[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72951-72955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28976]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-70958; File No. SR-FINRA-2013-035]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory 
Authority, Inc.; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change To Adopt FINRA 
Rules 4314 (Securities Loans and Borrowings), 4330 (Customer 
Protection--Permissible Use of Customers' Securities) and 4340 
(Callable Securities) in the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook, as Modified 
by Partial Amendments No. 1 and No. 2

November 27, 2013.
    On August 14, 2013, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, 
Inc. (``FINRA'') filed with the Securities and

[[Page 72952]]

Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission''), pursuant to Section 
19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act''),\1\ 
a proposed rule change to adopt financial and operational rules 
relating to securities loans and borrowings, permissible use of 
customers' securities, and callable securities as FINRA Rules in the 
consolidated FINRA rulebook. The proposed rule was published for 
comment in the Federal Register on September 3, 2013.\2\ The Commission 
received two comment letters on the proposed rule change.\3\ On 
November 22, 2013, FINRA responded to the comments and filed Partial 
Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.\4\ On November 25, 2013 
FINRA filed Partial Amendment No. 2 to the proposed rule change. The 
text of the proposed rule change, as modified by Partial Amendments No. 
1 and No. 2, is available on FINRA's Web site at http://www.finra.org, 
at the principal office of FINRA, on the Commission's Web site at 
http://www.sec.gov, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ Exchange Act Release No. 70272 (Aug. 27, 2013); 78 FR 54350 
(Sep. 3, 2013).
    \3\ Letter from Kyle Brandon, Managing Director, SIFMA to 
Elizabeth Murphy, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 
dated Sep. 24, 2013 (``SIFMA Letter''); Letter from William A. 
Jacobson, Esq. and Hyesoo Jang, Cornell University Law School to 
Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 
dated Sep. 24, 2013 (``Cornell Letter'').
    \4\ Letter from Kosha K. Dalal, FINRA to Elizabeth M. Murphy, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, dated Nov. 22, 2013 
(``FINRA Response Letter'').
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    This order approves the proposed rule change, as modified by 
Partial Amendments No. 1 and No. 2.

I. Description of the Proposal

    As part of the process of developing a new consolidated 
rulebook,\5\ FINRA has proposed to amend and adopt the following as 
FINRA Rules: (1) NYSE Rule 296 (Liquidation of Securities Loans and 
Borrowings) \6\ and Supplementary Material paragraphs .10 and .20 as 
FINRA Rule 4314 (Securities Loans and Borrowings); (2) NYSE Rule 402 
(Customer Protection--Reserves and Custody of Securities) as FINRA Rule 
4330 (Customer Protection--Permissible Use of Customers' Securities); 
and (3) NYSE Rule 402.30 (Securities Callable in Part) as FINRA Rule 
4340 (Callable Securities).
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    \5\ The current FINRA rulebook consists of (1) FINRA Rules; (2) 
NASD Rules; and (3) rules incorporated from NYSE (``Incorporated 
NYSE Rules'') (together, the NASD Rules and Incorporated NYSE Rules 
are referred to as the ``Transitional Rulebook''). While the NASD 
Rules generally apply to all FINRA members, the Incorporated NYSE 
Rules apply only to those members of FINRA that are also members of 
the NYSE. The FINRA Rules apply to all FINRA members, unless such 
rules have a more limited application by their terms. For more 
information about the rulebook consolidation process, see 
Information Notice March 12, 2008 (Rulebook Consolidation Process).
    \6\ For convenience, the Incorporated NYSE Rules are referred to 
as the NYSE Rules.
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A. FINRA Rule 4314 (Securities Loans and Borrowings)

    FINRA is proposing new FINRA Rule 4314, which provides clarity as 
to whether parties are acting as principals or agents when entering 
into an agreement to loan or borrow securities by requiring a member 
that acts as agent in a securities loan or borrow transaction to 
disclose its capacity as agent. In cases where the member lends 
securities to or borrows securities from a counterparty that is acting 
in an agency capacity, proposed FINRA Rule 4314 would require that the 
member maintain books and records to reflect the details of the 
transaction with the agent and each principal on whose behalf the agent 
is acting and the details of each transaction.
    Specifically, proposed FINRA Rule 4314(a) would require a member 
that lends or borrows securities in the capacity of agent to disclose 
such capacity to the other party or parties to the transaction. The 
provision would further require a member, prior to lending securities 
to or borrowing securities from a person that is not a member of FINRA, 
to determine whether the other party is acting as principal or agent in 
the transaction. When the other party (who may or may not be a member) 
is acting as agent in the transaction, the member would be required to 
maintain books and records that reflect: (A) The details of the 
transaction with the agent; and (B) each principal on whose behalf the 
agent is acting and the details of each transaction. In addition, 
proposed FINRA Rule 4314(a) would establish a uniform books and records 
requirement.
    Proposed FINRA Rule 4314(b), based on NYSE Rule 296(a), provides 
that each member that is a party to an agreement for the loan and 
borrowing of securities with another member has the right to liquidate 
such transaction whenever the other party to such transaction becomes 
subject to one of the liquidation conditions specified in the rule. In 
addition, proposed FINRA Rule 4314(c) would require that no member 
shall lend or borrow any security to or from any person that is not a 
member of FINRA, including any customer, except pursuant to a written 
agreement. Under the proposed rule, the written agreement may consist 
of the exchange of contract confirmations that confers upon such member 
the contractual right to liquidate such transaction because of a 
liquidation condition of the kind specified in proposed FINRA Rule 
4314(b).
    FINRA is proposing to add new Supplementary Material .01 through 
.05 to the proposed FINRA rule to provide clarity and guidance by 
describing how a member firm can meet its disclosure obligations under 
the proposed rule, and clarifying the proposed rule's books and records 
requirements. First, FINRA is proposing to transfer NYSE Rule 296.10, 
which defines the term ``agreement for the loan and borrowing of 
securities,'' as proposed Supplementary Material .01, without 
substantive change. Proposed Supplementary Material .02 clarifies that 
a member may satisfy its disclosure obligation in proposed FINRA Rule 
4314(a) by, among other things, providing specific disclosure of its 
capacity as agent in the written agreement between the parties or in 
the individual confirmations of each security exchanged between the 
parties for each loan and borrow transaction. Proposed Supplementary 
Material .03 clarifies the books and records requirements imposed by 
proposed FINRA Rule 4314(a) by requiring members to create and maintain 
records for each securities loan or borrow transaction in accordance 
with Exchange Act Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4. It also provides that when a 
member enters into a securities loan or borrow transaction with a party 
that is acting as agent on behalf of another principal, the member must 
maintain a record of the details of the transaction with the agent that 
includes certain specified information.
    Proposed Supplementary Material .04 reminds members of their 
obligations under proposed FINRA Rule 4330(b) (discussed below) to 
provide written disclosures to customers regarding the risks and 
financial impact associated with the customer's loan of securities, and 
requires that members disclose in such written notice their right to 
liquidate the borrow transactions with customers under the conditions 
specified in proposed FINRA Rule 4314(b). Proposed Supplementary 
Material .05 would require, for purposes of proposed FINRA Rule 
4314(c), that each member subject to the provisions of Exchange Act 
Rule 15c3-3 that borrows fully paid or excess margin securities from a 
customer must comply with the provisions of Exchange Act Rule 15c3-3 
relating to the requirements for a written agreement between the

[[Page 72953]]

borrowing member and the lending customer.

B. FINRA Rule 4330 (Customer Protection--Permissible Use of Customers' 
Securities)

    FINRA is proposing new FINRA Rule 4330, which prohibits a member 
from lending, either to itself or others, securities that are held on 
margin for a customer and that are eligible to be pledged or loaned, 
unless the firm first obtains a written authorization from the customer 
permitting the lending of the customer's securities. The proposed rule 
adds new disclosure requirements and establishes the need for members 
to conduct appropriateness determinations before engaging in the 
borrowing and lending of customers' fully paid and excess margin 
securities.
    Specifically, proposed FINRA Rule 4330(a) would require a member to 
obtain a customer's written authorization prior to lending securities 
that are held on margin for the customer and that are eligible to be 
pledged or loaned. Proposed FINRA Rule 4330(a) would provide that 
``[n]o member shall lend securities that are held on margin for a 
customer and that are eligible to be pledged or loaned, unless such 
member shall first have obtained a written authorization from such 
customer permitting the lending of such securities.''
    FINRA has proposed two supplementary provisions related to proposed 
FINRA Rule 4330(a). Proposed Supplementary Material .01 would provide, 
consistent with NYSE Rule 402(a) and NASD Rule 2330(b), that the 
definitions contained in Exchange Act Rule 15c3-3 would apply to 
proposed FINRA Rule 4330. However, the proposed supplementary material 
does not include the requirement contained in both the NYSE and NASD 
rules for members to maintain cash reserves as prescribed by Exchange 
Act Rule 15c3-3 because members continue to be subject to Exchange Act 
Rule 15c3-3.
    Proposed Supplementary Material .02, which was modified by Partial 
Amendment No. 1, deletes the specific legend requirement contained in 
NYSE Rule Interpretation 402(b)/01 that was required to be placed in 
customer margin agreements. Instead, proposed Supplementary Material 
.02 requires that the customer account agreement/margin agreement/loan 
consent include a clear and prominent disclosure that the broker-dealer 
may lend, either to itself or others, any securities held in a 
customer's margin account.
    In addition, FINRA proposed new requirements in proposed FINRA Rule 
4330(b) to address the borrowing and lending of customers' fully paid 
or excess margin securities. Specifically, proposed FINRA Rule 
4330(b)(1) would require a member that borrows fully paid or excess 
margin securities carried for the account of any customer to: (A) 
Comply with the requirements of Exchange Act Rule 15c3-3; (B) comply 
with the requirements of Section 15(e) of the Exchange Act to provide 
notices to customers regarding securities lending; and (C) notify 
FINRA, in such manner and format as FINRA may require, at least 30 days 
prior to first engaging in such securities borrows.
    Proposed Supplementary Material .03 would provide that upon FINRA's 
receipt of such written notification required under proposed FINRA Rule 
43330(b)(1)(C), FINRA may request such additional information as it may 
deem necessary to evaluate compliance with Exchange Act Rule 15c3-3, 
Section 15(e) of the Exchange Act and other applicable FINRA rules or 
federal securities laws or rules. Proposed Supplementary Material .03 
gives examples of the additional information that FINRA may request, 
such as the member's operational and recordkeeping processes related to 
the securities borrows.
    Proposed FINRA Rule 4330(b)(2) would impose two new requirements 
that a member must satisfy prior to first entering into a securities 
borrow transaction with a customer. First, proposed FINRA Rule 
4330(b)(2)(A) would require that a member have reasonable grounds for 
believing that the customer's loan of securities is appropriate for the 
customer. In making this determination, the member would be required to 
exercise reasonable diligence to ascertain the essential facts relative 
to the customer, including, but not limited to, the customer's 
financial situation and needs, tax status, investment objectives, 
investment time horizon, liquidity needs, risk tolerance and any other 
information the customer may disclose to the member or associated 
person in connection with entering such securities loan transaction. 
Accordingly, where a member has a securities borrow program, the member 
would be required to determine the appropriateness of such activity for 
the customer prior to the customer entering into the first securities 
borrow. Proposed Supplementary Material .04 clarifies that the member 
borrowing a customer's fully paid or excess margin securities is 
responsible for making the determination under proposed FINRA Rule 
4330(b)(2)(A), regarding the appropriateness of such borrow from a 
customer. The proposed supplementary material would provide that when 
the member has entered into a carrying agreement with an introducing 
member pursuant to FINRA Rule 4311, the member may rely on the 
representations of the introducing member that has a customer 
relationship with the lender in making the determination.
    In Partial Amendment No. 1, FINRA proposed adding proposed 
Supplementary Material .05 that would allow a member to determine that 
a customer's loan of securities is appropriate for the customer by 
complying with FINRA Rule 2111(b) if the customer is an institutional 
account.\7\ FINRA stated in its response to comments that members with 
documentation that they have used to evaluate institutional accounts 
under FINRA Rule 2111(b) should review that documentation to ensure 
that it complies with the requirements of proposed FINRA Rule 4330.\8\
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    \7\ FINRA Rule 2111 is FINRA's suitability rule. Rule 2111(b) 
provides an exemption to customer-specific suitability regarding 
institutional investors if the conditions listed in that paragraph 
are satisfied.
    \8\ FINRA Response Letter, at 5
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    Second, proposed FINRA Rule 4330(b)(2)(B) would require a member, 
prior to first entering into securities borrows with a customer, to 
provide the customer, in writing (which may be electronic), with a 
clear and prominent notice stating that the provisions of the 
Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970 may not protect the customer 
with respect to the customer's securities loan transaction and that the 
collateral delivered to the customer may constitute the only source of 
satisfaction of the member's obligation in the event the member fails 
to return the securities. In addition, proposed FINRA Rule 
4330(b)(2)(B) would require a member to provide the customer with 
certain disclosures regarding the customer's rights with respect to the 
loaned securities, and the risks and financial impact associated with 
the customer's loan of securities. Proposed FINRA Rule 4330(b)(3) would 
require that a member create and maintain books and records evidencing 
compliance with proposed FINRA Rule 4330(b)(2). Such records must be 
maintained in accordance with the requirements of Exchange Act Rule 
17a-4(a).
    Proposed Supplementary Material .06 would require members that have 
any existing fully paid or excess margin securities borrows with 
customers as of the effective date of proposed Rule 4330 to notify 
FINRA in writing of such borrows within 30 days from the effective date 
of the rule. FINRA will specify the manner and format of such

[[Page 72954]]

notification in a Regulatory Notice announcing the effectiveness of the 
rule. In addition, in Partial Amendment No. 2 FINRA proposed extending 
the amount of time that members would have to provide customers with 
the disclosures required by proposed FINRA Rule 4330(b)(2)(B) from 90 
days to 180 days from the effective date of the rule.

C. FINRA Rule 4340 (Callable Securities)

    FINRA is proposing new FINRA Rule 4340 to provide clarity to 
customers about the procedure used by a member when a security is 
called or redeemed prior to maturity. Proposed FINRA Rule 4340(a) 
requires each member that has in its possession or under its control 
any security that by its terms may be called or redeemed prior to 
maturity to identify such securities and establish an impartial lottery 
system by which it will allocate among its customers the securities to 
be redeemed or selected as called in the event of a partial redemption 
or call. The proposed rule change is based on NYSE Rule 402.30, but 
would eliminate the specific requirements in NYSE Rule 402.30 regarding 
the establishment of an impartial lottery system in which the 
probability of a customer's securities being selected as called is 
proportional to the holdings of all customers of such securities held 
in bulk by the member. Instead, proposed FINRA Rule 4340(a)(1) would 
adopt a more flexible approach that would allow a member to establish, 
and make available on the member's Web site, procedures by which it 
will allocate among its customers, on a fair and impartial basis, the 
securities to be redeemed or selected as called in the event of a 
partial redemption or call. Proposed Supplementary Material .02 would 
clarify that such procedures may include the use of an impartial 
lottery system, acting on a pro-rata basis, or such other means as will 
achieve a fair and impartial allocation of the partially redeemed or 
called securities.
    Proposed FINRA Rule 4340(a)(2) would require the member to provide 
written notice, which may be electronic, to new customers at the 
opening of an account, and to all customers at least once every 
calendar year, of the manner in which they may access the allocation 
procedures on the member's Web site and that, upon a customer's 
request, the member will provide hard copies of the allocation 
procedures to the customer.
    Proposed FINRA Rule 4340(b) would prohibit a member from allocating 
securities to any of its accounts or those of its ``associated 
persons'' in a redemption offered on terms favorable to the called 
parties until all other customers' positions have been satisfied. 
Proposed FINRA Rule 4340(b) would apply the restriction to a member and 
its ``associated persons,'' rather than to a member's ``employees, 
partners, officers, directors, and approved persons,'' which was the 
language in NYSE Rule 402.30. Accordingly, the proposed rule would 
provide that, where redemption of callable securities is made on terms 
favorable to the called parties, a member shall not allocate the 
securities to any account in which it or its associated persons have an 
interest until all other customers' positions in such securities have 
been satisfied.
    Proposed Supplementary Material .01 would clarify that the term 
``associated person'' as used in the proposed rule would have the 
meaning provided in Section 3(a)(18) of the Exchange Act, which 
expressly excludes, for certain purposes, any persons associated with 
the member whose functions are solely clerical or ministerial (referred 
to as ``clerical and ministerial associated persons''). The proposed 
supplementary material also would make clear that, in the event of a 
redemption made on terms favorable to the called parties, a member may 
include the accounts of clerical and ministerial associated persons in 
the pool of securities eligible to be called.
    Where the redemption of callable securities is made on terms 
unfavorable to the called parties, proposed FINRA Rule 4340(c) and 
proposed Supplementary Material .03 would make clear that a member 
cannot exclude its positions or those of its associated persons, 
including the accounts of clerical and ministerial associated persons, 
from the pool of securities eligible to be called. FINRA believes that 
requiring a firm to include the positions of the firm and all its 
associated persons (including those engaged in clerical and ministerial 
functions) when a redemption is on terms unfavorable to the called 
parties is reasonable because the provision ensures that all parties 
are on parity. In addition, proposed Supplementary Material .03 would 
codify that where an introducing member is a party to a carrying 
agreement with another member that is conducting an allocation pursuant 
to proposed FINRA Rule 4340(a), any accounts in which the introducing 
member or its associated persons have an interest shall be subject to 
the provisions regarding participation in favorable and unfavorable 
calls or redemptions. Furthermore, the introducing member must identify 
such accounts to the member conducting the allocation.

III. Summary of Comments and FINRA's Response

    As noted above, the Commission received two comment letters in 
response to the proposed amendments. Both comments expressed support 
for the proposed rule change. The comment letters, and FINRA's response 
to comments, are summarized below.

A. Proposed FINRA Rule 4314

    The Commission received one comment in response to proposed FINRA 
Rule 4314. The commenter requested that proposed FINRA Rule 4314 cross-
reference the Agency Lending Disclosure Initiative (``ALD 
Initiative'').\9\ The commenter also requested that the Commission 
staff finalize a draft no-action request with respect to agency lending 
(``ALD No-Action Letter'').\10\ In its response letter to the 
Commission, FINRA acknowledged the ALD Initiative and the ALD No-Action 
Letter. FINRA stated, however, that notwithstanding the ALD Initiative 
and ALD No-Action Letter it ``believes that proposed Rule 4314 
addresses the need for transparency and disclosure under securities 
lending arrangements'' and should be adopted.\11\ FINRA further stated 
that once the ALD No-Action Letter is finalized, it will review the 
requirements of FINRA Rule 4314 to address any inconsistencies between 
the rule and the no-action letter.\12\
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    \9\ SIFMA Letter, at 4. In 2006, the industry began to adopt 
voluntary books and records and disclosure practices relating to 
securities lending as a result of an industry-wide initiative to 
address the risks associated with agency lending, which became known 
as the ALD Initiative.
    \10\ Id.
    \11\ FINRA Response Letter, at 2.
    \12\ Id.
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B. Proposed FINRA Rule 4330

    The Commission received two comments in response to proposed FINRA 
Rule 4330. One commenter supported the written authorization 
requirement in proposed FINRA Rule 4330(a) ``because it will alert 
customers about use of their margin securities and pertinent risks.'' 
\13\ One commenter stated that language used as a safe harbor in 
proposed Supplementary Material .02 should apply only to customer 
margin agreements entered into after the effective date of proposed 
FINRA Rule 4330.\14\ The commenter further asked that FINRA clarify the 
exact language that would comply with the rule as well as where the 
language

[[Page 72955]]

should be placed relative to the signature line.\15\ In response to 
these comments, FINRA amended the language in proposed Supplementary 
Material .02 to delete the specific language that had been included as 
a safe harbor. Although the language in proposed Supplementary Material 
.02 was identical to the language in NYSE Rule Interpretation 402(b)/
01, some FINRA members had not previously been subject to the 
requirements of NYSE Rule Interpretation 402(b)/01. FINRA recognized 
that for those members that had not previously been subject to proposed 
Supplementary Material .02 the costs to ``re-paper'' customer margin 
agreements could be burdensome. Thus, FINRA removed the safe harbor 
language in proposed Supplementary Material .02 and added language 
stating that the customer account agreement/margin agreement/loan 
consent must include ``clear and prominent disclosure that the firm may 
lend either to itself or others any securities held by the customer in 
its margin account.'' \16\
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    \13\ Cornell Letter, at 2.
    \14\ SIFMA Letter, at 5.
    \15\ Id., at 4-5.
    \16\ FINRA Response Letter, at 4.
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    Proposed FINRA Rule 4330(b)(2)(A) would require a member to have 
reasonable grounds to believe that the customer's loan of securities is 
appropriate. One commenter supported the proposed amendments stating 
that it will provide additional protection to customers.\17\ Another 
commenter supported the provision but suggested that FINRA adopt an 
institutional safe harbor similar to FINRA Rule 2111(b).\18\ In 
response to these comments, FINRA added new proposed Supplementary 
Material .05, which states that ``a member may fulfill the obligation 
set forth in paragraph (b)(2)(A) above for an institutional account . . 
. by complying with the requirements of Rule 2111(b).'' FINRA further 
stated that firms with existing institutional customers under FINRA 
Rule 2111(b) should evaluate those customers to ensure they comply with 
the requirements of proposed FINRA Rule 4330. Thus, any institutional 
customer, regardless of whether the customer meets the requirements of 
FINRA Rule 2111(b), would need to also satisfy the requirements in 
FINRA Rule 4330.
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    \17\ Cornell Letter, at 2.
    \18\ SIFMA Letter, at 5.
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    Proposed FINRA Rule 4330(b)(2)(B) requires members to provide 
customers with certain disclosures relating to a customer's securities 
loan transactions. One commenter supported this disclosure requirement 
believing it will help customers ``assess the risks and financial 
impact associated with securities lending transactions.'' \19\ One 
commenter suggested developing an industry standard risk disclosure 
form.\20\ FINRA stated that it recognizes the benefits of a standard 
disclosure form and understood that creating such a form may take 
longer than FINRA's proposed effective date for the rule.\21\ Thus, 
FINRA agreed to extend the compliance date for providing disclosures to 
customers to 180 days following the effective date of the proposed rule 
change. FINRA notes that while it will work with industry groups to 
develop such a template, a standard template would not guarantee 
compliance with FINRA rules. Further, FINRA stated that members should 
tailor their disclosures to fit their particular situation.
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    \19\ Cornell Letter, at 2.
    \20\ SIFMA Letter, at 6.
    \21\ FINRA Response Letter, at 5-6.
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C. Proposed FINRA Rule 4340

    The Commission received no comments on proposed FINRA Rule 4340.

IV. Discussion and Commission's Findings

    After careful review of the proposed rule change, the comments 
received, and FINRA's Response Letter, the Commission finds that the 
proposed rule change, as modified by Partial Amendments No. 1 and No. 
2, is consistent with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the 
rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities 
association.\22\ In particular, the Commission finds that the proposed 
rule change is consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange Act, 
which requires, among other things, that FINRA rules be designed to 
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just 
and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and 
coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in 
securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a 
free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to 
protect investors and the public interest.\23\
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    \22\ In approving this rule change, the Commission notes that it 
has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, 
competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \23\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).
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    More specifically, the Commission believes the proposed new rules 
provide important protections for customers who engage in securities 
lending transactions. The proposed new rules will provide consistency 
throughout the industry with respect to securities lending 
transactions. The proposed new rules protect customers by promoting 
transparency, establishing uniform books and records requirements, 
providing customers with additional disclosures, and providing 
redemptions that are free from conflicts of interests.
    The Commission believes that FINRA has adequately responded to the 
concerns raised by commenters by adding further explanation in the 
Supplementary Material for proposed FINRA Rule 4330 and by extending 
the compliance date for FINRA Rule 4330(b)(2)(B). These changes were 
made in Partial Amendments No. 1 and No. 2, which the Commission 
believes adds clarity to the new rules.
    For the reasons stated above, the Commission finds that the rule 
change is consistent with the Exchange Act and the rules and 
regulations thereunder.

V. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Exchange Act,\24\ that the proposed rule change (SR-FINRA-2013-035), as 
modified by Partial Amendments No. 1 and No. 2, be, and hereby is, 
approved.
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    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
    \25\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\25\
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-28976 Filed 12-3-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P