Exemptive relief is granted based on the following considerations: (1) Name was not an MFP at the time the Contribution was made and was not involved in the solicitation of new municipal securities business; (2) the Firm took action once it became aware of the Contribution by instituting a self-ban on new City municipal securities business; (3) the Firm notified Name of her designation as an MFP and the accompanying restrictions; (4) the Firm has agreed to establish information barriers to help ensure the segregation of information flow, minimizing the potential for quid pro quo resulting from the Contribution; (5) the Firm represents that it has corrected the technical political contributions database problems and has established new procedures for direct notification to legal and compliance personnel of additions to the Parent Management Committee; and (6) although the Contribution has not been returned, the Firm represents that reasonable efforts have been made to obtain the return of the Contribution.
Exemptive relief is granted based on the following: (1) Name was not an MFP at the time the Contribution was made and was not engaged in, and did not supervise, municipal securities business; (2) the Firm took action once it became aware of the Contribution by retaining outside counsel to review the proposed reorganization and the possibility of municipal securities business restrictions as a result of the Contribution; (3) the Firm notified Name that when the municipal activities of certain retail sales brokers and MFP’s become part of the Business Unit on Month Day, 2003, the Firm will consider her to be an MFP and her municipal securities business activities will be restricted as a result of her Contribution and of her responsibilities3; (4) the Firm has agreed to restrict Name’s municipal securities activities, minimizing the potential for a quid pro quo resulting from the Contribution; and (5) although a less weighty factor, the Contribution has been returned.
Requirements of NASD Rule 2420 to broker/dealer arrangement to pay certain commissions and SEC Rule 12b-1 fees to accounts of various employee benefit plan customers.
A short interest rebate, under certain circumstances, may be paid to a non-member trust company as compensation for work performed in administering accounts.
A networking arrangement between a broker/dealer and a licensed insurance agency in which the non-member insurance agency receives commission payments is not subject to Rule 2420 if the arrangement is undertaken in reliance on an SEC no-action position on the registration requirements of the insurance agency as a result of the arrangement.
In a request for interpretive guidance, a member asks if NASD Rules prohibit a member from paying finders or referral fees to CPAs that are not registered as associated persons.
Broker/dealer should seek SEC interpretative advice regarding "override" payments to insurance company for securities transactions executed by registered representatives who are associated with both the broker/dealer and the insurance company.
Entity should obtain a "no action" letter from the SEC before NASD Regulation will determine whether payment of non-transaction-based compensation from a member to a non-member for administrative and clerical services under a preferred alliance agreement would violate Rule 2420.
Joint sales efforts by member firm and non-member real estate firm of private placements in real estate condominium complexes raise the question of whether the realtors or persons acting on behalf of the issuer would be required to register as broker/dealers.
<p>Employee Leasing Arrangement Does Not Violate Rule 2420</p>
