15-07 SEC Approves Consolidated FINRA Rules 2040 (Payments to Unregistered Persons) and 0190 (Effective Date of Revocation, Cancellation, Expulsion, Suspension or Resignation), and Amendments to FINRA Rule 8311 (Effect of a Suspension, Revocation,*

Executive Summary

The SEC approved FINRA's rule change¹ to adopt rules relating to payments to unregistered persons for the consolidated FINRA rulebook,² FINRA Rules 2040 (Payments to Unregistered Persons) and 0190 (Effective Date of Revocation, Cancellation, Expulsion, or Resignation). The new rules replace provisions of the NASD and NYSE rules and include new provisions.³ FINRA also has amended FINRA Rule 8311 (Effect of a Suspension, Revocation, Cancellation, or Bar). The new rules and amendments become effective on August 24, 2015.

Questions concerning this Notice should be directed to Kosha K. Dalal, Associate Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, at (202) 728-6903 or Kosha.Dalal@finra.org.

Background & Discussion

FINRA Rule 2040 governs the payment of transaction-based compensation by member firms to unregistered persons, and FINRA Rule 0190 establishes a new general standard describing when a member firm will be treated as a non-member of FINRA. The amendments to FINRA Rule 8311clarify the scope of the rule on payments by member firms to persons subject to suspension, revocation, cancellation, bar or other disqualification.

FINRA Rule 2040 (Payments to Unregistered Persons)

FINRA Rule 2040 expressly aligns the rule with Section 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (SEA or Exchange Act) and its related guidance to determine whether registration as a broker-dealer is required for persons to receive transaction-related compensation and to engage in related activities.

FINRA Rule 8311 (Effect of a Suspension, Revocation, Cancellation, or Bar) and Supplementary Material .01 (Remuneration Accrued Prior to Effective Date of Sanction or Disqualification)

The amendments to Rule 8311 eliminate duplicative provisions in NASD IM-2420-2 and clarify the scope of the rule on payments by member firms to persons subject to suspension, revocation, cancellation, bar (each a sanction), or other disqualification.⁷

Rule 8311 provides that if a person is subject to a sanction or other disqualification, a member firm may not allow such person to be associated with it in any capacity that is inconsistent with the sanction imposed or disqualified status, including a clerical or ministerial capacity. A member firm may not pay or credit to any person subject to a sanction or disqualification, during the period of the sanction or disqualification or any period thereafter, any salary, commission, profit, or any other remuneration that the person might accrue, not just earn, during the period of the sanction or disqualification. However, a member firm may make payments or credits to a person subject to a sanction that are consistent with the scope of activities permitted under the sanction where the sanction solely limits an associated person from conducting specified activities (such as a suspension from acting in a principal capacity) or to a disqualified person that has been approved (or is otherwise permitted pursuant to FINRA rules and the federal securities laws) to associate with a member firm.

Specifically, the rule clarifies that:

New paragraph (b) to Rule 8311, however, expressly permits a member firm to pay to any person subject to a sanction or disqualification any remuneration pursuant to an insurance or medical plan, indemnity agreement relating to legal fees, or as required by an arbitration award or court judgment.

Supplementary Material .01 allows a member firm to pay or credit to a person subject to a sanction or disqualification, salary, commission, profit or other remuneration that the firm can evidence accrued to the person prior to the effective date of the sanction or disqualification, unless the remuneration relates to or results from the activity that gave rise to the sanction or disqualification. A member firm must be able to demonstrate that the remuneration accrued prior to the effective date of the sanction or disqualification in order to pay or credit the remuneration to the individual.

FINRA Rule 0190 (Effective Date of Revocation, Cancellation, Expulsion, or Resignation)

Rule 0190 is based largely on NASD IM-2420-1(a) (Transactions Between Members and Non-Members; Non-members of the Association) and provides that a member firm will be considered as a non-member of FINRA from the effective date of any order or notice from FINRA or the SEC issuing a revocation, cancellation, expulsion or suspension of its membership. In the case of suspension, a member firm will be automatically reinstated to membership in FINRA at the termination of the suspension period.

¹ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 73954 (December 30, 2014), 80 FR 553 (January 6, 2015) (Order Approving File No. SR-FINRA-2014-037).

² The current FINRA rulebook consists of (1) FINRA Rules; (2) NASD Rules; and (3) rules incorporated from NYSE (Incorporated NYSE Rules) (together, the NASD Rules and Incorporated NYSE Rules are referred to as the "Transitional Rulebook").

While the NASD Rules generally apply to all FINRA members, the Incorporated NYSE Rules apply only to those members of FINRA that are also members of the NYSE (Dual Members). The FINRA Rules apply to all FINRA members, unless such rules have a more limited application by their terms. For more information about the rulebook consolidation process, see Information Notice 03/12/08 (Rulebook Consolidation Process).

³ Effective August 24, 2015, NASD Rule 1060(b) (Persons Exempt from Registration), NASD Rule 2410 (Net Prices to Persons Not in Investment Banking or Securities Business), NASD Rule 2420 (Dealing with Non-Members), NASD IM- 2420-1 (Transactions Between Members and Non-Members), NASD IM-2420-2 (Continuing Commissions Policy), Incorporated NYSE Rule 353 (Rebates and Compensation), Incorporated NYSERule Interpretation 345(a)(i)/01 (Compensation to Non-Registered Persons), Incorporated NYSE Rule Interpretation 345(a)(i)/02 (Compensation Paid for Advisory Solicitations) and Incorporated NYSE Rule Interpretation 345(a)(i)/03 (Compensation to Non-Registered Foreign Persons Acting as Finders) will be eliminated from the Transitional Rulebook.

⁴ See SEC No-Action Letter to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, 2008 SEC No-Act. LEXIS 695, November 20, 2008. The letter provides that "[t]he retiring representative must sever association with the Firm and with any municipal securities dealer, government securities dealer, investment adviser or investment company affiliates (except as may be required to maintain any licenses or registrations required by any state) and, is not permitted to be associated with any other broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, government securities dealer, investment adviser or investment company, during the term of his or her agreement. The retiring representative also may not be associated with any bank, insurance company or insurance agency (affiliated with the Firm or otherwise) during the term of his or her agreement if the retiring representative's activities relate to effecting transactions in securities." See also SEC No-Action Letter to Amy Lee, Chief Compliance Officer, Co-CEO, Packerland Brokerage Services, 2013 SEC No-Act. LEXIS 237, March 18, 2013.

⁵ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34941 (November 4, 1994), 59 FR 56102 (November 10, 1994) (Notice of Filing of File No. SRNASD- 94-51). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 32431 (June 8, 1993), 58 FR 33128 (June 15, 1993) (Order Approving File No. SR-NYSE-92-33 Relating to an Interpretation to NYSE Rule 345 (Employees—Registration, Approval, Records)).

⁶ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 35361 (February 13, 1995), 60 FR 9417 (February 17, 1995) (Order Approving File No. SR-NASD-94-51). FINRA notes that the scope of permissible activities and associated regulatory requirements differ between foreign finders and foreign associates, who are registered persons of the member firm. See also NASD Rule 1100 (Foreign Associates).

⁷ Rule 8311 is not in any way intended to impact the current FINRA rules and guidance regarding registered representatives who are deemed to be "inactive" due to failure to complete the regulatory element of continuing education requirements in a timely manner under FINRA Rule 1250(Continuing Education Requirements).

http://finra.complinet.com/en/display/display.html?rbid=2403&element_id=11844

Mentions

• FINRA - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority