NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO RULE G-40 AND FORM G-40, ON E-MAIL CONTACTS, TO ELIMINATE REQUIREMENT THAT OPTIONAL CONTACT MUST BE A MUNICIPAL SECURITIES PRINCIPAL, AND TO CLARIFY THAT DEALERS WHOSE ONLY BUSINESS IS IN MUNICIPAL FUND SECURITIES MAY APPOINT A SERIES 24 OR 26 PRINCIPAL AS THEIR PRIMARY  E-MAIL CONTACT UNTIL EARLY NEXT YEAR

On August 7, 2002, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a technical amendment to Rule G-40 and Form G-40, on electronic mail contacts.[1]  The amendment will become operative on September 8, 2002.

 

SUMMARY OF AMENDMENT 

On June 6, 2002 the SEC approved new MSRB Rule G-40, on electronic mail (“E-mail”) contacts, and new Form G-40, as well as related amendments to Rule G-8, on books and records, and Rule G-9, on preservation of records. [2]  The new Rule requires each broker, dealer and municipal securities dealer (collectively referred to as “dealers”) to use new Form G-40 to appoint an E-mail contact to serve as the official contact person for purposes of electronic communication between the dealer and the MSRB.  This E-mail contact must be a registered municipal securities principal with the dealer.  Dealers have the option of appointing a second contact who, under the rule as originally adopted, also must be a municipal securities principal with the dealer. 

 

The MSRB recently sent letters to its current list of dealers requesting that they complete new Form G-40.  In response to this mailing, the MSRB received numerous phone calls from dealers that have only one municipal securities principal and wish to appoint a second (optional) e-mail contact who is not a principal.  Accordingly, the MSRB has determined to amend Rule G-40 and Form G-40 to accommodate these dealers by eliminating the requirement that the second contact must be a municipal securities principal.  The amendment also distinguishes between the two e-mail contacts by referring to the official contact person as the “Primary Contact” and the secondary person as the “Optional Contact.”

CLARIFICATION FOR DEALERS ENGAGED SOLELY IN MUNICIPAL FUND SECURITIES BUSINESS

It has come to the MSRB’s attention that for many dealers their only municipal securities business consists of transactions in municipal fund securities (i.e., Section 529 college savings plans and local government investment pools).  Many of these dealers currently have a Series 24 or 26 principal, but not a Series 53 municipal securities principal.  By early next year, all firms will be required to have either a Series 53 municipal securities principal or a new Series 51 municipal fund securities limited principal, depending upon their business activities.  In the interim, Rule G-3, on professional qualification, allows dealers that engage solely in municipal fund securities business to appoint a Series 24 or 26 to act as principal with respect to such business.  This principal has all the powers and responsibilities of a municipal securities principal.  Thus, such dealers may appoint a Series 24 or 26 principal as their Primary e-mail contact pursuant to Rule G-40.  As noted above, all dealers will be required to have either a Series 53 or 51 principal by early next year.  At that time, these dealers will be asked to update their Form G-40 electronically via the MSRB’s web site.

August 7, 2002

 

TEXT OF AMENDMENT [3]

 

(c) Each broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer shall update information on its Electronic Mail Contacts periodically as requested and prescribed by the MSRB and shall submit such information electronically to the MSRB.

 

                                                              Form G-40

                                             ELECTRONIC MAIL CONTACTS

 

                                                                                    MSRB Registration Number

                                                                                    _____________________________

                                                                                               

 

Name of Dealer: _________________________________________________________

 

Date: __________________________________________________________________

 

The dealer named above designates (name) ____________________________________ as its Primary Electronic Mail Contact for purposes of electronic communications with the MSRB.  This Primary Contact person is a registered municipal securities principal with the dealer.

E-Mail Address of Primary Contact: __________________________________________

Phone Number of Primary Contact: ___________________________________________

Individual CRD Number of Primary Contact (NASD member firms only): ____________

 

(Optional):  The dealer named above designates (name) ___________________________

as its second Optional Electronic Mail Contact.  This contact person is a registered municipal securities principal with the dealer.

E-mail Address of Second Designee  Optional Contact:__________________________

Phone Number of Second Designee  Optional Contact: __________________________

Individual CRD Number of Second Designee (NASD member firms only): ________

 

Name and title of person preparing this Form:___________________________________

Signature: _______________________________________________________________

Telephone number: _______________________________________________________

 

NEW FORMS MUST BE MAILED TO:

MSRB

1900 Duke Street, Suite 600

Alexandria, VA  22314

TO SUBMIT AMENDED FORMS & UPDATES TO THE FORM SHALL BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY VIA THE G-40 LOG-IN ON THE MSRB’S WEB SITE (www.msrb.org) TO MSRB, PLEASE CALL (703) 797-6600.

 

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