii) The person has been permitted to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on behalf of a security-based swap 
dealer or major security-based swap participant pursuant to this 
section; or
    (iv) The person has been registered as, or listed as a principal 
of, a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, 
introducing broker, commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor, 
or leverage transaction merchant, registered as an associated person of 
any of the foregoing, registered as or listed as a principal of a swap 
dealer or major swap participant, or registered as a floor broker or 
floor trader, notwithstanding that the person is subject to a statutory 
disqualification under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the Commodity 
Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 12a(2), (3)), and the person is not subject to a 
Commission bar or suspension pursuant to Sections 15(b), 15B, 15E, 15F 
or 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o(b), 78o-4, 
78o-7, 78o-10, 78q-1), Section 9(b) of the Investment Company Act of 
1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-9(b)) or Section 203(f) of the Investment Advisers 
Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-3(f)).
    (2) A security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap 
participant may permit a person associated with it that is subject to a 
statutory disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting 
security-based swaps on its behalf, without making an application 
pursuant to this section, as provided in paragraph (j)(1) of this 
section, subject to the following conditions:

[[Page 51722]]

    (i) All matters giving rise to a statutory disqualification under 
Section 3(a)(39)(A) through (F) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(39)(A) through (F)) have been subject to a process 
where the membership, association, registration or listing as a 
principal has been granted or otherwise approved by the Commission, 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission, self-regulatory organization (as 
provided in 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)) or a registered futures association 
(as provided in 7 U.S.C. 21);
    (ii) The terms and conditions of the association with the security-
based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant are the same 
in all material respects as those approved in connection with a 
previous order, notice or other applicable document granting the 
membership, association, registration or listing as a principal, as 
provided in paragraph (j)(1) of this section;
    (iii) Where the associated person is a natural person, the 
security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant has 
filed a notice with the Commission, setting forth, as appropriate:
    (A) The name of the security-based swap dealer or major security-
based swap participant;
    (B) The name of the associated person subject to a statutory 
disqualification;
    (C) The name of the associated person's prospective supervisor(s) 
at the security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap 
participant;
    (D) The place of employment for the associated person subject to a 
statutory disqualification; and
    (E) Identification of any agency, self-regulatory organization (as 
provided in 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)) or a registered futures association 
(as provided in 7 U.S.C. 21) that has indicated its agreement with the 
terms and conditions of the proposed association, registration or 
listing as a principal; and
    (iv) Where the associated person is not a natural person, the 
security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant has 
filed a notice with the Commission setting forth:
    (A) The name of the security-based swap dealer or major security-
based swap participant;
    (B) The name of the associated person that is subject to a 
statutory disqualification; and
    (C) Identification of any agency, self-regulatory organization (as 
provided in 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)) or a registered futures association 
(as provided in 7 U.S.C. 21) that has indicated its agreement with the 
terms and conditions of the proposed association, registration or 
listing as a principal.

Appendix A to Sec.  201.194--Note Concerning Applications by Security-
Based Swap Dealers or Major Security-Based Swap Participants for 
Statutorily Disqualified Associated Persons To Effect or Be Involved In 
Effecting Security-Based Swaps

    (a) Under Section 15F(b)(6) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o-10(b)(6)), except to the extent otherwise 
specifically provided by rule, regulation, or order of the 
Commission, it shall be unlawful for a security-based swap dealer or 
a major security-based swap participant to permit any person 
associated with a security-based swap dealer or a major security-
based swap participant who is subject to a statutory 
disqualification to effect or be involved in effecting security-
based swaps on behalf of the security-based swap dealer or major 
security-based swap participant, if the security-based swap dealer 
or major security-based swap participant knew, or in the exercise of 
reasonable care should have known, of the statutory 
disqualification.
    (b) In accordance with the authority granted in Section 
15F(b)(6) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o-
10(b)(6)), this rule governs applications to the Commission by a 
security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant 
for the Commission to issue an order to permit an associated person 
of a security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap 
participant who is subject to a statutory disqualification to effect 
or be involved in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the 
security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant.
    (c) Applications made pursuant to this rule must show that it 
would be consistent with the public interest to permit the 
associated person of the security-based swap dealer or major 
security-based swap participant to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the security-based swap 
dealer or major security-based swap participant. In addition to the 
information specifically required by the rule, with respect to 
associated persons that are natural persons, applications should be 
supplemented, where appropriate, by written statements of 
individuals who are competent to attest to the associated person's 
character, employment performance, and other relevant information. 
In addition to the information required by the rule, the Commission 
staff may request supplementary information to assist in the 
Commission's review. Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact 
may constitute criminal violations of 18 U.S.C. 1001, et seq. and 
other provisions of law. The Commission will not consider any 
application that attempts to reargue or collaterally attack the 
findings that resulted in the statutory disqualification.
    (d) The nature of the supervision that an associated person that 
is a natural person will receive or exercise as an associated person 
with a registered entity is an important matter bearing upon the 
public interest. In meeting the burden of showing that permitting 
the associated person to effect or be involved in effecting security 
based swaps on behalf of the security-based swap dealer or major 
security-based swap participant is consistent with the public 
interest, the application and supporting documentation must 
demonstrate that the terms or conditions of association, procedures 
or proposed supervision, are reasonably designed to ensure that the 
statutory disqualification does not negatively impact upon the 
ability of the associated person to effect or be involved in 
effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the security-based swap 
dealer or major security-based swap participant in compliance with 
the applicable statutory and regulatory framework.
    (e) Normally, the applicant's burden of demonstrating that 
permitting the associated person to effect or be involved in 
effecting security based swaps on behalf of the security-based swap 
dealer or major security-based swap participant is consistent with 
the public interest will be difficult to meet where the associated 
person that is a natural person is to be supervised by, or is to 
supervise, another statutorily disqualified individual. In addition, 
where the associated person wishes to become the sole proprietor of 
a registered entity and thus is applying to the Commission to issue 
an order permitting the associated person to effect or be involved 
in effecting security-based swaps on behalf of the security-based 
swap dealer or major security-based swap participant notwithstanding 
an absence of supervision, the applicant's burden will be difficult 
to meet. The associated person may be limited to association in a 
specified capacity with a particular registered entity and may also 
be subject to specific terms and conditions.


    By the Commission.

    Dated: August 5, 2015.
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-19662 Filed 8-24-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P