Registration and Licensing Requirements Flashcards
What is the Uniform Securities Act?
State Laws that establish uniform securities registration standards
North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)
Creates amendments to the USA, maintains state licensing exams and creates model rules under the USA and issues statements of policy
Blue Sky Laws
State security laws that target stock schemes that were common before federal regulations. Also known as “Blue Skying”
National Securities Markets Improvements Act of 1996
Eliminates duplicate registration for state and federal. If registration is required at federal level, state is not required. States can still charge fees. BD’s, IA’s and IA reps must be registered unless exempt.
State Administrator
Responsible for enforcing a given state’s securities laws and rules. They don’t write laws. Law is created by state legislature. “Commission, “Commissioner,” or “Secretary.”
Person
Legal Entity. Has legal standing to be sued and examples are: Partnerships, Corporations, Associations, Investment Clubs
What are not considered persons and must be represented by a third party?
Minor Children, Mental incompetent Individuals and Deceased Individuals
Issuer
Any person who issues or proposes to issue a security in a primary offering or any person that receives the proceeds from a new issue offering. May be Corporation, US Government or Municipalities
What are some EXCEPTIONS for an issuer?
CD’s for a security, voting trust certificates, collateral trust certificates, or UIT’s refer to the issuer as the manager or depositor
When dealing with Equipment Trust Certificates, who is the issuer?
The Issuer is the entity to whom the equipment is being leased
Who is responsible for leasing the equipment to a corporation?
Trustee. When the Corporation has completed making payments, the title will go to the Corporation, the Issuer.
Why is there no issuer in a fractional interest or participations in oil, gas, or mining titles or leases, or in payments out of production under such titles or leases?
Mainly because of fraud. They are forced to go through the most rigorous registration available
What are Issuer Transactions?
Occurs when the issuer sells or redeems securities for its own benefit and receives the proceeds. They are conducted in the Primary Market
What is a Non-Issuer Transaction?
Refers to any purchase or sale of a security that does not benefit the issuer. Most common is a Secondary Market Transaction
Issuer Transactions:
Primary Market Transaction, issuer transaction that benefits the issuer
Non-Issuer Transaction:
Secondary market transaction. Transaction which the disposition of a security does not benefit the issuer
Broker Dealer
Firm that buys and sells securities for the accounts of others or for its own account
Agent
Individual who represents a BD or issuer, attempting to effect securities transactions
Consent to Service of Process
Appoints the State Administrator as the representative to be served legal papers on behalf of the registrant
Institutional Buyer
Entities that make security transactions on a large scale for their own accounts or for institutional clients such as insurance or investment companies, trust companies, BD’s, IA’s, banks, savings institutions, employee pensions and profit sharing plans.
- Must be Institution
- Cannot be general public
Qualified Purchaser
Natural person or family owned company with investments worth at least 5 million, a trust fund back by qualified purchaser’s with investments worth at least 5 million, or institution with investments of at least 25 million.
Is state registration required for Qualified Purchasers and Institutional Buyers?
No
Exclusion
Person, entity, or thing doesn’t meet the definition so is therefore excluded
Exemption
They are part of the group, but have been released from the obligations
What capacity do Principals act in?
They charge a mark-up and at as a dealer. Dealer Capacity
What capacity do Broker Dealers act in?
BD’s charge commission and act in “agency” capacity
Excluded and are not Broker Dealers:
Agents, Issuers (except when transacting business in securities other than its own), and bank, savings institutions, or trust companies
Broker Dealer Institutional Exclusion:
BD’s that have no place of business in the state and only effects transactions with other BD’s, institutional investors, or the issuer of the security involved in the transaction is EXCLUDED and does not need to register in that specific state.
Broker Dealer Retail Customer (Snowbird) Exclusion:
Allows BD’s to transact business with their existing customers while they’re on vacation or temporarily in another state. BD is not required to register in the state if they do not solicit new customers.
What are the two conditions required for Broker Dealers to be excluded?
No place of business in the state and customer must be an institution or in state temporarily
What do Canadian Broker Dealers have to do if not exempt from State registration?
They may register with the state by filing an application and consent to service of process with the Admin. Must be in good standing in the jurisdiction of the head office. Must be member of a self regulatory organization in Canada.
How long does State registration take?
It’s effective on the 30th day after the application is filed and must be renewed annually
What are the three things Canadian BD’s and Agents must do to be registered?
1) Maintain provincial or territorial registration in good standing.
2) BD’s must maintain membership in an SRO in good standing and provide the Administrator, upon request, with books and records relating to business in the state
3) Disclose any criminal action taken as a result of regulatory action
When is there an Exemption valid for Canadian Firms?
When doing business with existing retail customers who are temporarily in the US and also for transactions in Canadian self-directed tax advantage retirement accounts for persons residing in state. Agents are also exempt.
Limited Registration for Canadian Broker Dealers
Firm must sign a consent to service and is required to disclose to all U.S. clients that it has limited registration in the state and is not subject to the full regulatory provisions of the USA
In accordance to Mergers and Acquisitions, how are Advisors or Finders defined?
As Broker Dealers under USA
What do advisors for Mergers and Acquisitions do?
Give advice on acquisition of companies, they find companies that may be acquired and if they are being compensated, they qualify as registrants
Under USA, how many exclusions and exemptions are there for a BD?
Several BD Exclusions but only one EXEMPTION
If Broker Dealer loses registration involuntarily, what happens to the agents?
They lose registration until they find other BD’s
If an agent loses registration, what happens to the Broker Dealer?
Nothing
Where are standardized applications filed?
Through a designee such as the Central Registration Depository
What is Net Capital also called?
Net Worth
Are Net Capital Requirements necessary for BD’s?
Yes. The Administrator may establish a net capital requirement but it cannot exceed SEC’s requirement
Agents
Represents or acts on behalf of someone else. Compensation can be salary or commission
Are agents required to register for exempt securities under an Investment Adviser Firm?
No. Agents are excluded from the definition of agent
Examples of exempt securities:
Anything government (bonds or securities)
Municipal securities
Foreign
Does a person representing an Issuer in an exempt transaction have to register?
No. They are excluded from the definition of agent
Examples of exempt transactions:
Institution transactions
Underwriter and Issuer transactions
Private Placement Offerings
Unsolicited brokerage transactions
Does a person representing a BD in an exempt transaction have to register?
Yes. if the agent represents an Issuer, they don’t, as long as they don’t receive compensation or commission form the Issuer
Issuer Agent Exclusions
Persons representing an Issuer in transactions of certain exempt securities
Persons representing an Issuer in exempt transactions
Persons representing an Issuer in transactions with employees of the Issuer in that Issuers securities when no compensation is received
When working for a BD, when is the only time an agent is not required to register?
When NOT working in a sales capacity or when they are an agent of an exempt BD
How long does an agent have when a client moves to another state?
They have 60 days of activity with the client. This gives them time to register in that state.