83_FR_51195 83 FR 50999 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend, Reorganize and Enhance Membership, Registration and Qualification Rules, and To Make Conforming Changes to Certain Other Rules

83 FR 50999 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend, Reorganize and Enhance Membership, Registration and Qualification Rules, and To Make Conforming Changes to Certain Other Rules

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 196 (October 10, 2018)

Page Range50999-51015
FR Document2018-21904

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 196 (Wednesday, October 10, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50999-51015]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21904]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-84353; File No. SR-BX-2018-047]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend, 
Reorganize and Enhance Membership, Registration and Qualification 
Rules, and To Make Conforming Changes to Certain Other Rules

October 3, 2018.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on September 27, 2018, Nasdaq BX, Inc. (``BX'' or ``Exchange'') filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') 
the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II, below, which 
Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing 
this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from 
interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend, reorganize and enhance its 
membership, registration and qualification rules, and to make 
conforming changes to certain other rules.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at http://nasdaqbx.cchwallstreet.com/, at the principal office 
of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and 
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The 
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in 
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in 
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such 
statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
Overview
    The Exchange has adopted registration requirements to ensure that 
associated persons attain and maintain specified levels of competence 
and knowledge pertinent to their function. In general, the current 
rules require that persons engaged in a member's investment banking or 
securities business who are to function as representatives or 
principals register with the Exchange in each category of registration 
appropriate to their functions by passing one or more qualification 
examinations,\3\ and exempt specified associated persons from the 
registration requirements.\4\ They also prescribe ongoing continuing 
education requirements for registered persons.\5\ The Exchange now 
proposes to amend, reorganize and enhance its rules regarding 
registration, qualification examinations and continuing education, as 
described below.
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    \3\ See, e.g., Exchange Rules 1021, Registration Requirements, 
1022, Categories of Principal Registration, 1031, Registration 
Requirements, 1032, Categories of Representative Registration, and 
1041, Registration Requirements for Assistant Representatives.
    \4\ See Rule 1060, Persons Exempt from Registration.
    \5\ See Rule 1120, Continuing Education Requirements.
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    Recently, the Commission approved a FINRA proposed rule change 
consolidating and adopting NASD and Incorporated NYSE rules relating to 
qualification and registration requirements into the Consolidated FINRA 
Rulebook,\6\ restructuring the FINRA representative-level qualification 
examinations, creating a general knowledge examination and specialized 
knowledge examinations, allowing permissive registration, establishing 
an examination waiver process for persons working for a financial 
services affiliate of a member, and amending certain continuing 
education (``CE'') requirements (collectively, the ``FINRA Rule 
Changes'').\7\ The FINRA Rule Changes will become effective on October 
1, 2018.
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    \6\ The current FINRA rulebook consists of: (1) FINRA rules; (2) 
NASD rules; and (3) rules incorporated from the New York Stock 
Exchange (``NYSE'') (the ``Incorporated NYSE rules''). 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.
    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81098 (July 7, 
2017), 82 FR 32419 (July 13, 2017) (Order Approving File No. SR-
FINRA-2017-007). See also FINRA Regulatory Notice 17-30 (SEC 
Approves Consolidated FINRA Registration Rules, Restructured 
Representative-Level Qualification Examinations and Changes to 
Continuing Education Requirements) (October 2017). FINRA articulated 
its belief that the proposed rule change would streamline, and bring 
consistency and uniformity to, its registration rules, which would, 
in turn, assist FINRA members and their associated persons in 
complying with the rules and improve regulatory efficiency. FINRA 
also determined to enhance the overall efficiency of its 
representative-level examinations program by eliminating redundancy 
of subject matter content across examinations, retiring several 
outdated representative-level registrations, and introducing a 
general knowledge examination that could be taken by all potential 
representative-level registrants and the general public. FINRA 
amended certain aspects of its continuing education rule, including 
by codifying existing guidance regarding the effect of failing to 
complete the Regulatory Element on a registered person's activities 
and compensation.
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    The Exchange now proposes to amend, reorganize and enhance certain 
of its corresponding membership, registration and qualification 
requirement rules in part in response to the FINRA Rule Changes, and 
also in order to conform the Exchange's rules more closely to those of 
its affiliated exchanges in the interest of uniformity and to 
facilitate compliance with membership, registration and qualification 
regulatory requirements by members of multiple Nasdaq-affiliated 
exchanges including BX. Last, the Exchange proposes to enhance its 
registration rules by adding a new registration requirement applicable 
to developers of algorithmic trading systems similar to a requirement 
adopted by FINRA pursuant to a 2016 FINRA proposed rule change.\8\
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    \8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77551 (April 7, 
2016), 81 FR 21914 (April 13, 2016) (Order Approving File No. SR-
FINRA-2016-007). In its proposed rule change FINRA addressed the 
increasing significance of algorithmic trading strategies by 
amending its rules to require registration, as Securities Traders, 
of associated persons primarily responsible for the design, 
development or significant modification of algorithmic trading 
strategies, or who are responsible for the day-to-day supervision or 
direction of such activities.

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[[Page 51000]]

    As part of this proposed rule change, current IM-1002-2, Status of 
Persons Serving in the Armed Forces of the United States; IM-1002-3, 
Failure to Register Personnel; 1021, Registration of Principals; 1022, 
Categories of Principal Registration; IM-1022-2, Limited Principal-
General Securities Sales Supervisor; 1031, Registration Requirements, 
sections (a)-(e); 1032, Categories of Representative Registration; 
1060, Persons Exempt from Registration; \9\ 1070, Qualification 
Examinations and Waiver of Requirements; 1080, Confidentiality of 
Examinations; 1120, Continuing Education Requirements; and Chapter II, 
Section 2, Requirements for Options Participation, Subsections (g) and 
(h), are proposed to be deleted. Rule 1140, Electronic Filing Rules, is 
proposed to be amended and relocated. A number of other rules are 
proposed to be amended with conforming changes, or relocated in view of 
the foregoing amendments.\10\
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    \9\ Provisions currently found in Rule 1060(b) are being amended 
and relocated to new Rule 2040, as discussed below.
    \10\ Conforming amendments are proposed to Rules 0120, 
Definitions; 1001, FINRA Regulatory Contract, 1011, Definitions, 
1050, Research Analysts; 3010, Supervision; 7003, Regulatory, 
Registration and Processing Fees; IM-9216, Violations Appropriate 
for Disposition Under Plan Pursuant to SEC Rule 19d-1(c)(2); and 
9630, Appeal. In the Exchange's Options Rules, amendments are 
proposed to Chapter XI, Section 2, Registration of Options 
Principals and Section 3, Registration of Representatives.
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    In place of the deleted rules and rule sections, the Exchange 
proposes to adopt a new 1200 Series of rules captioned Registration, 
Qualification and Continuing Education, generally conforming to FINRA's 
new 1200 Series of rules resulting from the FINRA Rule Changes, but 
with a number of Exchange-specific variations.\11\ The proposed new 
1200 Series is also being proposed for adoption by BX's affiliated 
exchanges in order to facilitate compliance with membership, 
registration and qualification regulatory requirements by members of 
two or more of those affiliated exchanges.\12\ In the new 1200 Series 
the Exchange would, among other things, recognize additional associated 
person registration categories, recognize a new general knowledge 
examination, permit the maintenance of permissive registrations, and 
require Securities Trader registration of developers of algorithmic 
trading strategies consistent with a comparable existing FINRA 
registration requirement.\13\
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    \11\ The proposed 1200 Series of Rules would consist of Rule 
1210, Registration Requirements; Rule 1220, Registration Categories; 
Rule 1230, Associated Persons Exempt from Registration; Rule 1240, 
Continuing Education Requirements; and Rule 1250, Electronic Filing 
Requirements for Uniform Forms.
    \12\ The Exchange's five affiliated exchanges, The Nasdaq Stock 
Market LLC (``Nasdaq'') Nasdaq PHLX LLC (``PHLX''), Nasdaq ISE, LLC 
(``ISE''), Nasdaq GEMX, LLC (``GEMX''), and Nasdaq MRX, LLC 
(``MRX'') (together with BX, the ``Nasdaq Affiliated Exchanges'') 
are also submitting proposed rule changes to adopt the 1200 Series 
of rules. See SR-NASDAQ-2018-078, SR-Phlx-2018-61, SR-ISE-2018-82, 
SR-GEMX-2018-33, and SR-MRX-2018-31. The Exchange recently added a 
shell structure to its rulebook with the purpose of improving 
efficiency and readability and to align its rules more closely to 
those of the other Nasdaq Affiliated Exchanges. See Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 82174 (November 29, 2017), 82 FR 57492 
(December 5, 2017) (SR-BX-2017-054). Ultimately, the Exchange 
intends to submit another proposed rule change to transfer the 1200 
Series of rules into the new shell structure. (The Exchange notes 
that the Phlx 1200 Series of rules would differ slightly from the 
1200 Series of the other Nasdaq Affiliated Exchanges given Phlx's 
trading floor and its unique membership structure which features the 
concept of a ``member organization.'') [sic]
    \13\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77551 (April 7, 
2016), 81 FR 21914 (April 13, 2016) (order approving SR-FINRA-2016-
007). In its proposed rule change to adopt this registration 
requirement, FINRA addressed the increasing significance of 
algorithmic trading strategies by proposing to require registration, 
as Securities Traders, of associated persons primarily responsible 
for the design, development or significant modification of 
algorithmic trading strategies, or who are responsible for the day-
to-day supervision or direction of such activities.
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    The proposed rule change would become operative October 1, 2018 
with the exception of the new registration requirement for developers 
of algorithmic trading strategies which would become operative on April 
1, 2019.
Proposed Rules
A. Registration Requirements (Proposed Rule 1210)
    Exchange Rules 1021(a) and 1031(a) currently require that persons 
engaged, or to be engaged, in the investment banking or securities 
business of a member who are to function as representatives or 
principals register with the Exchange in the category of registration 
appropriate to their functions as specified in Exchange Rules 1022 and 
1032.\14\ The Exchange is proposing to consolidate and streamline 
provisions of Exchange Rules 1021(a) and 1031(a) and to adopt them as 
Exchange Rule 1210, subject to several changes.\15\
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    \14\ In addition, IM-1002-3 provides that the failure to 
register an individual as a registered representative may be deemed 
to be conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of 
trade and may be sufficient cause for appropriate disciplinary 
action. As explained below the Exchange proposes to delete IM-1002-3 
as superfluous.
    \15\ Rule 1031, Registration Requirements, contains certain 
sections that are not affected by this proposed rule change. 
However, due to the overall organizational restructuring of the 
registration rules, those sections (current Rules 1031(c), (d) and 
(e)) are being relocated with nonsubstantive amendments to new 
Supplementary Material .12, Application for Registration and 
Jurisdiction, to proposed Rule 1210, Registration Requirements. 
These relocated provisions govern the process for applying for 
registration and amending the registration application, as well as 
for notifying the Exchange of termination of a member's association 
with a person registered with the Exchange. The Exchange proposes to 
adopt Rule 1210, Supplemental Material .12, into the 1200 Series in 
order to have uniform processes and requirements in this area across 
the Nasdaq Affiliated Exchanges. This relocated language is unique 
to the Exchange--the FINRA Rule Changes do not contain a counterpart 
Rule 1210 Supplementary Material .12. The Exchange anticipates 
amending Rule 1031(f) in a future proposed rule change.
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    Proposed Rule 1210 provides that each person engaged in the 
securities business of a member must register with the Exchange as a 
representative or principal in each category of registration 
appropriate to his or her functions and responsibilities as specified 
in proposed Rule 1220, unless exempt from registration pursuant to 
proposed Rule 1230. Unlike current Rules 1021(a) and 1031(a), proposed 
Rule 1210 would not require persons engaged in the investment banking 
business of a member to register with the Exchange since a member's 
investment banking business is not the primary concern of the Exchange 
or the focus of its operations.\16\ Proposed Exchange Rule 1210 also 
provides that such person is not qualified to function in any 
registered capacity other than that for which the person is registered, 
unless otherwise stated in the rules. This latter provision is a 
consolidation of similar provisions in the registration categories 
under the current Exchange rules.
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    \16\ Miami International Securities Exchange LLC (``MIAX'') Rule 
203(a) and ISE Rule 313(a)(1) likewise require registration of 
associated persons of members engaged in the member's securities 
business, but do not require registration with the exchanges of 
associated persons of members who engage in the member's investment 
banking business. Because the Exchange's proposed registration rules 
focus solely on securities trading activity, the proposed rules 
differ from the FINRA Rule Changes by omitting references to 
investment banking in proposed Rules 1210, 1210.03, 1210.10, 
1220(a)(1), 1220(a)(2)(B), 1220(b), and 1240(b)(1), and also by 
omitting as unnecessary from Rule 1220(a)(10) a limitation on the 
qualification of a General Securities Sales Supervisor to supervise 
the origination and structuring of an underwriting.
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    Further, the Exchange is proposing to delete Exchange IM-1002-3 
because it is superfluous. The failure to register a representative as 
required under current Exchange Rule 1031(a) is in fact a violation of 
Exchange rules.
B. Minimum Number of Registered Principals (Proposed Rule 1210.01)
    Rule 1021(e)(1) currently requires that a member, except a sole 
proprietorship,

[[Page 51001]]

have a minimum of two registered principals with respect to each aspect 
of the member's investment banking and securities business pursuant to 
the applicable provisions of Rule 1022, provided however that a 
proprietary trading firm with 25 or fewer registered representatives 
shall only be required to have one registered principal. This 
requirement applies to applicants for membership and existing members. 
Exchange Rule 1021(e)(2) also provides that, pursuant to the Exchange's 
Rule 9600 Series, the Exchange may waive the principal requirements of 
Rule 1021(e)(1) in situations that indicate conclusively that only one 
person associated with an applicant for membership should be required 
to register as a principal. Rule 1021(e)(3) provides that an applicant 
for membership, if the nature of its business so requires, must also 
have at least one person qualified for registration under Rule 1022(b) 
as a Financial and Operations Principal.\17\
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    \17\ Exchange Rule 1022(b) as well as other Exchange rules 
currently refer to categories of limited principal registration as 
``Limited Principal--'' followed by the name of the registration 
category. In this proposed rule change and in the proposed rules, 
the Exchange will no longer employ the term ``Limited Principal--'' 
in identifying various principal registration categories. No 
substantive change is intended; shortening the names of the various 
principals simply improves readability of the rules.
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    The Exchange is proposing to adopt Rule 1021(e) as Rule 1210.01, 
subject to the following changes. The Exchange proposes to provide 
firms that limit the scope of their business with greater flexibility 
to satisfy the two-principal requirement. In particular, proposed Rule 
1210.01 requires that a member have a minimum of two General Securities 
Principals, provided that a member that is limited in the scope of its 
activities may instead have two officers or partners who are registered 
in a principal category that corresponds to the scope of the member's 
activities.\18\ For instance, if a firm's business is limited to 
securities trading, the firm may have two Securities Trader Principals, 
instead of two General Securities Principals. Currently, a sole 
proprietor member (without any other associated persons) is not subject 
to the two-principal requirement because such member is operating as a 
one-person firm. Given that one-person firms may be organized in legal 
forms other than a sole proprietorship (such as a single-person limited 
liability company), proposed Exchange Rule 1210.01 provides that any 
member with only one associated person is excluded from the two 
principal requirement. In addition, proposed Rule 1210.01 clarifies 
that existing members as well as new applicants may request a waiver of 
the two-principal requirement. Finally, the Exchange is proposing to 
retain the existing rule's provision permitting a proprietary trading 
firm with 25 or fewer registered representatives to have just one 
registered principal. The FINRA Rule Changes do not include this 
provision.\19\
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    \18\ The principal registration categories are described in 
greater detail below.
    \19\ The Exchange is not proposing provisions conforming to the 
new FINRA Rule 1210.01 requirements that all FINRA members are 
required to have a Principal Financial Officer and a Principal 
Operations Officer, because it believes that its proposed Rule 
1220(a)(4), Financial and Operations Principal, which requires 
member firms operating pursuant to certain provisions of SEC rules 
to designate at least one Financial and Operations Principal, is 
sufficient. Further, the Exchange is not adopting the FINRA Rule 
1210.01 requirements that (1) a member engaged in investment banking 
activities have an Investment Banking Principal, (2) a member 
engaged in research activities have a Research Principal, or (3) a 
member engaged in options activities with the public have a 
Registered Options Principal. The Exchange does not recognize the 
Investment Banking Principal or the Research Principal registration 
categories, and the Registered Options Principal registration 
requirement is set forth in Rule 1210.08 and its inclusion is 
therefore unnecessary in Rule 1210.01.
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C. Permissive Registrations (Proposed Rule 1210.02)
    Rules 1021(a) and 1031(a) currently permit a member to register or 
maintain the registration(s) as a representative or principal of an 
individual performing legal, compliance, internal audit, back-office 
operations or similar responsibilities for the member. Rule 1031(a) 
also permits a member to register or maintain the registration as a 
representative of an individual performing administrative support 
functions for registered persons. In addition, Rules 1021(a) and 
1031(a) permit a member to register or maintain the registration(s) as 
a representative or principal of an individual engaged in the 
investment banking or securities business of a foreign securities 
affiliate or subsidiary of the member.
    The Exchange is proposing to consolidate these provisions under 
Rule 1210.02. The Exchange is also proposing to expand the scope of 
permissive registrations and to clarify a member's obligations 
regarding individuals who are maintaining such registrations.
    Specifically, proposed Rule 1210.02 allows any associated person to 
obtain and maintain any registration permitted by the member. For 
instance, an associated person of a member working solely in a clerical 
or ministerial capacity, such as in an administrative capacity, would 
be able to obtain and maintain a General Securities Representative 
registration with the member. As another example, an associated person 
of a member who is registered, and functioning solely, as a General 
Securities Representative would be able to obtain and maintain a 
General Securities Principal registration with the member. Further, 
proposed Rule 1210.02 allows an individual engaged in the securities 
business of a foreign securities affiliate or subsidiary of a member to 
obtain and maintain any registration permitted by the member.
    The Exchange is proposing to permit the registration of such 
individuals for several reasons. First, a member may foresee a need to 
move a former representative or principal who has not been registered 
for two or more years back into a position that would require such 
person to be registered. Currently, such persons are required to 
requalify (or obtain a waiver of the applicable qualification 
examinations) and reapply for registration. Second, the proposed rule 
change would allow members to develop a depth of associated persons 
with registrations in the event of unanticipated personnel changes. 
Third, allowing registration in additional categories encourages 
greater regulatory understanding. Finally, the proposed rule change 
would eliminate an inconsistency in the current rules, which permit 
some associated persons of a member to obtain permissive registrations, 
but not others who equally are engaged in the member's business.
    Individuals maintaining a permissive registration under the 
proposed rule change would be considered registered persons and subject 
to all Exchange rules, to the extent relevant to their activities. For 
instance, an individual working solely in an administrative capacity 
would be able to maintain a General Securities Representative 
registration and would be considered a registered person for purposes 
of rules relating to borrowing from or lending to customers, but the 
rule would have no practical application to his or her conduct because 
he or she would not have any customers.
    Consistent with the Exchange's supervision rules, members would be 
required to have adequate supervisory systems and procedures reasonably 
designed to ensure that individuals with permissive registrations do 
not act outside the scope of their assigned functions.\20\ With respect 
to an

[[Page 51002]]

individual who solely maintains a permissive registration, such as an 
individual working exclusively in an administrative capacity, the 
individual's day-to-day supervisor may be a nonregistered person. 
Members would be required to assign a registered supervisor to this 
person who would be responsible for periodically contacting such 
individual's day-to-day supervisor to verify that the individual is not 
acting outside the scope of his or her assigned functions. If such 
individual is permissively registered as a representative, the 
registered supervisor must be registered as a representative or 
principal. If the individual is permissively registered as a principal, 
the registered supervisor must be registered as a principal.\21\
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    \20\ The FINRA Proposed Rules at Rule 1210.02 cite FINRA's own 
supervision rule, by number. Because the 1200 Series of rules is 
intended to apply to the Exchange as well as to its affiliates which 
have different supervision rules, proposed Rule 1210.02 refers 
generally to the supervision rules rather than identifying them by 
number.
    \21\ In either case, the registered supervisor of an individual 
who solely maintains a permissive registration would not be required 
to be registered in the same representative or principal 
registration category as the permissively-registered individual.
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D. Qualification Examinations and Waivers of Examinations (Proposed 
Rule 1210.03)
    Rules 1021(a) and 1031(a) currently set forth general requirements 
that an individual pass an appropriate qualification examination before 
his or her registration as a representative or principal can become 
effective. The Exchange is proposing to consolidate these provisions 
and adopt them as Rule 1210.03.
    In addition, as part of the FINRA Rule Changes FINRA has adopted a 
restructured representative-level qualification examination program 
whereby representative-level registrants would be required to take a 
general knowledge examination (the Securities Industry Essentials Exam 
or ``SIE'') and a specialized knowledge examination appropriate to 
their job functions at the firm with which they are associating. 
Therefore, proposed Rule 1210.03 provides that before the registration 
of a person as a representative can become effective under proposed 
Rule 1210, such person must pass the SIE and an appropriate 
representative-level qualification examination as specified in proposed 
Rule 1220. Proposed Rule 1210.03 also provides that before the 
registration of a person as a principal can become effective under 
proposed Rule 1210, such person must pass an appropriate principal-
level qualification examination as specified in proposed Rule 1220.
    Further, proposed 1210.03 provides that if the job functions of a 
registered representative, other than an individual registered as an 
Order Processing Assistant Representative, change and he or she needs 
to become registered in another representative-level category, he or 
she would not need to pass the SIE again. Rather, the registered person 
would need to pass only the appropriate representative-level 
qualification examination.\22\ Thus under the proposed rule change, 
individuals seeking registration in two or more representative-level 
categories would experience a net decrease in the total number of exam 
questions they would be required to answer because the SIE content 
would be tested only once.
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    \22\ The exception for Order Processing Assistant 
Representatives and Foreign Associates was adopted by FINRA in FINRA 
Rule 1210.03, and is included in proposed Exchange Rule 1210.03 
without the reference to Foreign Associates which is a registration 
category the Nasdaq Affiliated Exchanges do not recognize. FINRA has 
stated that the SIE would assess basic product knowledge; the 
structure and function of the securities industry markets, 
regulatory agencies and their functions; and regulated and 
prohibited practices. Proposed Rule 1210.03 provides that all 
associated persons, such as associated persons whose functions are 
solely and exclusively clerical or ministerial, are eligible to take 
the SIE. Proposed Rule 1210.03 also provides that individuals who 
are not associated persons of firms, such as members of the general 
public, are eligible to take the SIE. FINRA has stated its belief 
that expanding the pool of individuals who are eligible to take the 
SIE would enable prospective securities industry professionals to 
demonstrate to prospective employers a basic level of knowledge 
prior to submitting a job application. Further, this approach would 
allow for more flexibility and career mobility within the securities 
industry. While all associated persons of firms as well as 
individuals who are not associated persons would be eligible to take 
the SIE pursuant to proposed Rule 1210.03, passing the SIE alone 
would not qualify them for registration with the Exchange. Rather, 
to be eligible for registration with the Exchange, an individual 
would be required to pass an applicable representative or principal 
qualification examination and complete the other requirements of the 
registration process.
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    The proposed rule change solely impacts the representative-level 
qualification requirements. The proposed rule change does not change 
the scope of the activities under the remaining representative 
categories. For instance, after the operative date of the proposed rule 
change, a previously unregistered individual registering as a 
Securities Trader for the first time would be required to pass the SIE 
and an appropriate specialized knowledge examination. However, such 
individual may engage only in those activities in which a current 
Securities Trader may engage under current Exchange Rules.
    Individuals who are registered on the operative date of the 
proposed rule change would be eligible to maintain those registrations 
without being subject to any additional requirements. Individuals who 
had been registered within the past two years prior to the operative 
date of the proposed rule change would also be eligible to maintain 
those registrations without being subject to any additional 
requirements, provided that they reregister with the Exchange within 
two years from the date of their last registration.
    Further, registered representatives, other than an individual 
registered as an Order Processing Assistant Representative, would be 
considered to have passed the SIE in the CRD system, and thus if they 
wish to register in any other representative category after the 
operative date of the proposed rule change, they could do so by taking 
only the appropriate specialized knowledge examination.\23\ However, 
with respect to an individual who is not registered on the operative 
date of the proposed rule change but was registered within the past two 
years prior to the operative date of the proposed rule change, the 
individual's SIE status in the CRD system would be administratively 
terminated if such individual does not register within four years from 
the date of the individual's last registration.\24\
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    \23\ Under the proposed rule change, only individuals who have 
passed an appropriate representative-level examination would be 
considered to have passed the SIE. Registered principals who do not 
hold an appropriate representative-level registration would not be 
considered to have passed the SIE. For example, an individual who is 
registered solely as a Financial and Operations Principal (Series 
27) today would have to take the Series 7 to become registered as a 
General Securities Representative. Under the proposed rule change, 
in the future, this individual would have to pass the SIE and the 
specialized Series 7 examination to obtain registration as a General 
Securities Representative.
    \24\ As discussed below, the Exchange is proposing a four-year 
expiration period for the SIE.
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    In addition, individuals, with the exception of Order Processing 
Assistant Representatives, who had been registered as representatives 
two or more years, but less than four years, prior to the operative 
date of the proposed rule change would also be considered to have 
passed the SIE and designated as such in the CRD system. Moreover, if 
such individuals re-register with a firm after the operative date of 
the proposed rule change and within four years of having been 
previously registered, they would only need to pass the specialized 
knowledge examination associated with that registration position. 
However, if they do not register within four years from the date of 
their last registration, their SIE status in the CRD system would be 
administratively terminated. Similar to the current process for 
registration, firms would continue to use the CRD system to request 
registrations for representatives. An individual would be able to 
schedule both the SIE and

[[Page 51003]]

specialized knowledge examinations for the same day, provided the 
individual is able to reserve space at one of FINRA's designated 
testing centers.
    Finally, paragraph (d) of Rule 1070 currently permits the Exchange, 
in exceptional cases and where good cause is shown, to waive the 
applicable qualification examination and accept other standards as 
evidence of an applicant's qualifications for registration. The 
Exchange is proposing to transfer the provisions of Rule 1070(d) into 
proposed Rule 1210.03 with changes which track FINRA Rule 1210.03.\25\ 
The proposed rule provides that the Exchange will only consider 
examination waiver requests submitted by a firm for individuals 
associated with the firm who are seeking registration in a 
representative- or principal-level registration category. Moreover, 
proposed Rule 1210.03 states that the Exchange will consider waivers of 
the SIE alone or the SIE and the representative- and principal-level 
examination(s) for such individuals.
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    \25\ Rules 1070(a), (b) and (c) provide general information 
relating to the examination process. The Exchange is proposing to 
delete these provisions given that they relate to the administration 
of the examination program rather than rule requirements.
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E. Requirements for Registered Persons Functioning as Principals for a 
Limited Period (Proposed Rule 1210.04)
    Exchange Rule 1021(d) provides that a person who is currently 
registered with a member as a representative and whose duties are 
changed by the member so as to require registration as a principal may 
function as a principal for up to 90 calendar days before he or she is 
required to pass the appropriate qualification examination for 
principal. In addition, it allows a formerly registered representative 
who is required to register as a principal to function as a principal 
without passing the appropriate principal qualification examination for 
up to 90 calendar days, provided the person first satisfies all 
applicable prerequisite requirements. A person who has never been 
registered does not qualify for this exception. This provision applies 
to a person associated with a member of another registered national 
securities exchange or association who is required to register in a 
principal classification under Exchange rules but who is not required 
to be so registered under the rules of the other exchange or 
association. It also applies to a person associated with an Exchange 
member who was not required to register with the Exchange as a 
principal prior to the adoption of Rule 1021 by the Exchange.
    The Exchange is proposing to adopt Rule 1021(d) as Rule 1210.04, 
subject to the following changes. Proposed Rule 1210.04 states that a 
member may designate any person currently registered, or who becomes 
registered, with the member as a representative to function as a 
principal for a limited period, provided that such person has at least 
18 months of experience functioning as a registered representative 
within the five-year period immediately preceding the designation. This 
change is intended to ensure that representatives designated to 
function as principals for the limited period under the proposed rule 
have an appropriate level of registered representative experience. The 
proposed rule clarifies that the requirements of the rule apply to any 
principal category, including those categories that are not subject to 
a prerequisite representative-level registration requirement, such as 
the Financial and Operations Principal registration category.\26\ The 
Exchange is not conserving in Rule 1210.04 the language that this 
provision applies to persons associated with a member of another 
registered national securities exchange or association who are required 
to register as principals under Exchange rules but who are not required 
to be so registered under the rules of the other exchange or 
association. Similarly, it is not conserving the language concerning 
individuals not required to register as principal prior to adoption of 
the rule. The Exchange believes this language is superfluous, as the 
applicability to various individuals of proposed Rule 1210.04 speaks 
for itself and requires no elaboration.\27\ Proposed Rule 1210.04 would 
increase the Rule 1021(d)'s 90 day period to 120 days, to provide 
additional flexibility for representatives functioning as principals 
for a limited period of time.
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    \26\ In this regard, the Exchange notes that qualifying as a 
registered representative is currently a prerequisite to qualifying 
as a principal on the Exchange except with respect to the Financial 
and Operations Principal registration category.
    \27\ Proposed Rule 1210.04 omits FINRA Rule 1210.04's reference 
to Foreign Associates, which is a registration category not 
recognized by the Nasdaq Affiliated Exchanges, but otherwise tracks 
the language of FINRA Rule 1210.04.
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F. Rules of Conduct for Taking Examinations and Confidentiality of 
Examinations (Proposed Rule 1210.05)
    Before taking an examination, FINRA currently requires each 
candidate to agree to the Rules of Conduct for taking a qualification 
examination. Among other things, the examination Rules of Conduct 
require each candidate to attest that he or she is in fact the person 
who is taking the examination. These Rules of Conduct also require that 
each candidate agree that the examination content is the intellectual 
property of FINRA and that the content cannot be copied or 
redistributed by any means. If FINRA discovers that a candidate has 
violated the Rules of Conduct for taking a qualification examination, 
the candidate may forfeit the results of the examination and may be 
subject to disciplinary action by FINRA. For instance, for cheating on 
a qualifications examination, FINRA's Sanction Guidelines recommend a 
bar.\28\
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    \28\ See SR-FINRA-2017-007, pp. 26-27.
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    Effective October 1, 2018 FINRA has codified the requirements 
relating to the Rules of Conduct for examinations under FINRA Rule 
1210.05. FINRA also adopted Rules of Conduct for taking the SIE for 
associated persons and non-associated persons who take the SIE.
    The Exchange proposes to adopt its own version of Rule 1210.05, 
which would provide that associated persons taking the SIE are subject 
to the SIE Rules of Conduct, and that associated persons taking any 
representative or principal examination are subject to the Rules of 
Conduct for representative and principal examinations. Under the 
proposed rule, a violation of the SIE Rules of Conduct or the Rules of 
Conduct for representative and principal examinations by an associated 
person would be deemed to be a violation of Exchange rules requiring 
observance of high standards of commercial honor or just and equitable 
principles of trade, such as Exchange Rule 2110.\29\ Further, if the 
Exchange determines that an associated person has violated the SIE 
Rules of Conduct or the Rules of Conduct for representative and 
principal examinations, the associated person may forfeit the results 
of the examination and may be subject to disciplinary action by the 
Exchange.
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    \29\ Pursuant to Exchange Rule 2110, a member, in the conduct of 
its business, shall observe high standards of commercial honor and 
just and equitable principles of trade. FINRA Rule 1210.05 cites 
FINRA Rule 2010, which is a comparable rule.
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    Proposed Rule 1210.05 states that the Exchange considers all of the 
qualification examinations content to be highly confidential. The 
removal of examination content from an examination center, 
reproduction, disclosure, receipt from or passing to any person, or use 
for study purposes of any portion of such qualification examination or 
any other use that would compromise the effectiveness of the 
examinations and the use in any manner and at any time of the questions 
or answers to the examinations would be prohibited and would be deemed 
to be

[[Page 51004]]

a violation of Exchange rules requiring observance of high standards of 
commercial honor or just and equitable principles of trade. Finally, 
proposed Rule 1210.05 would prohibit an applicant from receiving 
assistance while taking the examination, and require the applicant to 
certify that no assistance was given to or received by him or her 
during the examination.\30\
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    \30\ In view of proposed Rule 1210.05, the Exchange is proposing 
to delete Rule 1080 which is largely duplicative. The Exchange is 
not adopting portions of FINRA's Rule 1210.05 which apply to non-
associated persons, over whom the Exchange would in any event have 
no jurisdiction.
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G. Waiting Periods for Retaking a Failed Examination (Proposed Rule 
1210.06)
    Rule 1070(e) currently sets forth waiting periods for retaking 
failed examinations. The rule provides that a person who fails a 
qualification examination would be permitted to retake the examination 
after either a period of 30 calendar days has elapsed from the date of 
the prior examination or the next administration of an examination 
administered on a monthly basis. However, if the person fails an 
examination three or more times in succession, he or she would be 
prohibited from retaking the examination either until a period of 180 
calendar days has elapsed from the date of his or her last attempt to 
pass the examination or until the sixth subsequent administration of an 
examination administered on a monthly basis. The Exchange is proposing 
to adopt Rule 1070(e) as Rule 1210.06, with the following changes.
    Proposed Rule 1210.06 provides that a person who fails an 
examination may retake that examination after 30 calendar days from the 
date of the person's last attempt to pass that examination. The 
proposed rule deletes the reference to examinations administered on a 
monthly basis because examinations are no longer administered in such a 
manner.
    Proposed Rule 1210.06 further provides that if a person fails an 
examination three or more times in succession within a two-year period, 
the person is prohibited from retaking that examination until 180 
calendar days from the date of the person's last attempt to pass it. 
These waiting periods would apply to the SIE and the representative- 
and principal-level examinations.\31\
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    \31\ FINRA Rule 1210.06 requires individuals taking the SIE who 
are not associated persons to agree to be subject to the same 
waiting periods for retaking the SIE. The Exchange is not including 
this language in proposed Rule 1210.06, as the Exchange will not 
apply the 1200 Series of rules in any event to individuals who are 
not associated persons of members.
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H. CE Requirements (Proposed Rule 1210.07)
    Pursuant to current Rule 1120, the CE requirements applicable to 
registered persons consist of a Regulatory Element \32\ and a Firm 
Element.\33\ The Regulatory Element applies to registered persons and 
must be completed within prescribed time frames.\34\ For purposes of 
the Regulatory Element, a ``registered person'' is defined in the 
current rule as any person registered with the Exchange as a 
representative or principal.\35\ The Firm Element consists of annual, 
member-developed and administered training programs designed to keep 
covered registered persons current regarding securities products, 
services and strategies offered by the member. For purposes of the Firm 
Element, the term ``covered registered persons'' is defined as any 
registered person who has direct contact with customers in the conduct 
of the member's securities sales, trading and investment banking 
activities, and the immediate supervisors of such persons.\36\
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    \32\ See Rule 1120(a).
    \33\ See Rule 1120(b).
    \34\ Pursuant to Rule 1120(a), each registered person is 
required to complete the Regulatory Element initially within 120 
days after the person's second registration anniversary date and, 
thereafter, within 120 days after every third registration 
anniversary date. Unless otherwise determined by the Exchange, a 
registered person who has not completed the Regulatory Element 
program within the prescribed time frames will have their 
registrations deemed inactive until such time as the requirements of 
the program have been satisfied. Any person whose registration has 
been deemed inactive under Rule 1120(a) must cease all activities as 
a registered person and is prohibited from performing any duties and 
functioning in any capacity requiring registration. A registration 
that is inactive for a period of two years will be administratively 
terminated. A person whose registration is so terminated may 
reactivate the registration only by reapplying for registration and 
meeting the qualification requirements of the applicable provisions 
of the Exchange's rules. The Exchange may, upon application and a 
showing of good cause, allow for additional time for a registered 
person to satisfy the program requirements.
    \35\ See Rule 1120(a)(5).
    \36\ See Rule 1120(b)(1).
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    The Exchange proposes to delete Rule 1120 and to replace it with 
Rule 1240, Continuing Education Requirements. The Exchange believes 
that all registered persons, regardless of their activities, should be 
subject to the Regulatory Element of the CE requirements so that they 
can keep their knowledge of the securities industry current. Therefore, 
the Exchange is proposing Rule 1210.07, to clarify that all registered 
persons, including those who solely maintain a permissive registration, 
are required to satisfy the Regulatory Element, as specified in 
proposed Rule 1240. Individuals who have passed the SIE but not a 
representative or principal-level examination and do not hold a 
registered position would not be subject to any CE requirements.
    Consistent with current practice, proposed Rule 1210.07 also 
provides that a registered person of a member who becomes CE inactive 
would not be permitted to be registered in another registration 
category with that member or be registered in any registration category 
with another member, until the person has satisfied the Regulatory 
Element.
I. Lapse of Registration and Expiration of SIE (Proposed Rule 1210.08)
    Rule 1021(c) currently states that any person whose registration 
has been revoked pursuant to Rule 8310 \37\ or whose most recent 
registration as a principal has been terminated for a period of two or 
more years immediately preceding the date of receipt by the Exchange of 
a new application is required to pass a qualification examination for 
principals appropriate to the category of registration as specified in 
Rule 1022. Pursuant to Rule 1031(b), any person whose registration has 
been revoked pursuant to Rule 8310 or whose most recent registration as 
a representative or principal has been terminated for a period of two 
or more years immediately preceding the date of receipt by the Exchange 
of a new application is required to pass a qualification examination 
for representatives appropriate to the category of registration as 
specified in Rule 1032. The two years are calculated from the 
termination date stated on the individual's Form U5 (Uniform 
Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration) and the date 
the Exchange receives a new application for registration.
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    \37\ Under Rule 8310(a)(3), the Exchange may impose one or more 
sanctions on a member or person associated with a member for each 
violation of the federal securities laws, rules or regulations 
thereunder, or Exchange rules, including suspending the membership 
of a member or suspending the registration of a person associated 
with a member for a definite period or a period contingent on the 
performance of a particular act.
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    The Exchange is proposing to consolidate the requirements of Rules 
1021(c) and 1031(b) and adopt them as Rule 1210.08. Proposed Rule 
1210.08 clarifies that, for purposes of the proposed rule, an 
application would not be considered to have been received by the 
Exchange if that application does not result in a registration.

[[Page 51005]]

    Proposed Rule 1210.08 also sets forth the expiration period of the 
SIE. Based on the content covered on the SIE, the Exchange is proposing 
that a passing result on the SIE be valid for four years. Therefore, 
under the proposed rule change, an individual who passes the SIE and is 
an associated person of a firm at the time would have up to four years 
from the date he or she passes the SIE to pass a representative-level 
examination to register as a representative with that firm, or a 
subsequent firm, without having to retake the SIE. In addition, an 
individual who passes the SIE and is not an associated person at the 
time would have up to four years from the date he or she passes the SIE 
to become an associated person of a firm, pass a representative-level 
examination and register as a representative without having to retake 
the SIE.
    Moreover, an individual holding a representative-level registration 
who leaves the industry after the operative date of the proposed rule 
change would have up to four years to re-associate with a firm and 
register as a representative without having to retake the SIE. However, 
the four-year expiration period in the proposed rule change extends 
only to the SIE, and not the representative- and principal-level 
registrations. The representative- and principal-level registrations 
would continue to be subject to a two year expiration period as is the 
case today.
J. Waiver of Examinations for Individuals Working for a Financial 
Services Industry Affiliate of a Member (Proposed Rule 1210.09)
    The Exchange is proposing Rule 1210.09 to provide a process whereby 
individuals who would be working for a financial services industry 
affiliate of a member \38\ would terminate their registrations with the 
member and would be granted a waiver of their requalification 
requirements upon re-registering with a member, provided the firm that 
is requesting the waiver and the individual satisfy the criteria for a 
Financial Services Affiliate (``FSA'') waiver.\39\ The purpose of the 
FSA waiver is to provide a firm greater flexibility to move personnel, 
including senior and middle management, between the firm and its 
financial services affiliate(s) so that they may gain organizational 
skills and better knowledge of products developed by the affiliate(s) 
without the individuals having to requalify by examination each time 
they returned to the firm.
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    \38\ Proposed Rule 1210.09 defines a ``financial services 
industry affiliate of a member'' as a legal entity that controls, is 
controlled by or is under common control with a member and is 
regulated by the SEC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission 
(``CFTC''), state securities authorities, federal or state banking 
authorities, state insurance authorities, or substantially 
equivalent foreign regulatory authorities.
    \39\ There is no counterpart to proposed Rule 1210.09 in the 
Exchange's existing rules. FINRA Rule 1210.09 was recently adopted 
as a new waiver process for FINRA registrants, as part of the FINRA 
Rule Changes.
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    Under the proposed waiver process, the first time a registered 
person is designated as eligible for a waiver based on the FSA 
criteria, the member with which the individual is registered would 
notify the Exchange of the FSA designation. The member would 
concurrently file a full Form U5 terminating the individual's 
registration with the firm, which would also terminate the individual's 
other SRO and state registrations.
    To be eligible for initial designation as an FSA-eligible person by 
a member, an individual must have been registered for a total of five 
years within the most recent 10-year period prior to the designation, 
including for the most recent year with that member.\40\ An individual 
would have to satisfy these preconditions only for purposes of his or 
her initial designation as an FSA-eligible person, and not for any 
subsequent FSA designation(s). Thereafter, the individual would be 
eligible for a waiver for up to seven years from the date of initial 
designation \41\ provided that the other conditions of the waiver, as 
described below, have been satisfied. Consequently, a member other than 
the member that initially designated an individual as an FSA-eligible 
person may request a waiver for the individual and more than one member 
may request a waiver for the individual during the seven-year 
period.\42\
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    \40\ For purposes of this requirement, a five year period of 
registration with the Exchange, with FINRA or with another self-
regulatory organization would be sufficient.
    \41\ Individuals would be eligible for a single, fixed seven-
year period from the date of initial designation, and the period 
would not be tolled or renewed.
    \42\ The following examples illustrate this point:
    Example 1. Firm A designates an individual as an FSA-eligible 
person by notifying the Exchange and files a Form U5. The individual 
joins Firm A's financial services affiliate. Firm A does not submit 
a waiver request for the individual. After working for Firm A's 
financial services affiliate for three years, the individual 
directly joins Firm B's financial services affiliate for three 
years. Firm B then submits a waiver request to register the 
individual.
    Example 2. Same as Example 1, but the individual directly joins 
Firm B after working for Firm A's financial services affiliate, and 
Firm B submits a waiver request to register the individual at that 
point in time.
    Example 3. Firm A designates an individual as an FSA-eligible 
person by notifying the Exchange and files a Form U5. The individual 
joins Firm A's financial services affiliate for three years. Firm A 
then submits a waiver request to reregister the individual. After 
working for Firm A in a registered capacity for six months, Firm A 
re-designates the individual as an FSA-eligible person by notifying 
FINRA and files a Form U5. The individual rejoins Firm A's financial 
services affiliate for two years, after which the individual 
directly joins Firm B's financial services affiliate for one year. 
Firm B then submits a waiver request to register the individual.
    Example 4. Same as Example 3, but the individual directly joins 
Firm B after the second period of working for Firm A's financial 
services affiliate, and Firm B submits a waiver request to register 
the individual at that point in time.
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    An individual designated as an FSA-eligible person would be subject 
to the Regulatory Element of CE while working for a financial services 
industry affiliate of a member. The individual would be subject to a 
Regulatory Element program that correlates to his or her most recent 
registration category, and CE would be based on the same cycle had the 
individual remained registered. If the individual fails to complete the 
prescribed Regulatory Element during the 120-day window for taking the 
session, he or she would lose FSA eligibility (i.e., the individual 
would have the standard two-year period after termination to re-
register without having to retake an examination). The Exchange is 
making corresponding changes to proposed Rule 1240 (currently Rule 
1120, Continuing Education).
    Upon registering an FSA-eligible person, a firm would file a Form 
U4 and request the appropriate registration(s) for the individual. The 
firm would also submit an examination waiver request to the 
Exchange,\43\ similar to the process used today for waiver requests, 
and it would represent that the individual is eligible for an FSA 
waiver based on the conditions set forth below. The Exchange would 
review the waiver request and make a determination of whether to grant 
the request within 30 calendar days of receiving the request. The 
Exchange would summarily grant the request if the following conditions 
are met:
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    \43\ The Exchange would consider a waiver of the representative-
level qualification examination(s), the principal-level 
qualification examination(s) and the SIE, as applicable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) Prior to the individual's initial designation as an FSA-
eligible person, the individual was registered for a total of five 
years within the most recent 10-year period, including for the most 
recent year with the member that initially designated the individual as 
an FSA-eligible person;
    (2) The waiver request is made within seven years of the 
individual's initial

[[Page 51006]]

designation as an FSA-eligible person by a member;
    (3) The initial designation and any subsequent designation(s) were 
made concurrently with the filing of the individual's related Form U5;
    (4) The individual continuously worked for the financial services 
affiliate(s) of a member since the last Form U5 filing;
    (5) The individual has complied with the Regulatory Element of CE; 
and
    (6) The individual does not have any pending or adverse regulatory 
matters, or terminations, that are reportable on the Form U4, and has 
not otherwise been subject to a statutory disqualification while the 
individual was designated as an FSA-eligible person with a member.
    Following the Form U5 filing, an individual could move between the 
financial services affiliates of a member so long as the individual is 
continuously working for an affiliate. Further, a member could submit 
multiple waiver requests for the individual, provided that the waiver 
requests are made during the course of the seven-year period.\44\ An 
individual who has been designated as an FSA-eligible person by a 
member would not be able to take additional examinations to gain 
additional registrations while working for a financial services 
affiliate of a member.
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    \44\ For example, if a member submits a waiver request for an 
FSA-eligible person who has been working for a financial services 
affiliate of the member for three years and re-registers the 
individual, the member could subsequently file a Form U5 and re-
designate the individual as an FSA-eligible person. Moreover, if the 
individual works with a financial services affiliate of the member 
for another three years, the member could submit a second waiver 
request and re-register the individual upon returning to the member.
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K. Status of Persons Serving in the Armed Forces of the United States 
(Proposed Rule 1210.10)
    IM-1002-2(a) and (b) currently provide specific relief to 
registered persons serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. 
Among other things, these rules permit a registered person of a member 
who volunteers for or is called into active duty in the Armed Forces of 
the United States to be registered in an inactive status and remain 
eligible to receive ongoing transaction-related compensation. IM-1002-
2(c) also includes specific provisions regarding the deferment of the 
lapse of registration requirements in Exchange Rules 1021(c) and 
1031(b) for formerly registered persons serving in the Armed Forces of 
the United States.
    The Exchange is proposing to adopt IM-1002-2 as Rule 1210.10 with 
the following changes. To enhance the efficiency of the current 
notification process for registered persons serving in the Armed 
Forces, proposed Rule 1210.10 requires that the member with which such 
person is registered promptly notify the Exchange of such person's 
return to employment with the member. A sole proprietor must similarly 
notify the Exchange of his or her return to participation in the 
securities business. Further, proposed Rule 1210.10 provides that the 
Exchange would also defer the lapse of the SIE for formerly registered 
persons serving in the Armed Forces of the United States.\45\
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    \45\ Proposed Rule 1210.10 tracks FINRA Rule 1210.10 except for 
the statement that inactive registered persons are not to be 
included within the definition of ``Personnel'' for purposes of dues 
or assessments as provided in Article VI of the FINRA By-Laws. 
Instead, proposed Rule 1210.10 conserves language from existing IM-
1002-2 stating that inactive persons under the rule are not included 
within the scope of fees, if any, charged by the Exchange with 
respect to registered persons.
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L. Impermissible Registrations (Proposed Rule 1210.11)
    Rules 1021(a) and 1031(a) currently prohibit a member from 
maintaining a representative or principal registration with the 
Exchange for any person who is no longer active in the member's 
investment banking or securities business, who is no longer functioning 
as a representative or principal as defined under the rules or where 
the sole purpose is to avoid the requalification requirement applicable 
to persons who have not been registered for two or more years. These 
rules also prohibit a member from applying for the registration of a 
person as representative or principal where the member does not intend 
to employ the person in its investment banking or securities business. 
These prohibitions do not apply to the current permissive registration 
categories.
    In light of proposed Rule 1210.02, the Exchange is proposing to 
delete these provisions and instead adopt Rule 1210.11 prohibiting a 
member from registering or maintaining the registration of a person 
unless the registration is consistent with the requirements of proposed 
Rule 1210.\46\
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    \46\ As discussed above, the Exchange is also proposing Rule 
1210, Supplementary Material .12, Application for Registration and 
Jurisdiction, which is not included in FINRA Rule 1210. Proposed 
Exchange Rule 1210, Supplementary Material .12, is based upon 
portions of existing Exchange Rule 1031.
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M. Registration Categories (Proposed Rule 1220)
    The Exchange is proposing to integrate the various registration 
categories and related definitions under the Exchange's rules into a 
single rule, Rule 1220, subject to the changes described below.\47\
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    \47\ For ease of reference, the Exchange proposes to adopt as 
Rule 1220, Supplementary Material .07, in chart form, a Summary of 
Qualification Requirements in chart form for each of the Exchange's 
permitted registration categories discussed below.
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1. Definition of Principal (Proposed Rule 1220(a)(1))
    Rule 1021(b) currently defines the term ``principal'' to include 
sole proprietors, officers, partners, managers of offices of 
supervisory jurisdiction and directors who are actively engaged in the 
management of the member's investment banking or securities business, 
such as supervision, solicitation, conduct of business or the training 
of persons associated with a member for any of these functions. The 
Exchange is proposing to streamline and adopt Rule 1021(b) as Rule 
1220(a)(1).
    For the reason discussed above in connection with proposed Rule 
1210, proposed Rule 1220(a)(1) would not apply to individuals who are 
not engaged in the management of the member's securities business even 
if they are engaged in the management of the member's investment 
banking business. The proposed rule clarifies that a member's chief 
executive officer (``CEO'') and chief financial officer (``CFO'') (or 
equivalent officers) are considered principals based solely on their 
status. The proposed rule further clarifies that the term ``principal'' 
includes any other associated person who is performing functions or 
carrying out responsibilities that are required to be performed or 
carried out by a principal under Exchange rules. In addition, the 
proposed rule provides that the phrase ``actively engaged in the 
management of the member's securities business'' includes the 
management of, and the implementation of corporate policies related to, 
such business as well as managerial decision-making authority with 
respect to the member's securities business and management-level 
responsibilities for supervising any aspect of such business, such as 
serving as a voting member of the member's executive, management or 
operations committees.
2. General Securities Principal (Proposed Rule 1220(a)(2))
    Rule 1022(a)(1) currently requires that an associated person who 
meets the definition of ``principal'' under Rule 1021 and each person 
designated as Chief Compliance Officer (``CCO'') on Schedule A of the 
member's Form BD

[[Page 51007]]

(Uniform Application for Broker-Dealer Registration) register as a 
General Securities Principal. A person registering as a General 
Securities Principal must pass the General Securities Principal 
examination. The rule, however, provides that such person is not 
required to register as a General Securities Principal if the person's 
activities are so limited as to qualify such person for one or more of 
the limited principal categories specified in Rule 1022. Further, the 
rule does not preclude individuals registered in a limited principal 
category from registering as General Securities Principals. Rule 
1022(a)(1) also includes transitioning and grandfathering provisions 
for CCO's.
    Rule 1022(a)(1) provides that a person seeking to register as a 
General Securities Principal must satisfy the General Securities 
Representative prerequisite registration. Rule 1022(a)(3) includes a 
grandfathering provision for persons who were registered as principals 
before the adoption of the General Securities Principal registration 
category. Rule 1022(a)(4) provides that an associated person registered 
solely as a General Securities Principal is not qualified to function 
as a Financial and Operations Principal, General Securities Sales 
Supervisor or Securities Trader Principal unless the General Securities 
Principal is also registered in these other categories.
    The Exchange is proposing to streamline the provisions of Rule 
1022(a) and adopt them as Rule 1220(a)(2) with the following changes.
    The Exchange is proposing to more clearly set forth the obligation 
to register as a General Securities Principal. Specifically, proposed 
Rule 1220(a)(2)(A) states that each principal as defined in proposed 
Rule 1220(a)(1) is required to register with the Exchange as a General 
Securities Principal, subject to the following exceptions. The proposed 
rule provides that if a principal's activities are limited to the 
functions of a Compliance Official, a Financial and Operations 
Principal, a Securities Trader Principal, a Securities Trader 
Compliance Officer, or a Registered Options Principal, then the 
principal shall appropriately register in one or more of these 
categories.\48\ Proposed Rule 1220(a)(2)(A) further provides that if a 
principal's activities are limited solely to the functions of a General 
Securities Sales Supervisor, then the principal may appropriately 
register in that category in lieu of registering as a General 
Securities Principal, provided that if the principal is engaged in 
options sales activities he or she shall be required to register as a 
General Securities Sales Supervisor or as a Registered Options 
Principal.\49\
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    \48\ The Exchange is proposing to recognize the Compliance 
Official and Securities Trader Compliance Officer registration 
categories for the first time as a result of this proposed rule 
change.
    \49\ The Exchange's proposed Rule 1220(a)(2)(A) deviates 
somewhat from the counterpart FINRA rule in that it does not offer 
various limited registration categories provided for in FINRA's new 
Rule 1220(a)(2)(A).
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    Proposed Rule 1220(a)(2)(B) requires that an individual registering 
as a General Securities Principal satisfy the General Securities 
Representative prerequisite registration and pass the General 
Securities Principal qualification examination.
    In conjunction with the elimination of the Corporate Securities 
Representative registration category by FINRA, the Exchange is 
proposing that Rule 1220(a)(2)(B) provide that, subject to the lapse of 
registration provisions in proposed Rule 1210.08, General Securities 
Principals who obtained the Corporate Securities Representative 
prerequisite registration on the Exchange in lieu of the General 
Securities Representative prerequisite registration and individuals who 
had been registered as such within the past two years prior to the 
operative date of the proposed rule change, may continue to supervise 
corporate securities activities as currently permitted.\50\ Proposed 
Rule 1220(a)(2)(B) requires all other individuals registering as 
General Securities Principals after October 1, 2018, to first become 
registered as a General Securities Representative pursuant to Rule 
1220(b)(2).\51\
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    \50\ The Exchange itself does not recognize the Corporate 
Securities Representative registration category, but understands 
that FINRA and Nasdaq currently accept Corporate Securities 
Representative registration as a prerequisite to General Securities 
Principal registration.
    \51\ The Exchange is not adopting the FINRA Rule 1220(a)(2)(B) 
language permitting an individual registering as a General 
Securities Principal after October 1, 2018 to register as a General 
Securities Sales Supervisor and to pass the General Securities 
Principal Sales Supervisor Module qualification examination. The 
Exchange believes that individuals registering as General Securities 
Principals should be required to demonstrate their competence for 
that role by passing the General Securities Principal qualification 
examination.
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    The Exchange is also proposing to eliminate the grandfathering 
provision for individuals who were registered as principals prior to 
the adoption of the General Securities Principal registration category 
because it no longer has any practical application. Finally, the 
Exchange is proposing to delete the provision that persons eligible for 
registration in other principal categories are not precluded from 
registering as General Securities Principals because it is 
superfluous.\52\
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    \52\ Proposed Rule 1220(a)(2) generally tracks FINRA Rule 
1220(a)(2), except that it omits references to a number of 
registration categories which FINRA recognizes but that the Exchange 
does not, and it includes a reference to the Securities Trader 
Compliance Officer category which the Exchange proposes to 
recognize, but which FINRA does not. Additionally, proposed Rule 
1220(a)(2)(A)(i) extends that provision's exception to the General 
Securities Principal registration requirement to certain principals 
whose activities are ``limited to'' (rather than ``include'') the 
functions of a more limited principal. The Exchange believes that 
activities ``limited to'' expresses the intent of that exception 
more accurately than activities that ``include.'' Finally, proposed 
Rule 1220(a)(2)(B) specifies that registration as a Corporate 
Securities Representative must be with the Exchange in order to 
fulfill the Corporate Securities Representative registration 
prerequisite for General Securities Principal registration pursuant 
to that rule.
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3. Compliance Official (Proposed Rule 1220(a)(3))
    The Exchange is proposing to adopt Rule 1022(a)(1)'s CCO 
registration requirement as Rule 1220(a)(3), subject to the following 
changes.
    Specifically, proposed Rule 1220(a)(3) provides that each person 
designated as a Chief Compliance Officer on Schedule A of Form BD shall 
be required to register with the Exchange as a General Securities 
Principal, provided that such person may instead register as a 
Compliance Official if his or her duties do not include supervision of 
trading. All individuals registering as Compliance Official shall, 
prior to or concurrent with such registration, pass the Compliance 
Official qualification examination. An individual designated as a Chief 
Compliance Officer on Schedule A of Form BD of a member that is engaged 
in limited securities business could also be registered in a principal 
category under Rule 1220(a) that corresponds to the limited scope of 
the member's business.
    Additionally, proposed Rule 1220(a)(3) provides that an individual 
designated as a Chief Compliance Officer on Schedule A of Form BD may 
register and qualify as a Securities Trader Compliance Officer if, with 
respect to transactions in equity, preferred or convertible debt 
securities, or options such person is engaged in proprietary trading, 
the execution of transactions on an agency basis, or the direct 
supervision of such activities other than a person associated with a 
member whose trading activities are conducted principally on behalf of 
an investment company that is registered with the SEC pursuant to the 
Investment Company Act and that controls, is controlled by, or is under 
common control with a member. All individuals

[[Page 51008]]

registering as Securities Trader Compliance Officers would be required 
to first become registered pursuant to paragraph (b)(4) as a Securities 
Trader, and to pass the Compliance Official qualification exam.\53\
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    \53\ Proposed Rule 1220(a)(3) differs from FINRA Rule 
1220(a)(3), Compliance Officer. The Exchange does not recognize the 
Compliance Officer registration category. Similarly, FINRA does not 
recognize the Compliance Official or the Securities Trader 
Compliance Officer registration categories which the Exchange 
proposes to recognize. However, FINRA Rule 1220(a)(3), like proposed 
Rule 1220(a)(3), offers an exception pursuant to which a Chief 
Compliance Officer designated on Schedule A of Form BD may register 
in a principal category that corresponds to the limited scope of the 
member's business.
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4. Financial and Operations Principal, [sic] (Proposed Rule 1220(a)(4))
    Rule 1022(b)(1) currently provides that every member operating 
pursuant to the provisions of SEC Rule 15c3-1(a)(1)(ii), (a)(2)(i) or 
(a)(8), shall designate as Limited Principal--Financial and Operations 
those persons associated with it, at least one of whom shall be its 
chief financial officer, who performs [sic] the duties described in 
Rule 1022(b)(2).\54\ Each person associated with a member who performs 
such duties is required to register as a Limited Principal--Financial 
and Operations with the Exchange and pass an appropriate qualification 
examination before such registration may become effective. A person 
registered solely as a Limited Principal--Financial and Operations is 
not qualified to function in a principal capacity with responsibility 
over any area of business activity not described in 1022(b)(2).
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    \54\ These duties include (A) final approval and responsibility 
for the accuracy of financial reports submitted to any duly 
established securities industry regulatory body; (B) final 
preparation of such reports; (C) supervision of individuals who 
assist in the preparation of such reports; (D) supervision of and 
responsibility for individuals who are involved in the actual 
maintenance of the member's books and records from which such 
reports are derived; (E) supervision and/or performance of the 
member's responsibilities under all financial responsibility rules 
promulgated pursuant to the provisions of the Act; (F) overall 
supervision of and responsibility for the individuals who are 
involved in the administration and maintenance of the member's back 
office operations; or (G) any other matter involving the financial 
and operational management of the member.
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    Financial and Operations Principals are not subject to a 
prerequisite representative registration, but they must pass the 
Financial and Operations Principal examination.
    The Exchange is proposing to move the provisions in Rules 1022(b) 
regarding Financial and Operations Principals to Rule 1220(a)(4)(A), 
substituting the word ``and'' for the current word ``or'' found in Rule 
1022(b)(2)(F) in order to conform to FINRA Rule 1220(a)(4)(A) in 
describing the duties of a Financial and Operations Principal.\55\
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    \55\ FINRA Rule 1220(a)(4) differs from proposed Rule 1220(a)(4) 
in that it includes an Introducing Broker-Dealer Financial and 
Operations Principal registration requirement. Additionally, 
proposed Rule 1220(a)(4) contains a requirement, which the FINRA 
rule does not, that each person associated with a member who 
performs the duties of a Financial and Operations Principal must 
register as such with the Exchange. Further, as discussed above, the 
Exchange is not adopting a Principal Financial Officer or Principal 
Operations Officer requirement like FINRA Rule 1220(a)(4)(B), as it 
believes the Financial and Operations Principal requirement is 
sufficient. Finally, proposed Rule 1220(a)(4)(B)(v) and (vi) contain 
minor wording variations from the FINRA rule.
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5. Investment Banking Principal (Proposed Rule 1220(a)(5))
    The Exchange does not recognize the Investment Banking Principal 
registration category and is reserving Rule 1220(a)(5), retaining the 
caption solely to facilitate comparison with FINRA's rules.
6. Research Principal (Proposed Rule 1220(a)(6))
    The Exchange does not recognize the Research Principal registration 
category and is reserving Rule 1220(a)(6), retaining the caption solely 
to facilitate comparison with FINRA's rules.
7. Securities Trader Principal (Proposed Rule 1220(a)(7))
    Existing Rule 1022(h) requires each person associated with a member 
who is included within the definition of principal and who will have 
supervisory responsibility over the securities trading activities 
described in Rule 1032(b) to register as a Securities Trader Principal. 
To qualify for registration as a Securities Trader Principal, such 
person must become qualified and registered as a Securities Trader 
under Rule 1032(b) and pass the General Securities Principal 
qualification examination. A person who is qualified and registered as 
a Securities Trader Principal under Rule 1022(h) may only have 
supervisory responsibility over the Securities Trader activities 
specified in Rule 1032(b), unless such person is separately qualified 
and registered in another appropriate principal registration category, 
such as the General Securities Principal registration category. 
Conversely, a person who is registered as a General Securities 
Principal may not supervise the trading activities described in Rule 
1032(b) unless such person has also become qualified and registered as 
a Securities Trader under Rule 1032(b) by passing the Securities Trader 
qualification examination and registering as a Securities Trader 
Principal.
    The Exchange is proposing to delete Rule 1022(h) and to adopt in 
its place Rule 1220(a)(7), Securities Trader Principal. Similar to the 
current rule, proposed Rule 1220(a)(7) requires that a principal 
responsible for supervising the securities trading activities specified 
in proposed Rule 1220(b)(4) \56\ register as a Securities Trader 
Principal. The proposed rule requires individuals registering as 
Securities Trader Principals to be registered as Securities Traders and 
to pass the General Securities Principal qualification examination.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \56\ Proposed Rule 1220(b)(4), discussed below, provides for 
representative-level registration in the ``Securities Trader'' 
category.
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8. Registered Options Principal (Proposed Rules 1220(a)(8))
    Chapter II, Section 2(g) of the rulebook currently requires that 
members engaged in security futures or options transactions with public 
customers have at least one Registered Options and Security Futures 
Principal. It also provides that every person engaged in the 
supervision of options and security futures sales practices shall be 
registered as a Registered Options and Security Futures Principal and 
pass the appropriate qualification examination for Registered Options 
and Security Futures Principal, or an equivalent examination acceptable 
to the Exchange. Further, each person required to register and qualify 
as a Registered Options and Security Futures Principal must, prior to 
or concurrent with such registration, be or become qualified pursuant 
to the Rule 1030 Series, as either a General Securities Representative 
or a Limited Representative--Corporate Securities and a Registered 
Options and Security Futures Representative. The rule provides that a 
person registered solely as a Registered Options and Security Futures 
Principal is not qualified to function in a principal capacity with 
responsibility over any area of business activity not prescribed in 
Chapter II, Section 2(g). Chapter II, Section 2(g)(5) provides that any 
person who is registered as a Registered Options and Security Futures 
Principal, or who becomes registered as a Registered Options and 
Security Futures Principal before a revised examination that includes 
security futures products is offered, must complete a firm-element 
continuing education program that addresses security futures and a

[[Page 51009]]

principal's responsibilities for security futures before such person 
can supervise security futures activities. Finally, Chapter II, Section 
2 of the Exchange's options rules further requires that members that 
have one Registered Options Principal promptly notify the Exchange and 
agree to specified conditions if such person is terminated, resigns, 
becomes incapacitated or is otherwise unable to perform his or her 
duties.
    The Exchange is proposing to adopt Chapter II, Section (2)(g) as 
Rule 1220(a)(8), Registered Options Principal, with certain changes. 
The registration category would now be titled Registered Options 
Principal, rather than Registered Options and Security Futures 
Principal.\57\ All references to a revised examination that includes 
security futures products would be deleted. Instead, Rule 1220(b), 
Supplementary Material .02 will simply provide that each person who is 
registered with the Exchange as a Registered Options Principal (or as a 
General Securities Representative, Options Representative, or General 
Securities Sales Supervisor) shall be eligible to engage in security 
futures activities as a principal, as applicable, provided that such 
individual completes a Firm Element program as set forth in proposed 
Rule 1240 that addresses security futures products before such person 
engages in security futures activities.\58\
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    \57\ FINRA has also shortened references to ``Registered Options 
and Security Futures Principal'' in its rulebook to ``Registered 
Options Principal''. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58932 
(November 12, 2008), 73 FR 69696 (November 19, 2008) (SR-FINRA-2008-
032).
    \58\ Unlike FINRA Rule 1220.02, proposed Exchange Rule 1220.02 
omits references to United Kingdom Securities Representatives and 
Canada Securities Representatives, which are registration categories 
the Exchange does not recognize. In any case, the Exchange does not 
currently offer security futures products for trading.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed Rule 1220(a)(8) provides that a General Securities Sales 
Supervisor may also supervise options activities. Rule 1220(b), 
Supplementary Material .02 regarding security futures activities will 
apply to General Securities Sales Supervisors as well as to Registered 
Options Principals.\59\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \59\ Rule 1220(b), Supplementary Material .02 regarding security 
futures activities will also apply to General Securities 
Representatives and to Options Representatives.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Further, as discussed below, the Exchange is proposing to eliminate 
the Options Representative and Corporate Securities Representative 
registration categories. In conjunction with these changes, the 
Exchange is proposing to eliminate registration as an Options 
Representative from the prerequisite choices in the current rule. 
Consequently, a person registering as a Registered Options Principal 
under proposed Rule 1220(a)(8) would be required to satisfy the General 
Securities Representative prerequisite registration.\60\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \60\ Proposed Rule 1220(a)(8) differs from FINRA Rule 1220(a)(8) 
in that it omits certain references to other specific FINRA rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, the Exchange is proposing to adopt the Chapter II, Section 
2 provisions regarding the loss of a sole Registered Options Principal 
with non-substantive changes as Supplementary Material .03 of Rule 
1220.\61\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \61\ Chapter XI, Doing Business with the Public, at Section 2(a) 
provides that no order entry firm (``OEF'') shall be approved to 
transact options business with the public until those associated 
persons who are designated as Options Principals have been approved 
by and registered with the Exchange. Persons engaged in the 
management and supervision of the OEF's business pertaining to 
options contracts must be designated as Options Principals and shall 
have responsibility for the overall oversight of the OEF's options 
related activities on the Exchange. Similarly, Chapter XI, Sections 
3(a) and (b) provide [sic] that no OEF shall be approved to transact 
business with the public until those persons associated with it who 
are designated representatives have been approved by and registered 
with the Exchange, and also that persons who perform duties for the 
OEF which are customarily performed by sales representatives or 
branch office managers shall be designated as representatives of the 
OEF. The foregoing provisions of Chapter XI are specific to 
conducting an options business with the public and are not proposed 
to be amended in this proposed rule change, other than to add a 
customer protection requirement, similar to existing Phlx Rule 
1024.08 and existing ISE Rule 602(d), that a person accepting orders 
from non-member customers (unless such customer is a broker-dealer 
registered with the Commission) is required to register with the 
Exchange and to be qualified by passing the General Securities 
Registered Representative Examination (Series 7). However, Chapter 
XI, Sections 2(b) and (c) and Section 3(c) also contain provisions 
regarding submission of Forms U4 and U5 to WebCRD that are 
duplicative of the proposed 1200 Series of rules, in particular 
proposed Rules 1210.12, Application for Registration and 
Jurisdiction, and 1250, Electronic Filing Requirements for 
Electronic Forms, and are therefore proposed to be deleted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. Government Securities Principal (Rule 1220(a)(9))
    The Exchange does not recognize the Government Securities Principal 
registration category and is reserving Rule 1220(a)(9), retaining the 
caption solely to facilitate comparison with FINRA's rules.
10. General Securities Sales Supervisor (Proposed Rules 1220(a)(10) and 
1220.04)
    Pursuant to Exchange Rule 1022(g), each associated person of a 
member who is included within the definition of ``principal'' in Rule 
1021 may register as a Limited Principal--General Securities Sales 
Supervisor, instead of separately registering in multiple principal 
registration categories,\62\ if the individual's supervisory 
responsibilities are limited solely to securities sales activities. A 
person registering as a Limited Principal--General Securities Sales 
Supervisor must satisfy the General Securities Representative 
prerequisite registration and pass the General Securities Sales 
Supervisor examinations.\63\ Moreover, a General Securities Sales 
Supervisor is precluded from performing any of the following 
activities: (1) Supervision of the origination and structuring of 
underwritings; (2) supervision of market-making commitments; (3) final 
approval of advertisements as these are defined in Exchange Rule 2210; 
(4) supervision of the custody of firm or customer funds or securities 
for purposes of SEC Rule 15c3-3; or (5) supervision of overall 
compliance with financial responsibility rules. Current IM-1022-2 
explains the purpose of the General Securities Sales Supervisor 
registration category.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \62\ For instance, a principal supervising the sale of corporate 
securities and options must be registered as a General Securities 
Principal and a Registered Options Principal, unless the principal 
is registered as a General Securities Sales Supervisor.
    \63\ An individual may also register as a General Securities 
Sales Supervisor bypassing [sic] a combination of other principal-
level examinations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange is proposing to adopt Rule 1022(g) and IM-1022-2 as 
Rules 1220(a)(10) and 1220.04, respectively.\64\ Rule 1220(a)(10), 
however, omits the current Rule 1022(g) prohibition against supervision 
of the origination and structuring of underwritings, as that activity 
does not fall within the new, more limited scope of ``securities 
trading'' covered by the new 1200 Series of rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \64\ The Exchange is not proposing to carry over into proposed 
Rule 1220(a)(10) the current Rule 1022(g)(2)(C)(iii) prohibition 
against final approval of advertisements by General Securities Sales 
Supervisors. The Exchange notes that FINRA removed this prohibition 
several years ago from NASD Rule 1022(g) (Limited Principal-- 
General Securities Sales Supervisor) and NASD IM-1022-2 (Limited 
Principal-- General Securities Sales Supervisor). See Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 68918 (February 13, 2013), 78 FR 11925 
(February 20, 2013) (SR-FINRA-2013-014). Also, unlike FINRA Rule 
1220.04, proposed Exchange Rule 1220.04 refers to ``multiple 
exchanges'' rather than listing the various exchanges where a sales 
principal might be required to qualify in the absence of the General 
Securities Sales Supervisor registration category. It also omits 
FINRA internal cross-references.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

11. Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Principal and 
Direct Participation Programs Principal (Rules 1220(a)(11) and (a)(12))
    The Exchange does not recognize the Investment Company and Variable 
Contracts Products Principal registration category or the Direct 
Participation

[[Page 51010]]

Programs Principal registration category. The Exchange is therefore 
reserving Rules 1220(a)(11) and (a)(12), retaining the captions solely 
to facilitate comparison with FINRA's rules.
12. Private Securities Offerings Principal (Rule 1220(a)(13))
    The Exchange does not recognize the Private Securities Offerings 
Principal registration category and is therefore reserving Rule 
1220(a)(13), retaining the caption solely to facilitate comparison with 
FINRA's rules.
13. Supervisory Analyst (Rule 1220(a)(14))
    The Exchange does not recognize the Supervisory Analyst 
registration category and is therefore reserving Rule 1220(a)(14), 
retaining the caption solely to facilitate comparison with FINRA's 
rules.
14. Definition of Representative (Proposed Rule 1220(b)(1))
    Rule 1011(k) currently defines the term ``representative'' as an 
associated person of a registered broker or dealer, including assistant 
officers other than principals, who is engaged in the investment 
banking or securities business for the member including the functions 
of supervision, solicitation or conduct of business in securities or 
who is engaged in the training of persons associated with a broker or 
dealer for any of these functions are designated as representatives. 
Rule 1011(k) further states that, as provided in Rule 1031, all 
representatives of members are required to be registered with the 
Exchange, and that representatives that are so registered are referred 
to as registered representatives.
    The Exchange now proposes to adopt a definition of 
``representative'' in proposed Rule 1220(b)(1). Current Rule 1011, 
Definitions, Section (k) would be amended by deleting the existing 
definition of representative, and replacing it with a cross reference 
to the new definition of representative in Rule 1220(b)(1). Proposed 
1220(b)(1) would define the term representative as any person 
associated with a member, including assistant officers other than 
principals, who is engaged in the member's securities business, such as 
supervision, solicitation, conduct of business in securities or the 
training of persons associated with a member for any of these 
functions. Unlike the current Rule 1011(k) ``representative'' 
definition, the new Rule 1220(b)(1) definition would be confined to 
associated persons of Exchange members (rather than to associated 
persons of broker dealers generally) who are engaged in the member's 
securities business (and not also in the member's investment banking 
business).
15. General Securities Representative (Proposed Rule 1220(b)(2))
    Rule 1032(a) currently requires that an associated person who meets 
the definition of ``representative'' under Rule 1011 register as a 
General Securities Representative. A person registering as a General 
Securities Representative must pass the General Securities 
Representative examination. The rule, however, provides that a 
representative is not required to register as a General Securities 
Representative if the person's activities are so limited as to qualify 
such person as a Securities Trader. Further, the rule does not preclude 
individuals registered in a limited representative category such as 
Securities Trader from registering as General Securities 
Representatives.
    Similar to the proposed changes to the General Securities Principal 
registration category, the Exchange is proposing to more clearly set 
forth the obligation to register as a General Securities 
Representative. Specifically, proposed Rule 1220(b)(2)(A) states that 
each representative as defined in proposed Rule 1220(b)(1) is required 
to register with the Exchange as a General Securities Representative, 
except that if a representative's activities include the functions of a 
Securities Trader, as specified in this Rule, then such person shall 
appropriately register as a Securities Trader.
    Further, consistent with the proposed restructuring of the 
representative-level examinations, proposed Rule 1220(b)(2)(B) would 
require that individuals registering as General Securities 
Representatives pass the SIE and the General Securities Representative 
examination.\65\
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    \65\ Proposed Rule 1220(b)(2)(B) differs from FINRA Rule 
1220(b)(2)(B) in that it omits references to various registration 
categories which FINRA recognizes but which the Exchange does not 
propose to recognize.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the Exchange is proposing to adopt Rule 1220.01 to 
provide individuals who are associated persons of firms and who hold 
foreign registrations an alternative, more flexible, process to obtain 
an Exchange representative-level registration. The Exchange believes 
that there is sufficient overlap between the SIE and these foreign 
qualification requirements to permit them to act as exemptions to the 
SIE. Under proposed Rule 1220.01, individuals who are in good standing 
as representatives with the Financial Conduct Authority in the United 
Kingdom or with a Canadian stock exchange or securities regulator would 
be exempt from the requirement to pass the SIE, and thus would be 
required only to pass a specialized knowledge examination to register 
with the Exchange as a representative. The proposed approach would 
provide individuals with a United Kingdom or Canadian qualification 
more flexibility to obtain an Exchange representative-level 
registration. Finally, the Exchange is proposing to delete the 
provision that persons eligible for registration in other 
representative categories are not precluded from registering as General 
Securities Representatives because it is superfluous.
16. Operations Professional, Securities Trader, Investment Banking 
Representative, Research Analyst, Investment Company and Variable 
Contracts Products Representative, Direct Participation Programs 
Representative and Private Securities Offerings Representative (Rules 
1220(b)(3), 1220(b)(4), 1220(b)(5), 1220(b)(6), 1220(b)(7), 1220(b)(8), 
1220(b)(9) and 1220.05))
    Operations Professional, Investment Banking Representative, 
Research Analyst, Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products 
Representative, Direct Participation Programs Representative and 
Private Securities Offerings Representative. The Exchange has not 
adopted these registration categories for its associated persons. The 
Exchange is reserving Rules 1220(b)(3)--Operations Professional, and 
related Rule 1220.05; 1220(b)(5)--Investment Banking Representative, 
1220(b)(6)--Research Analyst; Investment Company and Variable Contracts 
Products Representative--Proposed Rule 1220(b)(7); 1220(b)(8)--Direct 
Participation Programs Representative; and 1220(b)(9)--Private 
Securities Offerings Representative, retaining the captions, solely to 
facilitate comparison with FINRA's rules.
    Securities Trader--Proposed Rule 1220(b)(4). Pursuant to current 
Exchange Rule 1032(f), each associated person of a member who is 
included within the definition of ``representative'' in Rule 1101 is 
required to register as a Securities Trader if, with respect to 
transactions in equity, preferred or convertible debt securities or 
foreign currency options on the Exchange, such person is engaged in 
proprietary trading, the execution of transactions on an agency basis 
or the direct supervision of such activities.\66\ The rule provides an

[[Page 51011]]

exception from the registration requirement for any associated person 
of a member whose trading activities are conducted principally on 
behalf of an investment company that is registered with the SEC 
pursuant to the Investment Company Act and that controls, is controlled 
by, or is under common control with the member. Individuals registering 
as Securities Traders must pass the Securities Trader examination. 
Finally, the rule provides that registered Securities Traders are not 
qualified to function in any other registration category, unless he or 
she is also qualified and registered in such other registration 
category.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \66\ Proposed Rule 1220(b)(4)(A) differs from FINRA Rule 
1220(b)(4)(A) in that it applies to trading on the Exchange while 
the FINRA rule is limited to the specified trading which is 
``effected otherwise than on a securities exchange.'' Additionally, 
the FINRA rule does not specifically extend to options trading.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange now proposes to amend the rule, and adopt it as 
proposed Rule 1220(b)(4). As amended, the Rule would require 
individuals registering as Securities Traders to pass the SIE as well 
as the Securities Trader qualification exam, and it would be expanded 
to refer not just to foreign currency options, but to the trading of 
options generally.
    Additionally, proposed Rule 1220(b)(4)(A) would require each person 
associated with a member who is: (i) Primarily responsible for the 
design, development or significant modification of an algorithmic 
trading strategy relating to equity, preferred or convertible debt 
securities or options; or (ii) responsible for the day-to-day 
supervision or direction of such activities to register with the 
Exchange as a Securities Trader.\67\
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    \67\ As noted above, this new registration requirement was 
recently added to the FINRA rulebook. The Exchange has determined to 
add a parallel requirement to its own rules, but also to add options 
to the scope of products within the proposed rule's coverage. See 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77551 (April 7, 2016), 81 FR 
21914 (April 13, 2016) (Order Approving File No. SR-FINRA-2016-007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For purposes of this proposed new registration requirement an 
``algorithmic trading strategy'' is an automated system that generates 
or routes orders (or order-related messages) but does not include an 
automated system that solely routes orders received in their entirety 
to a market center. The proposed registration requirement applies to 
orders and order related messages whether ultimately routed or sent to 
be routed to an exchange or over the counter. An order router alone 
would not constitute an algorithmic trading strategy. However, an order 
router that performs any additional functions would be considered an 
algorithmic trading strategy. An algorithm that solely generates 
trading ideas or investment allocations--including an automated 
investment service that constructs portfolio recommendations--but that 
is not equipped to automatically generate orders and order-related 
messages to effectuate such trading ideas into the market--whether 
independently or via a linked router--would not constitute an 
algorithmic trading strategy.\68\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \68\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77551 (April 7, 
2016), 81 FR 21914 (April 13, 2016) (Order Approving File No. SR-
FINRA-2016-007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The associated persons covered by the expanded registration 
requirement would be required to pass the requisite qualification 
examination and be subject to the same continuing education 
requirements that are applicable to individual Securities Traders. The 
Exchange believes that potentially problematic conduct stemming from 
algorithmic trading strategies--such as failure to check for order 
accuracy, inappropriate levels of messaging traffic, wash sales, 
failure to mark orders as ``short'' or perform proper short sale 
``locates,'' and inadequate risk management controls--could be reduced 
or prevented, in part, through improved education regarding securities 
regulations for the specified individuals involved in the algorithm 
design and development process.
    The proposal is intended to ensure the registration of one or more 
associated persons that possesses knowledge of, and responsibility for, 
both the design of the intended trading strategy and the technological 
implementation of the strategy, sufficient to evaluate whether the 
resulting product is designed to achieve regulatory compliance in 
addition to business objectives. For example, a lead developer who 
liaises with a head trader regarding the head trader's desired 
algorithmic trading strategy and is primarily responsible for the 
supervision of the development of the algorithm to meet such objectives 
must be registered under the proposal as the associated person 
primarily responsible for the development of the algorithmic trading 
strategy and supervising or directing the team of developers. 
Individuals under the lead developer's supervision would not be 
required to register under the proposal if they are not primarily 
responsible for the development of the algorithmic trading strategy or 
are not responsible for the day-to-day supervision or direction of 
others on the team. Under this scenario, the person on the business 
side that is primarily responsible for the design of the algorithmic 
trading strategy, as communicated to the lead developer, also would be 
required to register. In the event of a significant modification to the 
algorithm, members, likewise, would be required to ensure that the 
associated person primarily responsible for the significant 
modification (or the associated person supervising or directing such 
activity), is registered as a Securities Trader.
    A member employing an algorithm is responsible for the algorithm's 
activities whether the algorithm is designed or developed in house or 
by a third-party. Thus, in all cases, robust supervisory procedures, 
both before and after deployment of an algorithmic trading strategy, 
are a key component in protecting against problematic behavior stemming 
from algorithmic trading. In addition, associated persons responsible 
for monitoring or reviewing the performance of an algorithmic trading 
strategy must be registered, and a member's trading activity must 
always be supervised by an appropriately registered person. Therefore, 
even where a firm purchases an algorithm off-the-shelf and does not 
significantly modify the algorithm, the associated person responsible 
for monitoring or reviewing the performance of the algorithm would be 
required to be registered.
    Pursuant to proposed Rule 1220(b)(4)(B) each person registered as a 
Securities Trader on October 1, 2018 and each person who was registered 
as a Securities Trader within two years prior to October 1, 2018 would 
be qualified to register as a Securities Trader without passing any 
additional qualification examinations. All other individuals 
registering as Securities Traders after October 1, 2018 would be 
required, prior to or concurrent with such registration, pass the SIE 
and the Securities Trader qualification examination.
17. Eliminated Registration Categories (Proposed Rule 1220.06)
    Consistent with the FINRA Rule Changes, the Exchange is proposing 
to eliminate from its rules the Options Representative category that 
FINRA is eliminating effective October 1, 2018.\69\

[[Page 51012]]

Proposed Rule 1220.06, which is proposed to be adopted on a uniform 
basis by the Nasdaq Affiliated Exchanges, provides that, subject to the 
lapse of registration provisions in proposed Rule 1210.08, individuals 
who are registered with the Exchange in any capacity recognized by the 
Exchange (such as the Options Representative category) immediately 
prior to October 1, 2018, and each person who was registered with the 
Exchange in such categories within two years prior to October 1, 2018, 
shall be eligible to maintain such registrations with the Exchange. 
However, if individuals registered in such categories terminate their 
registration with the Exchange and the registration remains terminated 
for two or more years, they would not be able to re-register in that 
category. In addition, proposed Rule 1220.06 would include the current 
restrictions to which Order Processing Assistant Representatives are 
subject under Nasdaq rules.\70\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \69\ Chapter II, Section 2(h) of the Exchange's rulebook 
provides that each person associated with a member who is included 
within the definition of a representative as defined in Rule 1031 
may register with BX as a Limited Representative--Options and 
Security Futures if: (A) Such person's activities in the investment 
banking or securities business of the member involve the 
solicitation or sale of option or security futures contracts, 
including option contracts on government securities as that term is 
defined in Section 3(a)(42)(D) of the Act, for the account of a 
broker, dealer or public customer; and (B) such person passes an 
appropriate qualification examination for Limited Representative--
Options and Security Futures. It also provides that each person 
seeking to register and qualify as a Limited Representative--Options 
and Security Futures must, concurrent with or before such 
registration may become effective, become registered with BX or 
another SRO as either as a Limited Representative--Corporate 
Securities or Limited Representative--Government Securities. The 
Limited Representative--Options and Security Futures registration 
category is the same as the Options Representative category. The 
Exchange has very few registrants in this category, and none in the 
Corporate Securities or Limited Representative--Government 
Securities categories (for which there is no provision in the 
Exchange's rules).
    \70\ See Nasdaq Rule 1042. Proposed Exchange Rule 1220.06 omits 
references to a number of registration categories it does not 
propose to recognize, but which FINRA refers to in its own Rule 
1220.06.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

18. Grandfathering Provisions
    In addition to the grandfathering provisions in proposed Rule 
1220(a)(2) (relating to General Securities Principals) and proposed 
Rule 1220.06 (relating to the eliminated registration categories), the 
Exchange is proposing to include grandfathering provisions in proposed 
Rule 1220(a)(8) (Registered Options Principal), 1220(b)(2) (General 
Securities Representative), and 1220(b)(4) (Securities Trader). 
Specifically, the proposed grandfathering provisions provide that, 
subject to the lapse of registration provisions in proposed Rule 
1210.08, individuals who are registered in specified registration 
categories on the operative date of the proposed rule change and 
individuals who had been registered in such categories within the past 
two years prior to the operative date of the proposed rule change would 
be qualified to register in the proposed corresponding registration 
categories without having to take any additional examinations.
N. Associated Persons Exempt From Registration (Proposed Rules 1230 and 
1230.01)
    Rule 1060(a) currently provides that the following persons 
associated with a member are not required to register:
    (1) persons associated with a member whose functions are solely and 
exclusively clerical or ministerial;
    (2) persons associated with a member who are not actively engaged 
in the investment banking or securities business;
    (3) persons associated with a member whose functions are related 
solely and exclusively to the member's need for nominal corporate 
officers or for capital participation;
    (4) persons associated with a member whose functions are related 
solely and exclusively to: (A) Effecting transactions on the floor of 
another national securities exchange and who are registered as floor 
members with such exchange; (B) transactions in municipal securities; 
(C) transactions in commodities; (D) transactions in security futures, 
provided that any such person is registered with FINRA or a registered 
futures association; or (E) transactions in variable contracts and 
insurance premium funding programs and other contracts issued by an 
insurance company; (F) transactions in direct participation programs; 
(G) Reserved; (H) transactions in government securities; or (I) 
effecting sales as part of a primary offering of securities not 
involving a public offering pursuant to Section 3(b), 4(2), or 4(6) of 
the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations thereunder; 
and
    (5) persons associated with a member that are not citizens, 
nationals, or residents of the United States or any of its territories 
or possessions and that will conduct all of their securities activities 
in areas outside the jurisdiction of the United States and will not 
engage in any securities activities with or for any citizen, national 
or resident of the United States.
    Rule 1060(a) is not meant to provide an exclusive or exhaustive 
list of exemptions from registration. Associated persons may otherwise 
be exempt from registration based on their activities and functions.
    The Exchange is proposing to adopt Rule 1060(a) as Rule 1230 
subject to the following changes. As noted above, Rule 1060(a) exempts 
from registration those associated persons who are not actively engaged 
in the investment banking or securities business. Rule 1060(a) also 
exempts from registration those associated persons whose functions are 
related solely and exclusively to a member's need for nominal corporate 
officers or for capital participation.\71\ The Exchange believes that 
the determination of whether an associated person is required to 
register must be based on an analysis of the person's activities and 
functions in the context of the various registration categories. The 
Exchange does not believe that categorical exemptions for associated 
persons who are not ``actively engaged'' in a member's investment 
banking or securities business, associated persons whose functions are 
related only to a member's need for nominal corporate officers or 
associated persons whose functions are related only to a member's need 
for capital participation is consistent with this analytical framework. 
The Exchange therefore is proposing to delete these exemptions. Rule 
1060(a) further exempts from registration associated persons whose 
functions are related solely and exclusively to effecting transactions 
on the floor of another national securities exchange as long as they 
are registered as floor members with such exchange. Because exchanges 
have registration categories other than the floor member category, 
proposed Rule 1230 clarifies that the exemption applies to associated 
persons solely and exclusively effecting transactions on the floor of 
another national securities exchange, provided they are appropriately 
registered with such exchange.\72\ Additionally, the Exchange proposes 
to add Section 3 of Rule 1230, pursuant to which persons associated 
with a member that are not citizens, nationals, or residents of the 
United States or any of its territories or possessions, that will 
conduct all of their securities activities in areas outside the 
jurisdiction of the United States, and that will not engage in any 
securities activities with or for any citizen, national or resident of 
the United States need not register with the Exchange.\73\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \71\ These exemptions generally apply to associated persons who 
are corporate officers of a member in name only to meet specific 
corporate legal obligations or who only provide capital for a 
member, but have no other role in a member's business.
    \72\ Proposed Rule 1230 differs from FINRA Rule 1230 in that it 
includes a number of exemptions based upon current Nasdaq Rule 
1060(a) which are not found in FINRA Rule 1230.
    \73\ Individuals described by Section 3 of Rule 1230 who are 
associated with FINRA members may be registered with FINRA as 
Foreign Associates pursuant to FINRA Rule 1220.06. FINRA is 
eliminating this registration category effective October 1, 2018, 
and the Exchange has never recognized it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 51013]]

    The Exchange proposes to adopt Rule 1230.01 to clarify that the 
function of accepting customer orders is not considered a clerical or 
ministerial function and that associated persons who accept customer 
orders under any circumstances are required to be appropriately 
registered. However, the proposed rule provides that an associated 
person is not accepting a customer order where occasionally, when an 
appropriately registered person is unavailable, the associated person 
transcribes the order details and the registered person contacts the 
customer to confirm the order details before entering the order.
O. Changes to CE Requirements (Proposed Rule 1240)
    As described above, current Rule 1120 includes a Regulatory Element 
and a Firm Element. The Regulatory Element applies to registered 
persons and consists of periodic computer-based training on regulatory, 
compliance, ethical, supervisory subjects and sales practice standards. 
The Firm Element consists of at least annual, member-developed and 
administered training programs designed to keep covered registered 
persons current regarding securities products, services and strategies 
offered by the member. The Exchange is proposing to delete Rule 1120 
and replace it with Rule 1240. Proposed Rule 1240 would differ from 
current Rule 1120 in a number of respects, discussed below.\74\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \74\ Proposed Rule 1240 also differs slightly from FINRA Rule 
1240 in that it omits references to certain registration categories 
which the Exchange does not recognize as well as an internal cross 
reference to FINRA Rule 4517.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Regulatory Element
    The Exchange is proposing to replace the term ``registered person'' 
under current Rule 1120(a) with the term ``covered person'' and make 
conforming changes to proposed Rule 1240(a). For purposes of the 
Regulatory Element, the Exchange is proposing to define the term 
``covered person'' in Rule 1240(a)(5) as any person registered pursuant 
to proposed Rule 1210, including any person who is permissively 
registered pursuant to proposed Rule 1210.02, and any person who is 
designated as eligible for an FSA waiver pursuant to proposed Rule 
1210.09. The purpose of this change is to ensure that all registered 
persons, including those with permissive registrations, keep their 
knowledge of the securities industry current. The inclusion of persons 
designated as eligible for an FSA waiver under the term ``covered 
persons'' corresponds to the requirements of proposed Rule 1210.09. In 
addition, consistent with proposed Rule 1210.09, proposed Rule 1240(a) 
provides that an FSA-eligible person would be subject to a Regulatory 
Element program that correlates to his or her most recent registration 
category, and CE would be based on the same cycle had the individual 
remained registered. The proposed rule also provides that if an FSA-
eligible person fails to complete the Regulatory Element during the 
prescribed time frames, he or she would lose FSA eligibility.
    Further, the Exchange is proposing to add a rule to address the 
impact of failing to complete the Regulatory Element on a registered 
person's activities and compensation. Specifically, proposed Rule 
1240(a)(2) provides that any person whose registration has been deemed 
inactive under the rule may not accept or solicit business or receive 
any compensation for the purchase or sale of securities. However, like 
the FINRA rule, the proposed rule provides that such person may receive 
trail or residual commissions resulting from transactions completed 
before the inactive status, unless the member with which the person is 
associated has a policy prohibiting such trail or residual commissions.
    The Exchange is also proposing to remove the requirements currently 
found in Rule 1120(a)(1) prescribing the specific Regulatory Elements 
administered by FINRA that are required for General Securities 
Representatives, Securities Traders or persons registered in a 
supervisory capacity, so that Rule 1240(a)(1) will conform more closely 
to the FINRA counterpart rule which does not identify specific 
Regulatory Element requirements for particular categories of 
registrant.
2. Firm Element
    The Exchange believes that training in ethics and professional 
responsibility should apply to all covered registered persons. 
Therefore, proposed Rule 1240(b)(2)(B), which provides that the Firm 
Element training programs must cover applicable regulatory 
requirements, would also require that a firm's training program cover 
training in ethics and professional responsibility.
P. Electronic Filing Rules
    Existing BX Rule 1140, Electronic Filing Rules, is proposed to be 
amended and relocated as Rule 1250, Electronic Requirements for Uniform 
Forms. Proposed Rule 1250 is based on existing Nasdaq Rule 1140 which 
is a more comprehensive version of existing BX Rule 1140.
    Current BX Rule 1140 requires registration forms to be filed 
through an electronic process or such other process as the Exchange may 
prescribe to the Central Registration Depository. The rule includes 
supervisory requirements related to the submission of electronic 
filings, as well as Form U4 manual signature requirements. It also 
requires applicants' fingerprint cards to be submitted by members, 
includes Form U5 filing requirements, and permits a member to employ a 
third party to file required forms electronically on its behalf.
    Proposed Rule 1250 reorganizes and enhances the content of current 
BX Rule 1140. It would provide that all forms required to be filed 
under the Exchange's registration rules, including the Rule 1200 
series, must be filed through an electronic process or such other 
process as the Exchange may prescribe to the Central Registration 
Depository. It would provide for the electronic filing of Form U4 
amendments in a number of cases without the individual's manual 
signature, subject to certain safeguards and procedures, and would 
permit the delegation of filing functions by supervisors (again, 
subject to certain safeguards). Additionally, Rule 1250, Supplementary 
Material .02 would state clearly that members remain responsible for 
complying with the requirements of the rule even if forms are filed 
electronically by a third party pursuant to an agreement. Finally, it 
would establish a number of recordkeeping requirements related to 
electronic registration filings.
    Rule 1250, as part of the uniform 1200 Series, will consolidate 
Form U4 and U5 electronic filing requirements in a single location, 
across the Nasdaq Affiliated Exchanges.
Q. Other Rules
    The Exchange is deleting Rule 1060, Persons Exempt from 
Registration, as explained above. Rule 1060(b) however, contains 
provisions dealing with Nonregistered Foreign ``Finders'' and is simply 
being relocated with nonsubstantive changes to new Rule 2040.\75\ The 
remaining rules identified above under ``Overview'' which are to be 
amended in this proposed rule change but are not further discussed 
herein simply update citations and/or

[[Page 51014]]

make technical or nonsubstantive changes to the proposed new rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \75\ The FINRA counterpart to current Rule 1060(b) occupies a 
similar location in the FINRA rulebook. See FINRA Rule 2040(c), 
Nonregistered Foreign Finders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\76\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\77\ in particular, in that it is designed to 
promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments 
to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national 
market system, and, in general to protect investors and the public 
interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \76\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \77\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will 
streamline, and bring consistency and uniformity to, the registration 
rules, which will, in turn, assist members and their associated persons 
in complying with these rules and improve regulatory efficiency. The 
proposed rule change will also improve the efficiency of the 
examination program, without compromising the qualification standards, 
by eliminating duplicative testing of general securities knowledge on 
examinations and by removing examinations that currently have limited 
utility. In addition, the proposed rule change will expand the scope of 
permissive registrations, which, among other things, will allow members 
to develop a depth of associated persons with registrations to respond 
to unanticipated personnel changes and will encourage greater 
regulatory understanding. Further, the proposed rule change will 
provide a more streamlined and effective waiver process for individuals 
working for a financial services industry affiliate of a member, and it 
will require such individuals to maintain specified levels of 
competence and knowledge while working in areas ancillary to the 
securities business. The proposed rule change will improve the 
supervisory structure of firms by imposing an experience requirement 
for representatives that are designated by firms to function as 
principals for a 120-day period before having to pass an appropriate 
principal qualification examination. The proposed rule change will also 
prohibit unregistered persons from accepting customer orders under any 
circumstances, which will enhance investor protection.
    The Exchange believes that, with the introduction of the SIE and 
expansion of the pool of individuals who are eligible to take the SIE, 
the proposed rule change has the potential of enhancing the pool of 
prospective securities industry professionals by introducing them to 
securities laws, rules and regulations and appropriate conduct before 
they join the industry in a registered capacity.
    The extension of the Securities Trader registration requirement to 
developers of algorithmic trading strategies requires associated 
persons primarily responsible for the design, development or 
significant modification of an algorithmic trading strategy or 
responsible for the day-to-day supervision or direction of such 
activities to register and meet a minimum standard of knowledge 
regarding the securities rules and regulations applicable to the member 
employing the algorithmic trading strategy. This minimum standard of 
knowledge is identical to the standard of knowledge currently 
applicable to traditional securities traders. The Exchange believes 
that improved education of firm personnel may reduce the potential for 
problematic market conduct and manipulative trading activity.
    Finally, the proposed rule change makes organizational changes to 
Exchange rules to maintain appropriate parallelism with corresponding 
Exchange rules, in order to prevent unnecessary regulatory burdens and 
promote efficient administration of the rules. The change also makes 
minor updates and corrections to the Exchange's rules which improve 
readability.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed rule change is 
designed to ensure that all associated persons of members engaged in a 
securities business are, and will continue to be, properly trained and 
qualified to perform their functions, will be supervised, and can be 
identified by regulators. The proposed new 1200 Series of rules, which 
are similar in many respects to the registration-related requirements 
adopted by FINRA effective October 1, 2018, should enhance the ability 
of member firms to comply with the Exchange's rules as well as with the 
Federal securities laws. Additionally, as described above, the Exchange 
intends the amendments described herein to eliminate inconsistent 
registration-related requirements across the Nasdaq Affiliated 
Exchanges, thereby promoting uniformity of regulation across markets. 
The new 1200 Series should in fact remove administrative burdens that 
currently exist for members seeking to register associated persons on 
multiple Nasdaq Affiliated Exchanges featuring varying registration-
related requirements. Additionally, all similarly-situated associated 
persons of members will be treated similarly under the new 1200 Series 
in terms of standards of training, experience and competence for 
persons associated with Exchange members.
    With respect to registration of developers of algorithmic trading 
strategies in particular, the Exchange recognizes that the proposal 
would impose costs on member firms employing associated persons engaged 
in the activity subject to the registration requirement. Specifically, 
among other things, additional associated persons would be required to 
become registered under the proposal, and the firm would need to 
establish policies and procedures to monitor compliance with the 
proposed requirement on an ongoing basis. However, given the prevalence 
and importance of algorithmic trading strategies in today's markets, 
the Exchange believes that associated persons engaged in the activities 
covered by this proposal must meet a minimum standard of knowledge 
regarding the applicable securities rules and regulations. To mitigate 
the costs imposed on member firms, the proposed rule change limits the 
scope of registration requirement by excluding technological or 
development support personnel who are not primarily responsible for the 
covered activities. It also excludes supervisors who are not 
responsible for the ``day-to-day'' supervision or direction of the 
covered activities.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) 
Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) 
become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or 
such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become 
effective pursuant to Section

[[Page 51015]]

19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \78\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \78\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally does 
not become operative for 30 days from the date of filing. However, Rule 
19b-4(f)(6)(iii) \79\ permits the Commission to designate a shorter 
time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and 
the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 
30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative on 
October 1, 2018 to coincide with the effective date of FINRA's proposed 
rule change on which the proposal is based.\80\ The waiver of the 
operative delay would make the Exchange's qualification requirements 
consistent with those of FINRA, as of October 1, 2018. Therefore, the 
Commission believes that the waiver of the 30-day operative delay is 
consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest and 
hereby waives the 30-day operative delay and designates the proposal 
operative on October 1, 2018.\81\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \79\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \80\ See supra note 7. As discussed above, the Exchange has 
stated that the new registration requirements for developers of 
algorithmic trading strategies would become operative on April 1, 
2019.
    \81\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-BX-2018-047 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BX-2018-047. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's internet website (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). 
Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written 
statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with 
the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed 
rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those 
that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions 
of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in 
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection 
and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments 
received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-BX-2018-047 and should be submitted on 
or before October 31, 2018.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\82\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \82\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-21904 Filed 10-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices                                                    50999

                                              business days between the hours of 10                   the principal office of the Exchange, and              FINRA representative-level qualification
                                              a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also               at the Commission’s Public Reference                   examinations, creating a general
                                              will be available for inspection and                    Room.                                                  knowledge examination and specialized
                                              copying at the principal office of the                                                                         knowledge examinations, allowing
                                                                                                      II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                              Exchange. All comments received will                                                                           permissive registration, establishing an
                                                                                                      Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                              be posted without change. Persons                                                                              examination waiver process for persons
                                                                                                      Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                              submitting comments are cautioned that                                                                         working for a financial services affiliate
                                                                                                      Change
                                              we do not redact or edit personal                                                                              of a member, and amending certain
                                              identifying information from comment                       In its filing with the Commission, the              continuing education (‘‘CE’’)
                                              submissions. You should submit only                     Exchange included statements                           requirements (collectively, the ‘‘FINRA
                                              information that you wish to make                       concerning the purpose of and basis for                Rule Changes’’).7 The FINRA Rule
                                              available publicly. All submissions                     the proposed rule change and discussed                 Changes will become effective on
                                              should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-                    any comments it received on the                        October 1, 2018.
                                              2018–61 and should be submitted on or                   proposed rule change. The text of these                  The Exchange now proposes to
                                              before October 31, 2018.                                statements may be examined at the                      amend, reorganize and enhance certain
                                                                                                      places specified in Item IV below. The                 of its corresponding membership,
                                                For the Commission, by the Division of
                                              Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated              Exchange has prepared summaries, set                   registration and qualification
                                              authority.93                                            forth in sections A, B, and C below, of                requirement rules in part in response to
                                              Eduardo A. Aleman,                                      the most significant aspects of such                   the FINRA Rule Changes, and also in
                                              Assistant Secretary.
                                                                                                      statements.                                            order to conform the Exchange’s rules
                                              [FR Doc. 2018–21902 Filed 10–9–18; 8:45 am]             A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      more closely to those of its affiliated
                                                                                                      Statement of the Purpose of, and                       exchanges in the interest of uniformity
                                              BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                      Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                 and to facilitate compliance with
                                                                                                      Change                                                 membership, registration and
                                              SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                                                                        qualification regulatory requirements by
                                                                                                      1. Purpose                                             members of multiple Nasdaq-affiliated
                                              COMMISSION
                                                                                                      Overview                                               exchanges including BX. Last, the
                                              [Release No. 34–84353; File No. SR–BX–                                                                         Exchange proposes to enhance its
                                              2018–047]                                                 The Exchange has adopted                             registration rules by adding a new
                                                                                                      registration requirements to ensure that               registration requirement applicable to
                                              Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq                   associated persons attain and maintain                 developers of algorithmic trading
                                              BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and                          specified levels of competence and                     systems similar to a requirement
                                              Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed                     knowledge pertinent to their function.                 adopted by FINRA pursuant to a 2016
                                              Rule Change To Amend, Reorganize                        In general, the current rules require that             FINRA proposed rule change.8
                                              and Enhance Membership,                                 persons engaged in a member’s
                                              Registration and Qualification Rules,                   investment banking or securities                       incorporated from the New York Stock Exchange
                                              and To Make Conforming Changes to                       business who are to function as                        (‘‘NYSE’’) (the ‘‘Incorporated NYSE rules’’). While
                                              Certain Other Rules                                     representatives or principals register                 the NASD rules generally apply to all FINRA
                                                                                                                                                             members, the Incorporated NYSE rules apply only
                                              October 3, 2018.
                                                                                                      with the Exchange in each category of                  to those members of FINRA that are also members
                                                                                                      registration appropriate to their                      of the NYSE.
                                                 Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                                                                      functions by passing one or more                          7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81098
                                              Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                                                                      qualification examinations,3 and exempt                (July 7, 2017), 82 FR 32419 (July 13, 2017) (Order
                                              (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                                                                        Approving File No. SR–FINRA–2017–007). See also
                                                                                                      specified associated persons from the
                                              notice is hereby given that on                                                                                 FINRA Regulatory Notice 17–30 (SEC Approves
                                                                                                      registration requirements.4 They also                  Consolidated FINRA Registration Rules,
                                              September 27, 2018, Nasdaq BX, Inc.
                                              (‘‘BX’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the                 prescribe ongoing continuing education                 Restructured Representative-Level Qualification
                                                                                                      requirements for registered persons.5                  Examinations and Changes to Continuing Education
                                              Securities and Exchange Commission                                                                             Requirements) (October 2017). FINRA articulated
                                              (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed                The Exchange now proposes to amend,                    its belief that the proposed rule change would
                                              rule change as described in Items I and                 reorganize and enhance its rules                       streamline, and bring consistency and uniformity
                                              II, below, which Items have been                        regarding registration, qualification                  to, its registration rules, which would, in turn,
                                                                                                      examinations and continuing education,                 assist FINRA members and their associated persons
                                              prepared by the Exchange. The                                                                                  in complying with the rules and improve regulatory
                                              Commission is publishing this notice to                 as described below.                                    efficiency. FINRA also determined to enhance the
                                                                                                        Recently, the Commission approved a                  overall efficiency of its representative-level
                                              solicit comments on the proposed rule
                                                                                                      FINRA proposed rule change                             examinations program by eliminating redundancy
                                              change from interested persons.                                                                                of subject matter content across examinations,
                                                                                                      consolidating and adopting NASD and
                                                                                                                                                             retiring several outdated representative-level
                                              I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Incorporated NYSE rules relating to                    registrations, and introducing a general knowledge
                                              Statement of the Terms of Substance of                  qualification and registration                         examination that could be taken by all potential
                                              the Proposed Rule Change                                requirements into the Consolidated                     representative-level registrants and the general
                                                                                                      FINRA Rulebook,6 restructuring the                     public. FINRA amended certain aspects of its
                                                 The Exchange proposes to amend,                                                                             continuing education rule, including by codifying
                                              reorganize and enhance its membership,                    3 See, e.g., Exchange Rules 1021, Registration
                                                                                                                                                             existing guidance regarding the effect of failing to
                                              registration and qualification rules, and                                                                      complete the Regulatory Element on a registered
                                                                                                      Requirements, 1022, Categories of Principal            person’s activities and compensation.
                                              to make conforming changes to certain                   Registration, 1031, Registration Requirements, 1032,      8 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77551
                                              other rules.
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                                                                                                      Categories of Representative Registration, and 1041,   (April 7, 2016), 81 FR 21914 (April 13, 2016) (Order
                                                 The text of the proposed rule change                 Registration Requirements for Assistant                Approving File No. SR–FINRA–2016–007). In its
                                                                                                      Representatives.
                                              is available on the Exchange’s website at                 4 See Rule 1060, Persons Exempt from
                                                                                                                                                             proposed rule change FINRA addressed the
                                              http://nasdaqbx.cchwallstreet.com/, at                                                                         increasing significance of algorithmic trading
                                                                                                      Registration.                                          strategies by amending its rules to require
                                                                                                        5 See Rule 1120, Continuing Education
                                                                                                                                                             registration, as Securities Traders, of associated
                                                93 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            Requirements.                                          persons primarily responsible for the design,
                                                1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                  6 The current FINRA rulebook consists of: (1)        development or significant modification of
                                                2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                   FINRA rules; (2) NASD rules; and (3) rules                                                        Continued




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                                              51000                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices

                                                As part of this proposed rule change,                 the new 1200 Series the Exchange                            Proposed Rule 1210 provides that
                                              current IM–1002–2, Status of Persons                    would, among other things, recognize                     each person engaged in the securities
                                              Serving in the Armed Forces of the                      additional associated person registration                business of a member must register with
                                              United States; IM–1002–3, Failure to                    categories, recognize a new general                      the Exchange as a representative or
                                              Register Personnel; 1021, Registration of               knowledge examination, permit the                        principal in each category of registration
                                              Principals; 1022, Categories of Principal               maintenance of permissive registrations,                 appropriate to his or her functions and
                                              Registration; IM–1022–2, Limited                        and require Securities Trader                            responsibilities as specified in proposed
                                              Principal-General Securities Sales                      registration of developers of algorithmic                Rule 1220, unless exempt from
                                              Supervisor; 1031, Registration                          trading strategies consistent with a                     registration pursuant to proposed Rule
                                              Requirements, sections (a)–(e); 1032,                   comparable existing FINRA registration                   1230. Unlike current Rules 1021(a) and
                                              Categories of Representative                            requirement.13                                           1031(a), proposed Rule 1210 would not
                                              Registration; 1060, Persons Exempt from                    The proposed rule change would                        require persons engaged in the
                                              Registration; 9 1070, Qualification                     become operative October 1, 2018 with                    investment banking business of a
                                              Examinations and Waiver of                              the exception of the new registration                    member to register with the Exchange
                                              Requirements; 1080, Confidentiality of                  requirement for developers of                            since a member’s investment banking
                                              Examinations; 1120, Continuing                          algorithmic trading strategies which                     business is not the primary concern of
                                              Education Requirements; and Chapter II,                 would become operative on April 1,                       the Exchange or the focus of its
                                              Section 2, Requirements for Options                     2019.                                                    operations.16 Proposed Exchange Rule
                                              Participation, Subsections (g) and (h),                                                                          1210 also provides that such person is
                                              are proposed to be deleted. Rule 1140,                  Proposed Rules                                           not qualified to function in any
                                              Electronic Filing Rules, is proposed to                 A. Registration Requirements (Proposed                   registered capacity other than that for
                                              be amended and relocated. A number of                   Rule 1210)                                               which the person is registered, unless
                                              other rules are proposed to be amended                    Exchange Rules 1021(a) and 1031(a)                     otherwise stated in the rules. This latter
                                              with conforming changes, or relocated                   currently require that persons engaged,                  provision is a consolidation of similar
                                              in view of the foregoing amendments.10                  or to be engaged, in the investment                      provisions in the registration categories
                                                In place of the deleted rules and rule                                                                         under the current Exchange rules.
                                                                                                      banking or securities business of a
                                              sections, the Exchange proposes to                                                                                  Further, the Exchange is proposing to
                                                                                                      member who are to function as
                                              adopt a new 1200 Series of rules                                                                                 delete Exchange IM–1002–3 because it
                                              captioned Registration, Qualification                   representatives or principals register
                                                                                                                                                               is superfluous. The failure to register a
                                              and Continuing Education, generally                     with the Exchange in the category of
                                                                                                                                                               representative as required under current
                                              conforming to FINRA’s new 1200 Series                   registration appropriate to their
                                                                                                                                                               Exchange Rule 1031(a) is in fact a
                                              of rules resulting from the FINRA Rule                  functions as specified in Exchange
                                                                                                                                                               violation of Exchange rules.
                                              Changes, but with a number of                           Rules 1022 and 1032.14 The Exchange is
                                              Exchange-specific variations.11 The                     proposing to consolidate and streamline                  B. Minimum Number of Registered
                                              proposed new 1200 Series is also being                  provisions of Exchange Rules 1021(a)                     Principals (Proposed Rule 1210.01)
                                              proposed for adoption by BX’s affiliated                and 1031(a) and to adopt them as                           Rule 1021(e)(1) currently requires that
                                              exchanges in order to facilitate                        Exchange Rule 1210, subject to several                   a member, except a sole proprietorship,
                                              compliance with membership,                             changes.15
                                              registration and qualification regulatory                                                                        proposed rule change. However, due to the overall
                                                                                                      31. The Exchange recently added a shell structure        organizational restructuring of the registration rules,
                                              requirements by members of two or                       to its rulebook with the purpose of improving            those sections (current Rules 1031(c), (d) and (e))
                                              more of those affiliated exchanges.12 In                efficiency and readability and to align its rules more   are being relocated with nonsubstantive
                                                                                                      closely to those of the other Nasdaq Affiliated          amendments to new Supplementary Material .12,
                                              algorithmic trading strategies, or who are              Exchanges. See Securities Exchange Act Release No.       Application for Registration and Jurisdiction, to
                                              responsible for the day-to-day supervision or           82174 (November 29, 2017), 82 FR 57492                   proposed Rule 1210, Registration Requirements.
                                              direction of such activities.                           (December 5, 2017) (SR–BX–2017–054). Ultimately,         These relocated provisions govern the process for
                                                 9 Provisions currently found in Rule 1060(b) are     the Exchange intends to submit another proposed          applying for registration and amending the
                                              being amended and relocated to new Rule 2040, as        rule change to transfer the 1200 Series of rules into    registration application, as well as for notifying the
                                              discussed below.                                        the new shell structure. (The Exchange notes that        Exchange of termination of a member’s association
                                                 10 Conforming amendments are proposed to Rules       the Phlx 1200 Series of rules would differ slightly      with a person registered with the Exchange. The
                                              0120, Definitions; 1001, FINRA Regulatory               from the 1200 Series of the other Nasdaq Affiliated      Exchange proposes to adopt Rule 1210,
                                              Contract, 1011, Definitions, 1050, Research             Exchanges given Phlx’s trading floor and its unique      Supplemental Material .12, into the 1200 Series in
                                              Analysts; 3010, Supervision; 7003, Regulatory,          membership structure which features the concept of       order to have uniform processes and requirements
                                              Registration and Processing Fees; IM–9216,              a ‘‘member organization.’’) [sic]                        in this area across the Nasdaq Affiliated Exchanges.
                                                                                                         13 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77551
                                              Violations Appropriate for Disposition Under Plan                                                                This relocated language is unique to the Exchange—
                                              Pursuant to SEC Rule 19d–1(c)(2); and 9630,             (April 7, 2016), 81 FR 21914 (April 13, 2016) (order     the FINRA Rule Changes do not contain a
                                              Appeal. In the Exchange’s Options Rules,                approving SR–FINRA–2016–007). In its proposed            counterpart Rule 1210 Supplementary Material .12.
                                              amendments are proposed to Chapter XI, Section 2,       rule change to adopt this registration requirement,      The Exchange anticipates amending Rule 1031(f) in
                                              Registration of Options Principals and Section 3,       FINRA addressed the increasing significance of           a future proposed rule change.
                                              Registration of Representatives.                        algorithmic trading strategies by proposing to              16 Miami International Securities Exchange LLC
                                                 11 The proposed 1200 Series of Rules would           require registration, as Securities Traders, of          (‘‘MIAX’’) Rule 203(a) and ISE Rule 313(a)(1)
                                              consist of Rule 1210, Registration Requirements;        associated persons primarily responsible for the         likewise require registration of associated persons
                                              Rule 1220, Registration Categories; Rule 1230,          design, development or significant modification of       of members engaged in the member’s securities
                                              Associated Persons Exempt from Registration; Rule       algorithmic trading strategies, or who are               business, but do not require registration with the
                                              1240, Continuing Education Requirements; and            responsible for the day-to-day supervision or            exchanges of associated persons of members who
                                              Rule 1250, Electronic Filing Requirements for           direction of such activities.                            engage in the member’s investment banking
                                                                                                         14 In addition, IM–1002–3 provides that the
                                              Uniform Forms.                                                                                                   business. Because the Exchange’s proposed
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                                                 12 The Exchange’s five affiliated exchanges, The     failure to register an individual as a registered        registration rules focus solely on securities trading
                                              Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’) Nasdaq PHLX        representative may be deemed to be conduct               activity, the proposed rules differ from the FINRA
                                              LLC (‘‘PHLX’’), Nasdaq ISE, LLC (‘‘ISE’’), Nasdaq       inconsistent with just and equitable principles of       Rule Changes by omitting references to investment
                                              GEMX, LLC (‘‘GEMX’’), and Nasdaq MRX, LLC               trade and may be sufficient cause for appropriate        banking in proposed Rules 1210, 1210.03, 1210.10,
                                              (‘‘MRX’’) (together with BX, the ‘‘Nasdaq Affiliated    disciplinary action. As explained below the              1220(a)(1), 1220(a)(2)(B), 1220(b), and 1240(b)(1),
                                              Exchanges’’) are also submitting proposed rule          Exchange proposes to delete IM–1002–3 as                 and also by omitting as unnecessary from Rule
                                              changes to adopt the 1200 Series of rules. See SR–      superfluous.                                             1220(a)(10) a limitation on the qualification of a
                                              NASDAQ–2018–078, SR–Phlx–2018–61, SR–ISE–                  15 Rule 1031, Registration Requirements, contains     General Securities Sales Supervisor to supervise the
                                              2018–82, SR–GEMX–2018–33, and SR–MRX–2018–              certain sections that are not affected by this           origination and structuring of an underwriting.



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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices                                                      51001

                                              have a minimum of two registered                         two principal requirement. In addition,                  Representative registration with the
                                              principals with respect to each aspect of                proposed Rule 1210.01 clarifies that                     member. As another example, an
                                              the member’s investment banking and                      existing members as well as new                          associated person of a member who is
                                              securities business pursuant to the                      applicants may request a waiver of the                   registered, and functioning solely, as a
                                              applicable provisions of Rule 1022,                      two-principal requirement. Finally, the                  General Securities Representative would
                                              provided however that a proprietary                      Exchange is proposing to retain the                      be able to obtain and maintain a General
                                              trading firm with 25 or fewer registered                 existing rule’s provision permitting a                   Securities Principal registration with the
                                              representatives shall only be required to                proprietary trading firm with 25 or                      member. Further, proposed Rule
                                              have one registered principal. This                      fewer registered representatives to have                 1210.02 allows an individual engaged in
                                              requirement applies to applicants for                    just one registered principal. The FINRA                 the securities business of a foreign
                                              membership and existing members.                         Rule Changes do not include this                         securities affiliate or subsidiary of a
                                              Exchange Rule 1021(e)(2) also provides                   provision.19                                             member to obtain and maintain any
                                              that, pursuant to the Exchange’s Rule                                                                             registration permitted by the member.
                                                                                                       C. Permissive Registrations (Proposed
                                              9600 Series, the Exchange may waive                                                                                  The Exchange is proposing to permit
                                                                                                       Rule 1210.02)
                                              the principal requirements of Rule                                                                                the registration of such individuals for
                                              1021(e)(1) in situations that indicate                      Rules 1021(a) and 1031(a) currently                   several reasons. First, a member may
                                              conclusively that only one person                        permit a member to register or maintain                  foresee a need to move a former
                                              associated with an applicant for                         the registration(s) as a representative or               representative or principal who has not
                                              membership should be required to                         principal of an individual performing                    been registered for two or more years
                                              register as a principal. Rule 1021(e)(3)                 legal, compliance, internal audit, back-
                                                                                                                                                                back into a position that would require
                                              provides that an applicant for                           office operations or similar
                                                                                                                                                                such person to be registered. Currently,
                                              membership, if the nature of its business                responsibilities for the member. Rule
                                                                                                                                                                such persons are required to requalify
                                              so requires, must also have at least one                 1031(a) also permits a member to
                                                                                                                                                                (or obtain a waiver of the applicable
                                              person qualified for registration under                  register or maintain the registration as a
                                                                                                                                                                qualification examinations) and reapply
                                              Rule 1022(b) as a Financial and                          representative of an individual
                                                                                                                                                                for registration. Second, the proposed
                                              Operations Principal.17                                  performing administrative support
                                                                                                                                                                rule change would allow members to
                                                 The Exchange is proposing to adopt                    functions for registered persons. In
                                                                                                                                                                develop a depth of associated persons
                                              Rule 1021(e) as Rule 1210.01, subject to                 addition, Rules 1021(a) and 1031(a)
                                                                                                                                                                with registrations in the event of
                                              the following changes. The Exchange                      permit a member to register or maintain
                                                                                                                                                                unanticipated personnel changes. Third,
                                              proposes to provide firms that limit the                 the registration(s) as a representative or
                                                                                                                                                                allowing registration in additional
                                              scope of their business with greater                     principal of an individual engaged in
                                                                                                                                                                categories encourages greater regulatory
                                              flexibility to satisfy the two-principal                 the investment banking or securities
                                                                                                                                                                understanding. Finally, the proposed
                                              requirement. In particular, proposed                     business of a foreign securities affiliate
                                                                                                                                                                rule change would eliminate an
                                              Rule 1210.01 requires that a member                      or subsidiary of the member.
                                                                                                          The Exchange is proposing to                          inconsistency in the current rules,
                                              have a minimum of two General
                                                                                                       consolidate these provisions under Rule                  which permit some associated persons
                                              Securities Principals, provided that a
                                                                                                       1210.02. The Exchange is also proposing                  of a member to obtain permissive
                                              member that is limited in the scope of
                                                                                                       to expand the scope of permissive                        registrations, but not others who equally
                                              its activities may instead have two
                                                                                                       registrations and to clarify a member’s                  are engaged in the member’s business.
                                              officers or partners who are registered in
                                              a principal category that corresponds to                 obligations regarding individuals who                       Individuals maintaining a permissive
                                              the scope of the member’s activities.18                  are maintaining such registrations.                      registration under the proposed rule
                                              For instance, if a firm’s business is                       Specifically, proposed Rule 1210.02                   change would be considered registered
                                              limited to securities trading, the firm                  allows any associated person to obtain                   persons and subject to all Exchange
                                              may have two Securities Trader                           and maintain any registration permitted                  rules, to the extent relevant to their
                                              Principals, instead of two General                       by the member. For instance, an                          activities. For instance, an individual
                                              Securities Principals. Currently, a sole                 associated person of a member working                    working solely in an administrative
                                              proprietor member (without any other                     solely in a clerical or ministerial                      capacity would be able to maintain a
                                              associated persons) is not subject to the                capacity, such as in an administrative                   General Securities Representative
                                              two-principal requirement because such                   capacity, would be able to obtain and                    registration and would be considered a
                                              member is operating as a one-person                      maintain a General Securities                            registered person for purposes of rules
                                              firm. Given that one-person firms may                                                                             relating to borrowing from or lending to
                                              be organized in legal forms other than                     19 The Exchange is not proposing provisions            customers, but the rule would have no
                                              a sole proprietorship (such as a single-                 conforming to the new FINRA Rule 1210.01                 practical application to his or her
                                                                                                       requirements that all FINRA members are required         conduct because he or she would not
                                              person limited liability company),                       to have a Principal Financial Officer and a Principal
                                              proposed Exchange Rule 1210.01                           Operations Officer, because it believes that its
                                                                                                                                                                have any customers.
                                              provides that any member with only one                   proposed Rule 1220(a)(4), Financial and Operations          Consistent with the Exchange’s
                                              associated person is excluded from the                   Principal, which requires member firms operating         supervision rules, members would be
                                                                                                       pursuant to certain provisions of SEC rules to           required to have adequate supervisory
                                                                                                       designate at least one Financial and Operations
                                                17 Exchange Rule 1022(b) as well as other
                                                                                                       Principal, is sufficient. Further, the Exchange is not   systems and procedures reasonably
                                              Exchange rules currently refer to categories of          adopting the FINRA Rule 1210.01 requirements that        designed to ensure that individuals with
                                              limited principal registration as ‘‘Limited              (1) a member engaged in investment banking               permissive registrations do not act
                                              Principal—’’ followed by the name of the                 activities have an Investment Banking Principal, (2)     outside the scope of their assigned
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                                              registration category. In this proposed rule change      a member engaged in research activities have a
                                              and in the proposed rules, the Exchange will no          Research Principal, or (3) a member engaged in           functions.20 With respect to an
                                              longer employ the term ‘‘Limited Principal—’’ in         options activities with the public have a Registered
                                              identifying various principal registration categories.   Options Principal. The Exchange does not recognize         20 The FINRA Proposed Rules at Rule 1210.02 cite
                                              No substantive change is intended; shortening the        the Investment Banking Principal or the Research         FINRA’s own supervision rule, by number. Because
                                              names of the various principals simply improves          Principal registration categories, and the Registered    the 1200 Series of rules is intended to apply to the
                                              readability of the rules.                                Options Principal registration requirement is set        Exchange as well as to its affiliates which have
                                                18 The principal registration categories are           forth in Rule 1210.08 and its inclusion is therefore     different supervision rules, proposed Rule 1210.02
                                              described in greater detail below.                       unnecessary in Rule 1210.01.                                                                        Continued




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                                              51002                      Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices

                                              individual who solely maintains a                       registered as an Order Processing                        change would also be eligible to
                                              permissive registration, such as an                     Assistant Representative, change and he                  maintain those registrations without
                                              individual working exclusively in an                    or she needs to become registered in                     being subject to any additional
                                              administrative capacity, the individual’s               another representative-level category, he                requirements, provided that they
                                              day-to-day supervisor may be a                          or she would not need to pass the SIE                    reregister with the Exchange within two
                                              nonregistered person. Members would                     again. Rather, the registered person                     years from the date of their last
                                              be required to assign a registered                      would need to pass only the appropriate                  registration.
                                              supervisor to this person who would be                  representative-level qualification                          Further, registered representatives,
                                              responsible for periodically contacting                 examination.22 Thus under the                            other than an individual registered as an
                                              such individual’s day-to-day supervisor                 proposed rule change, individuals                        Order Processing Assistant
                                              to verify that the individual is not acting             seeking registration in two or more                      Representative, would be considered to
                                              outside the scope of his or her assigned                representative-level categories would                    have passed the SIE in the CRD system,
                                              functions. If such individual is                        experience a net decrease in the total                   and thus if they wish to register in any
                                              permissively registered as a                            number of exam questions they would                      other representative category after the
                                              representative, the registered supervisor               be required to answer because the SIE                    operative date of the proposed rule
                                              must be registered as a representative or               content would be tested only once.                       change, they could do so by taking only
                                              principal. If the individual is                           The proposed rule change solely                        the appropriate specialized knowledge
                                              permissively registered as a principal,                 impacts the representative-level                         examination.23 However, with respect to
                                              the registered supervisor must be                       qualification requirements. The                          an individual who is not registered on
                                              registered as a principal.21                            proposed rule change does not change                     the operative date of the proposed rule
                                                                                                      the scope of the activities under the                    change but was registered within the
                                              D. Qualification Examinations and                       remaining representative categories. For                 past two years prior to the operative
                                              Waivers of Examinations (Proposed                       instance, after the operative date of the                date of the proposed rule change, the
                                              Rule 1210.03)                                           proposed rule change, a previously                       individual’s SIE status in the CRD
                                                 Rules 1021(a) and 1031(a) currently                  unregistered individual registering as a                 system would be administratively
                                              set forth general requirements that an                  Securities Trader for the first time                     terminated if such individual does not
                                              individual pass an appropriate                          would be required to pass the SIE and                    register within four years from the date
                                              qualification examination before his or                 an appropriate specialized knowledge                     of the individual’s last registration.24
                                              her registration as a representative or                 examination. However, such individual                       In addition, individuals, with the
                                              principal can become effective. The                     may engage only in those activities in                   exception of Order Processing Assistant
                                              Exchange is proposing to consolidate                    which a current Securities Trader may                    Representatives, who had been
                                              these provisions and adopt them as Rule                 engage under current Exchange Rules.                     registered as representatives two or
                                              1210.03.                                                  Individuals who are registered on the                  more years, but less than four years,
                                                 In addition, as part of the FINRA Rule               operative date of the proposed rule                      prior to the operative date of the
                                              Changes FINRA has adopted a                             change would be eligible to maintain                     proposed rule change would also be
                                              restructured representative-level                       those registrations without being subject                considered to have passed the SIE and
                                              qualification examination program                       to any additional requirements.                          designated as such in the CRD system.
                                              whereby representative-level registrants                Individuals who had been registered                      Moreover, if such individuals re-register
                                              would be required to take a general                     within the past two years prior to the                   with a firm after the operative date of
                                              knowledge examination (the Securities                   operative date of the proposed rule                      the proposed rule change and within
                                              Industry Essentials Exam or ‘‘SIE’’) and                                                                         four years of having been previously
                                              a specialized knowledge examination                        22 The exception for Order Processing Assistant       registered, they would only need to pass
                                              appropriate to their job functions at the               Representatives and Foreign Associates was               the specialized knowledge examination
                                                                                                      adopted by FINRA in FINRA Rule 1210.03, and is
                                              firm with which they are associating.                   included in proposed Exchange Rule 1210.03               associated with that registration
                                              Therefore, proposed Rule 1210.03                        without the reference to Foreign Associates which        position. However, if they do not
                                              provides that before the registration of a              is a registration category the Nasdaq Affiliated         register within four years from the date
                                              person as a representative can become                   Exchanges do not recognize. FINRA has stated that        of their last registration, their SIE status
                                                                                                      the SIE would assess basic product knowledge; the
                                              effective under proposed Rule 1210,                     structure and function of the securities industry        in the CRD system would be
                                              such person must pass the SIE and an                    markets, regulatory agencies and their functions;        administratively terminated. Similar to
                                              appropriate representative-level                        and regulated and prohibited practices. Proposed         the current process for registration,
                                                                                                      Rule 1210.03 provides that all associated persons,       firms would continue to use the CRD
                                              qualification examination as specified                  such as associated persons whose functions are
                                              in proposed Rule 1220. Proposed Rule                    solely and exclusively clerical or ministerial, are      system to request registrations for
                                              1210.03 also provides that before the                   eligible to take the SIE. Proposed Rule 1210.03 also     representatives. An individual would be
                                              registration of a person as a principal                 provides that individuals who are not associated         able to schedule both the SIE and
                                                                                                      persons of firms, such as members of the general
                                              can become effective under proposed                     public, are eligible to take the SIE. FINRA has stated
                                              Rule 1210, such person must pass an                     its belief that expanding the pool of individuals
                                                                                                                                                                  23 Under the proposed rule change, only

                                              appropriate principal-level qualification               who are eligible to take the SIE would enable            individuals who have passed an appropriate
                                                                                                      prospective securities industry professionals to         representative-level examination would be
                                              examination as specified in proposed                                                                             considered to have passed the SIE. Registered
                                                                                                      demonstrate to prospective employers a basic level
                                              Rule 1220.                                              of knowledge prior to submitting a job application.      principals who do not hold an appropriate
                                                 Further, proposed 1210.03 provides                   Further, this approach would allow for more              representative-level registration would not be
                                              that if the job functions of a registered               flexibility and career mobility within the securities    considered to have passed the SIE. For example, an
                                                                                                      industry. While all associated persons of firms as       individual who is registered solely as a Financial
                                              representative, other than an individual
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                                                                                                      well as individuals who are not associated persons       and Operations Principal (Series 27) today would
                                                                                                      would be eligible to take the SIE pursuant to            have to take the Series 7 to become registered as a
                                              refers generally to the supervision rules rather than   proposed Rule 1210.03, passing the SIE alone             General Securities Representative. Under the
                                              identifying them by number.                             would not qualify them for registration with the         proposed rule change, in the future, this individual
                                                21 In either case, the registered supervisor of an    Exchange. Rather, to be eligible for registration with   would have to pass the SIE and the specialized
                                              individual who solely maintains a permissive            the Exchange, an individual would be required to         Series 7 examination to obtain registration as a
                                              registration would not be required to be registered     pass an applicable representative or principal           General Securities Representative.
                                              in the same representative or principal registration    qualification examination and complete the other            24 As discussed below, the Exchange is proposing

                                              category as the permissively-registered individual.     requirements of the registration process.                a four-year expiration period for the SIE.



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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices                                                     51003

                                              specialized knowledge examinations for                     The Exchange is proposing to adopt                    is taking the examination. These Rules
                                              the same day, provided the individual is                Rule 1021(d) as Rule 1210.04, subject to                 of Conduct also require that each
                                              able to reserve space at one of FINRA’s                 the following changes. Proposed Rule                     candidate agree that the examination
                                              designated testing centers.                             1210.04 states that a member may                         content is the intellectual property of
                                                 Finally, paragraph (d) of Rule 1070                  designate any person currently                           FINRA and that the content cannot be
                                              currently permits the Exchange, in                      registered, or who becomes registered,                   copied or redistributed by any means. If
                                              exceptional cases and where good cause                  with the member as a representative to                   FINRA discovers that a candidate has
                                              is shown, to waive the applicable                       function as a principal for a limited                    violated the Rules of Conduct for taking
                                              qualification examination and accept                    period, provided that such person has at                 a qualification examination, the
                                              other standards as evidence of an                       least 18 months of experience                            candidate may forfeit the results of the
                                              applicant’s qualifications for                          functioning as a registered                              examination and may be subject to
                                              registration. The Exchange is proposing                 representative within the five-year                      disciplinary action by FINRA. For
                                              to transfer the provisions of Rule                      period immediately preceding the                         instance, for cheating on a qualifications
                                              1070(d) into proposed Rule 1210.03                      designation. This change is intended to                  examination, FINRA’s Sanction
                                              with changes which track FINRA Rule                     ensure that representatives designated                   Guidelines recommend a bar.28
                                              1210.03.25 The proposed rule provides                   to function as principals for the limited                   Effective October 1, 2018 FINRA has
                                              that the Exchange will only consider                    period under the proposed rule have an                   codified the requirements relating to the
                                              examination waiver requests submitted                   appropriate level of registered                          Rules of Conduct for examinations
                                              by a firm for individuals associated with               representative experience. The proposed                  under FINRA Rule 1210.05. FINRA also
                                              the firm who are seeking registration in                rule clarifies that the requirements of                  adopted Rules of Conduct for taking the
                                              a representative- or principal-level                    the rule apply to any principal category,                SIE for associated persons and non-
                                              registration category. Moreover,                        including those categories that are not                  associated persons who take the SIE.
                                              proposed Rule 1210.03 states that the                   subject to a prerequisite representative-                   The Exchange proposes to adopt its
                                              Exchange will consider waivers of the                   level registration requirement, such as                  own version of Rule 1210.05, which
                                              SIE alone or the SIE and the                            the Financial and Operations Principal                   would provide that associated persons
                                              representative- and principal-level                     registration category.26 The Exchange is                 taking the SIE are subject to the SIE
                                              examination(s) for such individuals.                    not conserving in Rule 1210.04 the                       Rules of Conduct, and that associated
                                                                                                      language that this provision applies to                  persons taking any representative or
                                              E. Requirements for Registered Persons                                                                           principal examination are subject to the
                                              Functioning as Principals for a Limited                 persons associated with a member of
                                                                                                      another registered national securities                   Rules of Conduct for representative and
                                              Period (Proposed Rule 1210.04)                                                                                   principal examinations. Under the
                                                                                                      exchange or association who are
                                                Exchange Rule 1021(d) provides that                                                                            proposed rule, a violation of the SIE
                                              a person who is currently registered                    required to register as principals under
                                                                                                                                                               Rules of Conduct or the Rules of
                                              with a member as a representative and                   Exchange rules but who are not required
                                                                                                                                                               Conduct for representative and
                                              whose duties are changed by the                         to be so registered under the rules of the
                                                                                                                                                               principal examinations by an associated
                                              member so as to require registration as                 other exchange or association. Similarly,
                                                                                                                                                               person would be deemed to be a
                                              a principal may function as a principal                 it is not conserving the language
                                                                                                                                                               violation of Exchange rules requiring
                                              for up to 90 calendar days before he or                 concerning individuals not required to
                                                                                                                                                               observance of high standards of
                                              she is required to pass the appropriate                 register as principal prior to adoption of
                                                                                                                                                               commercial honor or just and equitable
                                              qualification examination for principal.                the rule. The Exchange believes this
                                                                                                                                                               principles of trade, such as Exchange
                                              In addition, it allows a formerly                       language is superfluous, as the
                                                                                                                                                               Rule 2110.29 Further, if the Exchange
                                              registered representative who is                        applicability to various individuals of
                                                                                                                                                               determines that an associated person
                                              required to register as a principal to                  proposed Rule 1210.04 speaks for itself                  has violated the SIE Rules of Conduct or
                                              function as a principal without passing                 and requires no elaboration.27 Proposed                  the Rules of Conduct for representative
                                              the appropriate principal qualification                 Rule 1210.04 would increase the Rule                     and principal examinations, the
                                              examination for up to 90 calendar days,                 1021(d)’s 90 day period to 120 days, to                  associated person may forfeit the results
                                              provided the person first satisfies all                 provide additional flexibility for                       of the examination and may be subject
                                              applicable prerequisite requirements. A                 representatives functioning as                           to disciplinary action by the Exchange.
                                              person who has never been registered                    principals for a limited period of time.                    Proposed Rule 1210.05 states that the
                                              does not qualify for this exception. This               F. Rules of Conduct for Taking                           Exchange considers all of the
                                              provision applies to a person associated                Examinations and Confidentiality of                      qualification examinations content to be
                                              with a member of another registered                     Examinations (Proposed Rule 1210.05)                     highly confidential. The removal of
                                              national securities exchange or                                                                                  examination content from an
                                              association who is required to register in                Before taking an examination, FINRA                    examination center, reproduction,
                                              a principal classification under                        currently requires each candidate to                     disclosure, receipt from or passing to
                                              Exchange rules but who is not required                  agree to the Rules of Conduct for taking                 any person, or use for study purposes of
                                              to be so registered under the rules of the              a qualification examination. Among                       any portion of such qualification
                                              other exchange or association. It also                  other things, the examination Rules of                   examination or any other use that would
                                              applies to a person associated with an                  Conduct require each candidate to attest                 compromise the effectiveness of the
                                              Exchange member who was not required                    that he or she is in fact the person who                 examinations and the use in any manner
                                              to register with the Exchange as a                                                                               and at any time of the questions or
                                                                                                         26 In this regard, the Exchange notes that
                                              principal prior to the adoption of Rule                                                                          answers to the examinations would be
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                                                                                                      qualifying as a registered representative is currently
                                              1021 by the Exchange.                                   a prerequisite to qualifying as a principal on the       prohibited and would be deemed to be
                                                                                                      Exchange except with respect to the Financial and
                                                25 Rules 1070(a), (b) and (c) provide general         Operations Principal registration category.                28 See SR–FINRA–2017–007, pp. 26–27.
                                              information relating to the examination process.           27 Proposed Rule 1210.04 omits FINRA Rule               29 Pursuant to Exchange Rule 2110, a member, in
                                              The Exchange is proposing to delete these               1210.04’s reference to Foreign Associates, which is      the conduct of its business, shall observe high
                                              provisions given that they relate to the                a registration category not recognized by the Nasdaq     standards of commercial honor and just and
                                              administration of the examination program rather        Affiliated Exchanges, but otherwise tracks the           equitable principles of trade. FINRA Rule 1210.05
                                              than rule requirements.                                 language of FINRA Rule 1210.04.                          cites FINRA Rule 2010, which is a comparable rule.



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                                              51004                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices

                                              a violation of Exchange rules requiring                 H. CE Requirements (Proposed Rule                         Regulatory Element, as specified in
                                              observance of high standards of                         1210.07)                                                  proposed Rule 1240. Individuals who
                                              commercial honor or just and equitable                     Pursuant to current Rule 1120, the CE                  have passed the SIE but not a
                                              principles of trade. Finally, proposed                  requirements applicable to registered                     representative or principal-level
                                              Rule 1210.05 would prohibit an                          persons consist of a Regulatory                           examination and do not hold a
                                              applicant from receiving assistance                     Element 32 and a Firm Element.33 The                      registered position would not be subject
                                              while taking the examination, and                       Regulatory Element applies to registered                  to any CE requirements.
                                              require the applicant to certify that no                persons and must be completed within                        Consistent with current practice,
                                              assistance was given to or received by                  prescribed time frames.34 For purposes                    proposed Rule 1210.07 also provides
                                              him or her during the examination.30                    of the Regulatory Element, a ‘‘registered                 that a registered person of a member
                                                                                                      person’’ is defined in the current rule as                who becomes CE inactive would not be
                                              G. Waiting Periods for Retaking a Failed
                                                                                                      any person registered with the Exchange                   permitted to be registered in another
                                              Examination (Proposed Rule 1210.06)
                                                                                                      as a representative or principal.35 The                   registration category with that member
                                                 Rule 1070(e) currently sets forth                    Firm Element consists of annual,                          or be registered in any registration
                                              waiting periods for retaking failed                     member-developed and administered                         category with another member, until the
                                              examinations. The rule provides that a                  training programs designed to keep                        person has satisfied the Regulatory
                                              person who fails a qualification                        covered registered persons current                        Element.
                                              examination would be permitted to                       regarding securities products, services                   I. Lapse of Registration and Expiration
                                              retake the examination after either a                   and strategies offered by the member.                     of SIE (Proposed Rule 1210.08)
                                              period of 30 calendar days has elapsed                  For purposes of the Firm Element, the
                                              from the date of the prior examination                  term ‘‘covered registered persons’’ is                       Rule 1021(c) currently states that any
                                              or the next administration of an                        defined as any registered person who                      person whose registration has been
                                              examination administered on a monthly                   has direct contact with customers in the                  revoked pursuant to Rule 8310 37 or
                                              basis. However, if the person fails an                  conduct of the member’s securities                        whose most recent registration as a
                                              examination three or more times in                      sales, trading and investment banking                     principal has been terminated for a
                                              succession, he or she would be                          activities, and the immediate                             period of two or more years
                                              prohibited from retaking the                            supervisors of such persons.36                            immediately preceding the date of
                                              examination either until a period of 180                   The Exchange proposes to delete Rule                   receipt by the Exchange of a new
                                              calendar days has elapsed from the date                 1120 and to replace it with Rule 1240,                    application is required to pass a
                                              of his or her last attempt to pass the                  Continuing Education Requirements.                        qualification examination for principals
                                              examination or until the sixth                          The Exchange believes that all                            appropriate to the category of
                                              subsequent administration of an                         registered persons, regardless of their                   registration as specified in Rule 1022.
                                              examination administered on a monthly                   activities, should be subject to the                      Pursuant to Rule 1031(b), any person
                                              basis. The Exchange is proposing to                     Regulatory Element of the CE                              whose registration has been revoked
                                              adopt Rule 1070(e) as Rule 1210.06,                     requirements so that they can keep their                  pursuant to Rule 8310 or whose most
                                              with the following changes.                             knowledge of the securities industry                      recent registration as a representative or
                                                 Proposed Rule 1210.06 provides that                  current. Therefore, the Exchange is                       principal has been terminated for a
                                              a person who fails an examination may                   proposing Rule 1210.07, to clarify that                   period of two or more years
                                              retake that examination after 30                        all registered persons, including those                   immediately preceding the date of
                                              calendar days from the date of the                      who solely maintain a permissive                          receipt by the Exchange of a new
                                              person’s last attempt to pass that                      registration, are required to satisfy the                 application is required to pass a
                                              examination. The proposed rule deletes                                                                            qualification examination for
                                              the reference to examinations                           to individuals who are not associated persons of          representatives appropriate to the
                                                                                                      members.                                                  category of registration as specified in
                                              administered on a monthly basis                           32 See Rule 1120(a).
                                              because examinations are no longer                        33 See Rule 1120(b).
                                                                                                                                                                Rule 1032. The two years are calculated
                                              administered in such a manner.                            34 Pursuant to Rule 1120(a), each registered
                                                                                                                                                                from the termination date stated on the
                                                                                                      person is required to complete the Regulatory             individual’s Form U5 (Uniform
                                                 Proposed Rule 1210.06 further
                                                                                                      Element initially within 120 days after the person’s      Termination Notice for Securities
                                              provides that if a person fails an                      second registration anniversary date and, thereafter,     Industry Registration) and the date the
                                              examination three or more times in                      within 120 days after every third registration            Exchange receives a new application for
                                              succession within a two-year period, the                anniversary date. Unless otherwise determined by
                                                                                                      the Exchange, a registered person who has not             registration.
                                              person is prohibited from retaking that
                                                                                                      completed the Regulatory Element program within              The Exchange is proposing to
                                              examination until 180 calendar days                     the prescribed time frames will have their                consolidate the requirements of Rules
                                              from the date of the person’s last                      registrations deemed inactive until such time as the      1021(c) and 1031(b) and adopt them as
                                              attempt to pass it. These waiting periods               requirements of the program have been satisfied.
                                                                                                      Any person whose registration has been deemed             Rule 1210.08. Proposed Rule 1210.08
                                              would apply to the SIE and the
                                                                                                      inactive under Rule 1120(a) must cease all activities     clarifies that, for purposes of the
                                              representative- and principal-level                     as a registered person and is prohibited from             proposed rule, an application would not
                                              examinations.31                                         performing any duties and functioning in any              be considered to have been received by
                                                                                                      capacity requiring registration. A registration that is
                                                 30 In view of proposed Rule 1210.05, the             inactive for a period of two years will be                the Exchange if that application does
                                              Exchange is proposing to delete Rule 1080 which         administratively terminated. A person whose               not result in a registration.
                                              is largely duplicative. The Exchange is not adopting    registration is so terminated may reactivate the
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                                              portions of FINRA’s Rule 1210.05 which apply to         registration only by reapplying for registration and        37 Under Rule 8310(a)(3), the Exchange may
                                              non-associated persons, over whom the Exchange          meeting the qualification requirements of the             impose one or more sanctions on a member or
                                              would in any event have no jurisdiction.                applicable provisions of the Exchange’s rules. The        person associated with a member for each violation
                                                 31 FINRA Rule 1210.06 requires individuals           Exchange may, upon application and a showing of           of the federal securities laws, rules or regulations
                                              taking the SIE who are not associated persons to        good cause, allow for additional time for a               thereunder, or Exchange rules, including
                                              agree to be subject to the same waiting periods for     registered person to satisfy the program                  suspending the membership of a member or
                                              retaking the SIE. The Exchange is not including this    requirements.                                             suspending the registration of a person associated
                                                                                                        35 See Rule 1120(a)(5).
                                              language in proposed Rule 1210.06, as the Exchange                                                                with a member for a definite period or a period
                                              will not apply the 1200 Series of rules in any event      36 See Rule 1120(b)(1).                                 contingent on the performance of a particular act.



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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices                                                         51005

                                                 Proposed Rule 1210.08 also sets forth                waiver is to provide a firm greater                          An individual designated as an FSA-
                                              the expiration period of the SIE. Based                 flexibility to move personnel, including                  eligible person would be subject to the
                                              on the content covered on the SIE, the                  senior and middle management,                             Regulatory Element of CE while working
                                              Exchange is proposing that a passing                    between the firm and its financial                        for a financial services industry affiliate
                                              result on the SIE be valid for four years.              services affiliate(s) so that they may gain               of a member. The individual would be
                                              Therefore, under the proposed rule                      organizational skills and better                          subject to a Regulatory Element program
                                              change, an individual who passes the                    knowledge of products developed by the                    that correlates to his or her most recent
                                              SIE and is an associated person of a firm               affiliate(s) without the individuals                      registration category, and CE would be
                                              at the time would have up to four years                 having to requalify by examination each                   based on the same cycle had the
                                              from the date he or she passes the SIE                  time they returned to the firm.                           individual remained registered. If the
                                              to pass a representative-level                             Under the proposed waiver process,                     individual fails to complete the
                                              examination to register as a                            the first time a registered person is                     prescribed Regulatory Element during
                                              representative with that firm, or a                     designated as eligible for a waiver based                 the 120-day window for taking the
                                              subsequent firm, without having to                      on the FSA criteria, the member with                      session, he or she would lose FSA
                                              retake the SIE. In addition, an                         which the individual is registered                        eligibility (i.e., the individual would
                                              individual who passes the SIE and is                    would notify the Exchange of the FSA                      have the standard two-year period after
                                              not an associated person at the time                    designation. The member would                             termination to re-register without
                                              would have up to four years from the                    concurrently file a full Form U5                          having to retake an examination). The
                                              date he or she passes the SIE to become                 terminating the individual’s registration                 Exchange is making corresponding
                                              an associated person of a firm, pass a                  with the firm, which would also                           changes to proposed Rule 1240
                                              representative-level examination and                    terminate the individual’s other SRO                      (currently Rule 1120, Continuing
                                              register as a representative without                    and state registrations.                                  Education).
                                              having to retake the SIE.                                                                                            Upon registering an FSA-eligible
                                                 Moreover, an individual holding a                       To be eligible for initial designation as
                                                                                                                                                                person, a firm would file a Form U4 and
                                              representative-level registration who                   an FSA-eligible person by a member, an
                                                                                                                                                                request the appropriate registration(s)
                                              leaves the industry after the operative                 individual must have been registered for
                                                                                                                                                                for the individual. The firm would also
                                              date of the proposed rule change would                  a total of five years within the most
                                                                                                                                                                submit an examination waiver request
                                              have up to four years to re-associate                   recent 10-year period prior to the
                                                                                                                                                                to the Exchange,43 similar to the process
                                              with a firm and register as a                           designation, including for the most
                                                                                                                                                                used today for waiver requests, and it
                                              representative without having to retake                 recent year with that member.40 An
                                                                                                                                                                would represent that the individual is
                                              the SIE. However, the four-year                         individual would have to satisfy these
                                                                                                                                                                eligible for an FSA waiver based on the
                                              expiration period in the proposed rule                  preconditions only for purposes of his
                                                                                                                                                                conditions set forth below. The
                                              change extends only to the SIE, and not                 or her initial designation as an FSA-
                                                                                                                                                                Exchange would review the waiver
                                              the representative- and principal-level                 eligible person, and not for any
                                                                                                                                                                request and make a determination of
                                              registrations. The representative- and                  subsequent FSA designation(s).
                                                                                                                                                                whether to grant the request within 30
                                              principal-level registrations would                     Thereafter, the individual would be
                                                                                                                                                                calendar days of receiving the request.
                                              continue to be subject to a two year                    eligible for a waiver for up to seven
                                                                                                                                                                The Exchange would summarily grant
                                              expiration period as is the case today.                 years from the date of initial
                                                                                                                                                                the request if the following conditions
                                                                                                      designation 41 provided that the other
                                              J. Waiver of Examinations for                                                                                     are met:
                                                                                                      conditions of the waiver, as described
                                              Individuals Working for a Financial                     below, have been satisfied.                                  (1) Prior to the individual’s initial
                                              Services Industry Affiliate of a Member                 Consequently, a member other than the                     designation as an FSA-eligible person,
                                              (Proposed Rule 1210.09)                                 member that initially designated an                       the individual was registered for a total
                                                                                                      individual as an FSA-eligible person                      of five years within the most recent 10-
                                                 The Exchange is proposing Rule                                                                                 year period, including for the most
                                              1210.09 to provide a process whereby                    may request a waiver for the individual
                                                                                                      and more than one member may request                      recent year with the member that
                                              individuals who would be working for                                                                              initially designated the individual as an
                                              a financial services industry affiliate of              a waiver for the individual during the
                                                                                                      seven-year period.42                                      FSA-eligible person;
                                              a member 38 would terminate their                                                                                    (2) The waiver request is made within
                                              registrations with the member and                                                                                 seven years of the individual’s initial
                                                                                                         40 For purposes of this requirement, a five year
                                              would be granted a waiver of their                      period of registration with the Exchange, with
                                              requalification requirements upon re-                   FINRA or with another self-regulatory organization           Example 3. Firm A designates an individual as an
                                              registering with a member, provided the                 would be sufficient.                                      FSA-eligible person by notifying the Exchange and
                                              firm that is requesting the waiver and                     41 Individuals would be eligible for a single, fixed
                                                                                                                                                                files a Form U5. The individual joins Firm A’s
                                              the individual satisfy the criteria for a               seven-year period from the date of initial                financial services affiliate for three years. Firm A
                                                                                                      designation, and the period would not be tolled or        then submits a waiver request to reregister the
                                              Financial Services Affiliate (‘‘FSA’’)                  renewed.                                                  individual. After working for Firm A in a registered
                                              waiver.39 The purpose of the FSA                           42 The following examples illustrate this point:       capacity for six months, Firm A re-designates the
                                                                                                         Example 1. Firm A designates an individual as an       individual as an FSA-eligible person by notifying
                                                 38 Proposed Rule 1210.09 defines a ‘‘financial       FSA-eligible person by notifying the Exchange and         FINRA and files a Form U5. The individual rejoins
                                              services industry affiliate of a member’’ as a legal    files a Form U5. The individual joins Firm A’s            Firm A’s financial services affiliate for two years,
                                              entity that controls, is controlled by or is under      financial services affiliate. Firm A does not submit      after which the individual directly joins Firm B’s
                                              common control with a member and is regulated by        a waiver request for the individual. After working        financial services affiliate for one year. Firm B then
                                              the SEC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission           for Firm A’s financial services affiliate for three       submits a waiver request to register the individual.
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                                              (‘‘CFTC’’), state securities authorities, federal or    years, the individual directly joins Firm B’s                Example 4. Same as Example 3, but the
                                              state banking authorities, state insurance              financial services affiliate for three years. Firm B      individual directly joins Firm B after the second
                                              authorities, or substantially equivalent foreign        then submits a waiver request to register the             period of working for Firm A’s financial services
                                              regulatory authorities.                                 individual.                                               affiliate, and Firm B submits a waiver request to
                                                 39 There is no counterpart to proposed Rule             Example 2. Same as Example 1, but the                  register the individual at that point in time.
                                              1210.09 in the Exchange’s existing rules. FINRA         individual directly joins Firm B after working for           43 The Exchange would consider a waiver of the

                                              Rule 1210.09 was recently adopted as a new waiver       Firm A’s financial services affiliate, and Firm B         representative-level qualification examination(s),
                                              process for FINRA registrants, as part of the FINRA     submits a waiver request to register the individual       the principal-level qualification examination(s) and
                                              Rule Changes.                                           at that point in time.                                    the SIE, as applicable.



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                                              51006                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices

                                              designation as an FSA-eligible person                   following changes. To enhance the                      categories and related definitions under
                                              by a member;                                            efficiency of the current notification                 the Exchange’s rules into a single rule,
                                                 (3) The initial designation and any                  process for registered persons serving in              Rule 1220, subject to the changes
                                              subsequent designation(s) were made                     the Armed Forces, proposed Rule                        described below.47
                                              concurrently with the filing of the                     1210.10 requires that the member with
                                              individual’s related Form U5;                                                                                  1. Definition of Principal (Proposed
                                                                                                      which such person is registered
                                                 (4) The individual continuously                                                                             Rule 1220(a)(1))
                                                                                                      promptly notify the Exchange of such
                                              worked for the financial services                       person’s return to employment with the                    Rule 1021(b) currently defines the
                                              affiliate(s) of a member since the last                 member. A sole proprietor must                         term ‘‘principal’’ to include sole
                                              Form U5 filing;                                         similarly notify the Exchange of his or                proprietors, officers, partners, managers
                                                 (5) The individual has complied with                 her return to participation in the                     of offices of supervisory jurisdiction and
                                              the Regulatory Element of CE; and                       securities business. Further, proposed                 directors who are actively engaged in
                                                 (6) The individual does not have any                 Rule 1210.10 provides that the                         the management of the member’s
                                              pending or adverse regulatory matters,                  Exchange would also defer the lapse of                 investment banking or securities
                                              or terminations, that are reportable on                 the SIE for formerly registered persons                business, such as supervision,
                                              the Form U4, and has not otherwise                      serving in the Armed Forces of the                     solicitation, conduct of business or the
                                              been subject to a statutory                             United States.45                                       training of persons associated with a
                                              disqualification while the individual                                                                          member for any of these functions. The
                                              was designated as an FSA-eligible                       L. Impermissible Registrations                         Exchange is proposing to streamline and
                                              person with a member.                                   (Proposed Rule 1210.11)                                adopt Rule 1021(b) as Rule 1220(a)(1).
                                                 Following the Form U5 filing, an                        Rules 1021(a) and 1031(a) currently                    For the reason discussed above in
                                              individual could move between the                       prohibit a member from maintaining a                   connection with proposed Rule 1210,
                                              financial services affiliates of a member               representative or principal registration               proposed Rule 1220(a)(1) would not
                                              so long as the individual is                            with the Exchange for any person who                   apply to individuals who are not
                                              continuously working for an affiliate.                  is no longer active in the member’s                    engaged in the management of the
                                              Further, a member could submit                          investment banking or securities                       member’s securities business even if
                                              multiple waiver requests for the                        business, who is no longer functioning                 they are engaged in the management of
                                              individual, provided that the waiver                    as a representative or principal as                    the member’s investment banking
                                              requests are made during the course of                  defined under the rules or where the                   business. The proposed rule clarifies
                                              the seven-year period.44 An individual                  sole purpose is to avoid the                           that a member’s chief executive officer
                                              who has been designated as an FSA-                      requalification requirement applicable                 (‘‘CEO’’) and chief financial officer
                                              eligible person by a member would not                   to persons who have not been registered                (‘‘CFO’’) (or equivalent officers) are
                                              be able to take additional examinations                 for two or more years. These rules also                considered principals based solely on
                                              to gain additional registrations while                  prohibit a member from applying for the                their status. The proposed rule further
                                              working for a financial services affiliate              registration of a person as representative             clarifies that the term ‘‘principal’’
                                              of a member.                                            or principal where the member does not                 includes any other associated person
                                                                                                      intend to employ the person in its                     who is performing functions or carrying
                                              K. Status of Persons Serving in the                                                                            out responsibilities that are required to
                                              Armed Forces of the United States                       investment banking or securities
                                                                                                      business. These prohibitions do not                    be performed or carried out by a
                                              (Proposed Rule 1210.10)                                                                                        principal under Exchange rules. In
                                                                                                      apply to the current permissive
                                                 IM–1002–2(a) and (b) currently                       registration categories.                               addition, the proposed rule provides
                                              provide specific relief to registered                      In light of proposed Rule 1210.02, the              that the phrase ‘‘actively engaged in the
                                              persons serving in the Armed Forces of                  Exchange is proposing to delete these                  management of the member’s securities
                                              the United States. Among other things,                  provisions and instead adopt Rule                      business’’ includes the management of,
                                              these rules permit a registered person of               1210.11 prohibiting a member from                      and the implementation of corporate
                                              a member who volunteers for or is                       registering or maintaining the                         policies related to, such business as well
                                              called into active duty in the Armed                    registration of a person unless the                    as managerial decision-making authority
                                              Forces of the United States to be                       registration is consistent with the                    with respect to the member’s securities
                                              registered in an inactive status and                    requirements of proposed Rule 1210.46                  business and management-level
                                              remain eligible to receive ongoing                                                                             responsibilities for supervising any
                                              transaction-related compensation. IM–                   M. Registration Categories (Proposed                   aspect of such business, such as serving
                                              1002–2(c) also includes specific                        Rule 1220)                                             as a voting member of the member’s
                                              provisions regarding the deferment of                     The Exchange is proposing to                         executive, management or operations
                                              the lapse of registration requirements in               integrate the various registration                     committees.
                                              Exchange Rules 1021(c) and 1031(b) for
                                              formerly registered persons serving in                     45 Proposed Rule 1210.10 tracks FINRA Rule          2. General Securities Principal
                                              the Armed Forces of the United States.                  1210.10 except for the statement that inactive         (Proposed Rule 1220(a)(2))
                                                                                                      registered persons are not to be included within the
                                                 The Exchange is proposing to adopt                   definition of ‘‘Personnel’’ for purposes of dues or
                                                                                                                                                                Rule 1022(a)(1) currently requires that
                                              IM–1002–2 as Rule 1210.10 with the                      assessments as provided in Article VI of the FINRA     an associated person who meets the
                                                                                                      By-Laws. Instead, proposed Rule 1210.10 conserves      definition of ‘‘principal’’ under Rule
                                                 44 For example, if a member submits a waiver         language from existing IM–1002–2 stating that          1021 and each person designated as
                                              request for an FSA-eligible person who has been         inactive persons under the rule are not included
                                                                                                                                                             Chief Compliance Officer (‘‘CCO’’) on
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                                              working for a financial services affiliate of the       within the scope of fees, if any, charged by the
                                              member for three years and re-registers the             Exchange with respect to registered persons.           Schedule A of the member’s Form BD
                                              individual, the member could subsequently file a           46 As discussed above, the Exchange is also

                                              Form U5 and re-designate the individual as an FSA-      proposing Rule 1210, Supplementary Material .12,         47 For ease of reference, the Exchange proposes to

                                              eligible person. Moreover, if the individual works      Application for Registration and Jurisdiction, which   adopt as Rule 1220, Supplementary Material .07, in
                                              with a financial services affiliate of the member for   is not included in FINRA Rule 1210. Proposed           chart form, a Summary of Qualification
                                              another three years, the member could submit a          Exchange Rule 1210, Supplementary Material .12,        Requirements in chart form for each of the
                                              second waiver request and re-register the individual    is based upon portions of existing Exchange Rule       Exchange’s permitted registration categories
                                              upon returning to the member.                           1031.                                                  discussed below.



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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices                                                      51007

                                              (Uniform Application for Broker-Dealer                   register in that category in lieu of                  General Securities Principals because it
                                              Registration) register as a General                      registering as a General Securities                   is superfluous.52
                                              Securities Principal. A person                           Principal, provided that if the principal
                                                                                                                                                             3. Compliance Official (Proposed Rule
                                              registering as a General Securities                      is engaged in options sales activities he
                                                                                                                                                             1220(a)(3))
                                              Principal must pass the General                          or she shall be required to register as a
                                              Securities Principal examination. The                    General Securities Sales Supervisor or                   The Exchange is proposing to adopt
                                              rule, however, provides that such                        as a Registered Options Principal.49                  Rule 1022(a)(1)’s CCO registration
                                              person is not required to register as a                     Proposed Rule 1220(a)(2)(B) requires               requirement as Rule 1220(a)(3), subject
                                              General Securities Principal if the                      that an individual registering as a                   to the following changes.
                                              person’s activities are so limited as to                 General Securities Principal satisfy the                 Specifically, proposed Rule 1220(a)(3)
                                              qualify such person for one or more of                   General Securities Representative                     provides that each person designated as
                                              the limited principal categories                         prerequisite registration and pass the                a Chief Compliance Officer on Schedule
                                              specified in Rule 1022. Further, the rule                General Securities Principal                          A of Form BD shall be required to
                                              does not preclude individuals registered                 qualification examination.                            register with the Exchange as a General
                                              in a limited principal category from                        In conjunction with the elimination of             Securities Principal, provided that such
                                              registering as General Securities                                                                              person may instead register as a
                                                                                                       the Corporate Securities Representative
                                              Principals. Rule 1022(a)(1) also includes                                                                      Compliance Official if his or her duties
                                                                                                       registration category by FINRA, the
                                              transitioning and grandfathering                                                                               do not include supervision of trading.
                                                                                                       Exchange is proposing that Rule
                                              provisions for CCO’s.                                                                                          All individuals registering as
                                                                                                       1220(a)(2)(B) provide that, subject to the
                                                 Rule 1022(a)(1) provides that a person                                                                      Compliance Official shall, prior to or
                                                                                                       lapse of registration provisions in
                                              seeking to register as a General                                                                               concurrent with such registration, pass
                                                                                                       proposed Rule 1210.08, General
                                              Securities Principal must satisfy the                                                                          the Compliance Official qualification
                                                                                                       Securities Principals who obtained the
                                              General Securities Representative                                                                              examination. An individual designated
                                                                                                       Corporate Securities Representative
                                              prerequisite registration. Rule 1022(a)(3)                                                                     as a Chief Compliance Officer on
                                                                                                       prerequisite registration on the
                                              includes a grandfathering provision for                                                                        Schedule A of Form BD of a member
                                                                                                       Exchange in lieu of the General
                                              persons who were registered as                                                                                 that is engaged in limited securities
                                                                                                       Securities Representative prerequisite
                                              principals before the adoption of the                                                                          business could also be registered in a
                                                                                                       registration and individuals who had
                                              General Securities Principal registration                                                                      principal category under Rule 1220(a)
                                                                                                       been registered as such within the past
                                              category. Rule 1022(a)(4) provides that                                                                        that corresponds to the limited scope of
                                                                                                       two years prior to the operative date of
                                              an associated person registered solely as                                                                      the member’s business.
                                                                                                       the proposed rule change, may continue                   Additionally, proposed Rule
                                              a General Securities Principal is not                    to supervise corporate securities                     1220(a)(3) provides that an individual
                                              qualified to function as a Financial and                 activities as currently permitted.50                  designated as a Chief Compliance
                                              Operations Principal, General Securities                 Proposed Rule 1220(a)(2)(B) requires all              Officer on Schedule A of Form BD may
                                              Sales Supervisor or Securities Trader                    other individuals registering as General              register and qualify as a Securities
                                              Principal unless the General Securities                  Securities Principals after October 1,                Trader Compliance Officer if, with
                                              Principal is also registered in these                    2018, to first become registered as a                 respect to transactions in equity,
                                              other categories.                                        General Securities Representative
                                                 The Exchange is proposing to                                                                                preferred or convertible debt securities,
                                                                                                       pursuant to Rule 1220(b)(2).51                        or options such person is engaged in
                                              streamline the provisions of Rule                           The Exchange is also proposing to
                                              1022(a) and adopt them as Rule                                                                                 proprietary trading, the execution of
                                                                                                       eliminate the grandfathering provision                transactions on an agency basis, or the
                                              1220(a)(2) with the following changes.                   for individuals who were registered as
                                                 The Exchange is proposing to more                                                                           direct supervision of such activities
                                                                                                       principals prior to the adoption of the               other than a person associated with a
                                              clearly set forth the obligation to register             General Securities Principal registration
                                              as a General Securities Principal.                                                                             member whose trading activities are
                                                                                                       category because it no longer has any                 conducted principally on behalf of an
                                              Specifically, proposed Rule                              practical application. Finally, the
                                              1220(a)(2)(A) states that each principal                                                                       investment company that is registered
                                                                                                       Exchange is proposing to delete the                   with the SEC pursuant to the Investment
                                              as defined in proposed Rule 1220(a)(1)                   provision that persons eligible for
                                              is required to register with the Exchange                                                                      Company Act and that controls, is
                                                                                                       registration in other principal categories            controlled by, or is under common
                                              as a General Securities Principal, subject               are not precluded from registering as
                                              to the following exceptions. The                                                                               control with a member. All individuals
                                              proposed rule provides that if a                           49 The Exchange’s proposed Rule 1220(a)(2)(A)         52 Proposed Rule 1220(a)(2) generally tracks
                                              principal’s activities are limited to the                deviates somewhat from the counterpart FINRA          FINRA Rule 1220(a)(2), except that it omits
                                              functions of a Compliance Official, a                    rule in that it does not offer various limited        references to a number of registration categories
                                              Financial and Operations Principal, a                    registration categories provided for in FINRA’s new   which FINRA recognizes but that the Exchange
                                                                                                       Rule 1220(a)(2)(A).                                   does not, and it includes a reference to the
                                              Securities Trader Principal, a Securities                  50 The Exchange itself does not recognize the
                                                                                                                                                             Securities Trader Compliance Officer category
                                              Trader Compliance Officer, or a                          Corporate Securities Representative registration      which the Exchange proposes to recognize, but
                                              Registered Options Principal, then the                   category, but understands that FINRA and Nasdaq       which FINRA does not. Additionally, proposed
                                              principal shall appropriately register in                currently accept Corporate Securities                 Rule 1220(a)(2)(A)(i) extends that provision’s
                                                                                                       Representative registration as a prerequisite to      exception to the General Securities Principal
                                              one or more of these categories.48                       General Securities Principal registration.            registration requirement to certain principals whose
                                              Proposed Rule 1220(a)(2)(A) further                        51 The Exchange is not adopting the FINRA Rule      activities are ‘‘limited to’’ (rather than ‘‘include’’)
                                              provides that if a principal’s activities                1220(a)(2)(B) language permitting an individual       the functions of a more limited principal. The
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                                              are limited solely to the functions of a                 registering as a General Securities Principal after   Exchange believes that activities ‘‘limited to’’
                                              General Securities Sales Supervisor,                     October 1, 2018 to register as a General Securities   expresses the intent of that exception more
                                                                                                       Sales Supervisor and to pass the General Securities   accurately than activities that ‘‘include.’’ Finally,
                                              then the principal may appropriately                     Principal Sales Supervisor Module qualification       proposed Rule 1220(a)(2)(B) specifies that
                                                                                                       examination. The Exchange believes that               registration as a Corporate Securities Representative
                                                 48 The Exchange is proposing to recognize the         individuals registering as General Securities         must be with the Exchange in order to fulfill the
                                              Compliance Official and Securities Trader                Principals should be required to demonstrate their    Corporate Securities Representative registration
                                              Compliance Officer registration categories for the       competence for that role by passing the General       prerequisite for General Securities Principal
                                              first time as a result of this proposed rule change.     Securities Principal qualification examination.       registration pursuant to that rule.



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                                              51008                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices

                                              registering as Securities Trader                        current word ‘‘or’’ found in Rule                     Rule 1032(b) by passing the Securities
                                              Compliance Officers would be required                   1022(b)(2)(F) in order to conform to                  Trader qualification examination and
                                              to first become registered pursuant to                  FINRA Rule 1220(a)(4)(A) in describing                registering as a Securities Trader
                                              paragraph (b)(4) as a Securities Trader,                the duties of a Financial and Operations              Principal.
                                              and to pass the Compliance Official                     Principal.55                                            The Exchange is proposing to delete
                                              qualification exam.53                                                                                         Rule 1022(h) and to adopt in its place
                                                                                                      5. Investment Banking Principal                       Rule 1220(a)(7), Securities Trader
                                              4. Financial and Operations Principal,                  (Proposed Rule 1220(a)(5))                            Principal. Similar to the current rule,
                                              [sic] (Proposed Rule 1220(a)(4))                           The Exchange does not recognize the                proposed Rule 1220(a)(7) requires that a
                                                 Rule 1022(b)(1) currently provides                   Investment Banking Principal                          principal responsible for supervising the
                                              that every member operating pursuant                    registration category and is reserving                securities trading activities specified in
                                              to the provisions of SEC Rule 15c3–                     Rule 1220(a)(5), retaining the caption                proposed Rule 1220(b)(4) 56 register as a
                                              1(a)(1)(ii), (a)(2)(i) or (a)(8), shall                 solely to facilitate comparison with                  Securities Trader Principal. The
                                              designate as Limited Principal—                         FINRA’s rules.                                        proposed rule requires individuals
                                              Financial and Operations those persons                                                                        registering as Securities Trader
                                                                                                      6. Research Principal (Proposed Rule
                                              associated with it, at least one of whom                                                                      Principals to be registered as Securities
                                                                                                      1220(a)(6))
                                              shall be its chief financial officer, who                                                                     Traders and to pass the General
                                              performs [sic] the duties described in                     The Exchange does not recognize the                Securities Principal qualification
                                              Rule 1022(b)(2).54 Each person                          Research Principal registration category              examination.
                                              associated with a member who performs                   and is reserving Rule 1220(a)(6),
                                              such duties is required to register as a                retaining the caption solely to facilitate            8. Registered Options Principal
                                              Limited Principal—Financial and                         comparison with FINRA’s rules.                        (Proposed Rules 1220(a)(8))
                                              Operations with the Exchange and pass                   7. Securities Trader Principal (Proposed                 Chapter II, Section 2(g) of the
                                              an appropriate qualification                            Rule 1220(a)(7))                                      rulebook currently requires that
                                              examination before such registration                                                                          members engaged in security futures or
                                              may become effective. A person                             Existing Rule 1022(h) requires each                options transactions with public
                                              registered solely as a Limited                          person associated with a member who is                customers have at least one Registered
                                              Principal—Financial and Operations is                   included within the definition of                     Options and Security Futures Principal.
                                              not qualified to function in a principal                principal and who will have                           It also provides that every person
                                              capacity with responsibility over any                   supervisory responsibility over the                   engaged in the supervision of options
                                              area of business activity not described                 securities trading activities described in            and security futures sales practices shall
                                              in 1022(b)(2).                                          Rule 1032(b) to register as a Securities              be registered as a Registered Options
                                                 Financial and Operations Principals                  Trader Principal. To qualify for                      and Security Futures Principal and pass
                                              are not subject to a prerequisite                       registration as a Securities Trader                   the appropriate qualification
                                              representative registration, but they                   Principal, such person must become                    examination for Registered Options and
                                              must pass the Financial and Operations                  qualified and registered as a Securities              Security Futures Principal, or an
                                              Principal examination.                                  Trader under Rule 1032(b) and pass the                equivalent examination acceptable to
                                                 The Exchange is proposing to move                    General Securities Principal                          the Exchange. Further, each person
                                              the provisions in Rules 1022(b)                         qualification examination. A person                   required to register and qualify as a
                                              regarding Financial and Operations                      who is qualified and registered as a                  Registered Options and Security Futures
                                              Principals to Rule 1220(a)(4)(A),                       Securities Trader Principal under Rule                Principal must, prior to or concurrent
                                              substituting the word ‘‘and’’ for the                   1022(h) may only have supervisory                     with such registration, be or become
                                                                                                      responsibility over the Securities Trader             qualified pursuant to the Rule 1030
                                                 53 Proposed Rule 1220(a)(3) differs from FINRA       activities specified in Rule 1032(b),                 Series, as either a General Securities
                                              Rule 1220(a)(3), Compliance Officer. The Exchange       unless such person is separately
                                              does not recognize the Compliance Officer                                                                     Representative or a Limited
                                              registration category. Similarly, FINRA does not
                                                                                                      qualified and registered in another                   Representative—Corporate Securities
                                              recognize the Compliance Official or the Securities     appropriate principal registration                    and a Registered Options and Security
                                              Trader Compliance Officer registration categories       category, such as the General Securities              Futures Representative. The rule
                                              which the Exchange proposes to recognize.               Principal registration category.
                                              However, FINRA Rule 1220(a)(3), like proposed                                                                 provides that a person registered solely
                                              Rule 1220(a)(3), offers an exception pursuant to
                                                                                                      Conversely, a person who is registered                as a Registered Options and Security
                                              which a Chief Compliance Officer designated on          as a General Securities Principal may                 Futures Principal is not qualified to
                                              Schedule A of Form BD may register in a principal       not supervise the trading activities                  function in a principal capacity with
                                              category that corresponds to the limited scope of       described in Rule 1032(b) unless such
                                              the member’s business.                                                                                        responsibility over any area of business
                                                 54 These duties include (A) final approval and
                                                                                                      person has also become qualified and                  activity not prescribed in Chapter II,
                                              responsibility for the accuracy of financial reports    registered as a Securities Trader under               Section 2(g). Chapter II, Section 2(g)(5)
                                              submitted to any duly established securities                                                                  provides that any person who is
                                              industry regulatory body; (B) final preparation of        55 FINRA Rule 1220(a)(4) differs from proposed

                                              such reports; (C) supervision of individuals who        Rule 1220(a)(4) in that it includes an Introducing    registered as a Registered Options and
                                              assist in the preparation of such reports; (D)          Broker-Dealer Financial and Operations Principal      Security Futures Principal, or who
                                              supervision of and responsibility for individuals       registration requirement. Additionally, proposed      becomes registered as a Registered
                                              who are involved in the actual maintenance of the       Rule 1220(a)(4) contains a requirement, which the     Options and Security Futures Principal
                                              member’s books and records from which such              FINRA rule does not, that each person associated
                                              reports are derived; (E) supervision and/or             with a member who performs the duties of a            before a revised examination that
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                                              performance of the member’s responsibilities under      Financial and Operations Principal must register as   includes security futures products is
                                              all financial responsibility rules promulgated          such with the Exchange. Further, as discussed         offered, must complete a firm-element
                                              pursuant to the provisions of the Act; (F) overall      above, the Exchange is not adopting a Principal       continuing education program that
                                              supervision of and responsibility for the individuals   Financial Officer or Principal Operations Officer
                                              who are involved in the administration and              requirement like FINRA Rule 1220(a)(4)(B), as it      addresses security futures and a
                                              maintenance of the member’s back office                 believes the Financial and Operations Principal
                                              operations; or (G) any other matter involving the       requirement is sufficient. Finally, proposed Rule        56 Proposed Rule 1220(b)(4), discussed below,

                                              financial and operational management of the             1220(a)(4)(B)(v) and (vi) contain minor wording       provides for representative-level registration in the
                                              member.                                                 variations from the FINRA rule.                       ‘‘Securities Trader’’ category.



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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices                                                        51009

                                              principal’s responsibilities for security               Consequently, a person registering as a                  registration categories,62 if the
                                              futures before such person can                          Registered Options Principal under                       individual’s supervisory responsibilities
                                              supervise security futures activities.                  proposed Rule 1220(a)(8) would be                        are limited solely to securities sales
                                              Finally, Chapter II, Section 2 of the                   required to satisfy the General Securities               activities. A person registering as a
                                              Exchange’s options rules further                        Representative prerequisite                              Limited Principal—General Securities
                                              requires that members that have one                     registration.60                                          Sales Supervisor must satisfy the
                                              Registered Options Principal promptly                     Finally, the Exchange is proposing to                  General Securities Representative
                                              notify the Exchange and agree to                        adopt the Chapter II, Section 2                          prerequisite registration and pass the
                                              specified conditions if such person is                  provisions regarding the loss of a sole                  General Securities Sales Supervisor
                                              terminated, resigns, becomes                            Registered Options Principal with non-                   examinations.63 Moreover, a General
                                              incapacitated or is otherwise unable to                 substantive changes as Supplementary                     Securities Sales Supervisor is precluded
                                              perform his or her duties.                              Material .03 of Rule 1220.61                             from performing any of the following
                                                 The Exchange is proposing to adopt                                                                            activities: (1) Supervision of the
                                              Chapter II, Section (2)(g) as Rule                      9. Government Securities Principal                       origination and structuring of
                                              1220(a)(8), Registered Options Principal,               (Rule 1220(a)(9))                                        underwritings; (2) supervision of
                                              with certain changes. The registration                    The Exchange does not recognize the                    market-making commitments; (3) final
                                              category would now be titled Registered                 Government Securities Principal                          approval of advertisements as these are
                                              Options Principal, rather than                          registration category and is reserving                   defined in Exchange Rule 2210; (4)
                                              Registered Options and Security Futures                 Rule 1220(a)(9), retaining the caption                   supervision of the custody of firm or
                                              Principal.57 All references to a revised                solely to facilitate comparison with                     customer funds or securities for
                                              examination that includes security                      FINRA’s rules.                                           purposes of SEC Rule 15c3–3; or (5)
                                              futures products would be deleted.                                                                               supervision of overall compliance with
                                              Instead, Rule 1220(b), Supplementary                    10. General Securities Sales Supervisor                  financial responsibility rules. Current
                                              Material .02 will simply provide that                   (Proposed Rules 1220(a)(10) and                          IM–1022–2 explains the purpose of the
                                              each person who is registered with the                  1220.04)                                                 General Securities Sales Supervisor
                                              Exchange as a Registered Options                           Pursuant to Exchange Rule 1022(g),                    registration category.
                                              Principal (or as a General Securities                   each associated person of a member                          The Exchange is proposing to adopt
                                              Representative, Options Representative,                 who is included within the definition of                 Rule 1022(g) and IM–1022–2 as Rules
                                              or General Securities Sales Supervisor)                 ‘‘principal’’ in Rule 1021 may register as               1220(a)(10) and 1220.04, respectively.64
                                              shall be eligible to engage in security                 a Limited Principal—General Securities                   Rule 1220(a)(10), however, omits the
                                              futures activities as a principal, as                   Sales Supervisor, instead of separately                  current Rule 1022(g) prohibition against
                                              applicable, provided that such                          registering in multiple principal                        supervision of the origination and
                                              individual completes a Firm Element                                                                              structuring of underwritings, as that
                                              program as set forth in proposed Rule                      60 Proposed Rule 1220(a)(8) differs from FINRA        activity does not fall within the new,
                                              1240 that addresses security futures                    Rule 1220(a)(8) in that it omits certain references to   more limited scope of ‘‘securities
                                              products before such person engages in                  other specific FINRA rules.                              trading’’ covered by the new 1200 Series
                                                                                                         61 Chapter XI, Doing Business with the Public, at
                                              security futures activities.58                          Section 2(a) provides that no order entry firm
                                                                                                                                                               of rules.
                                                 Proposed Rule 1220(a)(8) provides                    (‘‘OEF’’) shall be approved to transact options
                                              that a General Securities Sales                                                                                  11. Investment Company and Variable
                                                                                                      business with the public until those associated
                                              Supervisor may also supervise options                   persons who are designated as Options Principals
                                                                                                                                                               Contracts Products Principal and Direct
                                              activities. Rule 1220(b), Supplementary                 have been approved by and registered with the            Participation Programs Principal (Rules
                                              Material .02 regarding security futures
                                                                                                      Exchange. Persons engaged in the management and          1220(a)(11) and (a)(12))
                                                                                                      supervision of the OEF’s business pertaining to
                                              activities will apply to General                        options contracts must be designated as Options            The Exchange does not recognize the
                                              Securities Sales Supervisors as well as                 Principals and shall have responsibility for the         Investment Company and Variable
                                              to Registered Options Principals.59                     overall oversight of the OEF’s options related           Contracts Products Principal registration
                                                 Further, as discussed below, the                     activities on the Exchange. Similarly, Chapter XI,       category or the Direct Participation
                                                                                                      Sections 3(a) and (b) provide [sic] that no OEF shall
                                              Exchange is proposing to eliminate the                  be approved to transact business with the public
                                              Options Representative and Corporate                    until those persons associated with it who are             62 For instance, a principal supervising the sale of

                                              Securities Representative registration                  designated representatives have been approved by         corporate securities and options must be registered
                                                                                                      and registered with the Exchange, and also that          as a General Securities Principal and a Registered
                                              categories. In conjunction with these                                                                            Options Principal, unless the principal is registered
                                                                                                      persons who perform duties for the OEF which are
                                              changes, the Exchange is proposing to                   customarily performed by sales representatives or        as a General Securities Sales Supervisor.
                                              eliminate registration as an Options                    branch office managers shall be designated as              63 An individual may also register as a General

                                              Representative from the prerequisite                    representatives of the OEF. The foregoing                Securities Sales Supervisor bypassing [sic] a
                                                                                                      provisions of Chapter XI are specific to conducting      combination of other principal-level examinations.
                                              choices in the current rule.                                                                                       64 The Exchange is not proposing to carry over
                                                                                                      an options business with the public and are not
                                                                                                      proposed to be amended in this proposed rule             into proposed Rule 1220(a)(10) the current Rule
                                                 57 FINRA has also shortened references to
                                                                                                      change, other than to add a customer protection          1022(g)(2)(C)(iii) prohibition against final approval
                                              ‘‘Registered Options and Security Futures               requirement, similar to existing Phlx Rule 1024.08       of advertisements by General Securities Sales
                                              Principal’’ in its rulebook to ‘‘Registered Options     and existing ISE Rule 602(d), that a person              Supervisors. The Exchange notes that FINRA
                                              Principal’’. See Securities Exchange Act Release No.    accepting orders from non-member customers               removed this prohibition several years ago from
                                              58932 (November 12, 2008), 73 FR 69696                  (unless such customer is a broker-dealer registered      NASD Rule 1022(g) (Limited Principal— General
                                              (November 19, 2008) (SR–FINRA–2008–032).                with the Commission) is required to register with        Securities Sales Supervisor) and NASD IM–1022–2
                                                 58 Unlike FINRA Rule 1220.02, proposed
                                                                                                      the Exchange and to be qualified by passing the          (Limited Principal— General Securities Sales
                                              Exchange Rule 1220.02 omits references to United        General Securities Registered Representative             Supervisor). See Securities Exchange Act Release
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                                              Kingdom Securities Representatives and Canada           Examination (Series 7). However, Chapter XI,             No. 68918 (February 13, 2013), 78 FR 11925
                                              Securities Representatives, which are registration      Sections 2(b) and (c) and Section 3(c) also contain      (February 20, 2013) (SR–FINRA–2013–014). Also,
                                              categories the Exchange does not recognize. In any      provisions regarding submission of Forms U4 and          unlike FINRA Rule 1220.04, proposed Exchange
                                              case, the Exchange does not currently offer security    U5 to WebCRD that are duplicative of the proposed        Rule 1220.04 refers to ‘‘multiple exchanges’’ rather
                                              futures products for trading.                           1200 Series of rules, in particular proposed Rules       than listing the various exchanges where a sales
                                                 59 Rule 1220(b), Supplementary Material .02          1210.12, Application for Registration and                principal might be required to qualify in the
                                              regarding security futures activities will also apply   Jurisdiction, and 1250, Electronic Filing                absence of the General Securities Sales Supervisor
                                              to General Securities Representatives and to            Requirements for Electronic Forms, and are               registration category. It also omits FINRA internal
                                              Options Representatives.                                therefore proposed to be deleted.                        cross-references.



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                                              51010                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices

                                              Programs Principal registration category.               are engaged in the member’s securities                 exchange or securities regulator would
                                              The Exchange is therefore reserving                     business (and not also in the member’s                 be exempt from the requirement to pass
                                              Rules 1220(a)(11) and (a)(12), retaining                investment banking business).                          the SIE, and thus would be required
                                              the captions solely to facilitate                                                                              only to pass a specialized knowledge
                                                                                                      15. General Securities Representative
                                              comparison with FINRA’s rules.                                                                                 examination to register with the
                                                                                                      (Proposed Rule 1220(b)(2))
                                                                                                                                                             Exchange as a representative. The
                                              12. Private Securities Offerings                           Rule 1032(a) currently requires that                proposed approach would provide
                                              Principal (Rule 1220(a)(13))                            an associated person who meets the                     individuals with a United Kingdom or
                                                The Exchange does not recognize the                   definition of ‘‘representative’’ under                 Canadian qualification more flexibility
                                              Private Securities Offerings Principal                  Rule 1011 register as a General                        to obtain an Exchange representative-
                                              registration category and is therefore                  Securities Representative. A person                    level registration. Finally, the Exchange
                                              reserving Rule 1220(a)(13), retaining the               registering as a General Securities                    is proposing to delete the provision that
                                              caption solely to facilitate comparison                 Representative must pass the General                   persons eligible for registration in other
                                              with FINRA’s rules.                                     Securities Representative examination.                 representative categories are not
                                                                                                      The rule, however, provides that a                     precluded from registering as General
                                              13. Supervisory Analyst (Rule
                                                                                                      representative is not required to register             Securities Representatives because it is
                                              1220(a)(14))
                                                                                                      as a General Securities Representative if              superfluous.
                                                The Exchange does not recognize the                   the person’s activities are so limited as
                                              Supervisory Analyst registration                        to qualify such person as a Securities                 16. Operations Professional, Securities
                                              category and is therefore reserving Rule                Trader. Further, the rule does not                     Trader, Investment Banking
                                              1220(a)(14), retaining the caption solely               preclude individuals registered in a                   Representative, Research Analyst,
                                              to facilitate comparison with FINRA’s                   limited representative category such as                Investment Company and Variable
                                              rules.                                                  Securities Trader from registering as                  Contracts Products Representative,
                                                                                                      General Securities Representatives.                    Direct Participation Programs
                                              14. Definition of Representative                                                                               Representative and Private Securities
                                              (Proposed Rule 1220(b)(1))                                 Similar to the proposed changes to the
                                                                                                      General Securities Principal registration              Offerings Representative (Rules
                                                 Rule 1011(k) currently defines the                   category, the Exchange is proposing to                 1220(b)(3), 1220(b)(4), 1220(b)(5),
                                              term ‘‘representative’’ as an associated                more clearly set forth the obligation to               1220(b)(6), 1220(b)(7), 1220(b)(8),
                                              person of a registered broker or dealer,                register as a General Securities                       1220(b)(9) and 1220.05))
                                              including assistant officers other than                 Representative. Specifically, proposed                    Operations Professional, Investment
                                              principals, who is engaged in the                       Rule 1220(b)(2)(A) states that each                    Banking Representative, Research
                                              investment banking or securities                        representative as defined in proposed                  Analyst, Investment Company and
                                              business for the member including the                   Rule 1220(b)(1) is required to register                Variable Contracts Products
                                              functions of supervision, solicitation or               with the Exchange as a General                         Representative, Direct Participation
                                              conduct of business in securities or who                Securities Representative, except that if              Programs Representative and Private
                                              is engaged in the training of persons                   a representative’s activities include the              Securities Offerings Representative. The
                                              associated with a broker or dealer for                  functions of a Securities Trader, as                   Exchange has not adopted these
                                              any of these functions are designated as                specified in this Rule, then such person               registration categories for its associated
                                              representatives. Rule 1011(k) further                   shall appropriately register as a                      persons. The Exchange is reserving
                                              states that, as provided in Rule 1031, all              Securities Trader.                                     Rules 1220(b)(3)—Operations
                                              representatives of members are required                    Further, consistent with the proposed               Professional, and related Rule 1220.05;
                                              to be registered with the Exchange, and                 restructuring of the representative-level              1220(b)(5)—Investment Banking
                                              that representatives that are so                        examinations, proposed Rule                            Representative, 1220(b)(6)—Research
                                              registered are referred to as registered                1220(b)(2)(B) would require that                       Analyst; Investment Company and
                                              representatives.                                        individuals registering as General                     Variable Contracts Products
                                                 The Exchange now proposes to adopt                   Securities Representatives pass the SIE                Representative—Proposed Rule
                                              a definition of ‘‘representative’’ in                   and the General Securities                             1220(b)(7); 1220(b)(8)—Direct
                                              proposed Rule 1220(b)(1). Current Rule                  Representative examination.65                          Participation Programs Representative;
                                              1011, Definitions, Section (k) would be                    In addition, the Exchange is                        and 1220(b)(9)—Private Securities
                                              amended by deleting the existing                        proposing to adopt Rule 1220.01 to                     Offerings Representative, retaining the
                                              definition of representative, and                       provide individuals who are associated
                                                                                                                                                             captions, solely to facilitate comparison
                                              replacing it with a cross reference to the              persons of firms and who hold foreign
                                                                                                                                                             with FINRA’s rules.
                                              new definition of representative in Rule                registrations an alternative, more                        Securities Trader—Proposed Rule
                                              1220(b)(1). Proposed 1220(b)(1) would                   flexible, process to obtain an Exchange                1220(b)(4). Pursuant to current
                                              define the term representative as any                   representative-level registration. The                 Exchange Rule 1032(f), each associated
                                              person associated with a member,                        Exchange believes that there is                        person of a member who is included
                                              including assistant officers other than                 sufficient overlap between the SIE and                 within the definition of ‘‘representative’’
                                              principals, who is engaged in the                       these foreign qualification requirements               in Rule 1101 is required to register as a
                                              member’s securities business, such as                   to permit them to act as exemptions to                 Securities Trader if, with respect to
                                              supervision, solicitation, conduct of                   the SIE. Under proposed Rule 1220.01,                  transactions in equity, preferred or
                                              business in securities or the training of               individuals who are in good standing as                convertible debt securities or foreign
                                              persons associated with a member for                    representatives with the Financial                     currency options on the Exchange, such
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                                              any of these functions. Unlike the                      Conduct Authority in the United                        person is engaged in proprietary trading,
                                              current Rule 1011(k) ‘‘representative’’                 Kingdom or with a Canadian stock                       the execution of transactions on an
                                              definition, the new Rule 1220(b)(1)                                                                            agency basis or the direct supervision of
                                                                                                        65 Proposed Rule 1220(b)(2)(B) differs from
                                              definition would be confined to                                                                                such activities.66 The rule provides an
                                                                                                      FINRA Rule 1220(b)(2)(B) in that it omits references
                                              associated persons of Exchange                          to various registration categories which FINRA
                                              members (rather than to associated                      recognizes but which the Exchange does not               66 Proposed Rule 1220(b)(4)(A) differs from

                                              persons of broker dealers generally) who                propose to recognize.                                  FINRA Rule 1220(b)(4)(A) in that it applies to



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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices                                                     51011

                                              exception from the registration                         strategy. An algorithm that solely                     communicated to the lead developer,
                                              requirement for any associated person of                generates trading ideas or investment                  also would be required to register. In the
                                              a member whose trading activities are                   allocations—including an automated                     event of a significant modification to the
                                              conducted principally on behalf of an                   investment service that constructs                     algorithm, members, likewise, would be
                                              investment company that is registered                   portfolio recommendations—but that is                  required to ensure that the associated
                                              with the SEC pursuant to the Investment                 not equipped to automatically generate                 person primarily responsible for the
                                              Company Act and that controls, is                       orders and order-related messages to                   significant modification (or the
                                              controlled by, or is under common                       effectuate such trading ideas into the                 associated person supervising or
                                              control with the member. Individuals                    market—whether independently or via a                  directing such activity), is registered as
                                              registering as Securities Traders must                  linked router—would not constitute an                  a Securities Trader.
                                              pass the Securities Trader examination.                 algorithmic trading strategy.68                           A member employing an algorithm is
                                              Finally, the rule provides that registered                 The associated persons covered by the               responsible for the algorithm’s activities
                                              Securities Traders are not qualified to                 expanded registration requirement                      whether the algorithm is designed or
                                              function in any other registration                      would be required to pass the requisite                developed in house or by a third-party.
                                              category, unless he or she is also                      qualification examination and be subject               Thus, in all cases, robust supervisory
                                              qualified and registered in such other                  to the same continuing education                       procedures, both before and after
                                              registration category.                                  requirements that are applicable to                    deployment of an algorithmic trading
                                                 The Exchange now proposes to amend                   individual Securities Traders. The                     strategy, are a key component in
                                              the rule, and adopt it as proposed Rule                 Exchange believes that potentially                     protecting against problematic behavior
                                              1220(b)(4). As amended, the Rule would                  problematic conduct stemming from                      stemming from algorithmic trading. In
                                              require individuals registering as                      algorithmic trading strategies—such as                 addition, associated persons responsible
                                              Securities Traders to pass the SIE as                   failure to check for order accuracy,                   for monitoring or reviewing the
                                              well as the Securities Trader                           inappropriate levels of messaging traffic,             performance of an algorithmic trading
                                              qualification exam, and it would be                     wash sales, failure to mark orders as                  strategy must be registered, and a
                                              expanded to refer not just to foreign                   ‘‘short’’ or perform proper short sale                 member’s trading activity must always
                                              currency options, but to the trading of                 ‘‘locates,’’ and inadequate risk                       be supervised by an appropriately
                                              options generally.                                      management controls—could be                           registered person. Therefore, even
                                                 Additionally, proposed Rule                          reduced or prevented, in part, through                 where a firm purchases an algorithm off-
                                              1220(b)(4)(A) would require each person                 improved education regarding securities                the-shelf and does not significantly
                                              associated with a member who is: (i)                    regulations for the specified individuals              modify the algorithm, the associated
                                              Primarily responsible for the design,                   involved in the algorithm design and                   person responsible for monitoring or
                                              development or significant modification                 development process.                                   reviewing the performance of the
                                              of an algorithmic trading strategy                         The proposal is intended to ensure                  algorithm would be required to be
                                              relating to equity, preferred or                        the registration of one or more                        registered.
                                              convertible debt securities or options; or              associated persons that possesses                         Pursuant to proposed Rule
                                              (ii) responsible for the day-to-day                     knowledge of, and responsibility for,                  1220(b)(4)(B) each person registered as a
                                              supervision or direction of such                        both the design of the intended trading                Securities Trader on October 1, 2018
                                              activities to register with the Exchange                strategy and the technological                         and each person who was registered as
                                              as a Securities Trader.67                               implementation of the strategy,                        a Securities Trader within two years
                                                 For purposes of this proposed new                    sufficient to evaluate whether the                     prior to October 1, 2018 would be
                                              registration requirement an ‘‘algorithmic               resulting product is designed to achieve               qualified to register as a Securities
                                              trading strategy’’ is an automated system               regulatory compliance in addition to                   Trader without passing any additional
                                              that generates or routes orders (or order-              business objectives. For example, a lead               qualification examinations. All other
                                              related messages) but does not include                  developer who liaises with a head trader               individuals registering as Securities
                                              an automated system that solely routes                  regarding the head trader’s desired                    Traders after October 1, 2018 would be
                                              orders received in their entirety to a                  algorithmic trading strategy and is                    required, prior to or concurrent with
                                              market center. The proposed registration                primarily responsible for the                          such registration, pass the SIE and the
                                              requirement applies to orders and order                 supervision of the development of the                  Securities Trader qualification
                                              related messages whether ultimately                     algorithm to meet such objectives must                 examination.
                                              routed or sent to be routed to an                       be registered under the proposal as the
                                              exchange or over the counter. An order                  associated person primarily responsible                17. Eliminated Registration Categories
                                              router alone would not constitute an                    for the development of the algorithmic                 (Proposed Rule 1220.06)
                                              algorithmic trading strategy. However,                  trading strategy and supervising or                       Consistent with the FINRA Rule
                                              an order router that performs any                       directing the team of developers.                      Changes, the Exchange is proposing to
                                              additional functions would be                           Individuals under the lead developer’s                 eliminate from its rules the Options
                                              considered an algorithmic trading                       supervision would not be required to                   Representative category that FINRA is
                                                                                                      register under the proposal if they are                eliminating effective October 1, 2018.69
                                              trading on the Exchange while the FINRA rule is         not primarily responsible for the
                                              limited to the specified trading which is ‘‘effected    development of the algorithmic trading                    69 Chapter II, Section 2(h) of the Exchange’s
                                              otherwise than on a securities exchange.’’                                                                     rulebook provides that each person associated with
                                              Additionally, the FINRA rule does not specifically
                                                                                                      strategy or are not responsible for the
                                                                                                                                                             a member who is included within the definition of
                                              extend to options trading.                              day-to-day supervision or direction of                 a representative as defined in Rule 1031 may
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                                                 67 As noted above, this new registration             others on the team. Under this scenario,               register with BX as a Limited Representative—
                                              requirement was recently added to the FINRA             the person on the business side that is                Options and Security Futures if: (A) Such person’s
                                              rulebook. The Exchange has determined to add a          primarily responsible for the design of                activities in the investment banking or securities
                                              parallel requirement to its own rules, but also to                                                             business of the member involve the solicitation or
                                              add options to the scope of products within the         the algorithmic trading strategy, as                   sale of option or security futures contracts,
                                              proposed rule’s coverage. See Securities Exchange                                                              including option contracts on government securities
                                              Act Release No. 77551 (April 7, 2016), 81 FR 21914        68 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77551     as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(42)(D) of the
                                              (April 13, 2016) (Order Approving File No. SR–          (April 7, 2016), 81 FR 21914 (April 13, 2016) (Order   Act, for the account of a broker, dealer or public
                                              FINRA–2016–007).                                        Approving File No. SR–FINRA–2016–007).                                                            Continued




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                                              51012                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices

                                              Proposed Rule 1220.06, which is                         date of the proposed rule change would                engaged in the investment banking or
                                              proposed to be adopted on a uniform                     be qualified to register in the proposed              securities business. Rule 1060(a) also
                                              basis by the Nasdaq Affiliated                          corresponding registration categories                 exempts from registration those
                                              Exchanges, provides that, subject to the                without having to take any additional                 associated persons whose functions are
                                              lapse of registration provisions in                     examinations.                                         related solely and exclusively to a
                                              proposed Rule 1210.08, individuals who                                                                        member’s need for nominal corporate
                                                                                                      N. Associated Persons Exempt From
                                              are registered with the Exchange in any                                                                       officers or for capital participation.71
                                                                                                      Registration (Proposed Rules 1230 and
                                              capacity recognized by the Exchange                                                                           The Exchange believes that the
                                                                                                      1230.01)
                                              (such as the Options Representative                                                                           determination of whether an associated
                                              category) immediately prior to October                     Rule 1060(a) currently provides that               person is required to register must be
                                              1, 2018, and each person who was                        the following persons associated with a               based on an analysis of the person’s
                                              registered with the Exchange in such                    member are not required to register:                  activities and functions in the context of
                                              categories within two years prior to                       (1) persons associated with a member               the various registration categories. The
                                              October 1, 2018, shall be eligible to                   whose functions are solely and                        Exchange does not believe that
                                              maintain such registrations with the                    exclusively clerical or ministerial;                  categorical exemptions for associated
                                              Exchange. However, if individuals                          (2) persons associated with a member               persons who are not ‘‘actively engaged’’
                                              registered in such categories terminate                 who are not actively engaged in the                   in a member’s investment banking or
                                              their registration with the Exchange and                investment banking or securities                      securities business, associated persons
                                              the registration remains terminated for                 business;                                             whose functions are related only to a
                                              two or more years, they would not be                       (3) persons associated with a member               member’s need for nominal corporate
                                              able to re-register in that category. In                whose functions are related solely and                officers or associated persons whose
                                              addition, proposed Rule 1220.06 would                   exclusively to the member’s need for                  functions are related only to a member’s
                                              include the current restrictions to which               nominal corporate officers or for capital             need for capital participation is
                                              Order Processing Assistant                              participation;                                        consistent with this analytical
                                              Representatives are subject under                          (4) persons associated with a member
                                                                                                                                                            framework. The Exchange therefore is
                                              Nasdaq rules.70                                         whose functions are related solely and
                                                                                                                                                            proposing to delete these exemptions.
                                                                                                      exclusively to: (A) Effecting transactions
                                              18. Grandfathering Provisions                                                                                 Rule 1060(a) further exempts from
                                                                                                      on the floor of another national
                                                                                                                                                            registration associated persons whose
                                                 In addition to the grandfathering                    securities exchange and who are
                                                                                                                                                            functions are related solely and
                                              provisions in proposed Rule 1220(a)(2)                  registered as floor members with such
                                                                                                                                                            exclusively to effecting transactions on
                                              (relating to General Securities                         exchange; (B) transactions in municipal
                                                                                                                                                            the floor of another national securities
                                              Principals) and proposed Rule 1220.06                   securities; (C) transactions in
                                                                                                                                                            exchange as long as they are registered
                                              (relating to the eliminated registration                commodities; (D) transactions in
                                                                                                                                                            as floor members with such exchange.
                                              categories), the Exchange is proposing to               security futures, provided that any such
                                                                                                                                                            Because exchanges have registration
                                              include grandfathering provisions in                    person is registered with FINRA or a
                                                                                                                                                            categories other than the floor member
                                              proposed Rule 1220(a)(8) (Registered                    registered futures association; or (E)
                                                                                                                                                            category, proposed Rule 1230 clarifies
                                              Options Principal), 1220(b)(2) (General                 transactions in variable contracts and
                                                                                                                                                            that the exemption applies to associated
                                              Securities Representative), and                         insurance premium funding programs
                                                                                                                                                            persons solely and exclusively effecting
                                              1220(b)(4) (Securities Trader).                         and other contracts issued by an
                                                                                                                                                            transactions on the floor of another
                                              Specifically, the proposed                              insurance company; (F) transactions in
                                                                                                                                                            national securities exchange, provided
                                              grandfathering provisions provide that,                 direct participation programs; (G)
                                                                                                                                                            they are appropriately registered with
                                              subject to the lapse of registration                    Reserved; (H) transactions in
                                                                                                                                                            such exchange.72 Additionally, the
                                              provisions in proposed Rule 1210.08,                    government securities; or (I) effecting
                                                                                                                                                            Exchange proposes to add Section 3 of
                                              individuals who are registered in                       sales as part of a primary offering of
                                                                                                                                                            Rule 1230, pursuant to which persons
                                              specified registration categories on the                securities not involving a public offering
                                                                                                                                                            associated with a member that are not
                                              operative date of the proposed rule                     pursuant to Section 3(b), 4(2), or 4(6) of
                                                                                                                                                            citizens, nationals, or residents of the
                                              change and individuals who had been                     the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules
                                                                                                                                                            United States or any of its territories or
                                              registered in such categories within the                and regulations thereunder; and
                                                                                                                                                            possessions, that will conduct all of
                                              past two years prior to the operative                      (5) persons associated with a member
                                                                                                                                                            their securities activities in areas
                                                                                                      that are not citizens, nationals, or
                                                                                                                                                            outside the jurisdiction of the United
                                              customer; and (B) such person passes an                 residents of the United States or any of
                                                                                                                                                            States, and that will not engage in any
                                              appropriate qualification examination for Limited       its territories or possessions and that
                                              Representative—Options and Security Futures. It                                                               securities activities with or for any
                                                                                                      will conduct all of their securities
                                              also provides that each person seeking to register                                                            citizen, national or resident of the
                                              and qualify as a Limited Representative—Options         activities in areas outside the
                                                                                                                                                            United States need not register with the
                                              and Security Futures must, concurrent with or           jurisdiction of the United States and
                                                                                                                                                            Exchange.73
                                              before such registration may become effective,          will not engage in any securities
                                              become registered with BX or another SRO as either      activities with or for any citizen,                      71 These exemptions generally apply to associated
                                              as a Limited Representative—Corporate Securities
                                              or Limited Representative—Government Securities.        national or resident of the United States.            persons who are corporate officers of a member in
                                              The Limited Representative—Options and Security            Rule 1060(a) is not meant to provide               name only to meet specific corporate legal
                                              Futures registration category is the same as the        an exclusive or exhaustive list of                    obligations or who only provide capital for a
                                              Options Representative category. The Exchange has       exemptions from registration.                         member, but have no other role in a member’s
                                              very few registrants in this category, and none in                                                            business.
                                                                                                      Associated persons may otherwise be
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                                              the Corporate Securities or Limited                                                                              72 Proposed Rule 1230 differs from FINRA Rule

                                              Representative—Government Securities categories         exempt from registration based on their               1230 in that it includes a number of exemptions
                                              (for which there is no provision in the Exchange’s      activities and functions.                             based upon current Nasdaq Rule 1060(a) which are
                                              rules).                                                    The Exchange is proposing to adopt                 not found in FINRA Rule 1230.
                                                 70 See Nasdaq Rule 1042. Proposed Exchange                                                                    73 Individuals described by Section 3 of Rule 1230
                                                                                                      Rule 1060(a) as Rule 1230 subject to the
                                              Rule 1220.06 omits references to a number of                                                                  who are associated with FINRA members may be
                                              registration categories it does not propose to
                                                                                                      following changes. As noted above, Rule               registered with FINRA as Foreign Associates
                                              recognize, but which FINRA refers to in its own         1060(a) exempts from registration those               pursuant to FINRA Rule 1220.06. FINRA is
                                              Rule 1220.06.                                           associated persons who are not actively               eliminating this registration category effective



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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices                                                  51013

                                                 The Exchange proposes to adopt Rule                  eligible for an FSA waiver under the                  Nasdaq Rule 1140 which is a more
                                              1230.01 to clarify that the function of                 term ‘‘covered persons’’ corresponds to               comprehensive version of existing BX
                                              accepting customer orders is not                        the requirements of proposed Rule                     Rule 1140.
                                              considered a clerical or ministerial                    1210.09. In addition, consistent with                    Current BX Rule 1140 requires
                                              function and that associated persons                    proposed Rule 1210.09, proposed Rule                  registration forms to be filed through an
                                              who accept customer orders under any                    1240(a) provides that an FSA-eligible                 electronic process or such other process
                                              circumstances are required to be                        person would be subject to a Regulatory               as the Exchange may prescribe to the
                                              appropriately registered. However, the                  Element program that correlates to his                Central Registration Depository. The
                                              proposed rule provides that an                          or her most recent registration category,             rule includes supervisory requirements
                                              associated person is not accepting a                    and CE would be based on the same                     related to the submission of electronic
                                              customer order where occasionally,                      cycle had the individual remained                     filings, as well as Form U4 manual
                                              when an appropriately registered person                 registered. The proposed rule also                    signature requirements. It also requires
                                              is unavailable, the associated person                   provides that if an FSA-eligible person               applicants’ fingerprint cards to be
                                              transcribes the order details and the                   fails to complete the Regulatory Element              submitted by members, includes Form
                                              registered person contacts the customer                 during the prescribed time frames, he or              U5 filing requirements, and permits a
                                              to confirm the order details before                     she would lose FSA eligibility.                       member to employ a third party to file
                                              entering the order.                                        Further, the Exchange is proposing to              required forms electronically on its
                                                                                                      add a rule to address the impact of                   behalf.
                                              O. Changes to CE Requirements                           failing to complete the Regulatory
                                              (Proposed Rule 1240)                                                                                             Proposed Rule 1250 reorganizes and
                                                                                                      Element on a registered person’s                      enhances the content of current BX Rule
                                                 As described above, current Rule 1120                activities and compensation.                          1140. It would provide that all forms
                                              includes a Regulatory Element and a                     Specifically, proposed Rule 1240(a)(2)                required to be filed under the
                                              Firm Element. The Regulatory Element                    provides that any person whose                        Exchange’s registration rules, including
                                              applies to registered persons and                       registration has been deemed inactive                 the Rule 1200 series, must be filed
                                              consists of periodic computer-based                     under the rule may not accept or solicit              through an electronic process or such
                                              training on regulatory, compliance,                     business or receive any compensation                  other process as the Exchange may
                                              ethical, supervisory subjects and sales                 for the purchase or sale of securities.               prescribe to the Central Registration
                                              practice standards. The Firm Element                    However, like the FINRA rule, the                     Depository. It would provide for the
                                              consists of at least annual, member-                    proposed rule provides that such person               electronic filing of Form U4
                                              developed and administered training                     may receive trail or residual                         amendments in a number of cases
                                              programs designed to keep covered                       commissions resulting from transactions               without the individual’s manual
                                              registered persons current regarding                    completed before the inactive status,                 signature, subject to certain safeguards
                                              securities products, services and                       unless the member with which the                      and procedures, and would permit the
                                              strategies offered by the member. The                   person is associated has a policy                     delegation of filing functions by
                                              Exchange is proposing to delete Rule                    prohibiting such trail or residual                    supervisors (again, subject to certain
                                              1120 and replace it with Rule 1240.                     commissions.                                          safeguards). Additionally, Rule 1250,
                                              Proposed Rule 1240 would differ from                       The Exchange is also proposing to                  Supplementary Material .02 would state
                                              current Rule 1120 in a number of                        remove the requirements currently                     clearly that members remain responsible
                                              respects, discussed below.74                            found in Rule 1120(a)(1) prescribing the              for complying with the requirements of
                                              1. Regulatory Element                                   specific Regulatory Elements                          the rule even if forms are filed
                                                                                                      administered by FINRA that are                        electronically by a third party pursuant
                                                 The Exchange is proposing to replace                 required for General Securities
                                              the term ‘‘registered person’’ under                                                                          to an agreement. Finally, it would
                                                                                                      Representatives, Securities Traders or                establish a number of recordkeeping
                                              current Rule 1120(a) with the term                      persons registered in a supervisory
                                              ‘‘covered person’’ and make conforming                                                                        requirements related to electronic
                                                                                                      capacity, so that Rule 1240(a)(1) will                registration filings.
                                              changes to proposed Rule 1240(a). For                   conform more closely to the FINRA
                                              purposes of the Regulatory Element, the                                                                          Rule 1250, as part of the uniform 1200
                                                                                                      counterpart rule which does not identify              Series, will consolidate Form U4 and U5
                                              Exchange is proposing to define the                     specific Regulatory Element
                                              term ‘‘covered person’’ in Rule                                                                               electronic filing requirements in a single
                                                                                                      requirements for particular categories of             location, across the Nasdaq Affiliated
                                              1240(a)(5) as any person registered                     registrant.
                                              pursuant to proposed Rule 1210,                                                                               Exchanges.
                                              including any person who is                             2. Firm Element                                       Q. Other Rules
                                              permissively registered pursuant to                        The Exchange believes that training in
                                                                                                                                                              The Exchange is deleting Rule 1060,
                                              proposed Rule 1210.02, and any person                   ethics and professional responsibility
                                                                                                                                                            Persons Exempt from Registration, as
                                              who is designated as eligible for an FSA                should apply to all covered registered
                                                                                                                                                            explained above. Rule 1060(b) however,
                                              waiver pursuant to proposed Rule                        persons. Therefore, proposed Rule
                                                                                                                                                            contains provisions dealing with
                                              1210.09. The purpose of this change is                  1240(b)(2)(B), which provides that the
                                                                                                                                                            Nonregistered Foreign ‘‘Finders’’ and is
                                              to ensure that all registered persons,                  Firm Element training programs must
                                                                                                                                                            simply being relocated with
                                              including those with permissive                         cover applicable regulatory
                                                                                                                                                            nonsubstantive changes to new Rule
                                              registrations, keep their knowledge of                  requirements, would also require that a
                                                                                                                                                            2040.75 The remaining rules identified
                                              the securities industry current. The                    firm’s training program cover training in
                                              inclusion of persons designated as                                                                            above under ‘‘Overview’’ which are to
                                                                                                      ethics and professional responsibility.
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                                                                                                                                                            be amended in this proposed rule
                                              October 1, 2018, and the Exchange has never
                                                                                                      P. Electronic Filing Rules                            change but are not further discussed
                                              recognized it.                                            Existing BX Rule 1140, Electronic                   herein simply update citations and/or
                                                74 Proposed Rule 1240 also differs slightly from
                                                                                                      Filing Rules, is proposed to be amended
                                              FINRA Rule 1240 in that it omits references to                                                                  75 The FINRA counterpart to current Rule 1060(b)

                                              certain registration categories which the Exchange
                                                                                                      and relocated as Rule 1250, Electronic                occupies a similar location in the FINRA rulebook.
                                              does not recognize as well as an internal cross         Requirements for Uniform Forms.                       See FINRA Rule 2040(c), Nonregistered Foreign
                                              reference to FINRA Rule 4517.                           Proposed Rule 1250 is based on existing               Finders.



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                                              51014                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices

                                              make technical or nonsubstantive                           industry professionals by introducing                 The new 1200 Series should in fact
                                              changes to the proposed new rules.                         them to securities laws, rules and                    remove administrative burdens that
                                                                                                         regulations and appropriate conduct                   currently exist for members seeking to
                                              2. Statutory Basis
                                                                                                         before they join the industry in a                    register associated persons on multiple
                                                 The Exchange believes that its                          registered capacity.                                  Nasdaq Affiliated Exchanges featuring
                                              proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)                      The extension of the Securities Trader             varying registration-related
                                              of the Act,76 in general, and furthers the                 registration requirement to developers                requirements. Additionally, all
                                              objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,77                of algorithmic trading strategies requires            similarly-situated associated persons of
                                              in particular, in that it is designed to                   associated persons primarily                          members will be treated similarly under
                                              promote just and equitable principles of                   responsible for the design, development               the new 1200 Series in terms of
                                              trade, to remove impediments to and                        or significant modification of an                     standards of training, experience and
                                              perfect the mechanism of a free and                        algorithmic trading strategy or                       competence for persons associated with
                                              open market and a national market                          responsible for the day-to-day                        Exchange members.
                                              system, and, in general to protect                         supervision or direction of such
                                              investors and the public interest.                         activities to register and meet a                        With respect to registration of
                                                 The Exchange believes that the                          minimum standard of knowledge                         developers of algorithmic trading
                                              proposed rule change will streamline,                      regarding the securities rules and                    strategies in particular, the Exchange
                                              and bring consistency and uniformity                       regulations applicable to the member                  recognizes that the proposal would
                                              to, the registration rules, which will, in                 employing the algorithmic trading                     impose costs on member firms
                                              turn, assist members and their                             strategy. This minimum standard of                    employing associated persons engaged
                                              associated persons in complying with                       knowledge is identical to the standard                in the activity subject to the registration
                                              these rules and improve regulatory                         of knowledge currently applicable to                  requirement. Specifically, among other
                                              efficiency. The proposed rule change                       traditional securities traders. The                   things, additional associated persons
                                              will also improve the efficiency of the                    Exchange believes that improved                       would be required to become registered
                                              examination program, without                               education of firm personnel may reduce                under the proposal, and the firm would
                                              compromising the qualification                             the potential for problematic market                  need to establish policies and
                                              standards, by eliminating duplicative                      conduct and manipulative trading                      procedures to monitor compliance with
                                              testing of general securities knowledge                    activity.                                             the proposed requirement on an ongoing
                                              on examinations and by removing                               Finally, the proposed rule change                  basis. However, given the prevalence
                                              examinations that currently have                           makes organizational changes to                       and importance of algorithmic trading
                                              limited utility. In addition, the proposed                 Exchange rules to maintain appropriate                strategies in today’s markets, the
                                              rule change will expand the scope of                       parallelism with corresponding                        Exchange believes that associated
                                              permissive registrations, which, among                     Exchange rules, in order to prevent                   persons engaged in the activities
                                              other things, will allow members to                        unnecessary regulatory burdens and                    covered by this proposal must meet a
                                              develop a depth of associated persons                      promote efficient administration of the               minimum standard of knowledge
                                              with registrations to respond to                           rules. The change also makes minor
                                                                                                                                                               regarding the applicable securities rules
                                              unanticipated personnel changes and                        updates and corrections to the
                                              will encourage greater regulatory                                                                                and regulations. To mitigate the costs
                                                                                                         Exchange’s rules which improve
                                              understanding. Further, the proposed                                                                             imposed on member firms, the proposed
                                                                                                         readability.
                                              rule change will provide a more                                                                                  rule change limits the scope of
                                                                                                         B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     registration requirement by excluding
                                              streamlined and effective waiver
                                                                                                         Statement on Burden on Competition                    technological or development support
                                              process for individuals working for a
                                              financial services industry affiliate of a                    The Exchange does not believe that                 personnel who are not primarily
                                              member, and it will require such                           the proposed rule change will impose                  responsible for the covered activities. It
                                              individuals to maintain specified levels                   any burden on competition not                         also excludes supervisors who are not
                                              of competence and knowledge while                          necessary or appropriate in furtherance               responsible for the ‘‘day-to-day’’
                                              working in areas ancillary to the                          of the purposes of the Act. The                       supervision or direction of the covered
                                              securities business. The proposed rule                     proposed rule change is designed to                   activities.
                                              change will improve the supervisory                        ensure that all associated persons of
                                                                                                         members engaged in a securities                       C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                              structure of firms by imposing an                                                                                Statement on Comments on the
                                              experience requirement for                                 business are, and will continue to be,
                                                                                                         properly trained and qualified to                     Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                              representatives that are designated by                                                                           Members, Participants, or Others
                                              firms to function as principals for a 120-                 perform their functions, will be
                                              day period before having to pass an                        supervised, and can be identified by                    No written comments were either
                                              appropriate principal qualification                        regulators. The proposed new 1200                     solicited or received.
                                              examination. The proposed rule change                      Series of rules, which are similar in
                                              will also prohibit unregistered persons                    many respects to the registration-related             III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                              from accepting customer orders under                       requirements adopted by FINRA                         Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
                                              any circumstances, which will enhance                      effective October 1, 2018, should                     Commission Action
                                              investor protection.                                       enhance the ability of member firms to
                                                 The Exchange believes that, with the                    comply with the Exchange’s rules as                     Because the foregoing proposed rule
                                              introduction of the SIE and expansion of                   well as with the Federal securities laws.             change does not: (i) Significantly affect
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                                              the pool of individuals who are eligible                   Additionally, as described above, the                 the protection of investors or the public
                                              to take the SIE, the proposed rule                         Exchange intends the amendments                       interest; (ii) impose any significant
                                              change has the potential of enhancing                      described herein to eliminate                         burden on competition; and (iii) become
                                              the pool of prospective securities                         inconsistent registration-related                     operative for 30 days from the date on
                                                                                                         requirements across the Nasdaq                        which it was filed, or such shorter time
                                                76 15   U.S.C. 78f(b).                                   Affiliated Exchanges, thereby promoting               as the Commission may designate, it has
                                                77 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                                uniformity of regulation across markets.              become effective pursuant to Section


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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 10, 2018 / Notices                                               51015

                                              19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 78 and Rule 19b–                 All submissions should refer to File                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                              4(f)(6) thereunder.                                     Number SR–BX–2018–047. This file                      COMMISSION
                                                 A proposed rule change filed under                   number should be included on the
                                              Rule 19b–4(f)(6) normally does not                      subject line if email is used. To help the            [Release No. 34–84355; File No. SR–
                                              become operative for 30 days from the                   Commission process and review your                    NASDAQ–2018–066]
                                              date of filing. However, Rule 19b–                      comments more efficiently, please use
                                              4(f)(6)(iii) 79 permits the Commission to               only one method. The Commission will                  Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
                                              designate a shorter time if such action                 post all comments on the Commission’s                 Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; Notice of
                                              is consistent with the protection of                                                                          Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
                                                                                                      internet website (http://www.sec.gov/
                                              investors and the public interest. The                                                                        Proposed Rule Change To Align
                                                                                                      rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                              Exchange has asked the Commission to                                                                          Existing Investigatory and Disciplinary
                                              waive the 30-day operative delay so that                submission, all subsequent
                                                                                                      amendments, all written statements                    Processes and Related Rules With the
                                              the proposal may become operative on                                                                          Investigatory and Disciplinary
                                              October 1, 2018 to coincide with the                    with respect to the proposed rule
                                                                                                      change that are filed with the                        Processes and Related Rules of
                                              effective date of FINRA’s proposed rule                                                                       Nasdaq PHLX LLC
                                              change on which the proposal is                         Commission, and all written
                                              based.80 The waiver of the operative                    communications relating to the                        October 3, 2018.
                                              delay would make the Exchange’s                         proposed rule change between the
                                                                                                      Commission and any person, other than                    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                              qualification requirements consistent
                                              with those of FINRA, as of October 1,                   those that may be withheld from the                   Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                              2018. Therefore, the Commission                                                                               (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                                                                                      public in accordance with the
                                              believes that the waiver of the 30-day                                                                        notice is hereby given that on
                                                                                                      provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                              operative delay is consistent with the                                                                        September 24, 2018, The Nasdaq Stock
                                                                                                      available for website viewing and
                                              protection of investors and the public                                                                        Market LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’)
                                                                                                      printing in the Commission’s Public                   filed with the Securities and Exchange
                                              interest and hereby waives the 30-day                   Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,
                                              operative delay and designates the                                                                            Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the
                                                                                                      Washington, DC 20549, on official                     proposed rule change as described in
                                              proposal operative on October 1, 2018.81                business days between the hours of
                                                 At any time within 60 days of the                                                                          Items I and II, below, which Items have
                                                                                                      10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                been prepared by the Exchange. The
                                              filing of the proposed rule change, the
                                                                                                      filing also will be available for                     Commission is publishing this notice to
                                              Commission summarily may
                                                                                                      inspection and copying at the principal               solicit comments on the proposed rule
                                              temporarily suspend such rule change if
                                                                                                      office of the Exchange. All comments                  change from interested persons.
                                              it appears to the Commission that such
                                              action is necessary or appropriate in the               received will be posted without change.
                                                                                                      Persons submitting comments are                       I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                              public interest, for the protection of                                                                        Statement of the Terms of Substance of
                                              investors, or otherwise in furtherance of               cautioned that we do not redact or edit
                                                                                                                                                            the Proposed Rule Change
                                              the purposes of the Act.                                personal identifying information from
                                                                                                      comment submissions. You should                          The Exchange proposes to align its
                                              IV. Solicitation of Comments                            submit only information that you wish                 existing investigatory and disciplinary
                                                Interested persons are invited to                     to make available publicly. All                       processes and related rules with the
                                              submit written data, views, and                         submissions should refer to File                      investigatory and disciplinary processes
                                              arguments concerning the foregoing,                     Number SR–BX–2018–047 and should                      and related rules of Nasdaq PHLX LLC
                                              including whether the proposed rule                     be submitted on or before October 31,                 (‘‘Phlx’’) [sic]
                                              change is consistent with the Act.                      2018.                                                    The text of the proposed rule change
                                              Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                                                                        For the Commission, by the Division of              is available on the Exchange’s website at
                                              the following methods:
                                                                                                      Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated            http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at the
                                              Electronic Comments                                     authority.82                                          principal office of the Exchange, and at
                                                • Use the Commission’s internet                       Eduardo A. Aleman,                                    the Commission’s Public Reference
                                              comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                       Assistant Secretary.                                  Room.
                                              rules/sro.shtml); or                                    [FR Doc. 2018–21904 Filed 10–9–18; 8:45 am]           II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                • Send an email to rule-comments@                     BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                              sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                                                                       Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                              BX–2018–047 on the subject line.                                                                              Change
                                              Paper Comments
                                                                                                                                                              In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                • Send paper comments in triplicate                                                                         Exchange included statements
                                              to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                                                                         concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                              Commission, 100 F Street NE,                                                                                  the proposed rule change and discussed
                                              Washington, DC 20549–1090.                                                                                    any comments it received on the
                                                                                                                                                            proposed rule change. The text of these
                                                78 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
                                                79 17
                                                                                                                                                            statements may be examined at the
                                                       CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).
                                                                                                                                                            places specified in Item IV below. The
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                                                 80 See supra note 7. As discussed above, the

                                              Exchange has stated that the new registration                                                                 Exchange has prepared summaries, set
                                              requirements for developers of algorithmic trading                                                            forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
                                              strategies would become operative on April 1, 2019.                                                           the most significant aspects of such
                                                 81 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day
                                                                                                                                                            statements.
                                              operative delay, the Commission has also
                                              considered the proposed rule’s impact on
                                                                                                                                                              1 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                              efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See
                                              15 U.S.C. 78c(f).                                         82 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                          2 17   CFR 240.19b–4.



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Document Created: 2018-10-10 17:36:47
Document Modified: 2018-10-10 17:36:47
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation83 FR 50999 

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