2018-09695. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Extend the Implementation Date of Certain Amendments to FINRA Rule 4210 Approved ...

May 2, 2018.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) ^[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] notice is hereby given that on April 20, 2018, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by FINRA. FINRA has designated the proposed rule change as constituting a “non-controversial” rule change under paragraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 under the Act,^[3] which renders the proposal effective upon receipt of this filing by the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

FINRA is proposing to extend, to March 25, 2019, the implementation date of the amendments to FINRA Rule 4210 (Margin Requirements) pursuant to SR-FINRA-2015-036, other than the amendments pursuant to SR-FINRA-2015-036 that were implemented on December 15, 2016. The proposed rule change would not make any changes to FINRA rules.

The text of the proposed rule change is available on FINRA's website at http://www.finra.org,, at the principal office of FINRA and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

In its filing with the Commission, FINRA included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. FINRA has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

On October 6, 2015, FINRA filed with the Commission proposed rule change SR-FINRA-2015-036, which proposed to amend FINRA Rule 4210 to establish margin requirements for (1) To Be Announced (“TBA”) transactions, inclusive of adjustable rate mortgage (“ARM”) transactions; (2) Specified Pool Transactions; and (3) transactions in Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”), issued in conformity with a program of an agency or Government-Sponsored Enterprise (“GSE”), with forward settlement dates, as defined more fully in the filing (collectively, “Covered Agency Transactions”). The Commission approved SR-FINRA-2015-036 on June 15, 2016 (the “Approval Date”).^[4]

Pursuant to Partial Amendment No. 3 to SR-FINRA-2015-036, FINRA announced in Regulatory Notice 16-31 that the rule change would be become effective on December 15, 2017, 18 months from the Approval Date, except that the risk limit determination requirements as set forth in paragraphs (e)(2)(F), (e)(2)(G) and (e)(2)(H) of Rule 4210 and in new Supplementary Material .05, each as respectively amended or established by SR-FINRA-2015-036 (collectively, the “risk limit determination requirements”), would become effective on December 15, 2016, six months from the Approval Date.^[5]

Industry participants sought clarification regarding the implementation of the requirements pursuant to SR-FINRA-2015-036. Industry participants also requested additional time to make system changes necessary to comply with the requirements, including time to test the system changes, and requested additional time to update or amend margining agreements and related documentation. In response, FINRA made available a set of Frequently Asked Questions & Guidance ^[6] and, pursuant to SR-FINRA-2017-029,^[7] extended the implementation date of the requirements of SR-FINRA-2015-036 to June 25, 2018 (the “June 25, 2018 implementation date”), except for the risk limit determination requirements, which, as announced in Regulatory Notice 16-31, became effective on December 15, 2016.

Industry participants have requested that FINRA reconsider the potential impact of certain requirements pursuant to SR-FINRA-2015-036 on smaller and medium-sized firms. Industry participants have also requested that FINRA extend the June 25, 2018 implementation date pending such reconsideration to reduce potential uncertainty in the Covered Agency Transaction market. FINRA stated in Partial Amendment No. 3 to SR-FINRA-2015-036 that FINRA would monitor the impact of the requirements pursuant to that rulemaking and, if the requirements prove overly onerous or otherwise are shown to negatively impact the market, FINRA would consider revisiting such requirements as may be necessary to mitigate the rule's impact.^[8] FINRA believes, in the interest of avoiding unnecessary disruption to the Covered Agency Transaction market, that it is appropriate to consider potential revisions to the requirements pursuant to SR-FINRA-2015-036 and is proposing to extend the June 25, 2018 implementation date to March 25, 2019 while FINRA considers, in consultation with industry participants and other regulators, whether any revisions are appropriate. FINRA notes that the risk limit determination requirements pursuant to SR-FINRA-2015-036 became effective on December 15, 2016 and, as such, the implementation of such requirements is not affected by the proposed rule change.

FINRA has filed the proposed rule change for immediate effectiveness and has requested that the Commission waive the requirement that the proposed rule change not become operative for 30 days after the date of the filing. The operative date will be the date of filing of the proposed rule change.

2. Statutory Basis

FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,^[9] which requires, among other things, that FINRA rules must be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. FINRA believes that the proposed rule change provides FINRA additional time to consider whether any revisions to the requirements pursuant to SR-FINRA-2015-036 are appropriate and helps to reduce potential uncertainty in the Covered Agency Transaction market while FINRA considers such revisions. FINRA believes that providing additional time is consistent with the Act because this provides FINRA, in consultation with industry participants and other regulators, additional opportunity to consider whether revisions to the requirements would improve their effectiveness and thereby protect investors and the public interest by helping to promote stability in the Covered Agency Transaction market.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

FINRA does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. FINRA believes that extending the June 25, 2018 implementation date to March 25, 2019, so as to provide additional time for FINRA to consider, in consultation with industry participants and other regulators, whether any revisions to the requirements pursuant to SR-FINRA-2015-036 are appropriate will benefit all parties.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[10] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[11]

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) ^[12] normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),^[13] the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. FINRA has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative upon filing. FINRA has stated that the purpose of the proposed rule change is to allow FINRA additional time to consider potential revisions to the requirements pursuant to SR-FINRA-2015-036 and to consult with industry participants and other regulators whether any revisions are appropriate, in the interest of avoiding unnecessary disruption to the Covered Agency Transaction market. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because the proposal to extend the implementation date of certain amendments to FINRA Rule 4210 does not raise any new or novel issues and will help to facilitate the implementation of the margin requirements for Covered Agency Transactions. Furthermore, the Commission understands that market participants have expressed support for the extension of the implementation date in order to give FINRA time to determine, in consultation with market participants and other interested parties, whether changes to the amendments are appropriate, and if so, what those changes should be.^[14] Therefore, the Commission hereby waives the 30-day operative delay requirement and designates the proposed rule change as operative upon filing.^[15]

At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

• Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-FINRA-2018-017 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

• Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FINRA-2018-017. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's internet website (http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of FINRA. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FINRA-2018-017 and should be submitted on or before May 29, 2018.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.¹⁶

Eduardo A. Aleman,

Assistant Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

4.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78081 (June 15, 2016), 81 FR 40364 (June 21, 2016) (Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 3 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval to a Proposed Rule Change to Amend FINRA Rule 4210 (Margin Requirements) to Establish Margin Requirements for the TBA Market, as Modified by Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3; File No. SR-FINRA-2015-036).

5.  See Partial Amendment No. 3 to SR-FINRA-2015-036 and Regulatory Notice 16-31 (August 2016), both available at: www.finra.org.

6.  Available at: www.finra.org/​industry/​guidance. Further, staff of the SEC's Division of Trading and Markets made available a set of Frequently Asked Questions regarding Exchange Act Rule 15c3-1 and Rule 15c3-3 in connection with Covered Agency Transactions under FINRA Rule 4210, also available at: www.finra.org/​industry/​guidance.

7.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81722 (September 26, 2017), 82 FR 45915 (October 2, 2017) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change to Delay the Implementation Date of Certain Amendments to FINRA Rule 4210 Approved Pursuant to SR-FINRA-2015-036; File No. SR-FINRA-2017-029); see also Regulatory Notice 17-28 (September 29, 2017).

8.  See Partial Amendment No. 3 to SR-FINRA-2015-036, available at: www.finra.org.

9.  15 U.S.C. 78 o-3(b)(6).

10.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

11.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires FINRA to give the Commission written notice of FINRA's intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. FINRA has satisfied this requirement.

12.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

13.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

14.  See, e.g., Letter from Chris Killian, Managing Director, SIFMA (March 7, 2018), available at: www.sec.gov.

15.  For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

16.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).