Introduction to the Corporate Actions Management Platform

FINRA is implementing a new system for OTC Issuers, ADR depositary banks and other parties to provide notice of company-related actions pursuant to SEA Rule 10b-17 and FINRA Rule 6490.

Effective Monday, November 20, 2023, FINRA will be replacing the current Electronic Issuer/ADR Company Related Action Notification forms with the Corporate Actions Management Platform. This new platform will be accessible via https://gateway.finra.org. Existing users will be able to access the new platform using current login information to submit notice of company-related actions. New users will need to create login credentials to access the new platform.

Timeline

  • Friday, November 17,2023:

    At 5 PM on Friday, November 17, the existing Electronic Issuer/ADR Company Related Action Notification forms will be shut down.
     
  • Monday, November 20,2023:

    At the start of business on Monday, November 20, 2023, all company-related action notifications will be submitted via the new Corporate Actions Management Platform.

    Should you need to submit notice of a company-related action between 5 PM on Friday, November 17, 2023 and Monday, November 20, 2023, please send an email to [email protected] and [email protected] and include the following information:
  1. Company Name
  2. Current Symbol & CUSIP
  3. Transaction Type(s) (e.g., Name Change, Cash Dividend, etc.)
  4. Record Date, if applicable
  5. Anticipated Effective Date
  6. Company Contact Name, Email, and Phone

Technical Documentation

Document Description Document Link
Issuer User Guide v1.2
ADR Depositary Bank User Guide v1.2

Instructions for Completion and Submission in the New System:

The Issuer and ADR Company-Related Action Notification Forms are available through the Corporate Actions Management Platform. Note, FINRA does not accept paper, email or facsimile copies of this form. To submit a company-related action click on Corporate Actions Management System link below. For Issuer new user access, click the “Create Account Here” hyperlink located below the sign-in box to receive a Username and Password. For ADR depositary bank new user access, please contact your Account Administrator. Additionally, the Corporate Actions Management Platform allows payment by credit card or ACH.

  1. Log into the Corporate Actions Management System.
  2. Select Requests and Filings on the left-hand panel.
  3. To start a new filing click “Create Case” in the upper right-hand side. Alternatively, a user may duplicate a draft using “Actions” of the saved draft. When duplicating a draft, please ensure all information on the form is correct prior to submission.
  4. Complete all the required fields and provide any additional information that may be needed to process the request. The Completeness Check will guide a user for missing information. Please note you may save the form at any time to create a draft.
  5. Once all required fields are provided, submit the form, and provide payment if applicable. A submitted case will have the status of “Submitted” or “In Process/Review.”
  6.  You may be required to submit additional documentation or information to support your filing. This will be outlined in the “Case Steps” tab of your submission, where you can see what documents are required, attach documents for review, and respond to requests for additional information. Be sure to check the Case Steps tab after submission to see a list of required documents.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The following content includes new FAQs to provide information about the new system. View the full set of the current UPC FAQs.

  1. Why is the Company-Related Action Notification process changing?
    The new Corporate Actions Management Platform will provide more transparency into the submission review status and introduces new user functionality to enhance the submission process including supporting edits to submissions and facilitate document sharing and communication within the system.
  2. What do I need to do to prepare?
    The new Corporate Actions Management Platform will be live on November 20, 2023. Prior to that date, please review the user documentation and make sure any other persons responsible for submitting company-related actions for your organization are aware of the upcoming changes.
  3. What about my past filings, will I still be able to see them?
    For a period of time, you will have access to your filing history via the existing form filing cabinets for Issuer and ADR submissions. Any submissions still open and under review in the current system on November 20th will continue to be managed via the existing process and email correspondence.
  4. I have drafts saved for regular notification submissions. Will they be carried over to the new system?
    Drafts saved under the current system will not be carried over to the new Corporate Actions Management Platform. The new system will also support creation and saving of drafts to simplify recurring submissions.
  5. How will I access the new system?
    The Corporate Actions Management Platform will be accessible via the FINRA Gateway at https://gateway.finra.org. You will use the same user ID and password that you use to access the Electronic Issuer/ADR Company-Related Action Notification forms today.
  6. What if I don’t have a user ID?
    If you need to submit notice of a company-related action for an OTCE issuer, before or after the new system is live, you can create an account by going to https://gateway.finra.org, clicking the Create Account Here link, and following the set-up prompts. If you need to submit notice of a company-related action for an ADR depositary bank, please see your organization’s Account Administrator for a new account.
  7. When is this happening and will there be system down-time?
    The new system will be live at the start of business on November 20, 2023. The existing Issuer and ADR Company-Related Action Notification forms will be shut down at the close of business on November 17, 2023. Should you need to submit notice of a company-related action between the close of business on Friday, November 17, 2023 and Monday, November 20, 2023, please send an email to [email protected] and [email protected] with the following information: 1.) Company Name, 2.) Current Symbol & CUSIP, 3.) Transaction Type(s) (e.g., Name Change, Cash Dividend, etc.), 4.) Record Date, if applicable, 5.) Anticipated Effective Date, and 6.) Company Contact Name, Email, and Phone Number.
  8. How do I pay outstanding fees for notification submissions made prior to the implementation of the new system?
    Any outstanding fees for submissions made in the current system must be paid via OPAY prior to the new system implementation, or via wire. Please see the below wire instructions.
  9. I see the new system accepts payment via credit card or ACH. Can I still send a wire to pay for my submission-related fees?
    Yes. Please see the wiring instructions below.
    Wiring Instructions:
    Bank Name: Bank of America
    Bank Address: 100 West 33rd St. New York, NY 10001
    ABA Number: 026009593
    Account Name: FINRA Cash Concentration
    Account Number: 226005684771
    Swift Code: BOFAUS3N
    RFB or OBI: Case Number (contact Market Operations at 866-776-0800, Option 1 for specific case number)
    ACH Instructions:
    Bank Name: Bank of America
    Bank Address: P.O. Box 27025 Richmond, VA 23261-7025
    ABA Number: 054001204
    Account Name: FINRA Cash Concentration
    Account Number: 226005684771
    RFB or OBI: Case Number (contact Market Operations at 866-776-0800, Option 1 for specific case number)
  10. Can I edit a filing once it’s been submitted?
    Yes. Please be sure to review your fees and case steps after any changes to remit payment or respond to requests for additional information.
  11. What other changes do I need to be aware of?
    For submissions that generate a fee, you may notice a new invoice format.  The invoice ID will still include your Case Number.  Users that rely on the draft feature in the existing system should make themselves familiar with the draft feature in the new system to make sure data is saved as expected.  Please see the user’s guide for more information about these and other changes in the new system.
  12. I have more questions about this change that are not covered here. Who can help?
    If you have additional questions, please contact [email protected], [email protected], or call (866) 776-0800, Option 1.