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
MSRB to Implement Protections for Investors Against Unexpected Changes in Bond Authorizing Documents
Bank Dealers, Dealers
Bank Dealers, Dealers
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
Bank Dealers, Dealers
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. 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
Bank Dealers, Dealers, Municipal Advisors
Bank Dealers, Dealers
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
Bank Dealers, Dealers
Bank Dealers, Dealers
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
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
Syndicate Expenses: Per Bond Fee for Bookrunning Expenses
Board rule G-11, concerning syndicate practices, among other things, requires syndicates to establish priorities for different categories of orders and requires certain disclosures to syndicate members which are intended to assure that allocations are made in accordance with those priorities. In addition, the rule requires that the manager provide certain accounting information to syndicate members. In particular, rule G-11(h)(i) provides that: "Discretionary fees for clearance costs to be imposed by a syndicate manager and management fees shall be disclosed to syndicate members prior to the submission of a bid, in the case of a competitive sale, or prior to the execution of a purchase contract with the issuer, in the case of a negotiated sale.[1] The purpose of this provision is to provide information useful to syndicate members in determining whether to participate in a syndicate account. The rule also requires that the senior syndicate manager, at or before final settlement of a syndicate account, furnish to the syndicate members "an itemized statement setting for the nature and amount of all actual expenses incurred on behalf of the syndicate." One of the purposes of this section is to render managers accountable for their handling of syndicate funds.
The Board has received inquiries regarding the appropriateness of a per-bond fee for the bookrunning expenses or management fees of the senior syndicate manager. Discretionary fees for clearance costs and management fees may be expressed as a per-bond charge. These expenses, however, must be disclosed to members prior to the submission of a bid or prior to the execution of a purchase contract with the issuer; for example, in the Agreement Among Underwriters. The itemized statement setting forth a detailed breakdown of actual expenses incurred on behalf of the syndicate, such as advertising, printing, legal, computer services, etc., must be disclosed to syndicate members at or before final settlement of the syndicate account. With respect to these fees, the Board has previously noted that managers who assess a per-bond charge for designated sales may be acting in violation of rule G-17 if the expenses charged to members bear no relation to or otherwise overstate the actual expenses incurred on behalf of the syndicate. [2] The Board believes a per-bond fee creates the appearance that it is not an actual expense related to and incurred on behalf of the syndicate.
The Board is concerned about the charging of syndicate expenses and compliance with rule G-11. Managers should exercise care in accounting for syndicate funds, and any charge that has not been disclosed to members prior to the submission of a bid or prior to the execution of a purchase contract may be charged to syndicate members only if it is an actual expense incurred on behalf of the syndicate. The Board will continue to monitor syndicate practices and will notify the appropriate enforcement agency of any complaints it receives in this area. Syndicate members are encouraged to notify directly the appropriate enforcement agency of any violations of these provisions.
[1] The rule defines management fees to include, "in addition to amounts categorized as management fees by the syndicate manager, any amount to be realized by a syndicate manager, and not shared with the other members of the syndicate, which is attributable to the difference in price to be paid to an issuer for the purchase of a new issue of municipal securities and the price at which such securities are to be delivered by the syndicate manager to the members of the syndicate."
[2] Syndicate Managers Charging Excessive Fees for Designated Sales (July 29, 1985), [reprinted in MSRB Reports, Vol. 7, No. 2 (March 1987) at 5].
