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7500 - FRB Regulations
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PART 220—CREDIT BY BROKERS AND DEALERS (REGULATION T)
Sec.
220.1
Authority, purpose, and scope.
220.2
Definitions.
220.3
General provisions.
220.4
Margin account.
220.5
Special memorandum account.
220.6
Good faith account.
220.7
Broker-dealer credit account.
220.8
Cash account.
220.9
Clearance of securities, options, and futures.
220.10
Borrowing and lending securities.
220.11
Requirements for the list of marginable OTC stocks and the list of
foreign margin stocks.
220.12
Supplement: Margin requirements.
220.132
Credit to brokers and dealers.
Form T–1
Form T–2
Form T-4
AUTHORITY: 15 U.S.C. 78c,
78g,
78q, and
78w.
SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 220 appear at 48 Fed. Reg.
23165, May 24, 1983, effective June 30, 1984 and 58 Fed. Reg. 50512,
September 28, 1993.
§ 220.1 Authority, purpose, and scope.
(a) Authority and purpose. Regulation T (this part) is
issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the
Board) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Act) (15
U.S.C. 78a et seq.). Its principal purpose is to regulate
extensions of credit by brokers and dealers; it also covers related
transactions within the Board's authority under the Act. It imposes,
among other obligations, initial margin requirements and payment rules
on certain securities transactions.
(b) Scope. (1) This part provides a margin account and
four special purpose accounts in which to record all financial
relations between a customer and a creditor. Any transaction not
specifically permitted in a special purpose account shall be recorded
in a margin account.
(2) This part does not preclude any exchange, national securities
association, or creditor from imposing additional requirements or
taking action for its own protection.
(3) This part does not apply to:
(i) Financial relations between a customer and a creditor to the
extent that they comply with portfolio margining system under rules
approved or amended by the SEC;
(ii) Credit extended by a creditor based on a good faith
determination that the borrower is an exempted borrower;
(iii) Financial relations between a customer and a broker or
dealer registered only under section 15C of the Act; and
(iv) Financial relations between a foreign branch of a creditor
and a foreign person involving foreign securities.
[Codified to 12 C.F.R. § 220.1]
[Section 220.1 amended at 59 Fed. Reg. 53567, October 26,
1994, effective November 25, 1994; 61 Fed. Reg. 20390, May 6, 1996,
effective July 1, 1996; 63 Fed. Reg. 2820, January 16, 1998, effective
April 1, 1998 but compliance is optional until July 1,
1998]
{{4-30-98 p.7658}}
§ 220.2 Definitions.
The terms used in this part have the meanings given them in
section 3(a) of the Act or as
defined in this section as follows:
Affiliated corporation means a corporation of which all
the common stock is owned directly or indirectly by the firm or general
partners and employees of the firm, or by the corporation or holders of
the controlling stock and employees of the corporation, and the
affiliation has been approved by the creditor's examining authority.
Cash equivalent means securities issued or guaranteed by
the United States or its agencies, negotiable bank certificates of
deposit, bankers acceptances issued by banking institutions in the
United States and payable in the United States, or money market mutual
funds.
Covered option transaction means any transaction
involving options or warrants in which the customer's risk is limited
and all elements of the transaction are subject to contemporaneous
exercise if:
(1) The amount at risk is held in the account in cash, cash
equivalents, or via an escrow receipt; and
(2) The transaction is eligible for the cash account by the rules
of the registered national securities exchange authorized to trade the
option or warrant or by the rules of the creditor's examining
authority in the case of an unregistered option, provided that all such
rules have been approved or amended by the SEC.
Credit balance means the cash amount due the customer in
a margin account after debiting amounts transferred to the special
memorandum account.
Creditor means any broker or dealer (as defined in
sections 3(a)(4) and 3(a)(5) of the Act), any member of a national
securities exchange, or any person associated with a broker or dealer
(as defined in section 3(a)(18) of the Act), except for business
entities controlling or under common control with the creditor.
Current market value of:
(1) A security means:
(i) Throughout the day of the purchase or sale of a security, the
security's total cost of purchase or the net proceeds of its sale
including any commissions charged; or
(ii) At any other time, the closing sale price of the security on
the preceding business day, as shown by any regularly published
reporting or quotation service. If there is no closing sale price, the
creditor may use any reasonable estimate of the market value of the
security as of the close of business on the preceding business day.
(2) Any other collateral means a value determined by any
reasonable method.
Customer excludes an exempted borrower and includes:
(1) Any person or persons acting jointly:
(i) To or for whom a creditor extends, arranges, or maintains any
credit; or
(ii) Who would be considered a customer of the creditor according
to the ordinary usage of the trade;
(2) Any partner in a firm who would be considered a customer of
the firm absent the partnership relationship; and
(3) Any joint venture in which a creditor participates and which
would be considered a customer of the creditor if the creditor were not
a participant.
Debit balance means the cash amount owed to the creditor
in a margin account after debiting amounts transferred to the special
memorandum account.
Delivery against payment, Payment against delivery, or a
C.O.D. transaction refers to an arrangement under which a creditor
and a customer agree that the creditor will deliver to, or accept from,
the customer, or the customer's agent, a security against full payment
of the purchase price.
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Equity means the total current market value of security
positions held in the margin account plus any credit balance less the
debit balance in the margin account.
Escrow agreement means any agreement issued in connection
with a call or put option under which a bank or any person designated
as a control location under paragraph (c) of SEC Rule 15c3--3 (17 CFR
240.15c3--3(c)), holding the underlying asset or required cash or cash
equivalents, is obligated to deliver to the creditor (in the case of a
call option) or accept from the creditor (in the case of a put option)
the underlying asset or required cash or cash equivalent against
payment of the exercise price upon exercise of the call or put.
Examining authority means:
(1) The national securities exchange or national securities
association of which a creditor is a member; or
(2) If a member of more than one self-regulatory organization,
the organization designated by the SEC as the examining authority for
the creditor.
Exempted borrower means a member of a national securities
exchange or a registered broker or dealer, a substantial portion of
whose business consists of transactions with persons other than brokers
or dealers, and includes a borrower who:
(1) Maintains at least 1000 active accounts on an annual basis
for persons other than brokers, dealers, and persons associated with a
broker or dealer;
(2) Earns at least $10 million in gross revenues on an annual
basis from transactions with persons other than brokers, dealers, and
persons associated with a broker or dealer; or
(3) Earns at least 10 percent of its gross revenues on an annual
basis from transactions with persons other than brokers, dealers, and
persons associated with a broker or dealer.
Exempted securities mutual fund means any security issued
by an investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.
80a-8), provided the company has at least 95 percent of its
assets continuously invested in exempted securities (as defined in
section 3(a)(12) of the Act).
Foreign margin stock means a foreign security that is an
equity security that:
(1) Appears on the Board's periodically published List of
Foreign Margin Stocks; or
(2) Is deemed to have a "ready market" under SEC Rule
15c3--1 (17 CFR 240.15c3--1) or a "no-action" position issued
thereunder.
Foreign person means a person other than a United States
person as defined in section
7(f) of the Act.
Foreign security means a security issued in a
jurisdiction other than the United States.
Good faith with respect to:
(1) Margin means the amount of margin which a creditor would
require in exercising sound credit judgment;
(2) Making a determination or accepting a statement concerning a
borrower means that the creditor is alert to the circumstances
surrounding the credit, and if in possession of information that would
cause a prudent person not to make the determination or accept the
notice or certification without inquiry, investigates and is satisfied
that it is correct.
Margin call means a demand by a creditor to a customer
for a deposit of additional cash or securities to eliminate or reduce a
margin deficiency as required under this part.
Margin deficiency means the amount by which the required
margin exceeds the equity in the margin account.
Margin equity security means a margin security that is an
equity security (as defined in section 3(a)(11) of the Act).
Margin excess means the amount by which the equity in the
margin account exceeds the required margin. When the margin excess is
represented by securities, the current value of the securities is
subject to the percentages set forth in § 220.12 (the Supplement).
Margin security means:
(1) Any security registered or having unlisted trading privileges
on a national securities exchange;
(2) After January 1, 1999, any security listed on the Nasdaq
Stock Market;
(3) Any non-equity security;
{{2-27-98 p.7660}}
(4) Any security issued by either an open-end investment company
or unit investment trust which is registered under section 8 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (15
U.S.C. 80a--8);
(5) Any foreign margin stock;
(6) Any debt security convertible into a margin security;
(7) Until January 1, 1999, any OTC margin stock; or
(8) Until January 1, 1999, any OTC security designated as
qualified for trading in the national market system under a designation
plan approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (NMS security).
Money market mutual fund means any security issued by an
investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company
Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a--8) that is considered a money market fund
under SEC Rule 2a--7 (17 CFR 270.2a--7).
Non-equity security means a security that is not an
equity security (as defined in section
3(a)(11) of the Act).
Nonexempted security means any security other than an
exempted security (as defined in section 3(a)(12) of the Act).
OTC margin stock means any equity security traded over
the counter that the Board has determined has the degree of national
investor interest, the depth and breadth of market, the availability of
information respecting the security and its issuer, and the character
and permanence of the issuer to warrant being treated like an equity
security treaded on a national securities exchange. An OTC stock is not
considered to be an OTC margin stock unless it appears on the Board's
periodically published list of OTC margin stocks.
Payment period means the number of business days in the
standard securities settlement cycle in the United States, as defined
in paragraph (a) of SEC Rule 15c6--1 (17 CFR 240.15c6--1(a)), plus two
business days.
Purpose credit means credit for the purpose of:
(1) Buying, carrying, or trading in securities; or
(2) Buying or carrying any part of an investment contract
security which shall be deemed credit for the purpose of buying or
carrying the entire security.
Short call or short put means a call option or a put
option that is issued, endorsed, or guaranteed in or for an account.
(1) A short call that is not cash-settled obligates the customer
to sell the underlying asset at the exercise price upon receipt of a
valid exercise notice or as otherwise required by the option contract.
(2) A short put that is not cash-settled obligates the customer
to purchase the underlying asset at the exercise price upon receipt of
a valid exercise notice or as otherwise required by the option
contract.
(3) A short call or a short put that is cash-settled obligates
the customer to pay the holder of an in the money long put or long call
who has, or has been deemed to have, exercised the option the cash
difference between the exercise price and the current assigned value of
the option as established by the option contract.
Underlying asset means:
(1) The security or other asset that will be delivered upon
exercise of an option; or
(2) In the case of a cash-settled option, the securities or other
assets which comprise the index or other measure from which the
option's value is derived.
[Codified to 12 C.F.R. § 220.2]
[Section 220.2 amended at 48 Fed. Reg. 34945, August 2,
1983, effective November 21, 1983 or any earlier date after June 20,
1983, at the option of the creditor; 49 Fed. Reg. 35758, September 12,
1984, effective November 13, 1984; 52 Fed. Reg. 32292, August 27, 1987;
53 Fed. Reg. 30831, August 16, 1988, effective September 15, 1988; 55
Fed. Reg. 11159, March 27, 1990, effective April 30, 1990; 59 Fed. Reg.
53567, October 25, 1994, effective November 25, 1994; 61 Fed. Reg.
20390, May 6, 1996, effective July 1, 1996; 63 Fed. Reg. 2821, January
16, 1998, effective April 1, 1998, but compliance is optional until
July 1, 1998]
{{2-27-98 p.7661}}
§ 220.3 General provisions.
(a) Records. The creditor shall maintain a record for
each account showing the full details of all transactions.
(b) Separation of accounts--(1) In general.
The requirements of one account may not be met by considering
items in any other account. If withdrawals of cash or securities are
permitted under this part, written entries shall be made when cash or
securities are used for purposes of meeting requirements in another
account.
(2) Exceptions. Notwithstanding paragraph (b)(1) of
this section:
(i) For purposes of calculating the required margin for a
security in a margin account, assets held in the good faith account
pursuant to § 220.6(e)(1)(i) or (ii) may serve in lieu of margin;
(ii) Transfers may be effected between the margin account and the
special memorandum account pursuant to §§ 220.4 and 220.5.
(c) Maintenance of credit. Except as prohibited by this
part, any credit initially extended in compliance with this part may be
maintained regardless of:
(1) Reductions in the customer's equity resulting from changes in
market prices;
(2) Any security in an account ceasing to be margin or exempted;
or
(3) Any change in the margin requirements prescribed under this
part.
(d) Guarantee of accounts. No guarantee of a customer's
account shall be given any effect for purposes of this part.
(e) Receipt of funds or securities. (1) A creditor,
acting in good faith, may accept as immediate payment:
(i) Cash or any check, draft, or order payable on presentation;
or
(ii) Any security with sight draft attached.
(2) A creditor may treat a security, check or draft as received
upon written notification from another creditor that the specified
security, check, or draft has been sent.
(3) Upon notification that a check, draft, or order has been
dishonored or when securities have not been received within a
reasonable time, the creditor shall take the action required by this
part when payment or securities are not received on time.
(4) To temporarily finance a customer's receipt of securities
pursuant to an employee benefit plan registered on SEC Form S--8 or the
withholding taxes for an employee stock award plan, a creditor may
accept, in lieu of the securities, a properly executed exercise notice,
where applicable, and instructions to the issuer to deliver the stock
to the creditor. Prior to acceptance, the creditor must verify that the
issuer will deliver the securities promptly and the customer must
designate the account into which the securities are to be deposited.
(f) Exchange of securities. (1) To enable a customer to
participate in an offer to exchange securities which is made to all
holders of an issue of securities, a creditor may submit for exchange
any securities held in a margin account, without regard to the other
provisions of this part, provided the consideration received is
deposited into the account.
(2) If a nonmargin, nonexempted security is acquired in exchange
for a margin security, its retention, withdrawal, or sale within 60
days following its acquisition shall be treated as if the security is a
margin security.
(g) Arranging for loans by others. A creditor may
arrange for the extension or maintenance of credit to or for any
customer by any person, provided the creditor does not willfully
arrange credit that violates parts 221 or 224 of this chapter.
(h) Innocent mistakes. If any failure to comply with
this part results from a mistake made in good faith in executing a
transaction or calculating the amount of margin, the creditor shall not
be deemed in violation of this part if, promptly after the discovery of
the mistake, the creditor takes appropriate corrective action.
(i) Foreign currency. (1) Freely convertible foreign
currency may be treated at its U.S. dollar equivalent, provided the
currency is marked-to-market daily.
(2) A creditor may extend credit denominated in any freely
convertible foreign currency.
{{2-27-98 p.7662}}
(j) Exempted borrowers. (1) A member of a national
securities exchange or a registered broker or dealer that has been in
existence for less than one year may meet the definition of exempted
borrower based on a six-month period.
(2) Once a member of a national securities exchange or registered
broker or dealer ceases to qualify as an exempted borrower, it shall
notify its lender of this fact before obtaining additional credit. Any
new extensions of credit to such a borrower; including rollovers,
renewals, and additional draws on existing lines of credit, are subject
to the provisions of this part.
[Codified to 12 C.F.R. § 220.3]
[Section 220.3 amended at 52 Fed. Reg. 48805, December 28, 1987,
effective January 25, 1988; 61 Fed. Reg. 20392, May 6, 1996, effective
July 1, 1996; 63 Fed. Reg. 2822, January 16, 1998, effective April 1,
1998, but compliance is optional until July 1,
1998]
§ 220.4 Margin account.
(a) Margin transactions. (1) All transactions not
specifically authorized for inclusion in another account shall be
recorded in the margin account.
(2) A creditor may establish separate margin accounts for the
same person to:
(i) Clear transactions for other creditors where the transactions
are introduced to the clearing creditor by separate creditors; or
(ii) Clear transactions through other creditors if the
transactions are cleared by separate creditors; or
(iii) Provide one or more accounts over which the creditor or a
third party investment adviser has investment discretion.
(b) Required margin--(1) Applicability. The
required margin for each long or short position in securities is set
forth in § 220.12 (the Supplement) and is subject to the following
exceptions and special provisions.
(2) Short sale against the box. A short sale
"against the box" shall be treated as a long sale for the purpose
of computing the equity and the required margin.
(3) When-issued securities. The required margin on a
net long or net short commitment in a when-issued security is the
margin that would be required if the security were an issued margin
security, plus any unrealized loss on the commitment or less any
unrealized gain.
(4) Stock used as cover. (i) When a short position
held in the account serves in lieu of the required margin for a short
put, the amount prescribed by paragraph (b)(1) of this section as the
amount to be added to the required margin in respect of short sales
shall be increased by any unrealized loss on the position.
(ii) When a security held in the account serves in lieu of the
required margin for a short call, the security shall be valued at no
greater than the exercise price of the short call.
(5) Accounts of partners. If a partner of the creditor
has a margin account with the creditor, the creditor shall disregard
the partner's financial relations with the firm (as shown in the
partner's capital and ordinary drawing accounts) in calculating the
margin or equity of the partner's margin account.
(6) Contribution to joint venture. If a margin account
is the account of a joint venture in which the creditor participates,
any interest of the creditor in the joint account in excess of the
interest which the creditor would have on the basis of its right to
share in the profits shall be treated as an extension of credit to the
joint account and shall be margined as such.
(7) Transfer of accounts. (i) A margin account that
is transferred from one creditor to another may be treated as if it had
been maintained by the transferee from the date of its origin, if the
transferee accepts, in good faith, a signed statement of the transferor
(or, if that is not practicable, of the customer), that any margin call
issued under this part has been satisfied.
(ii) A margin account that is transferred from one customer to
another as part of a transaction, not undertaken to avoid the
requirements of this part, may be treated as if it had been maintained
for the transferee from the date of its origin, if the creditor accepts
in
{{2-27-98 p.7663}}good faith and keeps with the
transferee account a signed statement of the transferor describing the
circumstances for the transfer.
(8) Sound credit judgment. In exercising sound credit
judgment to determine the margin required in good faith pursuant to
§ 220.12 (the Supplement), the creditor shall make its determination
for a specified security position without regard to the customer's
other assets or securities positions held in connection with unrelated
transactions.
(c) When additional margin is
required--(1) Computing deficiency. All transactions
on the same day shall be combined to determine whether additional
margin is required by the creditor. For the purpose of computing equity
in an account, security positions are established or eliminated and a
credit or debit created on the trade date of a security transaction.
Additional margin is required on any day when the day's transactions
create or increase a margin deficiency in the account and shall be for
the amount of the margin deficiency so created or increased.
(2) Satisfaction of deficiency. The additional
required margin may be satisfied by a transfer from the special
memorandum account or by a deposit of cash, margin securities, exempted
securities, or any combination thereof.
(3) Time limits. (i) A margin call shall be satisfied
within one payment period after the margin deficiency was created or
increased.
(ii) The payment period may be extended for one or more limited
periods upon application by the creditor to its examining authority
unless the examining authority believes that the creditor is not acting
in good faith or that the creditor has not sufficiently determined that
exceptional circumstances warrant such action. Applications shall be
filed and acted upon prior to the end of the payment period or the
expiration of any subsequent extension.
(4) Satisfaction restriction. Any transaction,
position, or deposit that is used to satisfy one requirement under this
part shall be unavailable to satisfy any other requirement.
(d) Liquidation in lieu of deposit. If any margin call
is not met in full within the required time, the creditor shall
liquidate securities sufficient to meet the margin call or to eliminate
any margin deficiency existing on the day such liquidation is required,
whichever is less. If the margin deficiency created or increased is
$1000 or less, no action need be taken by the creditor.
(e) Withdrawals of cash or securities. (1) Cash or
securities may be withdrawn from an account, except if:
(i) Additional cash or securities are required to be deposited
into the account for a transaction on the same or a previous day; or
(ii) The withdrawal, together with other transactions, deposits,
and withdrawals on the same day, would create or increase a margin
deficiency.
(2) Margin excess may be withdrawn or may be transferred to the
special memorandum account (§ 220.5) by making a single entry to that
account which will represent a debit to the margin account and a credit
to the special memorandum account.
(3) If a creditor does not receive a distribution of cash or
securities which is payable with respect to any security in a margin
account on the day it is payable and withdrawal would not be permitted
under this paragraph (e), a withdrawal transaction shall be deemed to
have occurred on the day the distribution is payable.
(f) Interest, service charges, etc. (1) Without regard
to the other provisions of this section, the creditor, in its usual
practice, may debit the following items to a margin account if they are
considered in calculating the balance of such account:
(i) Interest charged on credit maintained in the margin account;
(ii) Premiums on securities borrowed in connection with short
sales or to effect delivery;
(iii) Dividends, interest, or other distributions due on borrowed
securities;
(iv) Communication or shipping charges with respect to
transactions in the margin account; and
(v) Any other service charges which the creditor may
impose.
{{2-27-98 p.7664}}
(2) A creditor may permit interest, dividends, or other
distributions credited to a margin account to be withdrawn from the
account if:
(i) The withdrawal does not create or increase a margin
deficiency in the account; or
(ii) The current market value of any securities withdrawn does
not exceed 10 percent of the current market value of the security with
respect to which they were distributed.
[Codified to 12 C.F.R. § 220.4]
[Section 220.4 amended at 55 Fed. Reg. 11159, March 27, 1990,
effective April 30, 1990; 59 Fed. Reg. 53568, October 25, 1994,
effective November 25, 1994; 61 Fed. Reg. 20392, May 6, 1996, effective
July 1, 1996; 63 Fed. Reg. 2823, January 16, 1998, effective April 1,
1998, but compliance is optional until July 1,
1998]
§ 220.5 Special memorandum account.
(a) A special memorandum account (SMA) may be maintained in
conjunction with a margin account. A single entry amount may be used to
represent both a credit to the SMA and a debit to the margin account. A
transfer between the two accounts may be effected by an increase or
reduction in the entry. When computing the equity in a margin account,
the single entry amount shall be considered as a debit in the margin
account. A payment to the customer or on the customer's behalf or a
transfer to any of the customer's other accounts from the SMA reduces
the single entry amount.
(b) The SMA may contain the following entries:
(1) Dividend and interest payments;
(2) Cash not required by this part, including cash deposited to
meet a maintenance margin call or to meet any requirement of a
self-regulatory organization that is not imposed by this part;
(3) Proceeds of a sale of securities or cash no longer required
on any expired or liquidated security position that may be withdrawn
under § 220.4(e); and
(4) Margin excess transferred from the margin account under
§ 220.4(e)(2).
[Codified to 12 C.F.R. § 220.5]
[Section 220.5 amended at 50 Fed. Reg. 26355, June 26, 1985,
effective September 30, 1985; 55 Fed. Reg. 11159, March 27, 1990,
effective April 30, 1990; 61 Fed. Reg. 20394, May 6, 1996, effective
July 1, 1996; 63 Fed. Reg. 2824, January 16, 1998, effective April 1,
1998, but compliance is optional until July 1,
1998]
§ 220.6 Good faith account.
In a good faith account, a creditor may effect or finance customer
transactions in accordance with the following provisions:
(a) Securities entitled to good faith margin--(1)
Permissible transactions. A creditor may effect and finance
transactions involving the buying, carrying, or trading of any security
entitled to "good faith" margin as set forth in § 220.12 (the
Supplement).
(2) Required margin. The required margin is set forth
in § 220.12 (the Supplement).
(3) Satisfaction of margin. Required margin may be
satisfied by a transfer from the special memorandum account or by a
deposit of cash, securities entitled to "good faith" margin as
set forth in § 220.12 (the Supplement), any other asset that is not a
security, or any combination thereof. An asset that is not a security
shall have a margin value determined by the creditor in good faith.
(b) Arbitrage. A creditor may effect and finance for any
customer bona fide arbitrage transactions. For the purpose of this
section, the term "bona fide arbitrage" means:
{{2-27-98 p.7665}}
(1) A purchase or sale of a security in one market together with
an offsetting sale or purchase of the same security in a different
market at as nearly the same time as practicable for the purpose of
taking advantage of a difference in prices in the two markets; or
(2) A purchase of a security which is, without restriction other
than the payment of money, exchangeable or convertible within 90
calendar days of the purchase into a second security together with an
offsetting sale of the second security at or about the same time, for
the purpose of taking advantage of a concurrent disparity in the prices
of the two securities.
(c) "Prime broker" transactions. A creditor may
effect transactions for a customer as part of a "prime broker"
arrangement in conformity with SEC guidelines.
(d) Credit to ESOPs. A creditor may extend and maintain
credit to employee stock ownership plans without regard to the other
provisions of this part.
(e) Nonpurpose credit. (1) A creditor may:
(i) Effect and carry transactions in commodities;
(ii) Effect and carry transactions in foreign exchange;
(iii) Extend and maintain secured or unsecured nonpurpose credit,
subject to the requirements of paragraph (e)(2) of this section.
(2) Every extension of credit, except as provided in paragraphs
(e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii) of this section, shall be deemed to be purpose
credit unless, prior to extending the credit, the creditor accepts in
good faith from the customer a written statement that it is not purpose
credit. The statement shall conform to the requirements established by
the Board.
[Codified to 12 C.F.R. § 220.6]
[Section 220.6 amended at 61 Fed. Reg. 20394, May 6, 1996,
effective July 1, 1996; 63 Fed. Reg. 2824, January 16, 1998, effective
April 1, 1998, but compliance is optional until July 1,
1998]
§ 220.7 Broker-dealer credit account.
(a) Requirements. In a broker-dealer credit account, a
creditor may effect or finance transactions in accordance with the
following provisions.
(b) Purchase or sale of security against full payment. A
creditor may purchase any security from or sell any security to another
creditor or person regulated by a foreign securities authority under a
good faith agreement to promptly deliver the security against full
payment of the purchase price.
(c) Joint back office. A creditor may effect or finance
transactions of any of its owners if the creditor is a clearing and
servicing broker or dealer owned jointly or individually by other
creditors.
(d) Capital contribution. A creditor may extend and
maintain credit to any partner or stockholder of the creditor for the
purpose of making a capital contribution to, or purchasing stock of,
the creditor, affiliated corporation or another creditor.
(e) Emergency and subordinated credit. A creditor may
extend and maintain, with the approval of the appropriate examining
authority:
(1) Credit to meet the emergency needs of any creditor; or
(2) Subordinated credit to another creditor for capital purposes,
if the other creditor:
(i) Is an affiliated corporation or would not be considered a
customer of the lender apart from the subordinated loan; or
(ii) Will not use the proceeds of the loan to increase the amount
of dealing in securities for the account of the creditor, its firm or
corporation or an affiliated corporation.
(f) Omnibus credit. (1) A creditor may effect and
finance transactions for a broker or dealer who is registered with the
SEC under section 15 of the Act and who gives the creditor written
notice that:
(i) All securities will be for the account of customers of the
broker or dealer; and
(ii) Any short sales effected will be short sales made on behalf
of the customers of the broker or dealer other than
partners.
{{2-27-98 p.7666}}
(2) The written notice required by paragraph (f)(1) of this
section shall conform to any SEC rule on the hypothecation of
customers' securities by brokers or dealers.
(g) Special purpose credit. A creditor may extend the
following types of credit with good faith margin:
(1) Credit to finance the purchase or sale of securities for
prompt delivery, if the credit is to be repaid upon completion of the
transaction.
(2) Credit to finance securities in transit or surrendered for
transfer, if the credit is to be repaid upon completion of the
transaction.
(3) Credit to enable a broker or dealer to pay for securities, if
the credit is to be repaid on the same day it is extended.
(4) Credit to an exempted borrower.
(5) Credit to a member of a national securities exchange or
registered broker or dealer to finance its activities as a market maker
or specialist.
(6) Credit to a member of a national securities exchange or
registered broker or dealer to finance its activities as an
underwriter.
[Codified to 12 C.F.R. § 220.7]
[Section 220.7 amended at 61 Fed. Reg. 20394, May 6, 1996,
effective July 1, 1996; 63 Fed. Reg. 2824, January 16, 1998, effective
April 1, 1998, but compliance is optional until July 1,
1998]
§ 220.8 Cash account.
(a) Permissible transactions. In a cash account, a
creditor, may:
(1) Buy for or sell to any customer any security or other asset
if:
(i) There are sufficient funds in the account; or
(ii) The creditor accepts in good faith the customer's agreement
that the customer will promptly make full cash payment for the security
or asset before selling it and does not contemplate selling it prior to
making such payment;
(2) Buy from or sell for any customer any security or other asset
if:
(i) The security is held in the account; or
(ii) The creditor accepts in good faith the customer's statement
that the security is owned by the customer or the customer's principal,
and that it will be promptly deposited in the account;
(3) Issue, endorse, or guarantee, or sell an option for any
customer as part of a covered option transaction; and
(4) Use an escrow agreement in lieu of the cash, cash equivalents
or underlying asset position if:
(i) In the case of a short call or a short put, the creditor is
advised by the customer that the required securities, assets or cash
are held by a person authorized to issue an escrow agreement and the
creditor independently verifies that the appropriate escrow agreement
will be delivered by the person promptly; or
(ii) In the case of a call issued, endorsed, guaranteed, or sold
on the same day the underlying asset is purchased in the account and
the underlying asset is to be delivered to a person authorized to issue
an escrow agreement, the creditor verifies that the appropriate escrow
agreement will be delivered by the person promptly.
(b) Time periods for payment; cancellation or
liquidation. (1) Full cash payment. A creditor shall
obtain full cash payment for customer purchases:
(i) Within one payment period of the date:
(A) Any nonexempted security was purchased;
(B) Any when-issued security was made available by the issuer for
delivery to purchasers;
(C) Any "when distributed" security was distributed under a
published plan;
{{2-27-98 p.7667}}
(D) A security owned by the customer has matured or has been
redeemed and a new refunding security of the same issuer has been
purchased by the customer, provided:
(1) The customer purchased the new security no
more than 35 calendar days prior to the date of maturity or redemption
of the old security;
(2) The customer is entitled to the proceeds of
the redemption; and
(3) The delayed payment does not exceed 103
percent of the proceeds of the old security.
(ii) In the case of the purchase of a foreign security, within
one payment period of the trade date or within one day after the date
on which settlement is required to occur by the rules of the foreign
securities market, provided this period does not exceed the maximum
time permitted by this part for delivery against payment transactions.
(2) Delivery against payment. If a creditor purchases
for or sells to a customer a security in a delivery against payment
transaction, the creditor shall have up to 35 calendar days to obtain
payment if delivery of the security is delayed due to the mechanics of
the transaction and is not related to the customer's willingness or
ability to pay.
(3) Shipment of securities, extension. If any shipment
of securities is incidental to consummation of a transaction, a
creditor may extend the payment period by the number of days required
for shipment, but not by more than one additional payment period.
(4) Cancellation; liquidation; minimum amount. A
creditor shall promptly cancel or otherwise liquidate a transaction or
any part of a transaction for which the customer has not made full cash
payment within the required time. A creditor may, at its option,
disregard any sum due from the customer not exceeding $1000.
(c) 90 day freeze. (1) If a nonexempted security in the
account is sold or delivered to another broker or dealer without having
been previously paid for in full by the customer, the privilege of
delaying payment beyond the trade date shall be withdrawn for 90
calendar days following the date of sale of the security. Cancellation
of the transaction other than to correct an error shall constitute a
sale.
(2) The 90 day freeze shall not apply if:
(i) Within the period specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this
section, full payment is received or any check or draft in payment has
cleared and the proceeds from the sale are not withdrawn prior to such
payment or check clearance; or
(ii) The purchased security was delivered to another broker or
dealer for deposit in a cash account which holds sufficient funds to
pay for the security. The creditor may rely on a written statement
accepted in good faith from the other broker or dealer that sufficient
funds are held in the other cash account.
(d) Extension of time periods; transfers. (1) Unless
the creditor's examining authority believes that the creditor is not
acting in good faith or that the creditor has not sufficiently
determined that exceptional circumstances warrant such action, it may
upon application by the creditor:
(i) Extend any period specified in paragraph (b) of this section;
(ii) Authorize transfer to another account of any transaction
involving the purchase of a margin or exempted security; or
(iii) Grant a waiver from the 90 day freeze.
(2) Applications shall be filed and acted upon prior to the end
of the payment period, or in the case of the purchase of a foreign
security within the period specified in paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this
section, or the expiration of any subsequent extension.
[Codified to 12 C.F.R. § 220.8]
[Section 220.8 amended at 55 Fed. Reg. 11160, March 27,
1990, effective April 30, 1990; 59 Fed. Reg. 53568, October 25, 1994,
effective November 25, 1994; 61 Fed. Reg. 20394, May 6, 1996, effective
July 1, 1996; 63 Fed. Reg. 2825, January 16, 1998, effective April 1,
1998, but compliance is optional until July 1, 1998]
{{2-27-98 p.7668}}
§ 220.9 Clearance of securities, options, and futures.
(a) Credit for clearance of securities. The provisions
of this part shall not apply to the extension or maintenance of any
credit that is not for more than one day if it is incidental to the
clearance of transactions in securities directly between members of a
national securities exchange or association or through any clearing
agency registered with the SEC.
(b) Deposit of securities with a clearing agency. The
provisions of this part shall not apply to the deposit of securities
with an option or futures clearing agency for the purpose of meeting
the deposit requirements of the agency if:
(1) The clearing agency:
(i) Issues, guarantees performance on, or clears transactions in,
any security (including options on any security, certificate of
deposit, securities index or foreign currency); or
(ii) Guarantees performance of contracts for the purchase or sale
of a commodity for future delivery or options on such contracts;
(2) The clearing agency is registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission or is the clearing agency for a contract market
regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and
(3) The deposit consists of any margin security and complies with
the rules of the clearing agency that have been approved by the
Securities and Exchange Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission.
[Codified to 12 C.F.R. § 220.9]
[Section 220.9 amended at 50 Fed. Reg. 26356, June 26, 1985,
effective July 22, 1985; 61 Fed. Reg. 20395, May 6, 1996, effective
July 1, 1996; 63 Fed. Reg. 2826, January 16, 1998, effective April 1,
1998, but compliance is optional until July 1,
1998]
§ 220.10 Borrowing and lending securities.
(a) Without regard to the other provisions of this part, a creditor
may borrow or lend securities for the purpose of making delivery of the
securities in the case of short sales, failure to receive securities
required to be delivered, or other similar situations. If a creditor
reasonably anticipates a short sale or fail transaction, such borrowing
may be made up to one standard settlement cycle in advance of trade
date.
(b) A creditor may lend foreign securities to a foreign person (or
borrow such securities for the purpose of relending them to a foreign
person) for any purpose lawful in the country in which they are to be
used.
(c) A creditor that is an exempted borrower may lend securities
without regard to the other provisions of this part and a creditor may
borrow securities from an exempted borrower without regard to the other
provisions of this part.
[Codified to 12 C.F.R. § 220.10]
[Section 220.10 amended at 61 Fed. Reg. 20395, effective July 1,
1996; 63 Fed. Reg. 2826, January 16, 1998, effective April 1, 1998, but
compliance is optional until July 1,
1998]
§ 220.11 Requirements for the list of marginable OTC stocks and
the list of foreign margin stocks.
(a) Requirements for inclusion on the list of marginable OTC
stocks. Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, OTC
margin stock shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Four or more dealers stand willing to, and do in fact, make a
market in such stock and regularly submit bona fide bids and offers to
an automated quotations system for their own accounts;
(2) The minimum average bid price of such stock, as determined by
the Board, is at least $5 per share;
(3) The stock is registered under
section 12 of the Act, is issued by an insurance company
subject to section 12(g)(2)(G) of the Act, is issued by a closed-end
investment
{{2-27-98 p.7669}}management company subject to
registration pursuant to section 8 of the Investment Company Act of
1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a--8), is an
American Depository Receipt (ADR) of a foreign issuer whose securities
are registered under section 12 of the Act, or is a stock of an issuer
required to file reports under section
15(d) of the Act;
(4) Daily quotations for both bid and asked prices for the stock
are continuously available to the general public;
(5) The stock has been publicly traded for at least six months;
(6) The issuer has at least $4 million of capital, surplus, and
undivided profits;
(7) There are 400,000 or more shares of such stock outstanding in
addition to shares held beneficially by officers, directors or
beneficial owners of more than 10 percent of the stock;
(8) There are 1,200 or more holders of record, as defined in SEC
Rule 12g5--1 (17 CFR 240.12g5--1), of the stock who are not officers,
directors or beneficial owners of 10 percent or more of the stock, or
the average daily trading volume of such stock as determined by the
Board, is at least 500 shares; and
(9) The issuer or a predecessor in interest has been in existence
for at least three years.
(b) Requirements for continued inclusion on the list of
marginable OTC stocks. Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this
section, OTC margin stock shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Three or more dealers stand willing to, and do in fact, make
a market in such stock and regularly submit bona fide bids and offers
to an automated quotations system for their own accounts;
(2) The minimum average bid price of such stocks, as determined
by the Board, is at least $2 per share;
(3) The stock is registered as specified in paragraph (a)(3) of
this section;
(4) Daily quotations for both bid and asked prices for the stock
are continuously available to the general public;
(5) The issuer has at least $1 million of capital, surplus, and
undivided profits;
(6) There are 300,000 or more shares of such stock outstanding in
addition to shares held beneficially by officers, directors, or
beneficial owners of more than 10 percent of the stock; and
(7) There continue to be 800 or more holders of record, as
defined in SEC Rule 12g5--1 (17 CFR 240.12g5--1), of the stock who are
not officers, directors, or beneficial owners of 10 percent or more of
the stock, or the average daily trading volume of such stock, as
determined by the Board, is at least 300 shares.
(c) Requirements for inclusion on the list of foreign margin
stocks. Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, a
foreign security shall meet the following requirements before being
placed on the List of Foreign Margin Stocks:
(1) The security is an equity security that is listed for trading
on or through the facilities of a foreign securities exchange or a
recognized foreign securities market and has been trading on such
exchange or market for at least six months;
(2) Daily quotations for both bid and asked or last sale prices
for the security provided by the foreign securities exchange or foreign
securities market on which the security is traded are continuously
available to creditors in the United States pursuant to an electronic
quotation system;
(3) The aggregate market value of shares, the ownership of which
is unrestricted, is not less than $1 billion;
(4) The average weekly trading volume of such security during the
preceding six months is either at least 200,000 shares or $1 million;
and
(5) The issuer or a predecessor in interest has been in existence
for at least five years.
(d) Requirements for continued inclusion on the list of
foreign margin stocks. Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this
section, a foreign security shall meet the following requirements to
remain on the List of Foreign Margin Stocks:
{{2-27-98 p.7670}}
(1) The security continues to meet the requirements specified in
paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section;
(2) The aggregate market value of shares, the ownership of which
is unrestricted, is not less than $500 million; and
(3) The average weekly trading volume of such security during the
preceding six months is either at least 100,000 shares or $500,000.
(e) Removal from the list. The Board shall periodically
remove from the lists any stock that:
(1) Ceases to exist or of which the issuer ceases to exist; or
(2) No longer substantially meets the provisions of paragraph (b)
or (d) of this section or the definition of OTC margin stock.
(f) Discretionary authority of Board. Without regard to
other paragraphs of this section, the Board may add to, or omit or
remove from the list of marginable OTC stocks and the list of foreign
margin stocks and equity security, if in the judgment of the Board,
such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest.
(g) Unlawful representations. It shall be unlawful for
any creditor to make, or cause to be made, any representation to the
effect that the inclusion of a security on the list of marginable OTC
stocks or the list of foreign margin stocks is evidence that the Board
or the SEC has in any way passed upon the merits of, or given approval
to, such security or any transactions therein. Any statement in an
advertisement or other similar communication containing a reference to
the Board in connection with the lists or stocks on those lists shall
be an unlawful representation.
[Codified to 12 C.F.R. § 220.11]
[Section 220.11 amended at 61 Fed. Reg. 20395, May 6, 1996,
effective July 1, 1996; 63 Fed. Reg. 2826, January 16, 1998, effective
April 1, 1998, but compliance is optional until July 1,
1998]
§ 220.12 Supplement: Margin requirements.
The required margin for each security position held in a margin
account shall be as follows:
(a) Margin equity security, except for an exempted security, money
market mutual fund or exempted securities mutual fund, warrant on a
securities index or foreign currency or a long position in an option:
50 percent of the current market value of the security or the
percentage set by the regulatory authority where the trade occurs,
whichever is greater.
(b) Exempted security, non-equity security, money market mutual
fund or exempted securities mutual fund: The margin required by the
creditor in good faith or the percentage set by the regulatory
authority where the trade occurs, whichever is greater.
(c) Short sale of a nonexempted security, except for a non-equity
security:
(1) 150 percent of the current market value of the security; or
(2) 100 percent of the current market value if a security
exchangeable or convertible within 90 calendar days without restriction
other than the payment of money into the security sold short is held in
the account, provided that any long call to be used as margin in
connection with a short sale of the underlying security is an
American-style option issued by a registered clearing corporation and
listed or traded on a registered national securities exchange with an
exercise price that does not exceed the price at which the underlying
security was sold short.
(d) Short sale of an exempted security or non-equity security: 100
percent of the current market value of the security plus the margin
required by the creditor in good faith.
(e) Nonmargin, nonexempted equity security: 100 percent of the
current market value.
(f) Put or call on a security, certificate of deposit, securities
index or foreign currency or a warrant on a securities index or foreign
currency:
(1) In the case of puts and calls issued by a registered clearing
corporation and listed or traded on a registered national securities
exchange or a registered securities association and registered warrants
on a securities index or foreign currency, the amount, or
other
{{12-31-07 p.7671}}position specified by the rules of
the registered national securities exchange or the registered
securities association authorized to trade the option or warrant,
provided that all such rules have been approved or amended by the SEC;
or
(2) In the case of all other puts and calls, the amount, or other
position, specified by the maintenance rules of the creditor's
examining authority.
[Codified to 12 C.F.R. § 220.12]
[Section 220.12 amended at 48 Fed. Reg. 26590, June 9, 1983; 61
Fed. Reg. 20395, May 6, 1996, effective July 1, 1996; 63 Fed. Reg.
2827, January 16, 1998, effective April 1, 1998, but compliance is
optional until July 1, 1998]
§ 220.132 Credit to brokers and dealers.
For text of this interpretation, see § 221.125 of this subchapter.
[Codified to 12 C.F.R. § 220.132]
[Section 220.132 added at 61 Fed. Reg. 60167, November 26,
1996, effective November, 19, 1996; amended at 72 Fed. Reg. 70486
December 12, 2007]
{{12-31-07 p.7672}}
{{2-28-90 p.7673}}
{{2-28-90 p.7674}}
Form T-4 -- Statement of Purpose for an Extension of Credit by a Creditor (pdf)
(21Kb, PDF file - PDF help or hard copy)
{{2-28-90 p.7675}}
[The page following this is 7759.]
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