Select regulatory documents by category:
1. Bartholomew, Patricia E., 2014 Chair, Securities Industry Council on Continuing Education, and Bartol, William E., 2013 Chair, Securities Industry Council on Continuing Education: Letter dated January 13, 2014
2. Bond Dealers of America: Letter from Michael Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer, dated January 13, 2014
3. Diamant Investment Corporation: E-mail from Herbert Diamant dated December 13, 2013
4. Financial Services Institute: Letter from David T. Bellaire, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, dated January 13, 2014
5. Investment Company Institute: Letter from Tamara K. Salmon, Senior Associate Counsel, dated January 13, 2014
6. MetLife Securities, Inc.: Letter from Jennifer Lewis, Corporate Counsel, dated January 13, 2014
7. National Society of Compliance Professionals: Letter from Judy Werner, Executive Director, dated January 14, 2014
8. Romano Wealth Management: E-mail from Joe Romano dated January 13, 2014
9. RW Smith & Associates, Inc.: E-mail from Paige Pierce dated January 13, 2014
10. Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association: Letter from David L. Cohen, Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, dated January 13, 2014
11. Wulff, Hansen & Co.: Letter from Chris Charles, President, dated January 9, 2014
Bank Dealers, Dealers, Municipal Advisors
1. Financial Services Institute: Letter from David T. Bellaire, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, dated September 20, 2013
2. National Association of Independent Public Finance Advisors: Letter from Jeanine Rodgers Caruso, President, dated September 20, 2013
3. Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association: Letter from Leslie M. Norwood, Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, dated September 20, 2013
4. U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.: E-mail from Herbert Neufeld dated August 19, 2013
1. Financial Services Institute: Letter from David T. Bellaire, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, dated September 20, 2013
2. Investment Company Institute: Letter from Tamara K. Salmon, Senior Associate Counsel, dated September 20, 2013
3. Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association: Letter from David L. Cohen, Managing Director, Associate General Counsel, dated September 20, 2013
4. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC: Letter from Robert J. McCarthy, Director of Regulatory Policy, dated September 20, 2013
5. Wells Fargo Securities: Letter from Gerald K. Mayfield, Senior Counsel, dated September 20, 2013
Bank Dealers, Dealers
1. Ambassador Financial Group: E-mail from Allen Collins dated August 8, 2013
2. Barclays Capital Inc.: Letter from Jennifer Small, Municipal Compliance, dated October 7, 2013
3. Bond Dealers of America: Letter from Michael Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer, dated October 7, 2013
4. Financial Services Institute: Letter from David T. Bellaire, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, dated October 7, 2013
5. Interactive Data Corporation: Letter from Mark Hepsworth, President, Interactive Data Pricing and Reference Data, dated October 7, 2013
6. Investment Company Institute: Letter from Tamara K. Salmon, Senior Associate Counsel, dated September 20, 2013
7. J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons LLC: Letter from Alex Rorke, Director, Public Finance
8. Melton, Chris: Letter dated September 26, 2013
9. Private Investor: E-mail from Private Investor dated September 2, 2013
10. Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association: Letter from David L. Cohen, Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, dated October 7, 2013
11. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC: Letter from Robert J. McCarthy, Director of Regulatory Policy, dated October 7, 2013
Bank Dealers, Dealers, Municipal Advisors
1. Bond Dealers of America: Letter from Michael Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer, dated November 1, 2013
2. Corporate Treasury Investment Consulting LLC: Letter from Mark O. Conner, Principal, dated August 16, 2013
3. Financial Information Forum: Letter from Manisha Kimmel, Executive Director, dated November 1, 2013
4. Interactive Data Corporation: Letter from Mark Hepsworth, President, Interactive Data Pricing and Reference Data, dated November 1, 2013
5. Leonard, Jack: Letter dated August 1, 2013
6. Long, Cate: E-mail dated November 1, 2013
7. Sayer, Steven: E-mail dated November 3, 2013
8. Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association: Letter from Leslie M. Norwood, Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, dated November 1, 2013
9. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC: Letter from Robert J.McCarthy, Director of Regulatory Policy, dated November 1, 2013
Bank Dealers, Dealers
1. Bond Dealers of America: Letter from Michael Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer, dated June 12, 2013
2. Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association: Letter from David L. Cohen, Managing Director, Associate General Counsel, dated June 12, 2013
3. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC: Letter from Robert J. McCarthy, Director of Regulatory Policy, dated June 12, 2013
1. Bond Dealers of America: Letter from Michael Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer, dated May 6, 2013
2. College Savings Foundation: Letter from Roger Michaud, Chairman, dated May 6, 2013
3. College Savings Plans Network: Letter from Michael L. Fitzgerald, Treasurer of Iowa and Chairman, dated May 6, 2013
4. Financial Services Institute: Letter from David T. Bellaire, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, dated May 6, 2013
5. Investment Company Institute: Letter from Tamara K. Salmon, Senior Associate Counsel, dated May 5, 2013
6. Retail Investor: Email from Retail Investor dated August 25, 2013
7. Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association: Letter from David L. Cohen, Managing Director, Associate General Counsel, dated May 6, 2013
8. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC: Letter from Robert J. McCarthy, Director of Regulatory Policy, dated May 6, 2013
Bank Dealers, Dealers, Municipal Advisors
1. Bond Dealers of America: Letter from Michael Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer, dated March 28, 2013
2. Boyle, Nick: Letter
3. City of Milwaukee: E-mail from Richard Li dated March 7, 2013
4. Government Finance Officers Association: Letter from Dustin McDonald, Director, Federal Liaison Center, dated April 30, 2013
5. National Association of Bond Lawyers: Letter from Scott R. Lilienthal, President, dated March 29, 2013
Bank Dealers, Dealers
1. Bond Dealers of America: Letter from Michael Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer, dated March 12, 2013
2. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.: Letter from Michael P. Moran, Vice President, Compliance, dated March 12, 2013
3. Lumesis, Inc.: Letter from Gregg L. Bienstock, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, dated March 11, 2013
4. Lumesis, Inc.: Letter from Gregg L. Bienstock, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, dated July 17, 2013
5. R.W. Smith & Associates, Inc.: E-mail from Paige Pierce dated March 20, 2013
6. Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association: Letter from David L. Cohen, Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, dated March 12, 2013
7. TMC Bonds, L.L.C.: Letter from Thomas S. Vales, Chief Executive Officer, dated March 11, 2013
8. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC: Letter from Robert J. McCarthy, Director of Regulatory Policy, dated March 12, 2013
Bank Dealers, Dealers
1. Barclays Capital Inc.: Letter from Scott Coya, Director, Municipal Compliance, dated March 15, 2013
2. Bond Dealers of America: Letter from Michael Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer, dated March 15, 2013
3. Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.: Letter from Michael P. Moran, Vice President, Fixed Income Compliance, dated March 15, 2013
4. Eastern Bank: E-mail from James N. Fox, SVP and Managing Director, dated March 15, 2013
5. Financial Information Forum: Letter from Arsalan Shahid, Program Director, dated March 15, 2013
6. Financial Services Institute: Letter from David T. Bellaire, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, dated March 15, 2013
7. Frost Bank: Letter from Robert N. Jacobs, Assistant Vice President/Compliance Officer, dated March 11, 2013
8. Investment Company Institute: Letter from Dorothy Donohue, Deputy General Counsel-Securities Regulation, dated March 15, 2013
9. J.W. Korth & Company LP: E-mail from James Korth dated March 14, 2013
10. R.W. Smith & Associates, Inc.: E-mail from Paige Pierce, dated March 20, 2013
11. Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association: Letter from Leslie M. Norwood, Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, dated March 15, 2013
12. Seidel & Shaw, LLC: Letter from Thomas W. Shaw, President, dated March 15, 2013
13. Standish: E-mail from Daniel Rabasco dated March 15, 2013
14. TMC Bonds, L.L.C.: Letter from Thomas S. Vales, Chief Executive Officer, dated March 15, 2013
15. Tradition Asiel Securities, Inc.: Letter from Eric M. Earnhardt, Chief Compliance Officer, dated March 19, 2013
Transactions in Municipal Collateralized Mortgage Obligations: Rule G-15
The Board has become aware that some municipal issuers recently have issued securities that are structured as collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs). Like the CMOs issued by non-municipal issuers, these securities represent interest in pools of mortgages and are partitioned into several classes (or tranches), which are serialized as to priority for redemption and payment of principal.
Since these "municipal CMOs" are being issued directly by political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities of state or local governments, it appears that they may be "municipal securities," as that term is defined under section 3(a)(29) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.[1] Although the interest paid on these instruments may be subject to federal taxation, the Board reminds dealers that transactions in municipal securities are subject to Board rules whether those securities are taxable or tax-exempt. Accordingly, dealers executing transactions in municipal CMOs should ensure that they are in compliance with all applicable Board rules. For example, dealers should ensure that all Board requirements regarding professional qualifications and recordkeeping are observed.[2]
Because the interest and principal payment features of municipal CMOs are very different from those of traditional municipal bonds, dealers should take care to ensure that all Board rules designed for the protection of customers are observed. This includes ensuring that: (i) all material facts about each transaction are disclosed to the customer, in compliance with rule G-17; (ii) each transaction recommended to a customer is suitable for the customer, in compliance with rule G-19; and (iii) the price of each customer transaction is fair and reasonable, in compliance with rule G-30. With respect to the material facts that should be disclosed to customers, dealers should ensure that customers are adequately informed of the likelihood of "prepayment" of principal on the securities and the likelihood of the securities being redeemed substantially prior to the stated maturity date. If the amount of principal that will be delivered to the customer differs from the "face" amount to be delivered, the customer also should be informed of this fact, along with the amount of the principal that will be delivered.
The Board also has reviewed the requirements of rule G-15(a)(i)(l)[*] with respect to confirmation disclosure of "yield to maturity" or "yield to call" on customer confirmations in these securities. Because CMOs typically pay principal to holders prior to maturity and because the actual duration of the securities often varies significantly from the stated maturity, the Board has interpreted rule G-15(a) not to require a statement of yield for transactions in municipal CMOs. A dealer that decides to voluntarily include a statement of "yield" on a confirmation for these securities must also disclose on the confirmation the method by which yield was computed. This will help to avoid the possibility of the customer misunderstanding the yield figure if he should use it to compare the merits of alternative investments.
The Board will be monitoring municipal CMOs and will adopt specific rules for the instruments in the future if this appears to be necessary.
[1] Of course, whether any instrument is a municipal security is a matter to be determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
[2] In addition, as noted above, the interest paid on these instruments may be subject to federal taxation. If the securities are identified by the issuer or sold by the underwriter as subject to federal taxation, rules G-12(c) and G-15(a) require confirmations to contain a designation to that effect.
[*] [Currently codified at rule G-15(a)(i)(A)(5)]
