(a) Initiation by FINRA
(1) Issuance of Notice of Disqualification or Ineligibility
If FINRA staff has reason to believe that a disqualification exists or that a member or person associated with a member otherwise fails to meet the eligibility requirements of FINRA, FINRA staff shall issue a written notice to the member
. The notice shall specify the grounds for such disqualification or ineligibility. FINRA staff shall not issue such written notice to members
with respect to disqualifications arising solely from findings or orders specified in Section 15(b)(4)(D), (E), or (H) of the Exchange Act or arising under Section 3(a)(39)(E) of the Exchange Act, unless the member
is required to file an application pursuant to a Regulatory Notice entitled "Eligibility Proceedings: Amendments to FINRA
Rule 9520 Series to Establish Procedures Applicable to Firms and Associated Persons Subject to Certain Statutory Disqualifications" (the "SD Regulatory Notice").
(2) Notice Regarding a Member
A notice issued to a disqualified member shall state that the disqualified member may apply for relief by filing an application or, in the case of a matter set forth in Rule 9522(e)(1), a written request for relief, within ten business days after service of the notice. If the member fails to file the application or, where appropriate, the written request for relief, within the 10-day period, the membership of the member shall be canceled, unless the Department of Member Regulation grants an extension for good cause shown.
(3) Notice Regarding an Associated Person
A notice issued regarding a disqualified person to a member shall state that such member may file an application on behalf of itself and such person or, in the case of a matter set forth in Rule 9522(e)(1), a written request for relief, within ten business days after service of the notice. If the member fails to file the application or, where appropriate, the written request for relief, within the 10-day period, the registration of the disqualified person shall be revoked, unless the Department of Member Regulation grants an extension for good cause shown.
(4) Service
A notice issued under this paragraph (a) shall be served by facsimile or pursuant to Rules
9131 and
9134.
(b) Obligation of Member to Initiate Proceeding
(1) A member shall file an application or, in the case of a matter set forth in Rule 9522(e)(1), a written request for relief, with RAD, if the member determines prior to receiving a notice under paragraph (a) that:
(A) it has become a disqualified member;
(B) a person associated with such member has become a disqualified person; or
(C) the member wishes to sponsor the association of a person who is a disqualified person.
(2) For any disqualifications arising solely from findings or orders specified in Section 15(b)(4)(D), (E), or (H) of the Exchange Act or arising under Section 3(a)(39)(E) of the Exchange Act, a member shall not file an application unless instructed to do so by the SD Regulatory Notice.
(c) Withdrawal of Application
A member may withdraw its application or written request for relief prior to a hearing by filing a written notice with RAD pursuant to Rules
9135,
9136, and
9137. A member may withdraw its application after the start of a hearing but prior to the issuance of a decision by the National Adjudicatory Council by filing a written notice with RAD and the Office of General Counsel pursuant to Rules
9135,
9136, and
9137.
(d) Ex Parte Communications
The prohibitions against ex parte communications set forth in
Rule 9143 shall become effective under the
Rule 9520 Series when FINRA staff has initiated the eligibility proceeding and FINRA staff has knowledge that a member intends to file an application or written request for relief pursuant to the
Rule 9520 Series.
(e) Member Regulation Consideration
(1) Matters that may be Approved by the Department of Member Regulation without the Filing of an Application
The Department of Member Regulation, as it deems consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors, is authorized to approve a written request for relief from the eligibility requirements by a disqualified member or a sponsoring member without the filing of an application by such disqualified member or sponsoring member if a disqualified member or disqualified person is subject to one or more of the following conditions but is not otherwise subject to disqualification:
(A) a disqualified member or disqualified person is subject to a disqualification based on an injunction that was entered ten or more years prior to the proposed admission or continuance by order, judgment, or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction from acting as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, government securities broker, government securities dealer, transfer agent, foreign person performing a function substantially equivalent to any of the above, entity or person required to be registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, or any substantially equivalent foreign statute or regulation, or as an affiliated person or employee of any investment company, bank, insurance company, foreign entity substantially equivalent to any of the above, or entity or person required to be registered under the Commodity Exchange Act or any substantially equivalent foreign statute or regulation, or from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with any such activity, or in connection with the purchase or sale of any security.
(B) a sponsoring member makes a request to change the supervisor of a disqualified person; or
(C) a disqualified member or sponsoring member is a member of both FINRA and another self-regulatory organization; and:
(i) the other self-regulatory organization intends to file a Notice under SEA Rule 19h-1 approving the membership continuance of the disqualified member or, in the case of a sponsoring member, the proposed association or continued association of the disqualified person; and
(ii) the Department of Member Regulation concurs with that determination.
(2) Matters that may be Approved by the Department of Member Regulation after the Filing of an Application
The Department of Member Regulation, as it deems consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors, is authorized to approve an application filed by a disqualified member or sponsoring member if the disqualified member or disqualified person is subject to one or more of the following conditions but is not otherwise subject to disqualification (other than a matter set forth in paragraph (e)(1)):
(A) The disqualified person is already a participant in, a member of, or a person associated with a member of, a self-regulatory organization (other than FINRA), and the terms and conditions of the proposed admission to FINRA are the same in all material respects as those imposed or not disapproved in connection with such person's prior admission or continuance pursuant to an order of the SEC under SEA Rule 19h-1 or other substantially equivalent written communication;
(B) The Department of Member Regulation finds, after reasonable inquiry, that except for the identity of the employer concerned, the terms and conditions of the proposed admission or continuance are the same in all material respects as those imposed or not disapproved in connection with a prior admission or continuance of the disqualified person pursuant to an order of the SEC under SEA Rule 19h-1 or other substantially equivalent written communication, and that there is no intervening conduct or other circumstance that would cause the employment to be inconsistent with the public interest or the protection of investors;
(C) The disqualification previously was a basis for the institution of an administrative proceeding pursuant to a provision of the federal securities laws, and was considered by the SEC in determining a sanction against such disqualified person in the proceeding; and the SEC concluded in such proceeding that it would not restrict or limit the future securities activities of such disqualified person in the capacity now proposed, or, if it imposed any such restrictions or limitations for a specified time period, such time period has elapsed;
(D) The disqualification consists of a court order or judgment of injunction or conviction, and such order or judgment:
(i) expressly includes a provision that, on the basis of such order or judgment, the SEC will not institute a proceeding against such person pursuant to Section 15(b) or 15B of the Exchange Act or that the future securities activities of such persons in the capacity now proposed will not be restricted or limited; or
(ii) includes such restrictions or limitations for a specified time period and such time period has elapsed;
(E) The disqualified person's functions are purely clerical and/or ministerial in nature; or
(F) The disqualification arises from findings or orders specified in Section 15(b)(4)(D), (E), or (H) of the Exchange Act or arises under Section 3(a)(39)(E) of the Exchange Act.
(3) Rights of Disqualified Member, Sponsoring Member, Disqualified Person, and Department of Member Regulation
(A) In the event the Department of Member Regulation does not approve a written request for relief from the eligibility requirements pursuant to paragraph (e)(1), the disqualified member or sponsoring member may file an application, and such member shall have the right to proceed under
Rule 9523 or
9524, as applicable. The Department of Member Regulation may require a disqualified member or sponsoring member to file an application with RAD, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (e)(1).
(B) In the event the Department of Member Regulation does not approve an application pursuant to paragraph (e)(2), the disqualified member or sponsoring member shall have the right to proceed under
Rule 9523 or
9524, as applicable.