Document ID: SEC-2014-0524-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: Self-Regulatory Organizations; Proposed Rule Changes: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
Posted Date: 2014-03-31T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 61 (Monday, March 31, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18094-18098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07037]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-71792; File No. SR-FINRA-2014-012]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory 
Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend 
FINRA Rules 2210 (Communications with the Public) and 2214 
(Requirements for the Use of Investment Analysis Tools)

March 25, 2014.
    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 March 10, 2014, 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, 
II, and III below, which Items have been substantially prepared by 
FINRA. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on 
the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    FINRA is proposing to amend FINRA Rule 2210 (Communications with 
the Public) to exclude from the filing requirements research reports 
concerning only securities listed on a national securities exchange, 
other than research reports which must be filed pursuant to Section 
24(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (``1940 Act'').\3\ FINRA 
also is proposing to amend FINRA Rule 2210 to clarify that free writing 
prospectuses that are exempt from filing with the SEC are not subject 
to the rule's filing or content standards. Finally, FINRA is proposing 
to correct a mistaken rule cross-reference in FINRA Rule 2214 
(Requirements for the Use of Investment Analysis Tools).
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    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 80a-24(b).
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    The text of the proposed rule change is available on FINRA's Web 
site 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
(a) Filing Exclusion for Research Reports on Exchange-Listed Securities
    FINRA is proposing to amend the current requirements for members to 
file certain retail communications with the Advertising Regulation 
Department (the ``Department''). Under this amendment, members would no 
longer be required to file research reports that concern only 
securities listed on a national securities exchange. Between the 
dedicated protections applied to research reports by other FINRA and 
SEC rules and the increased liquidity and price transparency associated 
with exchange-listed securities, FINRA believes the additional investor 
protection benefit of Department review of those retail communications 
is minimal in relation to the cost of compliance and administration of 
the filing requirement. This proposed exemption would not apply to 
research reports that must be filed under Section 24(b) of the 1940 
Act.
(1) Background
    On March 29, 2012, the Commission approved new FINRA Rule 2210 
(Communications with the Public), which replaced NASD Rules 2210 and 
2211 and certain Interpretive Materials that followed NASD Rule 2210, 
and became effective on February 4, 2013. Among other things, FINRA 
Rule 2210 contains two new filing requirements. Paragraph (c)(3)(A) of 
FINRA Rule 2210 requires for the first time that member firms file with 
the Department all retail communications concerning closed-end 
investment companies \4\ within 10 business days of first use. 
Previously, NASD Rule 2210 only required that member firms file 
advertisements and sales literature concerning a closed-end fund during 
the fund's initial public offering period.
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    \4\ For purposes of FINRA Rule 2210, a ``closed-end investment 
company'' or ``closed-end fund'' refers to a registered ``closed-end 
company'' as defined in Section 5(a)(2) of the 1940 Act, 15 U.S.C. 
80a-5(a)(2).
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    FINRA Rule 2210(c)(3)(E) also requires for the first time that 
member firms file all retail communications concerning any security 
that is registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (``Securities 
Act'') \5\ and that is derived from or based on a single security, a 
basket of securities, an index, a commodity, a debt issuance or a 
foreign currency. This filing requirement is intended to apply to 
retail communications concerning so-called ``structured products,'' 
although the breadth of the provision could arguably include retail 
communications concerning securities not typically thought of as 
structured products, including registered investment companies, 
security futures, public direct participation programs, or 
collateralized mortgage obligations. FINRA notes that those retail 
communications are already subject to separate filing requirements, and 
thus member firms are not required to file these communications a 
second time under the structured product filing requirement.\6\
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.
    \6\ See FINRA Rule 2210(c)(3)(A) through (D). The ``structured 
product'' filing requirement specifies that it does not apply to 
retail communications concerning these other products, as they are 
already covered by the filing requirements in FINRA Rule 2210(c)(1), 
(c)(2) and (c)(3)(A) through (D).
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(2) Filing Requirements for Research Reports
    The Rule 2210 filing requirements apply to research reports \7\ to 
the extent that they constitute retail communications about a product 
category that requires filing pursuant to the Rule (including the 
provisions of the Rule referenced above), or to the extent that they 
are covered by the new member filing requirements of FINRA Rule 
2210(c)(1)(A).\8\ Therefore, the filing

[[Page 18095]]

requirements cover research reports concerning certain exchange-listed 
securities, such as exchange-listed master limited partnerships and 
registered closed-end funds, as well as research reports concerning any 
securities to the extent that they are covered by the new member filing 
requirements.
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    \7\ Rule 2711(a)(9) defines ``research report'' as ``any written 
(including electronic) communication that includes an analysis of 
equity securities of individual companies or industries, and that 
provides information reasonably sufficient upon which to base an 
investment decision.'' The definition specifically excludes certain 
types of communications, such as discussions of broad-based indices 
or commentaries on economic, political or market conditions.
    \8\ Under paragraph (c)(1)(A) of FINRA Rule 2210, a new member 
must file with the Department at least 10 business days prior to use 
certain retail communications that are published or used in any 
electronic or public media. These retail communications include 
those published on any generally accessible Web site, newspaper, 
magazine or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or audio 
recording, video display, sign or billboard. A member is subject to 
this filing requirement for a period of one year beginning on the 
date reflected in the Central Registration Depository (CRD[supreg]) 
system as of the date that FINRA membership became effective. A 
member may file a retail communication that is a free writing 
prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Securities Act Rule 
433(d)(1)(ii) within 10 business days of first use rather than at 
least 10 business days prior to first use.
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    For the reasons discussed below, FINRA believes that it is 
appropriate to amend FINRA Rule 2210 to exempt research reports 
concerning only exchange-listed securities from the filing 
requirements, other than research reports that must be filed pursuant 
to Section 24(b) of the 1940 Act. Section 24(b) requires any registered 
open-end investment company, any registered unit investment trust, or 
any registered face-amount certificate company, and any underwriter \9\ 
for such companies, to file all advertisements, pamphlets, circulars, 
form letters and other sales literature addressed to or intended for 
distribution to prospective investors with the Commission within 10 
days of distribution of such material.\10\
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    \9\ The 1940 Act defines ``underwriter'' to include ``any person 
who has purchased from an issuer with a view to, or sells for an 
issuer in connection with, the distribution of any security, or 
participates or has a direct or indirect participation in any such 
undertaking, or participates or has a participation in the direct or 
indirect underwriting of any such undertaking.'' The term excludes 
``a person whose interest is limited to a commission from an 
underwriter or dealer not in excess of the usual and customary 
distributor's or seller's commission.'' See 1940 Act Section 
2(a)(40), 15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(40).
    \10\ Pursuant to Rule 24b-3 under the 1940 Act, 17 CFR 270.24b-
3, any sales material shall be deemed filed with the Commission for 
purposes of Section 24(b) upon filing with FINRA.
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    An important purpose of FINRA's filing requirements is to help 
ensure that communications distributed or made available to investors 
are based on principles of fair dealing and good faith, are fair and 
balanced, and provide a sound basis for evaluating the facts in regard 
to any particular security or type of security. FINRA staff review of 
these communications also helps ensure that they do not contain any 
material omissions that would cause the communication to be misleading, 
and do not contain any false, exaggerated, unwarranted, promissory or 
misleading statements or claims.
    FINRA believes that the likelihood of investor harm resulting from 
the distribution of research reports concerning only exchange-listed 
securities is significantly lessened due to additional investor 
protection standards that apply to research reports but do not apply to 
other types of sales material. In particular, research reports are 
subject to the comprehensive disclosure, content and analyst 
independence requirements of NASD Rule 2711 and SEC Regulation Analyst 
Certification (``Regulation AC'').\11\ In addition, the fact that these 
securities are listed on a national securities exchange reduces the 
risk that a research report could manipulate a security's trading 
price, because the ability to trade the security on an exchange 
provides both increased liquidity and a price discovery mechanism that 
does not exist for unlisted securities.
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    \11\ 17 CFR 242.500-505.
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    For example, if a research report contains a price target, NASD 
Rule 2711(h)(7) requires a member firm to disclose the valuation 
methods used to determine the price target, and firms must have a 
reasonable basis for the price target and must accompany it with a 
disclosure concerning the risks that may impede achievement of the 
price target. NASD Rule 2711(h) also requires numerous other conflicts 
of interest disclosures concerning such issues as individual and member 
holdings of the issuer's securities, investment banking relationships 
with and receipt of compensation from the issuer, disclosure of the 
meanings and distribution of ratings assigned to issuers, inclusion of 
a price chart showing when the firm assigned or changed a rating or 
price target, and disclosure of market making activities.
    Research analysts also must prepare equity research reports in a 
controlled environment that is designed to reduce the potential for 
conflicts of interest. For example, the rules generally prohibit 
persons not directly responsible for the preparation, content and 
distribution of research from reviewing or approving research reports 
prior to publication.\12\ In addition, Rule 2711 imposes certain 
requirements concerning the compensation paid to research analysts that 
are intended to reduce conflicts of interest.\13\
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    \12\ See NASD Rule 2711(b).
    \13\ See NASD Rule 2711(d).
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    Regulation AC requires research analysts to provide certifications 
to research reports to help address the risk that research analysts may 
issue research reports that do not reflect their true beliefs or 
communicate views that differ from views expressed to institutional 
investors.\14\ The certifications include a statement certifying that 
all of the views expressed in the report accurately reflect the 
analyst's personal views about any and all of the covered securities 
and issuer, and another statement certifying either (1) that no part of 
the analyst's compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, 
related to the specific recommendations or views expressed by the 
analyst in the research report or (2) that part or all of the analyst's 
compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the 
specific recommendations or views contained in the research report. If 
the analyst certifies to the second alternative, the statement must 
include the source, amount and purpose of such compensation and must 
further disclose that it may influence the recommendation in the 
research report.\15\
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    \14\ See Securities Act Release No. 8193 (February 20, 2003), 68 
FR 9482 (February 27, 2003).
    \15\ See 17 CFR 242.501(a).
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    FINRA rules also require any person who is primarily responsible 
for the preparation of the substance of a research report, or whose 
name appears on a research report, to pass certain qualification 
examinations and register as a research analyst with FINRA. Pursuant to 
NASD Rule 1050, research analysts must be registered as a General 
Securities Representative under NASD Rule 1032, and must pass the 
qualification examinations for research analysts (Series 86 and 
87).\16\ In addition, research reports must be approved either by a 
Supervisory Analyst that has passed the Series 16 qualification 
examination, or a registered principal that has passed both the Series 
24 and Series 87 qualification examinations.\17\ Together with the 
pricing transparency and increased liquidity of exchange-listed 
securities generally, FINRA believes these additional investor 
protections minimize the need to have research reports concerning 
exchange-listed securities subject to filing with FINRA, as it is 
significantly less likely that these communications will contain false 
and misleading information or omit

[[Page 18096]]

important risk and conflicts disclosures.\18\
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    \16\ FINRA may grant a waiver from the analytical portion of the 
research analyst qualification examination (Series 86) upon 
verification that the applicant has passed other enumerated 
examinations. See NASD Rule 1050(c).
    \17\ See NASD Rule 1022(a)(5) and FINRA Rule 2210(b)(1)(B); see 
also Notice to Members 07-04 (January 2007).
    \18\ This text is slightly modified from the version filed by 
FINRA pursuant to a discussion between Joseph Savage and Philip 
Shaikun of FINRA and Marie-Louise Huth of the SEC on March 24, 2014 
(``March 24 Phone Conversation'').
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    FINRA believes that this filing exclusion is consistent with the 
approach that FINRA has taken for purposes of other parts of FINRA Rule 
2210, such as the exclusion from the recommendation disclosure 
requirements of FINRA Rule 2210(d)(7) for research reports that include 
all of the disclosures required by Rule 2711.\19\ Because FINRA 
concluded that Rule 2711's disclosure standards protect investors 
without the need for additional disclosure, FINRA exempted research 
reports from certain of Rule 2210's specific content standards. In the 
same manner, FINRA no longer believes it is necessary for research 
reports on exchange-listed securities to be filed with FINRA because of 
the investor protections offered by Rule 2711 and Regulation AC.\20\
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    \19\ See FINRA Rule 2210(d)(7)(D)(i).
    \20\ See March 24 Phone Conversation, supra note 18.
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    FINRA also recognizes the importance of allowing members to publish 
research on exchange-listed securities in a timely manner. Research 
that is stale or untimely has far less value to investors than research 
that is up-to-date. Particularly for new members, which are required to 
file certain retail communications at least 10 business days prior to 
first use, the current filing requirements could impose an impediment 
to publishing timely research on exchange-listed securities.
    The Department's staff generally has not seen significant problems 
with research reports that have been filed with FINRA. The filing 
requirements for new firms under FINRA Rule 2210(c)(1)(A) are intended 
to provide an extra level of FINRA staff review for firms that are just 
beginning their business operations. FINRA is not aware of any firms 
that, in the past, have produced research subject to filing under the 
new firm filing requirement. In addition, FINRA believes that the 
supervisory and certification requirements applicable to research 
reports decrease the likelihood that a new firm would experience the 
types of problems that may occur with respect to other retail 
communications. Accordingly, FINRA believes that exempting research 
reports on exchange-listed securities from the new firm filing 
requirement would be consistent with investor protection.
    As for reports that have been filed pursuant to other filing 
requirements, such as the filing requirements for retail communications 
concerning closed-end funds, public direct participation programs, or 
structured products, the staff mostly has reviewed these reports for 
compliance with NASD Rule 2711's disclosure requirements. FINRA 
believes that it can better employ the Department's resources viewing 
other types of communications that present a greater risk of investor 
harm. To the extent a review of members' research reports on exchange-
listed securities is necessary, FINRA believes that it can address this 
need through either its examination program, or conducting a spot check 
of members' reports.
    The proposal would not include research reports that are subject to 
filing pursuant to Section 24(b) of the 1940 Act, or research 
concerning securities that are not listed on a national securities 
exchange, within the proposed filing exclusion. Because the 1940 Act 
separately requires certain communications concerning registered open-
end companies, registered unit investment trusts, and registered face-
amount certificate companies to be filed, FINRA does not believe it is 
appropriate to include research reports that fall within this filing 
requirement within this proposed exclusion.
    Securities that are not listed on a national securities exchange do 
not possess the same liquidity features and price discovery as 
exchange-listed securities, and thus at this time FINRA is proposing 
not to exclude research reports concerning such securities from filing. 
The increased liquidity and price discovery mechanisms for exchange-
listed securities reduce the likelihood that a research report could 
mislead an investor as to the true value of a security.
    In contrast, a report concerning an unlisted security has greater 
potential to mislead investors. For example, FINRA believes that there 
are greater risks of investor harm and price manipulation with respect 
to a research report on a master limited partnership that is not listed 
on a national securities exchange. Accordingly, FINRA believes that 
such reports should not be subject to the proposed filing exclusion.
    The proposed filing exclusion also would not apply to any retail 
communication concerning an exchange-listed security that is not a 
research report for purposes of NASD Rule 2711. Thus, for example, a 
member firm would still be required to file with FINRA a retail 
communication that is intended to promote the sale of the securities of 
an exchange-listed closed-end investment company or direct 
participation program if the retail communication was not a research 
report for purposes of Rule 2711. Because the additional investor 
protections that apply to research reports do not apply to these retail 
communications, FINRA believes that it is appropriate to continue to 
require member firms to file these types of retail communications.
(b) Clarification Regarding Free Writing Prospectuses Exempt From SEC 
Filing
    The filing requirements and content standards of FINRA Rule 2210 do 
not apply to prospectuses and similar documents that have been filed 
with the SEC, other than investment company advertisements prepared 
pursuant to Securities Act Rule 482,\21\ and free-writing prospectuses 
that are used or referred to by a broker-dealer and distributed by or 
on behalf of the broker-dealer in a manner reasonably designed to lead 
to its broad unrestricted dissemination. FINRA Rule 2210(c)(7)(F) 
excludes from the rule's filing requirements ``[p]rospectuses, 
preliminary prospectuses, fund profiles, offering circulars and similar 
documents that have been filed with the SEC or any state, or that is 
exempt from such registration, except that an investment company 
prospectus published pursuant to Securities Act Rule 482 and a free 
writing prospectus that has been filed with the SEC pursuant to 
Securities Act Rule 433(d)(1)(ii) will not be considered a prospectus 
for purposes of this exclusion.'' Similarly, FINRA Rule 2210(d)(8) 
excludes from the rule's content standards ``[p]rospectuses, 
preliminary prospectuses, fund profiles and similar documents that have 
been filed with the SEC,'' but provides that the content standards do 
apply to ``an investment company prospectus pursuant to Securities Act 
Rule 482 and a free writing prospectus that has been filed with the SEC 
pursuant to Securities Act Rule 433(d)(1)(ii).''
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    \21\ 17 CFR 230.482
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    Questions have been raised as to whether these exclusions cover a 
free writing prospectus that is exempt from filing with the SEC 
pursuant to Securities Act Rule 433.\22\ FINRA intended these 
exclusions to cover prospectuses filed with the SEC as well as free 
writing prospectuses that are exempt from filing, other than so-called 
``omitting prospectuses'' of registered investment companies governed 
by Securities Act Rule 482, and free writing prospectuses required to 
be filed with the SEC pursuant to Securities Act Rule

[[Page 18097]]

433(d)(1)(ii). Accordingly, a free writing prospectus that is exempt 
from filing with the SEC pursuant to Securities Act Rule 433 is not 
subject to the filing requirements and content standards of FINRA Rule 
2210.\23\ To clarify this intent, FINRA is proposing to amend FINRA 
Rule 2210(c)(7)(F) and FINRA Rule 2210(d)(8) specifically to exclude 
from the filing and content standards free writing prospectuses that 
are exempt from filing with the SEC. FINRA is also proposing to clarify 
that the filing and content requirements apply to free-writing 
prospectuses required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Securities 
Act Rule 433(d)(1)(ii).
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    \22\ 17 CFR 230.433
    \23\ See Regulatory Notice 10-52 (October 2010) (FINRA 
communication rules ``apply to free writing prospectuses distributed 
by a broker-dealer in a manner reasonably designed to lead to broad 
unrestricted dissemination''). FINRA Rule 2210's filing and content 
standards are intended to apply to free writing prospectuses that 
are subject to filing with the SEC pursuant to Securities Act Rule 
433(d)(1)(ii), but not to other types of free writing prospectuses.
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(c) Correction of Rule Cross-Reference in FINRA Rule 2214
    Paragraph (a) of FINRA Rule 2214 (Requirements for the Use of 
Investment Analysis Tools) mistakenly cross-references FINRA Rule 
2210(c)(3)(D) (the filing requirement for retail communications 
concerning collateralized mortgage obligations).\24\ Rule 2214(a) 
should cross-reference Rule 2210(c)(3)(C) (the filing requirement for 
any template for written reports produced by, or retail communications 
concerning, an investment analysis tool). FINRA proposes to correct 
this rule cross-reference.
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    \24\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66681 (March 29, 
2012), 77 FR 20452 (April 4, 2012) (SR-FINRA-2011-035).
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    FINRA will announce the effective date of the proposed rule change 
in a Regulatory Notice to be published no later than 60 days following 
Commission approval. The effective date will be the date of publication 
of the Regulatory Notice announcing Commission approval.
2. Statutory Basis
    FINRA believes that the proposal to exclude research reports 
concerning only exchange-listed securities from the filing requirements 
for certain retail communications is consistent with the provisions of 
Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,\25\ 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 filing exclusion will 
reduce the burdens imposed on member firms that would otherwise have to 
file research reports on exchange-listed securities with FINRA, while 
continuing to protect investors through the protections provided by 
FINRA Rule 2210 and NASD Rules 1022, 1050 and 2711.
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    \25\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).
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    FINRA also believes that the proposed clarification regarding the 
application of Rule 2210's filing and content standards to free writing 
prospectuses that are exempt from filing with the SEC is consistent 
with the provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act.\26\ The proposal 
is consistent with FINRA's current interpretation of Rule 2210.
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    \26\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).
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    FINRA further believes that the proposed correction of the rule 
cross-reference in FINRA Rule 2214 is consistent with the provisions of 
Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act.\27\ The correction of the cross-reference 
is consistent with the Rule's intent and purpose and will reduce any 
potential confusion due to the current incorrect cross-reference.
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    \27\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    FINRA does not believe that the proposed rule change would result 
in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed rule change would 
reduce burdens on members by relieving them of the obligation and 
expense of filing research reports that are currently subject to 
filing. The proposed rule change also would clarify for members the 
intended application of Rule 2210 to free writing prospectuses that are 
exempt from filing with the SEC, and would not add any burden on 
competition.

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

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may 
designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to 
be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
    (A) By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change, or
    (B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be 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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-FINRA-2014-012 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-2014-012. 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 Web site (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 Web site 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 
a.m. and 3 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; the Commission does not edit 
personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit 
only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-FINRA-2014-012 and

[[Page 18098]]

should be submitted on or before April 21, 2014.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\28\
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    \28\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-07037 Filed 3-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P