Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act” or “Act”) ^[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] notice is hereby given that on August 17, 2017, 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 prepared by FINRA. 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 adopt Capital Acquisition Broker Rules 203 (Engaging in Distribution and Solicitation Activities with Government Entities) and 458 (Books and Records Requirements for Government Distribution and Solicitation Activities) that would apply established “pay-to-play” and related rules to the activities of member firms that have elected to be governed by the Capital Acquisition Broker (“CAB”) Rules and that engage in distribution or solicitation activities for compensation with government entities on behalf of investment advisers.

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

FINRA Pay-to-Play Rules

In July 2010, the SEC adopted Rule 206(4)-5 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 addressing pay-to-play practices ^[3] by investment advisers (the “SEC Pay-to-Play Rule”).^[4] The SEC Pay-to-Play Rule prohibits, in part, an investment adviser and its covered associates from providing or agreeing to provide, directly or indirectly, payment to any person to solicit a government entity for investment advisory services on behalf of the investment adviser unless the person is a “regulated person.” ^[5] A “regulated person” includes a member firm, provided that: (a) FINRA rules prohibit member firms from engaging in distribution or solicitation activities if political contributions have been made; and (b) the SEC finds, by order, that such rules impose substantially equivalent or more stringent restrictions on member firms than the SEC Pay-to-Play Rule imposes on investment advisers and that such rules are consistent with the objectives of the SEC Pay-to-Play Rule.^[6]

Based on this regulatory framework, on August 25, 2016, the SEC approved FINRA Rules 2030 and 4580 to establish a comprehensive regime to regulate the activities of member firms that engage in distribution or solicitation activities with government entities on behalf of investment advisers.^[7] On September 20, 2016, the SEC, by order, found that FINRA Rule 2030 imposes substantially equivalent or more stringent restrictions on member firms than the SEC Pay-to-Play Rule imposes on investment advisers and is consistent with the objectives of the SEC Pay-to-Play Rule.^[8] These rules enable member firms to continue to engage in distribution and solicitation activities with government entities on behalf of investment advisers while at the same time deterring member firms from engaging in pay-to-play practices.

In October 2016, FINRA published a Regulatory Notice announcing Commission approval of FINRA Rules 2030 and 4580.^[9] The Notice also announced that Rules 2030 and 4580 will become effective on August 20, 2017.

FINRA Capital Acquisition Broker Rules

On August 18, 2016, the SEC approved ^[10] a separate set of FINRA rules for firms that meet the definition of a “capital acquisition broker” and that elect to be governed under this rule set. CABs are member firms that engage in a limited range of activities, essentially advising companies and private equity funds on capital raising and corporate restructuring, and acting as placement agents for sales of unregistered securities to institutional investors under limited conditions. Member firms that elect to be governed under the CAB rule set are not permitted, among other things, to carry or maintain customer accounts, handle customers' funds or securities, accept customers' trading orders, or engage in proprietary trading or market-making.

The CAB Rules became effective on April 14, 2017. In order to provide new CAB applicants with lead time to apply for FINRA membership and obtain the necessary qualifications and registrations, CAB Rules 101-125 became effective on January 3, 2017. ( printed page 40182)

Addition of FINRA Pay-to-Play Rules to CAB Rulebook

The CAB Rules subject CABs to a number of FINRA Rules, but do not expressly provide that FINRA Rules 2030 and 4580 apply to CABs. FINRA believes that the CAB Rules should be clarified to reflect that FINRA Rule 2030 and the related record-keeping requirements of FINRA Rule 4580 apply to CABs. As stated above, the SEC Pay-to-Play Rule prohibits, in part, an investment adviser and its covered associates from providing or agreeing to provide, directly or indirectly, payment to any person to solicit a government entity for investment advisory services on behalf of the investment adviser unless the person is a “regulated person.” The SEC Pay-to-Play Rule defines a “regulated person” to include a member firm subject to a FINRA pay-to-play rule.

The proposed rule change would make clear that CABs are subject to FINRA's pay-to-play rule and, therefore, that CABs, similarly to non-CAB member firms, are “regulated persons” that can engage in distribution and solicitation activities with government entities on behalf of investment advisers in accordance with the SEC's Pay-to-Play Rule, while at the same time deterring CABs from engaging in pay-to-play practices.

To make this clarification, FINRA proposes the addition of CAB Rule 203, which would provide that all capital acquisition brokers are subject to FINRA Rule 2030. CAB Rule 458 would provide that all capital acquisition brokers are subject to FINRA Rule 4580.

Effective Date

If the Commission approves the proposed rule change, 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 no later than 30 days following publication of the Regulatory Notice announcing Commission approval.

2. Statutory Basis

FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,^[11] 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 would make clear that CABs are subject to the same regime that regulates the activities of non-CAB member firms that engage in distribution or solicitation activities with government entities on behalf of investment advisers, while deterring CABs from engaging in pay-to-play practices. In the absence of this proposed rule change, under the SEC's Pay-to-Play Rule, CABs could be prohibited from receiving compensation for engaging in distribution and solicitation activities with government entities on behalf of investment advisers following the effective date of FINRA Rule 2030 because the rule set for CABs does not expressly provide that FINRA Rule 2030 applies to CABs. FINRA believes that clarifying that FINRA Rule 2030 and the related record-keeping requirements of FINRA Rule 4580 apply to CABs is a more effective regulatory response to the concerns identified by the SEC regarding third-party solicitations than an outright ban on such activity. Thus, the proposed rule change is intended to make clear that CABs, similarly to non-CAB member firms, are “regulated persons” that can engage in distribution and solicitation activities with government entities on behalf of investment advisers in accordance with the SEC Pay-to-Play rule, while at the same time deterring such firms from engaging in pay-to-play practices.

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. While CABs have a more limited scope of permitted activities relative to other member firms, they still may engage, for example, in providing advice to municipalities either as issuer or as participant in the issuance. The proposed rule change would allow CABs to be subject to the same pay-to-play rules as other non-CAB member firms. As such, the economic impacts associated with this proposal are all contemplated in the Economic Impact Assessment accompanying the filing of FINRA Rules 2030 and 4580. In this regard, FINRA's Economic Impact Assessment in the Proposing Release for FINRA Rules 2030 and 4580 considered the impact on all FINRA member firms, including firms that at that time engaged solely in activities that were later deemed permissible for CABs.^[12]

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 torule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-FINRA-2017-027 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.

( printed page 40181) August 18, 2017.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FINRA-2017-027. 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 ( printed page 40183) 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-2017-027 and should be submitted on or before September 14, 2017.