17 CFR 404.2 – Records to be made and kept current by registered government securities brokers and dealers; records of non-resident registered government securities brokers and dealers
(a) Every registered government securities broker or dealer shall comply with the requirements of § 240.17a-3 of this title (SEC Rule 17a-3), with the following modifications:
Terms Used In 17 CFR 404.2
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(1) References to “broker or dealer” and “broker or dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Act” include registered government securities brokers or dealers.
(2) References to §§ 240.17a-3, 240.17a-4, 240.17a-5, and 240.17a-13 mean such sections as modified by this part and part 405 of this chapter.
(3) (i) Except in the case of a government securities interdealer broker who is subject to the financial responsibility rules of § 402.1(e) of this chapter and a registered government securities broker or dealer that is a futures commission merchant registered with the CFTC, paragraph 240.17a-3(a)(1l) is modified to read as follows:
“(11) A record of the proof of money balances of all ledger accounts in the form of trial balances, and a record of the computation of liquid capital and total haircuts, as of the trial date, determined as provided in § 402.2 of this title; provided however, that such computation need not be made by any registered government securities broker or dealer unconditionally exempt from part 402 of this title. Such trial balances and computations shall be prepared current1y at least once a month.”.
(ii) For a government securities interdealer broker who is subject to the financial responsibility rules of § 402.1(e) of this chapter, references to § 240.15c3-1 include modifications contained in § 402.1(e) of this chapter.
(4) Paragraph 240.17a-3(b)(1) is modified to read as follows:
“(1) This section shall not be deemed to require a government securities broker or dealer registered pursuant to section 15C(a)(1)(A) of the Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 78o–5(a)(1)(A)) to make or keep such records of transactions cleared for such government securities broker or dealer as are customarily made and kept by a clearing broker or dealer pursuant to the requirements of §§ 240.17a-3 and 240.17a-4: Provided, that the clearing broker or dealer has and maintains net capital of not less than $250,000 (or, in the case of a clearing broker or dealer that is a registered government securities broker or dealer, liquid capital less total haircuts, determined as provided in § 402.2 of this title, of not less than $250,000) and is otherwise in compliance with § 240.15c3-1, § 402.2 of this title, or the capital rules of the exchange of which such clearing broker or dealer is a member if the members of such exchange are exempt from § 240.15c3-1 by paragraph (b)(2) thereof.”
(5) The undertaking in § 240.17a-3(b)(2) is modified to read as follows:
“The undersigned hereby undertakes to maintain and preserve on behalf of [registered government securities broker or dealer] the books and records required to be maintained by [registered government securities broker or dealer] pursuant to 17 CFR 404.2 and 404.3 and Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and to permit examination of such books and records at any time or from time to time during business hours by examiners or other representatives of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and to furnish to said Commission at its principal office in Washington, DC, or at any regional office of said Commission specified in a demand made by or on behalf of said Commission for copies of books and records, true, correct, complete, and current copies of any or all, or any part, of such books and records. This undertaking shall be binding upon the undersigned, and the successors and assigns of the undersigned.”.
(6) Section 240.17a-3(c) is modified to read as follows:
“(c) This section shall not be deemed to require a government securities broker or dealer to make or keep such records as are required by paragraph (a) reflecting the sale and redemption of United States Savings Bonds, United States Savings Notes and United States Savings Stamps.”.
(b) Every registered government securities broker or dealer shall comply with the requirements of § 240.17h-1T of this title (SEC Rule 17h-1T), with the following modifications:
(1) For the purposes of this section, references to “broker or dealer” and “broker or dealer registered with the Commission pursuant to Section 15 of the Act” mean registered government securities brokers or dealers.
(2) For the purposes of this section, references to §§ 240.17h-1T and 240.17h-2T of this title mean those sections as modified by §§ 404.2(b) and 405.5, respectively.
(3) For the purposes of this section, “associated person” has the meaning set out in Section 3(a)(18) of the Act (15 U.S.C. § 78c(a)(18)), except that natural persons are excluded.
(4) Paragraphs 240.17h-1T(a)(1)(iii) through (vi) of this title are modified to read as follows:
“(iii) A description of all material pending legal or arbitration proceedings involving a Material Associated Person or the registered government securities broker or dealer that are required to be disclosed, under generally accepted accounting principles on a consolidated basis, by the highest level holding company that is a Material Associated Person.
“(iv) Consolidated and consolidating balance sheets, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, which may be unaudited and which shall include the notes to the financial statements, as of quarter-end for the registered government securities broker or dealer and its highest level holding company that is a Material Associated Person;
“(v) Quarterly consolidated and consolidating income statements and consolidated cash flow statements, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, which may be unaudited and which shall include the notes to the financial statements, for the registered government securities broker or dealer and its highest level holding company that is a Material Associated Person;
Statements of comprehensive income (as defined in 17 CFR 210.1-02) must be included in place of income statements, if required by the applicable generally accepted accounting principles.
“(vi) The amount as of quarter-end, and at month-end if greater than quarter-end, of the aggregate long and short securities and commodities positions held by each Material Associated Person, including a separate listing of each single unhedged securities or commodities position, other than U.S. Treasury securities, that exceeds the Materiality Threshold at any month-end;”
(5) Paragraphs 240.17h-1T(a)(3) and (a)(4) of this title are modified to read as follows:
“(3) The information, reports and records required by the provisions of this section shall be maintained and preserved in accordance with the provisions of § 404.3 of this title and shall be kept for a period of not less than three years in an easily accessible place.
“(4) For the purposes of this section and § 405.5 of this title, the term “Materiality Threshold” shall mean the greater of:
“(i) $100 million; or
“(ii) 10 percent of the registered government securities broker’s or dealer’s liquid capital based on the most recently filed Form G-405 (or, in the case of futures commission merchants and interdealer brokers subject to the capital rules in §§ 402.1(d) and 402.1(e), respectively, tentative net capital based on the most recently filed Form X-17A-5) or 10 percent of the Material Associated Person’s tangible net worth, whichever is greater.”
(6) Paragraph 240.17h-1T(b) of this title is modified to read as follows:
“(b) Special provisions with respect to Material Associated Persons subject to the supervision of certain domestic regulators. A registered government securities broker or dealer shall be deemed to be in compliance with the recordkeeping requirements of paragraph (a)(1)(iii) through (x) of this section with respect to a Material Associated Person if: * * * “
(7) Paragraph 240.17h-1T(c) of this title is modified to read as follows:
“(c) Special provisions with respect to Material Associated Persons subject to the supervision of a foreign financial regulatory authority. A registered government securities broker or dealer shall be deemed to be in compliance with the recordkeeping requirements of paragraph (a)(1)(iii) through (x) of this section with respect to a Material Associated Person if such registered government securities broker or dealer maintains in accordance with the provisions of this section copies of the reports filed by such Material Associated Person with a Foreign Financial Regulatory Authority. The registered government securities broker or dealer shall maintain a copy of the original report and a copy translated into the English language. For the purposes of this section, the term Foreign Financial Regulatory Authority shall have the meaning set forth in section 3(a)(52) of the Act.”
(8) Paragraph 240.17h-1T(d) of this title is modified to read as follows:
“(d) Exemptions. (1) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any registered government securities broker or dealer:
“(i) Which is exempt from the provisions of § 240.15c3-3 of this title, as made applicable by § 403.4, pursuant to paragraph (k)(2) of § 240.15c3-3 of this title; or
“(ii) If the registered government securities broker or dealer does not qualify for an exemption from the provisions of § 240.15c3-3 of this title, as made applicable by § 403.4, and such registered government securities broker or dealer does not hold funds or securities for, or owe money or securities to, customers and does not carry the accounts of, or for, customers; unless
“(iii) In the case of paragraphs (d)(1)(i) or (ii) of this section, the registered government securities broker or dealer maintains capital of at least $20,000,000, including debt subordinated in accordance with Appendix D of § 240.15c3-1 of this title, as modified by Appendix D of § 402.2.
“(2) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any registered government securities broker or dealer which maintains capital of less than $250,000, including debt subordinated in accordance with Appendix D of § 240.15c3-1 of this title, as modified by Appendix D of § 402.2, even if the registered government securities broker or dealer holds funds or securities for, or owes money or securities to, customers or carries the accounts of, or for, customers.
“(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any registered government securities broker or dealer which has an associated person that is a registered broker or dealer, provided that:
“(i) The registered broker or dealer is subject to, and in compliance with, the provisions of § 240.17h-1T and § 240.17h-2T of this title, and
“(ii) All of the Material Associated Persons of the registered government securities broker or dealer are Material Associated Persons of the registered broker or dealer subject to § 240.17h-1T and § 240.17h-2T of this title.
“(4) In calculating capital for the purposes of this paragraph, a registered government securities broker or dealer shall include with its equity capital and subordinated debt the equity capital and subordinated debt of any other registered government securities brokers or dealers or registered brokers or dealers that are associated persons of such registered government securities broker or dealer, except that the equity capital and subordinated debt of registered brokers and dealers that are exempt from the provisions of § 240.15c3-3 of this title, pursuant to paragraph (k)(1) of § 240.15c3-3, shall not be included in the capital computation.
“(5) The Secretary may, upon written application by a Reporting Registered Government Securities Broker or Dealer, exempt from the provisions of this section, either unconditionally or on specified terms and conditions, any registered government securities brokers or dealers that are associated persons of such Reporting Registered Government Securities Broker or Dealer. The term “Reporting Registered Government Securities Broker or Dealer” shall mean any registered government securities broker or dealer that submits such application to the Secretary on behalf of its associated registered government securities brokers or dealers.”
(9) Paragraph 240.17h-1T(g) of this title is modified to read as follows:
“(g) Implementation schedule. Every registered government securities broker or dealer subject to the requirements of this section shall maintain and preserve the information required by paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (ii), and (iii) of this section commencing June 30, 1995. Commencing September 30, 1995, the provisions of this section shall apply in their entirety.”
(c)(1) Every non-resident government securities broker or dealer registered or applying for registration pursuant to Section 15C of the Act shall comply with § 240.17a-7 of this title, provided that:
(i) For the purposes of this section, references to “broker or dealer” and “broker or dealer registered or applying for registration pursuant to Section 15 of the Act” mean registered government securities brokers or dealers; and
(ii) For the purposes of this section, references to “any rule or regulation of the Commission” and “any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission” mean any rule or regulation of the Secretary.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the term “non-resident government securities broker or dealer” means:
(i) In the case of an individual, one who resides in or has his principal place of business in any place not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States;
(ii) In the case of a corporation, one incorporated in or having its principal place of business in any place not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; and
(iii) In the case of a partnership or other unincorporated organization or association, one having its principal place of business in any place not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
(d) Effective date. Paragraph (a) of this section shall be effective on October 31, 1987, except that registered government securities brokers and dealers are required to maintain the records specified in § 240.17a-3(a) (12), (13), (14) and (15) beginning July 25, 1987.