SEC Approves Amendments to Require the Public Disclosure of Additional Information Related to Dealer Contributions to Bond Ballot Campaigns under MSRB Rules G-37 and G-8

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has approved amendments to MSRB Rules G-37 (on political contributions and prohibitions on municipal securities business) and G-8 (on books and records to be made by dealers) to require the public disclosure of additional information related to broker, dealer and municipal securities dealer (“dealer”) contributions to bond ballot campaigns.[1] Specifically, the amendments to Rule G-37 require the public disclosure of additional information related to contributions made by dealers, their municipal finance professionals (“MFPs”),[2] political action committees (“PACs”) controlled by the dealer or their MFPs and non-MFP executive officers[3] to bond ballot campaigns and the municipal securities business[4] engaged in by dealers resulting from voter approval of the bond ballot measure to which such contributions relate. The additional information will be required to be reported on revised MSRB Form G-37[5] and submitted to the MSRB.[6] The amendments to Rule G-8 require dealers to maintain records pertaining to the additional information disclosed under the amendments to Rule G-37. The effective date of the amendments is the start of the second quarter following the date of SEC approval, which is the quarter beginning July 1, 2013.

BACKGROUND

Since February 1, 2010, the MSRB has required public disclosure under Rule G-37 of contributions to bond ballot campaigns made by dealers, their MFPs, dealer-controlled PACs, and their non-MFP executive officers. Dealers are not required to disclose contributions made by MFPs and non-MFP executive officers to a bond ballot campaign for a ballot initiative with respect to which such person is entitled to vote if such contributions, in total, do not exceed $250 per ballot initiative. Rule G-37 also requires dealers to maintain records of certain reportable contributions to bond ballot campaigns pursuant to Rule G-8. The requirements resulted, in part, from industry concerns that certain contributions to bond ballot campaigns could assist dealers with obtaining municipal securities business, as well as the MSRB’s concern about the lack of effective public transparency regarding information on bond ballot campaign contributions.[7] The existing Rule G-37 prohibition on engaging in municipal securities business is not triggered by contributions that are made to bond ballot campaigns by dealers, MFPs or their PACs.

The approved amendments to Rule G-37 add greater specificity to the public disclosures relating to contributions made by dealers and dealer personnel to bond ballot campaigns, and any municipal securities business awarded as a result of the corresponding bond ballot measures. Further, access to such information in a centralized format on the MSRB’s EMMA website (through Form G-37) will increase the amount of information available to market participants, furthering the goals of market transparency and market integrity. The revisions also will assist the MSRB in its on-going review of Rule G-37 and potential conflicts of interest or other practices that may present challenges to the integrity of the municipal securities market related to the political contributions by dealers and dealer personnel.

SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS

Rule G-37(e)(i)(B)(2) is amended to provide that, in disclosing the contribution amount made to a bond ballot campaign, the dealer also must include, in the case of in-kind contributions, the value and nature of the goods or services provided, including any ancillary services provided to, on behalf of, or in furtherance of the bond ballot campaign. The amendments also require dealers to disclose the specific date on which such contributions to bond ballot campaigns were made.

Rule G-37(e)(i)(B) is amended to require dealers to disclose the full issuer name and full issue description of any primary offering resulting from voter approval of a bond ballot measure to which a contribution required to be disclosed has been made. Such information is required to be reported in the same calendar quarter in which the closing date for the issuance that was authorized by the bond ballot measure occurred.

The amendments also provide a look-back provision for bond ballot campaign contributions that are made by an MFP or a non-MFP executive officer during the two years prior to an individual becoming an MFP or a non-MFP executive officer of a dealer. The look-back provision limits the additional disclosures required under Rule G-37(e)(i)(B) to those items that would have been required to be disclosed if such individual had been an MFP or a non-MFP executive officer at the time of such contribution. Rule G-37(e)(i)(B) also requires dealers to disclose both the amount and source of any payments or reimbursements related to any bond ballot contribution received by a dealer or its MFPs from any third party.[8]

Rule G-37(g) is amended to expand the definition of “contribution” and create a new term, the “reportable date of selection.” The amendments to the definition of “contribution” distinguish between contributions made to an official of an issuer and contributions made to a bond ballot campaign. The term “reportable date of selection” means the specific date on which a dealer is selected, either in writing or orally, to engage in municipal securities business that must be reported on Form G-37.

Finally, conforming amendments to Rule G-8(a)(xvi)(H) and (I) require dealers to maintain records of the supplemental information related to bond ballot campaign contributions that are required to be disclosed on Form G-37 pursuant to the amendments.

The MSRB reminds dealers that the amendments apply only with respect to municipal securities offerings with a sale or issuance date on or after July 1, 2013, the effective date of the amendments. Thus, dealers will not be required to supplement bond ballot campaign disclosures made with respect to offerings that are prior to July 1, 2013. However, dealers must disclose the full issuer name and full issue description of any primary offering with a sale or issuance date on or after July 1, 2013 resulting from voter approval of a bond ballot measure to which a contribution required to be disclosed has been made, even if such contribution was made by the dealer, its MFPs, any dealer controlled PAC, or its non-MFP executive officers prior to July 1, 2013 but on or after February 1, 2010 (the date on which dealers were first required to record and disclose contributions to bond ballot campaigns). The additional disclosures required under the amendments must be submitted to the MSRB no later than the last day of the month following the end of each calendar quarter starting July 1, 2013. Hence, the additional disclosures must first be submitted to the MSRB no later October 31, 2013 for the quarter commencing on July 1, 2013 and ending on September 31, 2013.

Questions about the amendments may be directed to Leslie Carey, Associate General Counsel, at 703-797-6600.

April 1, 2013

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TEXT OF AMENDMENTS[9]

Rule G-37: Political Contributions and Prohibitions on Municipal Securities Business

(a) – (d) No change.

(e) Required Disclosure to Board.

(i) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (e)(ii), each broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer shall, by the last day of the month following the end of each calendar quarter (these dates correspond to January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31) send to the Board Form G-37 setting forth, in the prescribed format, the following information:

(A) No change.

(B) for contributions to bond ballot campaigns (other than a contribution made by a municipal finance professional or a non-MFP executive officer to a bond ballot campaign for a ballot initiative with respect to which such person is entitled to vote if all contributions by such person to such bond ballot campaign, in total, do not exceed $250 per ballot initiative) made by the persons and entities described in subclause (2) of this clause (B):

(1) No change.

(2) the contribution amount made (which, in the case of in-kind contributions, must include both the value and the nature of the goods or services provided, including any ancillary services provided to, on behalf of, or in furtherance of the bond ballot campaign), the specific date on which the contribution was made, and the contributor category of each of the following persons and entities making such contributions during such calendar quarter:

        (a) - (d) No change.

(3) the full issuer name and full issue description of any primary offering resulting from the bond ballot campaign to which a contribution required to be disclosed pursuant to this clause (B) has been made, or to which a contribution has been made by a municipal finance professional or a non-MFP executive officer during the period beginning two years prior to such individual becoming a municipal finance professional or a non-MFP executive officer that would have been required to be disclosed if such individual had been a municipal finance professional or a non-MFP executive officer at the time of such contribution and the reportable date of selection on which the broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer was selected to engage in such municipal securities business, reported in the calendar quarter in which the closing date for the issuance that was authorized by the bond ballot campaign occurred; and

(4) the payments or reimbursements, related to any bond ballot contribution, received by each broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer or any of its municipal finance professionals from any third party that are required to be disclosed pursuant to this clause (B), including the amount paid and the name of the third party making such payment.

(C) - (F) No change.

(ii) - (iv) No change.

(f) No change.

(g) Definitions.

(i) The term “contribution” means any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value made:

            (A) to an official of an issuer:

(1) (A) for the purpose of influencing any election for federal, state or local office;

(2) (B) for payment of debt incurred in connection with any such election; or

(3) (C) for transition or inaugural expenses incurred by the successful candidate for state or local office; or

            (B) to a bond ballot campaign:

(1) for the purpose of influencing (whether in support of or opposition to) any ballot initiative seeking authorization for the issuance of municipal securities through public approval obtained by popular vote;

(2) for payment of debt incurred in connection with any such ballot initiative; or

(3) for payment of the costs of conducting any such ballot initiative.

(ii) - (x) No change.

(xi) The term “reportable date of selection” means the date of the earliest to occur of: (i) the execution of an engagement letter; (ii) the execution of a bond purchase agreement; or (iii) the receipt of formal notification (provided either in writing or orally) from or on behalf of the issuer that the dealer has been selected to engage in municipal securities business.

(h) – (j) No change.

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Rule G-8: Books and Records to be Made by Brokers, Dealers and Municipal Securities Dealers

(a) Description of Books and Records Required to be Made. Except as otherwise specifically indicated in this rule, every broker, dealer and municipal securities dealer shall make and keep current the following books and records, to the extent applicable to the business of such broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer:

(i) - (xv) No change.

(xvi) Records Concerning Political Contributions and Prohibitions on Municipal Securities Business Pursuant to Rule G-37. Records reflecting:

(A) - (G) No change.

(H) the contributions, direct or indirect, to bond ballot campaigns made by the broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer and each political action committee controlled by the broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer for the current year, which records shall include: (i) the identity of the contributors, (ii) the official name of each bond ballot campaign receiving such contributions, and the jurisdiction (including city/county/state or political subdivision) by or for which municipal securities, if approved, would be issued, and (iii) the amounts (which, in the case of in-kind contributions, must include both the value and the nature of the goods or services provided, including any ancillary services provided to, on behalf of, or in furtherance of the bond ballot campaign) and the specific dates of such contributions;, (iv) the full issuer name and full issue description of any primary offering resulting from the bond ballot campaign to which the broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer or political action committee controlled by the broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer has made a contribution and the reportable date of selection on which the broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer was selected to engage in such municipal securities business, and (v) the payments or reimbursements, related to any bond ballot contribution, received by the broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer from any third party that are required to be disclosed under Rule G-37(e)(i)(B), including the amount paid and the name of the third party making such payment.

(I) the contributions, direct or indirect, to bond ballot campaigns made by each municipal finance professional, any political action committee controlled by a municipal finance professional, and non-MFP executive officer for the current year, which records shall include: (i) the names, titles, city/county and state of residence of contributors, (ii) the official name of each bond ballot campaign receiving such contributions, and the jurisdiction (including city/county/state or political subdivision) by or for which municipal securities, if approved, would be issued, and (iii) the amounts (which, in the case of in-kind contributions, must include both the value and the nature of the goods or services provided, including any ancillary services provided to, on behalf of, or in furtherance of the bond ballot campaign) and the specific dates of such contributions, (iv) the full issuer name and full issue description of any primary offering resulting from the bond ballot campaign to which the municipal finance professional, political action committee controlled by the municipal finance professional or non-MFP executive officer has made a contribution required to be disclosed under Rule G-37(e)(i)(B), or to which a contribution has been made by a municipal finance professional or a non-MFP executive officer during the period beginning two years prior to such individual becoming a municipal finance professional or a non-MFP executive officer that would have been required to be disclosed if such individual had been a municipal finance professional or a non-MFP executive officer at the time of such contribution and the reportable date of selection on which the broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer was selected to engage in such municipal securities business, and (v) the payments or reimbursements, related to any bond ballot contribution, received by the municipal finance professional or non-MFP executive officer from any third party that are required to be disclosed by Rule G-37(e)(i)(B), including the amount paid and the name of the third party making such payment or reimbursement; provided, however, that such records need not reflect any contribution made by a municipal finance professional or non-MFP executive officer to a bond ballot campaign for a ballot initiative with respect to which such person is entitled to vote if the contributions made by such person, in total, are not in excess of $250 to any bond ballot campaign, per ballot initiative.

(J) - (M) No change.

(xvii) - (xxvi) No change.

(b) - (g) No change.

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Form G-37 MSRB

 

Name of dealer: ______________________________________________________________

Report period: ______________________________________________________________

I. CONTRIBUTIONS made to issuer officials (list by state)

 

 

III. CONTRIBUTIONS made to bond ballot campaigns (list by state)

A. Contributions

B. Reimbursement for Contributions

List below any payments or reimbursements, related to any disclosed bond ballot contribution, received by each broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer, municipal finance professional or non-MFP executive officer from any third party, including the amount paid and the name of the third party making such payments or reimbursements.

IV. ISSUERS with which dealer has engaged in municipal securities business (list by state)

A. Municipal Securities Business

B. Ballot-Approved Offerings

Full issuer name and full issue description of any primary offering resulting from the bond ballot campaign to which each contributor category (i.e., dealer, dealer controlled PAC, municipal finance professional controlled PAC, municipal finance professionals and non-MFP executive officers) has made a contribution and the reportable date of selection on which the broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer was selected to engage in such municipal securities business.
 

 

Signature:_______________________________________________Date:________________
(must be officer of dealer)

Name:_______________________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Phone:_______________________________________________________________________

Submit two completed forms quarterly by due date (specified by the MSRB) to:

Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board
1900 Duke Street
Suite 600
Alexandria, Virginia 22314

April 1, 2013

 

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[1] See SEC Release No. 34-69249 (March 28, 2013), File No. SR-MSRB-2013-01.