FC Chapter 2 Flashcards
According to the Equity IPO Rule, member firms and their associated persons are considered ___________ persons.
According to the Equity IPO Rule, member firms and their associated persons are considered restricted persons.
The Green Shoe Clause allows the issuer to expand the offering by a maximum of ____%.
The Green Shoe Clause allows the issuer to expand the offering by a maximum of 15%.
Under Regulation M, how many stabilizing underwriters are permitted for a specific offering?
Only one
In a declining market, how long may a PSMM maintain the highest bid?
Until it purchases the lesser of two times the minimum quote size or reaches its daily purchase limit (DPL)
An S Corporation is allowed a maximum of ____ shareholders.
An S Corporation is allowed a maximum of 100 shareholders.
What is the maximum period that a stabilizing bid may remain open in the marketplace ?
Indefinite
A ___________ underwriting is used for shares not purchased through a rights offering.
A Stand-by underwriting is used for shares not purchased through a rights offering.
When participating in a firm-commitment underwriting, when is the underwriter required to set up an escrow account?
Never, an escrow account is only required for contingent best-efforts underwritings.
A stabilizing underwriter who lowers its bid may now bid no higher than the ________ bid of an ___________ market maker.
A stabilizing underwriter who lowers its bid may now bid no higher than the highest bid of an independent market maker.
What stipulation in the registration statement relieves underwriters of their contractual obligations?
Market out clause
The highest price at which a stabilizing bid may be placed is the ________________________.
The highest price at which a stabilizing bid may be placed is the public offering price (POP).
Under Rule 105 of Regulation M, how does the bona fide purchase exception apply for an investor?
If unaware of a new issue, he may close the short sale at least one business day before pricing and then buy the issue.
True or False: BDs and their employees may buy shares of equity IPOs from the syndicate.
False. They are considered restricted.
After offering a new IPO publicly as an underwriter, a BD places shares in its own account. Is this acceptable?
Yes, since a bona fide public offering had been made first.
From what are underwriting participants prohibited during the restricted period?
Purchasing or bidding for a covered security
True or False: Stabilization is designed to artificially raise the price of a new issue.
False. Stabilization is designed to support or keep a new issue’s price from falling.
What securities are exempt from FINRA’s Corporate Financing Rule?
Reg. D securities and those listed on the NYSE, AMEX, or Nasdaq Global Market
True or False: During the restricted period, passive market making is allowed for all Nasdaq and OTC equity securities.
False. Passive market making is not allowed for OTC equity securities.
If the syndicate manager anticipates a delay in the closing of the syndicate, who is notified?
FINRA
In what underwriting does the syndicate attempt to sell an entire issue with any unsold balance returned to the issuer?
Best-efforts underwriting
In a rising market, may a passive market maker set the market?
Yes, but only to display a customer’s buy order under the Limit Order Display Rule.
If a BD underwrites its own offering, what is required to place the securities in a client’s discretionary account?
The client’s specific written consent is required.
According to Regulation M, the Restricted Period begins either ___ or ___ business days before pricing.
According to Regulation M, the Restricted Period begins either 1 or 5 business days before pricing.
____________ is the only form of price manipulation allowed by the SEC.
Stabilization is the only form of price manipulation allowed by the SEC.
If a bona fide market exists for a BD’s security, may the BD underwrite the issue without a qualified independent U/W
Yes. If a bona fide market exists, or managing U/W has no conflict, or issue is investment-grade, a QIU is unnecessary.
Under Rule 105 of Regulation M, how does the separate accounts exception apply for different trading desks?
If information barriers exist and trading is not coordinated, one desk may buy a new issue even if another sold it short
May a market maker acting as an underwriter for the issuer continue to make a market in the issuer’s securities?
Yes, according to Reg M, but only as a passive market maker.
What type of issuer may use a free writing prospectus before, or after, filing a registration statement with the SEC?
WKSI
The final settlement of a syndicate account must occur within _________ of the syndicate closing.
90 days
What are actively-traded securities as defined by Regulation M?
Those with a public float of at least $150 MM and ADTV of $1 MM
For tax purposes, S Corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs) are ______________ investments.
For tax purposes, S Corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs) are pass through investments.
Define the market-out clause.
A provision releasing an underwriter from liability if events occur that make the sale of the issue difficult/impossible
In a best-efforts underwriting, when will the escrow agent (bank) release the funds?
When the offering is cancelled or when the contingency is met
A BD may publicly distribute its own securities or an affiliate’s securities. Define the term affiliate.
An entity that controls or is controlled by the BD (i.e., ownership of 10% or more of outstanding equity)
True or False: To stabilize an issue, the principal market on which the stock trades must be notified.
TRUE
In a firm commitment underwriting, unsold securities are retained by ________________.
The Syndicate
A seasoned issuer may use a free writing prospectus (FWP) ______ filing its registration statement with the SEC
A seasoned issuer may use a free writing prospectus (FWP) after filing its registration statement with the SEC.
Under the Equity IPO Rule, who is NOT considered to be part of an associated person’s immediate family?
Grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins
Besides BDs and their employees, who else is restricted from purchasing equity IPOs?
An employee’s immediate family if materially supported by, or sharing household with, the employee
Is there a limit to the number of purchases able to be made at the stabilizing bid price?
No. While only one stabilizing bid is allowed, there may be an unlimited number of purchases.
True or False: Portfolio managers may purchase equity IPOs for their own accounts if not excessive.
False. Portfolio managers may purchase for the fund they represent, but not for their own accounts.
How is the taxation of income for S Corporations and LLCs identical to that of a partnership?
Federal tax is avoided by passing through income and loss to shareholders (no double taxation).
When does FINRA consider it unreasonable for an underwriter to receive options or warrants from an issuer?
When the options/warrants have a duration exceeding five years with better terms than offered to the public
True or False: In a mini-maxi underwriting, the syndicate may contribute needed funds to meet the minimum requirement.
False. Contributing funds would change the type of underwriting.
Under the Equity IPO Rule, how does the de minimis exemption apply?
An account that includes restricted persons may purchase the shares, provided their combined ownership is 10% or less.
Under the Equity IPO Rule, who is considered to be part of an associated person’s immediate family?
Parents, siblings, spouse, children, or in-laws
__________ is a manipulative activity that is designed to keep the price of a stock from falling (and is prohibited).
Pegging is a manipulative activity that is designed to keep the price of a stock from falling (and is prohibited).
For passive market making to occur for a stock, it must have how many independent market makers?
ONE
Which two of these underwriting types require an escrow account? Firm-Commitment, All-or-None, Standby, or Mini-Maxi
All-or-None and Mini-Maxi underwritings
True or False: During the restricted period, underwriting participants may act as a PSMM for any type of security.
False. Passive market making is permitted for Nasdaq securities, but not for OTC equities.
True or False: Under the Equity IPO Rule, personnel of a limited BD are included as restricted persons.
False. Employees of limited BDs are exempt (firm limits its business to investment company/variable contracts or DPPs)
Is a BD forced to drop its stabilizing bid because an independent market maker drops its bid below the stabilizing bid?
No. However, if it chooses to lower its bid, it must lower it to a price no higher than the highest independent bid.
What is the role of FINRA’s Corporate Financing Department?
To evaluate the fairness of an underwriter’s compensation
What type of underwriting is cancelled if the entire issue is not sold?
All-or-None