Alert:
For more information on the cybersecurity incident, please visit the cybersecurity incident page.
IIROC is republishing for comment previously published proposed amendments to the IIROC Rules to modernize and simplify our derivatives-related requirements (the Initial publication).1
We have made revisions to the proposed amendments set out in the Initial publication (the Revised Proposed Amendments) which are designed to:
The objectives and considerations of these proposed amendments are outlined in the Initial publication. We have aligned the proposals in the Revised Proposed Amendments with these objectives and considerations.
How to Submit Comments
Comments on the proposed amendments should be in writing and delivered by June 13, 2022 (60 days from the publication date of this notice) to:
Member Regulation Policy
Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada
Suite 2000, 121 King Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 3T9
Email: memberpolicymailbox@iiroc.ca
Comments should also be delivered to:
Market Regulation
Ontario Securities Commission
Suite 1903, Box 55
20 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5H 3S8
Email: marketregulation@osc.gov.on.ca
Commentators should be aware that a copy of their comment letter will be made publicly available on the IIROC website at www.iiroc.ca. A summary of the comments contained in each submission will also be included in a future IIROC Notice.
We published the Initial publication for comment on November 21, 2019 by way of Rules Notice 19-0200. The Initial publication sets out IIROC’s objectives arising from the Derivatives Rule Modernization project, which primarily aims to establish a harmonized framework for securities and derivatives, whether listed or traded over-the-counter (OTC). Given the extent and the nature of the amendments under this project, the approach adopted was to publish proposed amendments for public comment in two separate stages as follows:
The proposed amendments set out under the Initial publication focused on Stage 1 of the project.
We received six comment letters following the Initial publication. A summary of the comments received and our response to these comments is included as Attachment D.
When we published the Initial publication, the proposed amendments were set out using the version of the IIROC Rules which was published in August 2019. Several rule amendment projects have since been approved and implemented, such as amendments relating to transaction reporting, cybersecurity incident reporting, continuing education, client-focused reforms and bulk account movement exemptions. In October 2021, an updated plain language version of the IIROC Rules incorporating all these amendments was published and implemented on December 31, 2021.
In light of the updates to the IIROC Rules since the Initial publication and having considered the comments received, we are republishing for comment the Derivatives Rule Modernization, Stage 1 proposed amendments3 together with the revisions set out in the present Notice.
Currently the term “security” is not defined in the IIROC Rules. Any term not defined in the IIROC Rules or other IIROC requirements, will have the same meaning as provided for under securities laws where defined.4
One of the primary objectives of IIROC’s Derivatives Rule Modernization project is to more clearly specify which of the core regulatory obligations apply to securities, listed derivatives and OTC derivatives. Since certain requirements, current and proposed, are different for securities and derivatives, we believe the main definition section of the IIROC Rules5 should distinguish at the outset securities from derivatives.
To achieve this result, we are proposing that IIROC introduce the following definition of “security” in IIROC Rule subsection 1201(2):
| Proposed term | Proposed definition |
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| security | A security as defined within the relevant securities law other than a derivative. |
As a result of this revision, the definitions of the term “security” which we proposed to introduce in specific IIROC Rules in the Initial publication have been removed.6
We believe this approach will provide added clarity to the application of the IIROC Rules as it clearly excludes a derivative from the definition of security and it is also consistent with the proposed amendments IIROC published in October 2020, with respect to the establishment of an appropriate framework for the regulation of listed derivatives trading on a marketplace.7
In the Initial publication, we proposed to adopt a broader-scope general definition approach for IIROC’s derivatives-related definitions, namely “derivative”, “listed derivative” and “over-the-counter derivative”. We believe these definitions as proposed are harmonized with the definitions set out in provincial securities, derivatives and commodity futures legislation.
We have not made further changes to these definitions proposed under IIROC Rule subsection 1201(2), except for a minor modification to the definition of the term “derivative” as follows:
| Proposed term | Proposed definition |
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| derivative | An option, swap, futures contract, forward contract, futures contract option, contract for difference or any other financial or commodity contract or instrument whose market price, value, delivery obligations, payment obligations or settlement obligations are derived from, referenced to or based on an underlying interest, including a value, price, rate, variable, index, event, probability or thing. |
Given a futures contract option shares features of a futures contract and that of an option and that as a result, the IIROC Rules make distinct references to futures contract options, we are proposing to add the term “futures contract option” in the definition of “derivative”. This change is intended to align the definition of derivative with the treatment given to futures contract options throughtout the IIROC Rules. For example, when a requirement set out in the IIROC Rules differentiates between a futures contract and an option, depending on the feature being addressed, the rules make a distinct reference to a futures contract option.8
In light of the objective to clearly specify requirements that apply to securities and derivatives respectively and having distinct references to these asset classes, in the Initial publication we had proposed changes to the definition of the term “securities related business” and renamed it to “agent related activities”.
We have considered the comments received on the potential confusion this change could cause, and as a result we are proposing to revise the proposed amendment to the defined term by renaming it to “securities and derivatives related business”.
To reduce the gap between the definitions used to identify sophisticated clients and to conform as much as possible the definitions used to assess client sophistication for all securities and derivatives business lines, we proposed in the Initial publication changes to the “institutional client” definition. These changes proposed that IIROC:
Other than the minor rule changes outlined in the following table, we are proposing to maintain this approach:
| Proposed term | Initial publication definition | Revision to proposed definition |
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| institutional client |
| A person who is:
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| hedger | A non-individual that: (i) is exposed to one or more risks as a necessary part of its activities, (ii) seeks to hedge each risk by engaging in a securities or derivatives transactions where: (a) the underlying interest for the transactions is the same as or materially related to the underlying interest for the risk, (b) the intended effect of the transactions is to: (I) eliminate or reduce the risk related to fluctuations in the market value of the underlying interest or position being hedged, or (II) substitute the risk associated with one currency for the risk associated with another currency, provided the aggregate amount of currency risk to which the hedger is exposed is not increased by the substitution, (c) the positions resulting from the transactions have a high degree of negative correlation with the underlying interest or position being hedged, and (d) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the market value changes in the positions resulting from the transactions will completely or materially offset market value changes in the underlying interest or position being hedged. | A non-individual that : (i) is exposed to one or more risks as a necessary part of its activities, (ii) seeks to hedge each risk by engaging in (a) the underlying interest for the transactions is the same as or materially related to the underlying interest for the risk, (b) the intended effect of the transactions is to: (I) eliminate or reduce the risk related to fluctuations in the market value of the underlying interest or position being hedged, or (II) substitute the risk associated with one currency for the risk associated with another currency, provided the aggregate amount of currency risk to which the hedger is exposed is not increased by the substitution, and
( |
We are proposing changes to the defined term “hedger”:
The proposed guidance note found in Appendix 1 presents our views on how the “hedger” definition should be applied and interpreted and further outlines our expectations and the requirements applicable to all Dealer Members when classifying a hedger as an “institutional client”.
Accordingly, we are proposing a new amendment to IIROC Rule section 3804(2), on the general requirements to maintain records, by adding a “record” type relating to the assessment of a Dealer Member into the qualification of a client as a “hedger” and as an “institutional client”. This proposed amendment aims to clarify the expectation that a Dealer Member must take adequate steps to ensure a client qualifies as a “hedger” and as an “institutional client”, and maintain appropriate records.
The IIROC Rules require that Dealer Members establish and maintain a business continuity plan that identifies the procedures Dealer Members will take to deal with a significant business disruption.10
In the Initial publication, we proposed new IIROC Rule sections 4710 and 4716 in order to:
After considering the comments received for these proposed amendments and to reinforce on the principal-based approach of the IIROC Rules, we are proposing to remove the proposed requirement mandating a Dealer Member to invoke its business continuity plan when a significant business disruption occurs.
Instead, the revised proposed amendment only requires that a Dealer Member notifies IIROC when it encounters a significant business disruption situation and when it invokes its business continuity plan, regardless of the nature of the trigerring event.
As part of the Initial publication, we proposed to extend the current IIROC Rules derivatives-specific business conduct requirements to apply to all derivatives transactions, positions and accounts. To achieve this result, we proposed amendments to the following parts of the IIROC Rules:
Among the requirements included under these parts, we proposed to extend the requirement to establish a risk limit (i.e. cumulative loss limit) to all types of derivatives account offering other than a hedging account.
After considering the comments received for this proposed amendments, we are proposing changes to :
The amendments we proposed in the Initial publication to revamp the consolidated derivatives risk disclosure statement12 are twofold:
After considering the comments received, we are proposing changes to the risk disclosure statement by adding disclosures on common risks relating to derivatives and specific to trading OTC derivatives. We believe these additional disclosures will complement IIROC’s consolidated derivatives risk disclosure statement by addressing the most common risks related to trading for all types of derivatives. The revised content of the Derivatives risk disclosure statement is set out under Appendix 2.
Regarding the requirement on the percentage of accounts that were profitable for clients, we are proposing changes to clarify that the disclosure must be provided to a retail client together with the risk disclosure statement when opening an order execution only account to trade OTC derivatives. We believe this disclosure will help persons:
to have a better awareness of the risk involved when trading OTC derivatives in an order execution only account.
The IIROC Rules require Dealer Members to issue trade confirmations and month-end statements to clients.15 For institutional clients trading under a give-up agreement, these services are generally provided by the Dealer Member acting as a clearing broker under the arrangement. Dealer Members acting as executing brokers under such arrangements, have therefore applied to IIROC in the past to be exempted from the requirement to issue trade confirmations and month-end statement.
Given the comments received and the fact that these arrangements are common with derivatives trading, we are proposing to codify this exemption in the IIROC Rules. To achieve this result, we are proposing to introduce a new subsection under IIROC Rule section 3808 and IIROC Rule section 3816 exempting an executing Dealer Member from the requirement to issue trade confirmations and month-end statements to institutional clients trading under a give-up agreement. These exemptions will be subject to the same conditions under which the reliefs were previously granted and will be embedded in the IIROC Rules as well.
IIROC expects that all account positions16 (not just security positions) must be considered when calculating and disclosing annual account compensation and performance information.17 Given the short-term trading focus of some derivatives and that monthly/quarterly information on the performance of positions is more relevant to retail clients, certain Dealer Members offering contracts for difference, foreign exchange contracts and futures contracts to retail clients have applied to IIROC in the past to be exempted from the requirement to issue the annual performance and fee/charge reports.18 The IIROC Board granted the exemptions provided Dealer Members sent client more meaningful information as part of the monthly or quarterly account statement, described as the “enhanced account statement disclosures” in the Initial publication.
We are proposing to codify this exemption in the IIROC Rules for all retail client accounts offering futures contracts, forward contracts, contracts for difference, foreign exchange contracts or similar derivatives contracts with short-term trading focus. We are also proposing to set out “enhanced account statement disclosures” which the Dealer Member must send to those clients on a monthly or quarterly basis as an alternative.
To achieve this result, we are proposing to introduce IIROC Rule subsection 3810(9) in relation to the annual performance report, and subsections 3811(7) and 3811(8) in relation to the fee/charge report.
We have proposed several minor rule changes in the Revised Proposed Amendment. Most of these changes aim to reproduce the proposed amendments set out in the Initial publication using the updated version of IIROC Rules which was implemented on December 31, 2021. They consist of the following:
In a few instances, we have proposed new minor amendments as follows:
As indicated, the Revised Proposed Amendments remain consistent with the objectives and considerations described in the Initial publication. The revisions proposed will have the same effects as described in the Initial publication.23 The revisions proposed do not change the detailed assessment of impact prepared for the Derivatives Rule Modernization, Stage 1 amendments and included in the Initial publication.24
In developing the Revised Proposed Amendments, we have considered the comments we received on the Initial publication. We believe the changes address a number of the suggestions received and alleviate some of the potential negative impacts by:
While some of the proposed amendments will introduce incremental costs of compliance to Dealer Members, the proposed amendments will establish relatively consistent regulatory requirements across all of the securities and derivatives related business lines, which would avoid significant cost of compliance increases that would otherwise occur if requirements are materially different.
Overall we continue to believe that the proposed Derivatives Rule Modernization, Stage 1 amendments impose costs and restrictions on the activities of market participants that are proportionate to the goals of the regulatory objectives sought to be realized.
Subject to the process described in the next section, we intend to implement the Revised Proposed Amendments upon approval by the Canadian Securities Administrators within a one year period.
At such time, we will identify proposed amendments which may become effective at a later date, where we determine Dealer Members will need more time to implement the changes.
The Board determined the proposed amendments are not contrary to the public interest and on September 25, 2019 approved them for publication for public comment and approved this republication on March 23, 2022.
Following comments received on the Initial publication we have proposed some changes and updated the proposed amendments to account for changes implemented in the IIROC Rules since the Initial publication.
We classified the revisions to the proposed amendments as a public comment rule proposal due to the substantive nature of the project and some of the revisions proposed, and their importance in achieving the goal of ensuring consistent and materially harmonized regulatory standards across each of the securities and derivatives related business lines.
After considering:
we may recommend futher changes to the proposed amendments. If the revisions and comments received are not of a material nature, the Board has authorized the President to approve the revisions on behalf of IIROC and the proposed amendments as revised will be subject to approval by the Canadian Securities Administrators. If the revisions or comments are material, we will submit the proposed amendments including any revisions to the Board for approval for republication or implementation as applicable.
Appendix 1 - Applying and interpreting the definitions of “hedger” and “institutional client”
Appendix 2 - Derivatives Risk Disclosure Statement
Attachment A - Revised Proposed Amendments to the IIROC Rules (Clean)
Attachment B - Revised Proposed Amendments to the IIROC Rules (Blackline) - comparison of the Revised Proposed Amendments to the current version of the IIROC Rules
Attachment C - Revised Proposed Amendments to the IIROC Rules (Blackline) - comparison of the Revised Proposed Amendments to the Initial publication for comment (Notice 19-0200)
Attachment D - Summary of public comments received on the Initial publication and IIROC staff responses
Attachment A - Revised Proposed Amendments to the IIROC Rules (Clean)
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RULE 1200 | DEFINITIONS
1201. Definitions
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(2) The following terms have the meanings set out when used in the IIROC requirements:
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| “acceptable institution” | The same meaning as set out in Form 1, General Notes and Definitions. |
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| “acceptable securities location” | The same meaning as set out in Form 1, General Notes and Definitions. |
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| “carrying broker” | A Dealer Member that carries client accounts for another Dealer Member, which includes the clearing and settlement of trades, the maintenance of records of client transactions and accounts, and the custody of client cash, securities and precious metals bullion, in accordance with the requirements set out in Rule 2400. |
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| “derivative” | An option, swap, futures contract, forward contract, futures contract option, contract for difference or any other financial or commodity contract or instrument whose market price, value, delivery obligations, payment obligations or settlement obligations are derived from, referenced to or based on an underlying interest, including a value, price, rate, variable, index, event, probability or thing. |
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| “designated Supervisor” | A Supervisor that the Dealer Member makes responsible for a supervisory role defined in the IIROC requirements, including a Supervisor responsible for:
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| “direct electronic access account” | An account which is not subject to suitability determination (other than as required by clauses 3402(3)(i) and 3403(4)(i)) where:
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| “hedger” | A non-individual that: (i) is exposed to one or more risks as a necessary part of its business activities, (ii) seeks to hedge each risk by engaging in derivatives transactions where: (a) the underlying interest for the transactions is the same as or materially related to the underlying interest for the risk, (b) the intended effect of the transactions is to: (I) eliminate or reduce the risk related to fluctuations in the market value of the underlying interest or position being hedged, or (II) substitute the risk associated with one currency for the risk associated with another currency, provided the aggregate amount of currency risk to which the hedger is exposed is not increased by the substitution, and (c) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the market value changes in the positions resulting from the transactions will completely or materially offset market value changes in the underlying interest or position being hedged. |
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| “institutional client” | A person who is:
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| “Investment Representative” | An individual, approved by IIROC, to trade in, but not advise on, securities or derivatives, on the Dealer Member’s behalf, including where that individual deals only in mutual funds. |
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| “listed derivative” | A derivative that is traded on a marketplace pursuant to standardized terms and conditions set out by that marketplace and whose trades are cleared and settled by a clearing agency. |
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| “manipulative and deceptive activities” | Any manipulative or deceptive methods, act or practice in connection with any order or trade on a marketplace, and includes the entry of an order or the execution of a trade that would create or could reasonably be expected to create:
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| “market value” | (i) For the purposes of the monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting for securities, derivatives and precious metals bullion: (a) quoted on an active market, the published price quotation using: (I) for listed securities, the last bid price of a long security and, correspondingly, the last ask price of a short security, as shown on a consolidated pricing list or marketplace quotation sheet as of the close of business on the relevant date or last trading date prior to the relevant date, as the case may be, (II) for unlisted investment funds, the net asset value provided by the manager of the fund on the relevant date, (III) for all other unlisted securities (including unlisted debt securities) and precious metals bullion, a value determined as reasonable from published market reports or inter-dealer quotation sheets on the relevant date or last trading day prior to the relevant date, or, in the case of debt securities, based on a reasonable yield rate, (IV) for money market fixed date repurchases (no borrower call feature), the price determined by applying the current yield for the security to the term of maturity from the repurchase date. This will permit calculation of any profit or loss based on the market conditions at the reporting date, (V) for money market open repurchases (no borrower call feature), the price determined as of the reporting date or the date the commitment first becomes open, whichever is the later. The value is to be determined as in paragraph (i)(a)(IV) of this definition and the commitment price is to be determined in the same manner using the yield stated in the repurchase commitment, and (VI) for money market repurchases with borrower call features, the borrower call price, (VII) for listed derivatives, the market value or settlement price on the relevant date or last trading day prior to the relevant date, (VIII) for over-the-counter derivatives, a value determined as reasonable by considering: (A) the market value or settlement price of the equivalent listed derivative, if available; and (B) values from published market reports or inter-dealer quotation sheets on the relevant date or last trading day prior to the relevant date, and after making any adjustments considered by the Dealer Member to be necessary to accurately reflect the market value, (b) where a reliable price cannot be determined: (I) the value determined by using a valuation technique that includes inputs other than published price quotations that are observable for the security, derivative or precious metals bullion, either directly or indirectly, or (II) where no observable market data-related inputs are available, the value determined by using unobservable inputs and assumptions, or (III) where insufficient recent information is available or there is a wide range of possible values and cost (defined in subsection 3802(1)) represents the best value estimate within that range: (A) cost, and (B) where the market value information is being included in a client report or account statement, the Dealer Member must include the following notification or a notification that is substantially similar: “There is no active market for this [security/derivative/ precious metals bullion] so we have estimated its market value.” (c) where a value cannot be reliably determined under subclauses (i)(a) and (i)(b) of this definition: (I) no value shall be reported, and (II) where the market value information is being included in a client report or account statement, the Dealer Member must include the following notification or a notification that is substantially similar: “Market value not determinable.” (ii) For the purposes of the daily and intra-day reporting for securities, derivatives and precious metals bullion: (a) that are quoted on an active market, the value determined according to subclause (i)(a) of this definition, (b) where a reliable price cannot be determined and: (I) the position has been recently valued in accordance with the Dealer Member’s valuation policies and procedures, the last value calculated for the position, or (II) the position has not been recently valued, the value and, if applicable, disclosure determined according to subclause (i)(b) of this definition, (c) where a value cannot be reliably determined under subclauses (ii)(a) and (ii)(b) above, the value and, if applicable, disclosure determined according to subclause (i)(c) of this definition. |
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| “order execution only account” | An account which is not subject to a suitability determination (other than as required by clauses 3402(3)(i) and 3403(4)(i)) where:
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| “over-the-counter derivative” | Any derivative other than a listed derivative. |
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| “Registered Representative” | An individual, approved by IIROC, to trade, or advise on trades, in securities or derivatives with the public in Canada, on the Dealer Member’s behalf, including where that individual deals only in mutual funds or only with institutional clients. |
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| “sales literature” | Any written or electronic communication for client use which contains a recommendation relating to a security or derivative, or trading strategy, but does not include:
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| “securities laws” | Any laws about trading, distributing, advising or any other related activities in securities or derivatives in Canada enacted by the government of Canada or any province or territory in Canada and all regulations, rules, orders, judgments and other regulatory directions relating to such laws. |
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| "securities and derivatives related business" | Any business or activity (whether or not carried on for gain) engaged in, directly or indirectly, which constitutes trading or advising in securities or derivatives for the purposes of securities laws, including for greater certainty, offers and sales pursuant to exemptions under securities laws. |
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| “security” | A security as defined within the relevant securities law other than a derivative. |
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| “segregation” | A practice whereby a Dealer Member holds in trust client securities and precious metals bullion that are:
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RULE 1400 | STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
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1402. Standards of conduct
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(2) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any business conduct that:
may be conduct that contravenes one or more of the standards set forth in subsection 1402(1).
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1403. Applicability
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RULE 2200 | DEALER MEMBER ORGANIZATION
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PART A.3 - NON-SECURITIES OR NON-DERIVATIVES BUSINESS AND SHARED PREMISES
2215. Business other than securities or derivatives
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2216. Shared office premises
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PART C - NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
2245. Introduction
2246. Dealer Member’s notice of changes to IIROC
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2247. IIROC informs Dealer Member about review when necessary
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RULE 2300 | PRINCIPAL AND AGENT RELATIONSHIPS
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2302. Principal and agent relationships
2303. Written agreement between the Dealer Member and IIROC
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“Agreement between a Dealer Member and IIROC
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4. Written Disclosure of Respective Responsibilities to Clients
The Dealer Member or the agent must disclose to clients at the time of opening an account:
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2304. Written agreement between the Dealer Member and its agents
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If the Dealer Member and the agent have agreed that the agent will advise the clients directly:
the Dealer Member agrees to be responsible for ensuring that the agent has done so.
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The agent agrees to give the Dealer Member unrestricted access to the premises where the agent conducts securities and derivatives related business on the Dealer Member’s behalf.
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The Dealer Member agrees to maintain financial institution bond and insurance policies that cover the agent’s conduct relating to the securities and derivatives related business they conduct for the Dealer Member.
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RULE 2500 | DEALER MEMBER DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVES, AND APPROVAL OF INDIVIDUALS
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PART A - DEALER MEMBER DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVES
2502. General requirements for Directors
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2503. General requirements for Executives
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PART B - APPROVAL OF INDIVIDUALS
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2551. Individual approval
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2553. Approval of Registered Representatives, Investment Representatives, Portfolio Managers and Associate Portfolio Managers and their obligations
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RULE 2600 | PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS AND EXEMPTIONS FROM PROFICIENCIES
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PART A - PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS
2602. Proficiency requirements for Approved Persons and approved investors
| Registered Representative and Investment Representative |
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| Associate Portfolio Manager and Portfolio Manager |
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| Trader |
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| Supervisor – Retail or Institutional |
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| Designated Supervisor |
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| Executive and Director |
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| Approved investor |
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| Approved Person category | Courses completed before approval | Courses to be completed after approval | Experience and other requirements |
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Registered Representative and Investment Representative | |||
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OR
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Conduct and Practices Handbook Course OR
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or Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course or New Entrants Course, if previously registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in a similar capacity and dealing in options or similar derivative contracts within three years before requesting approval, and Securities Industry Essentials Examination and Series 7 Examination administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority | ||
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or Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course or New Entrants Course, if previously registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in a similar capacity and dealing in options or similar derivative contracts within three years before requesting approval, and Securities Industry Essentials Examination and Series 7 Examination administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority | ||
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Conduct and Practices Handbook Course AND
or Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course or Series 3 Examination administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (on behalf of the National Futures Association), if previously registered with the National Futures Association in a similar capacity and dealing in futures contracts, forward contracts, contracts for difference, futures contract options or similar derivative contracts within three years before requesting approval | ||
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or Canadian Investment Funds Course administered by the Investment Funds Institute of Canada or Investment Funds in Canada Course |
and
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Conduct and Practices Handbook Course and 30-day training program after completing the Canadian Securities Course or Level I or any higher level of the CFA Program. The Dealer Member must employ the applicant full-time during this program OR
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OR
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or Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course, or New Entrants Course, if previously registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in a similar capacity and dealing in options or similar derivative contracts within three years before requesting approval, and Securities Industry Essentials Examination and Series 7 Examination administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority | ||
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or Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course or New Entrants Course, if previously registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in a similar capacity and dealing in options or similar derivative contracts within three years before requesting approval, and Securities Industry Essentials Examination and Series 7 Examination administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority | ||
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or Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course or Series 3 Examination administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (on behalf of the National Futures Association), if previously registered with the National Futures Association in a similar capacity and dealing in futures contracts, forward contracts, contracts for difference, futures contract options or similar derivative contracts within three years before requesting approval | ||
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or Canadian Investment Funds Course administered by the Investment Funds Institute of Canada or Investment Funds in Canada Course |
and
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Associate Portfolio Manager and Portfolio Manager | |||
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AND Canadian Investment Manager Designation or Chartered Investment Manager Designation or CFA Level I or any higher level of the CFA Program administered by the CFA Institute AND If managing options or similar derivative contract accounts:
or Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course or New Entrants Course, if previously registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in a similar capacity and dealing in options or similar derivative contracts within three years before requesting approval, and Securities Industry Essentials Examination and Series 7 Examination administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority AND If managing futures contract, forward contract, contracts
AND Derivatives Fundamentals Course or Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course or Series 3 Examination administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (on behalf of the National Futures Association), if previously registered with the National Futures Association in a similar capacity and dealing in futures contracts, forward contracts, contracts for difference, futures contract options or similar derivative contracts within three years before requesting approval |
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AND Canadian Investment Manager Designation or Chartered Investment Manager Designation or CFA Charter administered by the CFA Institute AND If managing options or similar derivative contract accounts:
or Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course or New Entrants Course, if previously registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in a similar capacity and dealing in options within three years before requesting approval, and Securities Industry Essentials Examination and Series 7 Examination administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority AND If managing futures contract, forward contract, contracts for difference, futures contract option or similar derivative contract accounts:
AND
or Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course or Series 3 Examination administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (on behalf of the National Futures Association) if previously registered with National Futures Association in a similar capacity and dealing in futures contracts, forward contracts, contracts for difference, futures contract options or similar derivative contracts within three years before requesting approval | If Canadian Investment Manager Designation or Chartered Investment Manager Designation is completed:
or If CFA Charter is completed, at least one year of relevant investment management experience within the three years before requesting approval acceptable to IIROC | |
Trader | |||
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Supervisor – Retail or Institutional | |||
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AND
or CFA Level I or any higher level of the CFA Program administered by the CFA Institute and
or New Entrants Course, if previously registered with a recognized foreign self-regulatory organization or an investment dealer within three years before requesting approval |
or Two years of relevant experience working for a Mutual Fund Dealer, portfolio manager or entity governed by a recognized foreign self-regulatory organization or Such other equivalent experience acceptable to the applicable District Council | |
|
Conduct and Practices Handbook Course AND
or Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course, or New Entrants Course, if previously registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or an investment dealer and dealing in options or similar derivative contracts within three years before requesting approval, and Securities Industry Essentials Examination and Series 7 Examination administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority |
or Two years of relevant experience working for an entity governed by a recognized foreign self-regulatory organization or Such other equivalent experience acceptable to the applicable District Council | |
|
and Futures Licensing Course and Conduct and Practices Handbook Course AND
or Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course or Series 3 Examination administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (on behalf of the National Futures Association), if previously registered with National Futures Association or an investment dealer and dealing in futures contracts, forward contracts, contracts for difference, futures contract options or similar derivative contracts within three years before requesting approval |
or Two years of relevant experience working for an entity governed by a recognized foreign self-regulatory organization or Such other equivalent experience acceptable to the applicable District Council | |
Designated Supervisor | |||
|
|
or Two years of relevant experience working for an entity governed by a recognized foreign self-regulatory organization or Such other equivalent experience acceptable to the applicable District Council | |
|
|
or Two years of relevant experience working for an entity governed by a recognized foreign self-regulatory organization or Such other equivalent experience acceptable to the applicable District Council | |
|
or Chartered Investment Manager Designation or CFA Charter administered by the CFA Institute AND
AND
|
at least four years of relevant investment management experience; one year of which was gained within the three years before requesting approval or If completed CFA Charter: at least one year of relevant investment management experience within the three years before requesting approval | |
|
Both the Derivatives Fundamentals Course and the Options Licensing Course or Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course or New Entrants Course, if previously registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or an investment dealer and dealing in options within three years before requesting approval, and Securities Industry Essentials Examination and Series 7 Examination administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority |
Two years of relevant experience working for an entity governed by a recognized foreign self-regulatory organization or Such other equivalent experience acceptable to the applicable District Council | |
|
and Futures Licensing Course, AND
or Derivatives Fundamentals and Options Licensing Course or Series 3 Examination administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (on behalf of the National Futures Association) if previously registered with the National Futures Association or an investment dealer and dealing in futures within three years before requesting approval |
or Two years of relevant supervisory or or Such other equivalent experience acceptable to the applicable District Council | |
|
|
or Two years of relevant experience working for an entity governed by a recognized foreign self-regulatory organization or Such other equivalent experience acceptable to the applicable District Council | |
|
or CFA Charter administered by the CFA Institute or Other appropriate qualifications acceptable to the applicable District Council |
or Two years of relevant experience working for an entity governed by a recognized foreign self-regulatory organization or Such other equivalent experience acceptable to the applicable District Council | |
Executive and Director | |||
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AND
AND
| ||
| An industry Director must complete:
AND
AND
A non-industry Director that owns or controls a voting interest of 10% or more, directly or indirectly, must complete:
| ||
|
and Chief Financial Officers Qualifying Examination AND
AND
|
| |
|
and Chief Compliance Officers Qualifying Examination AND
AND If seeking approval as a Supervisor, the applicable proficiency requirements in that category |
or Three years providing professional services in the securities industry, with at least 12 months experience working at an investment dealer or registered advisor in a compliance or supervisory capacity | |
Approved investor | |||
|
| ||
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PART B - EXEMPTIONS FROM PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS
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2628. Course validity and exemptions from rewriting courses
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.
| Course | Individual’s current status | Exemption criteria |
|---|---|---|
| . . . | . . . | . . . |
| Derivatives Fundamentals Course |
|
|
| Derivatives Fundamentals Course |
|
|
| . . . | . . . | . . . |
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RULE 2700 | CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVED PERSONS
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PART A - THE CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM AND CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
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2704. Continuing education requirements
(1) In each continuing education program cycle, a continuing education participant must meet the continuing education requirements for the applicable Approved Person category, regardless of product type, as set out in the following table.
| Approved Person Category | Client Type | Compliance course requirement | Professional development requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| . . . | . . . | . . . | . . . |
| Supervisor designated to be responsible for the supervision of option and similar derivative contract accounts | retail client or institutional client | Yes | No |
| Supervisor designated to be responsible for the supervision of futures contract, forward contract, contracts for difference, futures contract option and similar derivative contract accounts | retail client or institutional client | Yes | No |
| . . . | . . . | . . . | . . . |
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RULE 3100 | DEALING WITH CLIENTS
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PART B – CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
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3118. Tied selling
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PART C – BEST EXECUTION OF CLIENT ORDERS AND TRANSACTIONS
3119. Definitions
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“over-the-counter security”
| A security, other than:
|
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3120. Best execution obligation
3121. Best execution factors for listed security and listed derivative orders
3122. Best execution factors for over-the-counter security and over-the-counter derivative transactions
(a) the fair market value or settlement price of the equivalent listed derivative, and
(b) the fair market value of the derivatives underlying interest and of any related derivatives involved in the same trading strategy, at the time of the transaction,
3123. Best execution process
and,
3124. Non-executing Dealer Member best execution policies and procedures
3125. Sending orders in bulk to foreign intermediaries
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3127. Training
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3128. Compliance with the Order Protection Rule
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3129. Disclosure of best execution policies
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and,
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RULE 3200 | KNOW‐YOUR‐CLIENT AND CLIENT ACCOUNTS
3201. Introduction
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Part F – Additional Account Opening and Updating Procedures for Derivatives Trading:
sets out additional account opening and updating procedures for derivatives trading accounts.
[sections 3250 through 3255]
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PART A – KNOW‐YOUR‐CLIENT AND CLIENT IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
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3207. Identification exceptions
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PART B – REQUIREMENTS FOR CLIENT ACCOUNTS
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3218. Pre-trade disclosure of charges
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PART F – ADDITIONAL ACCOUNT OPENING AND UPDATING PROCEDURES FOR DERIVATIVES TRADING
3250. Rules applicable to derivatives trading accounts
3251. Additional requirements when opening a derivatives account
3252. Derivatives trading agreement
(1) A Dealer Member’s derivatives trading agreement must define the rights and obligations of the Dealer Member and the client and, at a minimum, must include the following:
(i) the time periods during which the Dealer Member accepts orders for execution,
(ii) the Dealer Member’s right to:
(a) exercise discretion in accepting orders,
(b) impose trading or position limits or closeout positions under specified conditions,
(iii) the extent of the Dealer Member’s right to:
(a) use client free credit balances within its own business or to finance other client account debits,
(b) use client account assets as collateral for the clients’ debit and position obligations,
(c) raise money on and pledge assets held in the client’s account
(iv) the conditions under which the Dealer Member may apply the client’s funds, securities or other property in the account or any other accounts of the client to satisfy outstanding debts or margin calls,
(v) the Dealer Member’s obligation to:
(a) if required under any applicable laws or requested to do so, provide information to regulators regarding position limit, exercise limit requirements and reporting derivative positions or derivative transactions related data,
(b) obtain client consent before the Dealer Member may take the other side to the client’s transaction, and document whether the client provides such consent,
(c) address situations when errors and omissions occur,
(vi) where discretionary authority is given to the Dealer Member:
(a) disclosures explaining the discretionary authority that has been given,
(b) the client’s acknowledgement that is has consented to the giving of the authority,
provided the authority given is consistent with the requirements contained within Part G of Rule 3200 and unless the authority is given through the execution of a separate agreement,
(vii) the client’s cumulative loss limit subject to the conditions set out in subsection 3252(2),
(viii) the client’s obligation to:
(a) comply with IIROC requirements and the requirements of any entity through which the derivative is traded, cleared, or issued, including, without limitation, reporting, position limit and exercise limit requirements,
(b) maintain adequate margin collateral and to pay any debts owed to the Dealer Member,
(c) pay commission or other compensation, if any,
(d) pay interest, if any, on account debit balances,
(ix) the client’s acknowledgement of:
(a) receiving the most recent derivatives risk disclosure statement,
(b) their obligation to inform and update the Dealer Member of any circumstances under which they would be considered to be an insider of a reporting issuer or any other issuer whose securities are publicly traded,
(x) any other matter required by a derivatives trading, clearing or issuing entity,
(xi) for options, futures contract options and similar derivatives:
(a) the Dealer Member’s deadlines for a client to submit an exercise notice,
(b) the method the Dealer Member will use to distribute assignment notices,
(c) disclosures indicating that:
(I) the Dealer Member may set maximum limits on short positions,
(II) the Dealer Member may apply cash-only terms during the last 10 days before expiry, and
(III) IIROC may impose other rules affecting existing or subsequent transactions.
(d) the client’s obligation to instruct the Dealer Member to close out positions before expiry,
(xii) for futures contracts, forward contracts, contracts for difference and similar derivatives, disclosures indicating that the Dealer Member requires the client to maintain minimum margin that is the greater of:
(a) the amount the derivatives marketplace or clearing house prescribes,
(b) IIROC’s requirements, or
(c) the Dealer Member’s requirements.
(2) The client’s cumulative loss limit under clause 3252(1)(vii),
(i) applies to an account, where the transactions involve futures contracts, forward contracts, contracts for difference, futures contract options or similar derivative contracts, or highly-leveraged securities or derivatives,
(ii) applies to a trading account, other than a hedging account, whether the account is an advisory account, a discretionary account, a managed account or an order execution only account, and
(iii) must, notwithstanding obligations under Rule 3400, be determined on
(a) a lifetime basis and validated with the client on an annual basis, or
(b) an annual basis and updated annually.
3253. Letter of undertaking
3254. Derivatives risk disclosure statement
3255. Position and exercise limits
3256. – 3269. Reserved.
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RULE 3400 | SUITABILITY DETERMINATION
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3402. Retail client suitability determination requirements
(i) the action is suitable for the retail client, based on the following factors:
(a) the retail client’s information collected in accordance with section 3202,
(b) the Dealer Member’s assessment of and an Approved Person’s understanding of the security, derivative or precious metals bullion, required in accordance with Rule 3300,
(c) the impact of the action on the retail client’s account, including the concentration of securities, derivatives or precious metals bullion, within the account and the liquidity of those securities, derivatives or precious metals bullion,
(d) the potential and actual impact of costs on the retail client’s returns, and
(e) a consideration of a reasonable range of alternative actions available to the Registered Representative, Portfolio Manager, or Associate Portfolio Manager through the Dealer Member at the time the determination is made, and
(ii) the action puts the retail client’s interest first.
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3403. Institutional client suitability determination requirements
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3404. Exemptions from the suitability determination requirements
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RULE 3500 | SALES PRACTICES
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3502. Definitions
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3503. Client priority
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RULE 3600 | COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC
3601. Introduction
Part A – Advertisements, sales literature and correspondence
[section 3602]
Part B – Research reports
[sections 3606 through 3623]
Part C – Misleading Communications
[section 3640]
PART A – ADVERTISEMENTS, SALES LITERATURE AND CORRESPONDENCE
3602. Advertising
3603. – 3605. Reserved.
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.
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RULE 3700 | REPORTING AND HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS, INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS AND OTHER REPORTABLE MATTERS
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PART A – REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
3702. Reporting by an Approved Person to the Dealer Member
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3703. Reporting by a Dealer Member to IIROC
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(e) subject to a civil claim or arbitration notice involving any of the following:
(I) any matters related to securities, derivatives or precious metals bullion,
(II) any matter related to handling of client accounts or dealings with clients, or
(III) any matter that is the subject of any legislation, rules, regulations, or policies concerning securities, derivatives or precious metals bullion or financial services of any securities, derivatives or financial services regulatory or self-regulatory organization in any jurisdiction,
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PART B – INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS AND INTERNAL DISCIPLINE
3706. Requirement to commence an internal investigation
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PART E – CLIENT COMPLAINTS – RETAIL CLIENTS
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3721. Application
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3728. Client complaint file
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RULE 3800 | DEALER MEMBER RECORDS AND CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS
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3802. Definitions
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3804. General requirements to maintain records
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3805. Trade blotters (records of original entry)
(i) in the case of trades in securities and precious metals bullion:
(a) the description, class and designation of securities and precious metals bullion,
(b) the number, value or amount of securities and precious metals bullion and the unit and aggregate purchase or sale price (if any),
(c) the name or other designation of the person from whom or to whom the securities and precious metals bullion were purchased or received or sold or delivered,
(d) the trade dates, and
(e) the applicable account in which each transaction was effected,
(ii) in the case of transactions in futures contracts, forward contracts, contracts for difference and similar derivative contracts:
(a) the contract underlying interest,
(b) the contract quantity bought or sold,
(c) if applicable, the quantity of the underlying interest bought or sold,
(d) the contract delivery date,
(e) the price at which the contract was entered into,
(f) the transaction dates,
(g) the applicable account in which each transaction was effected,
(h) if applicable, the name of the derivatives marketplace,
(i) if applicable, the name of the dealer, used by the Dealer Member as its agent to effect the transaction, and
(j) if applicable, whether the transactions are opening or closing transactions (where required by the marketplace),
(iii) in the case of transactions in options contracts, futures contract options and similar derivative contracts:
(a) the contract underlying interest,
(b) the contract quantity bought or sold,
(c) the contract type,
(d) the contract premium,
(e) the contract exercise or striking price,
(f) the contract declaration date,
(g) the transaction dates,
(h) the applicable account in which each transaction was effected,
(i) if applicable:
(I) the futures contract that is the subject of the futures contract option,
(II) the delivery month and year of the futures contract that is the subject of the futures contract option,
(j) if applicable, the name of the derivatives marketplace,
(k) if applicable, the name of the dealer used by the Dealer Member as its agent to effect the transaction, and
(l) if applicable, whether the transactions are opening or closing transactions (where required by the marketplace).
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3807. Itemized client ledger accounts
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3808. Client account statements
(a) where the market value is determinable:
(I) the market value,
(II) the total market value, and
(III) if applicable, the notification required pursuant to either clause (i)(b) or clause (ii)(b) of the definition of market value in subsection 1201(2)
(b) where the market value is not determinable, the notification required pursuant to either clause (ii)(b) or clause (ii)(c) of the definition of market value in subsection 1201(2),
(a) for each security, derivative and precious metals bullion position in the account:
(I) where the cost is determinable, either the cost or the total cost, and
(II) where the cost is not determinable, the notification required pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition of cost in subsection 3802(1),
and
(b) a notation setting out the definitions of the calculation methodologies used to calculate the individual position cost information included in the statement, provided that where the individual position cost information included in the statement is calculated using:
(I) the book cost calculation methodology, the language set out in the definition of book cost in subsection 3802(1) or language that is substantially similar must be used as the notation, and
(II) the original cost calculation methodology, the language set out in the definition of original cost in subsection 3802(1) or language that is substantially similar must be used as the notation,
3809. Report on client positions held outside of the Dealer Member
(I) the market value,
(II) the total market value, and
(III) if applicable, the notification required pursuant to clause (i)(b) of the definition of market value in subsection 1201(2), and
3810. Performance report
(1) A Dealer Member must send an annual performance report to each retail client who, at the end of the 12-month period covered by the report has:
(i) an account with:
(a) a debit or credit balance, or
(b) one or more security, derivative or precious metals bullion positions (including security or precious metals bullion positions held in safekeeping or in segregation), or
(ii) holds one or more outside holdings for which quarterly reporting pursuant to section 3809 is required,
and
(iii) there is at least one position in the account or at least one outside holding for which quarterly reporting pursuant to section 3809 is required, for which a market value can be determined pursuant to either clause (i) or clause (ii) of the definition of market value in subsection 1201(1),
and
(iv) the client’s account was opened at least 12 months ago.
(2) The annual performance report must include all of the following combined information about the client’s account and outside holdings at the end of the period for which the report is made:
(i) the total combined market value of all cash, security, derivative and precious metals bullion positions:
(a) as at July 15, 2015 or, where the account was opened prior to July 15, 2015 and the information is available, as at the account opening date,
(b) as at the beginning date of the 12-month period covered by the report, and
(c) as at the end date of the report,
(ii) the total combined market value of all deposits and transfers in of cash, security, derivative and precious metals bullion positions:
(a) in the period from July 15, 2015 or, where the account was opened prior to July 15, 2015 and the information is available, the period from the account opening date, to the end date of the report, and
(b) in the 12-month period covered by the report,
(iii) the total combined market value of all withdrawals and transfers out of cash, security, derivative and precious metals bullion positions:
(a) In the period from July 15, 2015 or, where the account was opened prior to July 15, 2015 and the information is available, the period from the account opening date to the end date of the report, and
(b) In the 12-month period covered by the report,
(iv) the total combined change in market value of all cash, security, derivative and precious metals bullion positions:
(a) for the period from July 15, 2015 or, where the account was opened prior to July 15, 2015 and the information is available, the period from the account opening date to the end date of the report, determined using the following formula:
Total market value change from account opening
= Closing market value
[Sub-clause 3810(2)(i)(c)]
- Account opening market value
[Sub-clause 3810(2)(i)(a)]
- Deposits and transfers in
[Sub-clause 3810(2)(ii)(a)]
+ Withdrawals and transfers out
[Sub-clause 3810(2)(iii)(a)], and
(b) for the 12-month period covered by the report, determined using the following formula:
Total 12-month market value change
= Closing market value
[Sub-clause 3810(2)(i)(c)]
- Account opening market value
[Sub-clause 3810(2)(i)(b)]
- Deposits and transfers in
[Sub-clause 3810(2)(ii)(b)]
+ Withdrawals and transfers out
[Sub-clause 3810(2)(iii)(b)],
.
.
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.
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(5) For the purposes of this section 3810, the information in respect of cash, security, derivative and precious metals bullion positions of a client required to be reported under section 3808 must be provided in a separate report for each of the client’s accounts.
(6) For the purposes of this section 3810, the information in respect of cash, security, derivative and precious metals bullion positions of a client required to be reported under section 3809 must be included in the report for each of the client’s accounts through which these positions were transacted.
(7) Subsections 3810(5) and 3810(6) do not apply if the Dealer Member sends a single report to the client that consolidates the required information for more than one of a client’s accounts and any outside holdings of a client required to be reported under section 3809 provided:
(i) the client has consented in writing to receiving a consolidated report,
and
(ii) the report that is sent specifies the accounts and outside holdings for which the consolidated information is being provided.
(8) All annual performance reports that are sent to a client, whether prepared for an individual account or prepared on a consolidated account basis pursuant to subsection 3810(7), must:
(i) be prepared for the same 12-month period, and
(ii) include aggregated information for the same accounts and outside holdings,
as the annual fee/charge reports that are sent to the same client.
(9) Where a retail client has an account with positions in futures contracts, forward contracts, contracts for difference, foreign exchange contracts and similar derivative contracts, the Dealer Member shall not be required to send an annual performance report under this section 3810, provided the Dealer Member sends the client a monthly or quarterly statement which includes the following information about the client’s account in addition to the requirements set out under section 3808:
(i) the total profit or loss realized on positions exercised, expired or closed during the period covered,
(ii) the unrealized profit or loss for each opened position at the end of the period covered,
(iii) the profit or loss realized for each positions exercised, expired or closed during the period covered, and
(iv) a disclosure explaining to the client that for the period covered, the statement does not provide information on the changes in market value that occurred during the period covered, but provides the client with:
(a) profit or loss realized on positions exercised, expired or closed, and
(b)unrealized profit or loss for opened position at the end of the period covered.
(10) For purposes of subsection 3810(9), all deposits, credits, withdrawals and debits made in the account can be disclosed as a single net deposit or net withdrawal in the statement.
3811. Fee/charge report
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(I) the entire compensation amount, and
(II) a note explaining that the amount disclosed is the entire product compensation amount.
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3813. Securities and precious metals bullion record
3814. Derivatives record
3815. Memoranda of orders, transactions and other instructions
3816. Trade confirmations
and
and
and
(I) the futures contract that is the subject of the futures contract option,
(II) the date of the futures contract that is the subject of the futures contract option,
and
.
.
.
(I) the amount of each transaction charge, deferred sales charge or other charge in respect of the transaction, and
(II) the total amount of all charges in respect of the transaction,
(I) the commission, if any, charged in respect of the transaction,
and
(I) the yield thereon calculated on a semi-annual basis in a manner consistent with the yield calculation for the debt instrument which has been stripped, and
(II) the yield thereon calculated on an annual basis in a manner consistent with the yield calculation for other debt securities which are commonly regarded as being competitive in the market with such coupons or residuals such as guaranteed investment certificates, bank deposit receipts and other indebtedness for which the term and interest rate is fixed,
.
.
.
and
(I) the total amount of any mark-up or mark-down, commission or other service charges the Dealer Member applied to the transaction,
(II) one of the following notifications or a notification that is substantially similar:
“Dealer firm remuneration has been added to the price of this security (in the case of a purchase) or deducted from the price of this security (in the case of a sale).”
“Dealer firm remuneration has been included as an adjustment to the price of this derivatives transaction.”,
and
the trade confirmation must indicate that the transactions involve securities of the Dealer Member, a related issuer of the Dealer Member or a connected issuer of the Dealer Member or a derivative whose underlying interest is a security of the Dealer Member, a related issuer of the Dealer Member or a connected issuer of the Dealer Member, as the case may be,
and
and
(I) prior to the trade, the client has consented in writing to waive the trade confirmation requirement,
(II) the client may terminate a waiver by notice in writing. The termination notice shall be effective upon receipt of the written notice by the Dealer Member, for trades following the date of receipt,
(III) the provision of a confirmation is not required under any securities laws of the jurisdiction in which the client resides or the Dealer Member has obtained an exemption from any such applicable laws by the responsible securities regulatory authority, and
(IV) where:
(A) a person other than the Dealer Member manages the account:
(B) the Dealer Member manages the account:
(I) the trade is either subject to or matched in accordance with broker-to-broker or institutional trade matching requirements under IIROC requirements or securities laws,
(II) the Dealer Member maintains an electronic audit trail of the trade under IIROC requirements or securities laws,
(III) prior to the trade, the client has agreed in writing to waive receipt of trade confirmations from the Dealer Member,
(IV) the client is either:
(A) another Dealer Member who is reporting or affirming trade details through an acceptable trade matching utility in accordance with sections 4751, 4753, 4754, 4755 and 4756, or
(B) an institutional client who is matching delivery against payment/ receipt against payment account trades (either directly or through a custodian) in accordance with National Instrument 24-101,
(V) the Dealer Member and the client have real-time access to, and can download into their own system from the acceptable trade matching utility’s or the matching service utility’s system, trade details that are similar to the prescribed information under this section 3816, and
(VI) for trades subject to broker-to-broker trade matching, the Dealer Member for the last four quarters:
(A) has not filed more than two reports under section 4756 informing IIROC that it has not met the quarterly compliant trade percentage; and
(B) none of the reports it filed under section 4756 informing IIROC that it has not met the quarterly compliant trade percentage has a quarterly compliant trade percentage of less than 85%.
(VII) for trades subject to institutional trade matching, the Dealer Member has a quarterly compliant trade percentage of greater than or equal to 85% for at least two of the last four quarters.
A client may terminate their trade confirmation waiver, referred to in sub-clause 3816(2)(x)(b), by providing a written notice confirming this fact to the Dealer Member. The termination notice takes effect upon the Dealer Member’s receipt of the notice.
(I) the Dealer Member enters into a standard industry agreement with the client that is acceptable to IIROC, and
(II) the agreement sets out the terms for a client to receive a confirmation of a swap transaction and the key terms of the confirmation.
(I) the client, executing Dealer Member and Dealer Member responsible to clear and settle the transaction are parties to the give-up agreement
(II) the clearing Dealer Member is responsible, under the give-up agreement, for issuing the transaction confirmation to the client, and
(III) the executing Dealer Member:
(A) executes the transaction in accordance with the client’s instructions to give up such transaction to the clearing Dealer Member,
(B) provides limited transaction execution service to the client under the give-up agreement and does not maintain client account documentation, or receive the client’s money, securities, margin or collateral, and
(C) provides the clearing Dealer Member a monthly invoice with details of the give-up transactions of the client and the clearing Dealer Member reconciles the transactions details with its own record.
3817. Options and similar derivative contracts is which the Dealer Member has an interest
.
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RULE 3900 | SUPERVISION
3901. Introduction
Part A – General supervision requirements
[sections 3904 through 3918]
Part B – Supervision of all accounts
[sections 3925 through 3927]
Part C – Supervision of retail client accounts
[sections 3945 through 3948]
Part D – Supervision of institutional client accounts
[sections 3950 and 3951]
Part E – Supervision of order execution only accounts
[section 3955]
Part F – Supervision of derivatives trading accounts
[sections 3960 through 3964]
Part G - Supervision of discretionary accounts and managed accounts
[sections 3970 through 3973]
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PART C – SUPERVISION OF RETAIL CLIENT ACCOUNTS
3945. Daily and monthly trade supervision
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3946. Additional supervisory responsibilities
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PART D – SUPERVISION OF INSTITUTIONAL CLIENT ACCOUNTS
3950. Supervisory policies and procedures for institutional client accounts
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PART E – SUPERVISION OF ORDER EXECUTION ONLY ACCOUNTS
3955. Supervision of order execution only accounts
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PART F –SUPERVISION OF DERIVATIVES TRADING ACCOUNTS
3960. Supervision of derivatives accounts
3961. Responsibility of designated Supervisors for derivatives accounts
3962. Supervision of retail derivatives accounts
3963. Supervision of retail derivatives account trading activity
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3964. Access to Approved Persons qualified in derivatives
3965. - 3969. Reserved.
PART G –SUPERVISION OF DISCRETIONARY ACCOUNTS AND MANAGED ACCOUNTS
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3971. Supervision of managed accounts
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RULE 4100 | GENERAL DEALER MEMBER FINANCIAL STANDARDS – MINIMUM CAPITAL, EARLY WARNING, FINANCIAL REPORTS AND AUDITORS
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PART D - APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS AND AUDIT REQUIREMENTS
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4174. No limitation on scope or procedures
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4177. Account for all securities, derivatives, precious metals bullion, currencies, and other like assets
4178. Verify positions in transfer and in transit
4179. Review the Dealer Member’s position balancing and account reconciliations
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4181. Review custodial agreements and approvals
4182. Obtain written positive confirmations
4183. Selection of accounts for positive confirmation
4184. Written confirmation of clients’ accounts with no balance
4185. Effect on capital if no positive written confirmation received for a guarantee
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4188. Test statements for a description of securities and precious metals bullion held in safekeeping
4189. Dealer Member obligations to auditor
4190. Calculations for Form 1 and other reporting
4191. Auditor’s records
4192. Auditor’s obligation to report to IIROC
4193. - 4199. Reserved.
RULE 4200 | GENERAL DEALER MEMBER FINANCIAL STANDARDS – DISCLOSURE, INTERNAL CONTROLS, CALCULATIONS OF PRICES AND PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS
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PART C - PRICING INTERNAL CONTROL REQUIREMENTS
4240. Introduction
4241. Pricing procedures
4242. Independent price verification and adjustment
4243. Retention of supporting documents
4244. Access to records
4245. - 4259. Reserved.
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RULE 4300 | PROTECTION OF CLIENT ASSETS – SEGREGATION, CUSTODY AND CLIENT FREE CREDIT BALANCES
4301. Introduction
Part A - Segregation and related internal control requirements:
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Part A.3 - Security and precious metals bullion usage restrictions and correcting segregation deficiencies
[sections 4320 through 4326]
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PART A - SEGREGATION AND RELATED INTERNAL CONTROL REQUIREMENTS
4310. Definitions
| “bulk segregation” | Securities and precious metals bullion in segregation for a Dealer Member’s clients that are not reserved for particular clients. |
| “net loan value” | Of a security means: (i) for a long position, the market value of the security less any margin required, and (ii) for a short position, the market value of the security plus any margin required expressed as a negative number. Of a short security option position means, the market value of the option plus any margin required expressed as a negative number. Of a long precious metals bullion position means, the market value of the precious metals bullion less any margin required. |
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| “segregated precious metals bullion” | Precious metals bullion held in segregation by a Dealer Member for a client. |
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PART A.1 - GENERAL SEGREGATION REQUIREMENTS
4311. Introduction
4312. Fully paid and excess margin securities and precious metals bullion
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4314. Segregation of client securities and precious metals bullion
PART A.2 - BULK SEGREGATION CALCULATION
4315. Steps for bulk segregation calculation
4316. Net loan value and market value of securities and precious metals bullion in a client’s account
4317. Calculating the number of client securities to be segregated in bulk
| Number of securities required to be segregated | = | (aggregate loan value or market value of a class or series of security required to be segregated for each client in section 4316) ÷ (loan value or market value of one unit of the security) |
| Principal amount of securities required to be segregated | = | (aggregate loan value or market value of a class or series of security required to be segregated for each client in section 4316) ÷ (loan value or market value of each $100 principal amount of the security) x 100, rounded to lowest issuable denomination |
4318. Determining securities and precious metals bullion to comply with segregation requirements
4319. Frequency and review of bulk segregation calculation
PART A.3 - SECURITY AND PRECIOUS METALS BULLION USAGE RESTRICTIONS AND CORRECTING SEGREGATION DEFICIENCIES
4320. General restrictions
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4322. Call loan segregation deficiency
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4326. Fails – client or other Dealer Members
PART A.4 - MINIMUM SEGREGATION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
4327. General
4328. Records of segregated securities and precious metals bullion
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4331. Authorized employees to move securities and precious metals bullion
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PART B - CUSTODY AND RELATED INTERNAL CONTROL REQUIREMENTS
PART B.1 - GENERAL CUSTODY REQUIREMENTS
4340. Introduction
4341. Definitions
| “external acceptable securities location” | An acceptable securities location for securities and precious metals bullion that are not under a Dealer Member’s physical possession but which are under a Dealer Member’s control. |
| “internal acceptable securities location” | An acceptable securities location for securities and precious metals bullion that are in a Dealer Member’s physical possession or physical control. Internal acceptable securities locations include acceptable transfer locations. |
| “set-off risk” | The risk exposure resulting when a Dealer Member has other transactions, balances or positions with a custodian, and the resulting balances could be set off against the value of the securities and precious metals bullion held by the custodian. |
4342. Hold securities and precious metals bullion in an acceptable securities location
4343. Timely deposit
PART B.2 - ACCEPTABLE SECURITIES LOCATIONS
4344. Acceptable internal storage location
4345. Acceptable internal storage location requirements
4346. Acceptable transfer locations
4347. Securities not under a Dealer Member’s physical possession
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4350. Application to IIROC for approval of foreign institutions and foreign securities dealers
| Document | Contents | Form (if IIROC prescribed) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Foreign custodian certificate |
| In a form satisfactory to IIROC |
| 2. Latest audited financial statements of proposed foreign custodian | Must evidence minimum net worth of C$150 million |
4351. Annual approval of foreign institutions and foreign securities dealers as acceptable securities locations
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| Document | Contents | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer Member’s board material and foreign custodian certificate | Dealer Member board’s or committee of the Dealer Member board’s annual written approval of foreign custodian as foreign location for holding securities and precious metals bullion | Approval must be documented in minutes of a meeting. Approval must be available for review by examiners during a field examination of the Dealer Member |
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4352. Obtaining a client waiver when an external acceptable securities location is unavailable
PART B.3 - WRITTEN CUSTODIAL AGREEMENT REQUIREMENT
4353. Agreement with each external securities location
When custody is secured by a global custodial agreement, including where the custodian uses a subcustodian, the custodian’s indemnity must:
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PART B.4 - CONFIRMATION AND RECONCILIATION REQUIREMENTS
4355. Securities in transit
those securities or precious metals bullion are not considered to be under the Dealer Member’s control or physical possession for purposes of good segregation.
4356. Confirmations from external acceptable securities locations
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PART B.5 - MARGIN REQUIREMENTS
4362. Acceptable securities location
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4364. Non-acceptable internal storage and non-acceptable securities location
then, when it calculates risk adjusted capital, a Dealer Member must deduct 100% of the market value of the securities or precious metals bullion held in custody with the non-acceptable securities location.
4365. No confirmation from location
4366. No written custodial agreement
(a) its risk adjusted capital, the Dealer Member must deduct as a margin requirement the lesser of:
(I) 100% of the set-off risk exposure, and
(II) 100% of the market value of the security and precious metals bullion positions held in custody
and
(b) its early warning excess and early warning reserve, the Dealer Member must deduct as a margin requirement the lesser of:
(I) 10% of the market value of security and precious metals bullion positions held in custody at the custodian, and
(II) 100% of the market value of security and precious metals bullion positions held in custody at the custodian less amount required in sub-clause 4366(3)(i)(a).
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4368. Difference accounts
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PART C - CLIENT FREE CREDIT BALANCE REQUIREMENTS
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4381. Dealer Member’s use of client free credit balances
4382. Notation on client account statements
“Any free credit balances represent funds payable on demand which, although properly recorded in our books, may not be segregated and may be used in the conduct of our business.”
4383. Calculating usable free credit balances
As described in IIROC Notice 21-0028, effective September 1, 2022, clause 4384(2)(ii) will be repealed and replaced with the following:
(ii) in the following securities:
| Securities eligible for client free credit segregation purposes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Minimum designated rating organization current credit rating | Qualification(s) | |
| 1. | Bonds, debentures, treasury bills and other securities with a term of 1 year or less, issued or guaranteed by the following:
| Not applicable (N/A) | Not applicable (N/A) |
| 2. | Bonds, debentures, treasury bills and other securities with a term of 1 year or less, issued or guaranteed by any other national foreign government not identified in category 1 | AAA | Foreign government must be a member of the Basel Accord |
| 3. | Canadian bank paper with an original maturity of 1 year or less | R-1(low), F1, P-1, A‑1(low) | No designated rating organization has a lower current credit rating Must be issued by a Canadian chartered bank Securities issued by a provider of capital, as defined in Form 1, Schedule 14, are not eligible |
4384. Weekly calculation
4385. Daily compliance review
4386. - 4399. Reserved.
RULE 4400 | PROTECTION OF CLIENT ASSETS – SAFEKEEPING CLIENT ASSETS, SAFEGUARDING CASH AND SECURITIES, AND INSURANCE
4401. Introduction
Part A - Safekeeping requirements
[sections 4402 through 4407]
Part B - Internal controls requirements for safeguarding cash, securities and precious metals bullion
[sections 4420 through 4433]
Part C - Insurance requirements
[sections 4450 through 4468]
PART A - SAFEKEEPING REQUIREMENTS
4402. Introduction
4403. Written safekeeping agreement
4404. Securities free from encumbrance
4405. Procedures to keep securities apart
(1) A Dealer Member must keep securities or precious metals bullion held for safekeeping separate from all other positions and must have procedures in place to ensure this separation.
4406. Identifying securities held for safekeeping in records
4407. Release of securities held in safekeeping
4408. - 4419. Reserved.
PART B - INTERNAL CONTROL REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFEGUARDING CASH, SECURITIES AND PRECIOUS METALS BULLION
4420. Introduction
4421. Safeguarding client and Dealer Member cash, securities and precious metals bullion
4422. Receipt and delivery of securities and precious metals bullion
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4425. Protecting securities and precious metals bullion
4426. How to handle security records
4427. Rules for counting securities
4428. Moving certificates, securities and precious metals bullion between branches
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4433. Cash
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4434. - 4449. Reserved.
PART C - INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
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4451. Definitions
| “base amount” | The greater of:
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4456. Financial institution bond
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RULE 4700 | OPERATIONS – BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND GENERAL TRADING AND DELIVERY STANDARDS
4701. Introduction
Part A - Business continuity plan
[sections 4710 through 4716]
Part B - General trading and delivery standards applicable to all transactions
[sections 4750 through4761]
4702. - 4709. Reserved.
PART A - BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLAN
4710. Definitions
| “significant business disruption” | A cybersecurity incident or any other incident that may result in a significant impairment in client access to their security, precious metals bullion or derivative positions or accounts or to the client’s ability to liquidate or close-out their account positions. |
4711. Introduction
4712. Creating a business continuity plan
4713. Business continuity plan procedures
4714. Update business continuity plan
4715. Annual review and test
4716. Notice of disruption and invoking the business continuity plan
4717. – 4749. Reserved.
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RULE 4900 | OTHER INTERNAL CONTROL REQUIREMENTS – DERIVATIVES RISK MANAGEMENT
4901. Introduction
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DERIVATIVES RISK MANAGEMENT
4910. Introduction
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4915. Pricing
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Attachment D - Summary of public comments received on the Initial publication and IIROC’s staff response
Comments received in response to IIROC Notice 19-0200 - Proposed Derivatives Rule Modernization, Stage 1
On November 21, 2019, IIROC issued Notice 19-0200 requesting comments on amendments to the IIROC Rules (IIROC Proposals) relating to the modernization of IIROC’s derivatives-related rules. IIROC received six comment letters from the following commenters:
Copies of these letters are publicly available on IIROC’s website (www.iiroc.ca). The following table summarizes these comments and our responses:
| SUMMARY OF COMMENTS | IIROC RESPONSE |
|---|---|
| General Comments | |
| 1. Overall, most commenters agree with IIROC’s stated objectives in connection with the IIROC Proposals and are generally supportive of its initiative to review its derivatives-related rules to identify necessary clarifications and eliminate inconsistencies in the treatment of securities, listed and over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives. (MX, CFA, CMC, Questrade, IIAC, tFOSE) | We acknowledge the comments. |
| 2. One commenter, while agreeing with the objectives of IIROC Proposals, believes IIROC should wait for the final proposed CSA Derivatives Rules to be published to reflect changes in these proposals (IIAC) and another believes the proposed changes do not go far enough to develop the derivatives market in Canada. (tFOSE) | We acknowledge the comments. |
| 3. One commenter believes IIROC should continue to consider how best to reduce regulatory burden without having a negative impact on investor protection, including by harmonizing rules where possible (CFA) and another believes IIROC-regulated firms should be exempted from the CSA requirements to reduce duplicative regulation and regulatory burden. (IIAC) | IIROC is committed to achieving the goal of ensuring relatively consistent regulatory requirements across all the securities and derivatives related business lines of its Dealer Members. We believe this approach would avoid an increase in compliance costs that would otherwise be incurred where requirements are materially different. The CSA’s proposed NI 93-101 and NI 93-102 provide exemptions from requirements set out in the respective appendices, where Dealer Members must comply with corresponding conduct and other regulatory requirements of IIROC. We believe the IIROC Proposals ensure our rules are harmonized with the equivalent CSA requirements. |
| 1.1 Definitions | |
| 1.1.1 Types of derivatives | |
| 4. One commenter agrees with the proposal to broaden the definition of a derivative to detail the general features of a derivative and thus capture more instruments than futures contracts, futures contract options and options but stresses that the final definitions and scope of the rules should be compatible with evolving international standards. (CFA Societies) | We believe our proposed definitions will continue to be compatible with evolving international standards. The IIROC Proposals use principles-based definitions which we believe broaden the scope of application. This approach ensures each general defined term’s meaning continues to evolve without needing periodic revisions to the wording. |
| 5. One commenter believes the definitions should be modified to reflect the appropriate scope of the regulation of these products by the CSA (IIAC) and another believes there could be implications for swaps and dealer platforms. (tFOSE) | We do not feel it is necessary for IIROC to specify in its rules all the exclusions provided by various provincial legislation and instruments. Such exclusions apply irrespective of the definitions used by IIROC. When new regulation is introduced by the CSA, IIROC will evaluate the need for amendments to its definitions and other related regulatory requirements. |
6. Two commenters point out that some OTC derivatives are traded on an execution venue that is also a marketplace which doesn’t make that product a listed derivative and suggest articulating the difference. (IIAC, tFOSE) One commenter also asks whether a "listed derivative" on a marketplace can trade without being cleared through a recognized clearing house and does that cause confusion about the level of risk for unsophisticated investors? (tFOSE) | We believe the proposed definition of “listed derivative” adequately reflects the conditions under which a derivative will qualify as a “listed derivative”, and as such excludes OTC derivatives trade on venues such as a derivatives trading facility (DTFs). |
| 1.1.2 Categories of client-facing Approved Persons | |
| 7. One commenter asks if Approved Persons will be required to be proficient in all derivatives including any future ones developed. (Questrade) | The amendments proposed to the definition of Investment Representative and Registered Representative do not require these Approved Persons to be proficient in all derivatives. IIROC Rule 2600, Proficiency Requirements and Exemptions from Proficiencies, sets out the minimum proficiency requirements for individuals requiring IIROC approval. The requirements provide that Approved Persons must have the education, training and experience that a reasonable person would consider necessary to perform the activity competently, including understanding the structure, features and risks of each product the Approved Persons recommend. Based on the proposals set out in section 1.4 of the IIROC Proposals we have clarified that an individual must be approved by IIROC to transact in any type of derivatives (i.e., not only options, futures contracts, or futures contract options). We have also signalled that a detailed review of the proficiency and continuing education requirements for Approved Persons dealing in derivatives will be done later as part of a comprehensive review of the adequacy of the proficiency and continuing education requirements for all securities and derivatives business lines. Please refer to IIROC Notice 20-0174 – Administrative Notice – Request for Comments - Consultation Paper - Competency Profiles for Registered Representatives and Investment Representatives, Retail and Institutional (August 18, 2020) for the first phase of IIROC’s competency profiles project which will serve as a cornerstone to IIROC’s proficiency regime. |
| 1.1.3 Inclusion of derivatives within the “securities related business” definition | |
| 8. One commenter points out that the use of “agent related activities” may be confusing and even incorrect and suggests renaming it, “agent or principal related activities”. (IIAC) | Our intention was to differentiate between registerable activities that an individual can perform for a Dealer:
To respond to the concern that this change will cause confusion we will instead replace the term “securities related business” by the term “securities and derivatives related business”. |
| 1.1.5 Revision of “institutional client” definition | |
| 9. One commenter believes that adopting a different IIROC institutional client definition for OTC derivatives-related activities, to more closely mirror the CSA definitions in Proposed NI 93-101 and Proposed NI 93-102, is preferable to a single institutional client definition for securities, listed derivatives and OTC derivatives. This commenter also encourages IIROC to consider more closely harmonizing its “institutional client” definition for securities and exchange-traded derivatives activities to align with the “permitted client” definition in NI 31-103, while implementing the lower thresholds proposed by IIROC for these product types. (IIAC) | The goal is to have one definition to reduce the gap between the definitions used to identify sophisticated clients notwithstanding the business lines, securities and derivatives (listed or OTC). However, we understand the concerns and we will take this comment into consideration. Once the CSA finalizes its proposed NI 93-101 and NI 93-102, we will assess the impact and consider amendments to the definition of institutional client. Of note, if we decide to adopt a different definition for OTC derivatives-related activities than that used for securities and listed derivatives-related activities, we will need to adopt additional provisions to determine how an account is to be classified when it holds a mixture of OTC derivative and security and/or listed derivative positions. This additional complexity is unfortunate but will be necessary if more than one institutional client definition is used. |
10. Institutional Client definition – Hedger One commenter believes the meaning of ‘hedger’ should be consistent with definitions currently used by the CSA in its proposed NI 93-101 and NI 93-102. (CFA) Two commenters believe that the proposed definition of hedger should apply, in respect of individual clients, to listed and OTC derivatives (the latter, to the extent permitted under the CSA definitions in Proposed NI 93-101 and Proposed NI 93-102 and the hedger category, including individuals, should not be subject to a minimum financial asset test. (IIAC, tFOSE) One commenter notes that the exclusion of individuals from the proposed definition of hedger is not aligned with the definition of "accredited counterparty" used in the Quebec Derivatives Act. Moreover, like the Quebec Derivatives Act, the Montreal Exchange's rules also define "hedger" as a "Person or company". To avoid any potential inconsistencies, the commenter urges IIROC to consider using a definition that includes individuals in the notion of hedger and/or to explain why individuals were excluded from the definition. (MX) | As indicated above, we will take these comments into consideration. Once the CSA finalizes its proposed NI 93-101 and NI 93-102, we will assess the impact and consider if new amendments are needed to the definition of institutional client, including the need to expand the ‘hedger’ category. |
11. Institutional Client definition – The Notion of High Degree of Negative Correlation Two commenters believe that the notion of high degree of negative correlation does not add any benefit in light of the other criteria, particularly the requirement that it must be reasonable to believe that the hedging transactions will offset the risk and suggest a comparison with a CFTC description of ‘hedging’. (IIAC, tFOSE) | The notion of high degree of negative correlation was borrowed from the definition of hedging found in National Instrument 81-102 Investment Funds, which is also used in the definition of hedging found in the Quebec Derivatives Act. However, as indicated above, we will take your comment into consideration. Once the CSA finalizes its proposed NI 93-101 and NI 93-102, we will further assess the impact and consider if new amendments are needed to the definition of institutional client. |
12. Client Identification through Legal Entity Identifiers (LEI) This same commenter further believes that an individual being classified as an institutional client should not be required to obtain an LEI for reporting purposes. (IIAC) | We acknowledge the comment. When a client is not eligible to obtain a ‘Legal Entity Identifier’, the Dealer can provide the account number of the client as the identifier. Individuals classified as ‘institutional client’ would therefore be excluded from providing an LEI if they are not eligible to get one. |
Question #1 Do you agree that we should allow certain qualifying individuals to be able to request and consent to being classified as institutional clients? | |
13. Five commenters agree qualifying individuals should be able to request and consent to being classified as institutional clients. (CMC Markets, CFA Societies, IIAC, Questrade, tFOSE) One commenter is of the opinion that the financial criteria for an individual client to qualify as an institutional client is exceptionally high. (CMC Markets) Another commenter notes that caution is warranted prior to expanding the institutional definition based on financial assets which is not in all cases a proxy for investor sophistication. (CFA Societies) One more commenter believes the proposed changes do not go far enough as both individuals and businesses need to hedge risks on a regular basis and have expertise regarding the underlying interests and risks. (tFOSE) | We acknowledge the comments. The IIROC Proposals extends the ‘assets under management’ approach to qualifying individuals and set out a flat threshold for both individuals and non-individuals. For the proposed definition of hedger, please refer to our response above. |
| 14. Two commenters require clarification regarding the concept of “request and consent”. (IIAC, Questrade) | The concept of ‘request and consent’ in the IIROC Proposals aim to have a qualifying individual or a hedger make a request to a Dealer Member and consent to the classification of “institutional client”. To ensure an informed consent from the client, the Dealer Member will be expected to disclose and explain, with adequate details, the requirements which apply to “institutional clients” as opposed to retails clients under the IIROC Rules before accepting the classification. Dealer Members should also provide clear examples of information they do not have to provide to institutional clients (for example, relationship disclosures and pre-trade disclosure of charges). In addition, for a hedger the Dealer Member will be expected to ascertain that the client’s business or operations, for purposes of qualifying as a “hedger”, relate to hedging activities. The Draft Guidance Note enclosed as Attachment A to the Notice 19-0200 provides additional information to guide Dealer Members. |
Question #2 Do you agree that IIROC should include a hedger category within its institutional client definition and that this category include all hedging activities rather than hedging activities involving OTC derivatives? Do you agree that meeting a minimum financial assets threshold is unnecessary to qualify as a hedger? If you don’t agree, at what level should IIROC set a minimum financial assets threshold for hedgers? | |
| 15. Four commenters agree that hedgers should be included in the definition of an institutional client, that the category should include all hedging activities rather than hedging activities only involving OTC derivatives, and that a minimum financial assets threshold is unnecessary to qualify as a hedger (CFA Societies, IIAC, Questrade, tFOSE) | We acknowledge these comments. |
Question #3 Is the concept of hedger well defined? How could the definition of hedger be improved? | |
16. Three commenters believe the definition of “hedger” could be streamlined (CFA Societies, Questrade, tFOSE) One commenter adds that the definition should include individuals and that the determination of who qualifies as a hedger should be done as part of a dealer's KYC obligations. (tFOSE) | Please refer to our response above relating to ‘Institutional Client definition – Hedger’. Once the CSA finalizes its proposed NI 93-101 and NI 93-102, we will make an assessment and consider if new amendments to the definition of institutional client would be warranted. |
| 1.2 Business Conduct | |
| 1.2.1 Business Continuity Plan | |
Question #4 What considerations do you think this guidance should itemize in determining when a dealer should invoke their business continuity plan? | |
17. One commenter notes that implementing a BCP may not necessarily be the best course of action for a Dealer Member, depending on the specific circumstances of the disruption, particularly for a cyber-related disruption. This commenter rather supports the requirement to inform IIROC of any such disruption. (CFA Societies) Another commenter believes that firms must be given enough time to assess the situation and the impacts of such a situation before reporting it, and invoking their business continuity plan. (IIAC) Another commenter believes that IIROC's view on how and when to invoke the BCP needs to be consistent with good business practices. Guidance based on principles could be helpful by facilitating consideration of relevant factors without being prescriptive about the solutions. (tFOSE) | We acknowledge these comments. The IIROC Rules set out a principle-based framework for Dealer Members to establish and maintain a business continuity plan commensurate to its key business functions and in line with good business practices. As an extension to this principle-based framework, we agree with the suggestion to the requirement of a notification where there is a significant business disruption and the Dealer Member’s plan to resolve the disruption (including invoking its business continuity plan, as applicable), instead of the requirement for the Dealer Member to invoke its business continuity plan. We will change the proposed requirement to require that IIROC be notified of the disruption and to require that this notification must detail the dealer’s plans to resolve the disruption and indicate whether the dealer intends to invoke their BCP. |
18. Two commenters (IIAC, Questrade) also raised specific questions in their responses, including:
| Where there is an impairment in client access to their derivatives or securities positions/accounts or to the client’s ability to liquidate or close-out their account positions, this would be considered to be a “significant business disruption”. We have not specified within the IIROC Proposals the minimum duration and severity of an impairment that would result in it being considered as a “significant business disruption” nor have we specified the exact steps a firm must take when dealing with a significant impairment, other than keeping IIROC apprised. This is because assessing the significance of an impairment and identifying the steps to address the issue can be very incident-specific and could vary depending on dealer’s business model and size. However, we plan on issuing guidance setting out important considerations to assist Dealer Members in determining when an impairment qualifies to trigger the requirements relating to a “significant business disruption” under the IIROC Rules. We thank you for the questions raised in your response as they will help us with the projected guidance. |
| 1.2.2 General business conduct requirements | |
| 19. One commenter asks if the proposed amendments would require Dealer Members to proceed with suitability assessments for existing derivatives accounts at the time the amendments would enter in force and suggests considering that the amendments apply only to new derivatives accounts. (MX) | There are already expectations that derivative positions (both listed and OTC) maintained in:
The IIROC Proposals seek to codify these expectations. Please refer to IIROC Notice 21-0148 – Rules Notice –IIROC Rules – Client Focused Reforms for subsequent amendments made to IIROC Rules sections 3402 and 3403 regarding the suitability assessment obligations for retail and institution clients. |
| Best Execution and Client Priority | |
| 20. One commenter is supportive of the proposal to require that the best execution obligation applies to all derivatives orders and transactions and includes specific best execution considerations for listed derivatives and fair pricing considerations for OTC derivatives. (CFA Societies) | We acknowledge this comment. |
21. One commenter wonders how “fair pricing” can be determined for OTC derivatives stating that the pricing of a derivatives transaction depends upon several factors that are interrelated and therefore, it will be very difficult to establish tests to ensure a firm complying with such requirement. This commenter adds that there is no simple way to determine whether all the components of a trade are fair. Given the nature of derivatives transactions, the term “fair” in the context of “fair price” should be interpreted to mean what is commercially reasonable. (IIAC) | Section 3122 of the IIROC Proposals provides that to ensure fair pricing when acting as principal, a Dealer Member must not transact in OTC derivatives with a client except at an aggregate price (including any mark-up or mark-down) that is fair and reasonable, taking into consideration all relevant factors, including the following:
IIROC is proposing that all current factors taken in consideration by a Dealer Member when pricing an OTC derivatives transaction should be specifically addressed in its policies and procedures. We believe having policies and procedures that address such relevant factors would be beneficial to clients and not unduly burdensome to achieve for Dealer Members. |
| 22. Two commenters request clarification with respect to the monitoring and enforcement approach IIROC will take with respect to the best execution and client priority requirements, noting that MX rules already provide for best execution and client priority requirements for listed derivatives orders and transactions. (IIAC, MX) | The IIROC Proposals are extending the scope of application of the best execution obligations to derivatives traded on any marketplace. We acknowledge that MX rules also provide for such requirements with respect to derivatives listed on MX. We share the view that MX and IIROC should work together for an efficient monitoring and enforcement of our respective best execution and client priority requirements in so far as MX listed derivatives are involved. |
| Complaint Reporting - IIROC Rule 3728 | |
| 23. One commenter points out that it will be important to ensure that there is harmonization between the proposed requirements to report complaints relating to derivatives and the potential impact on gatekeeper requirements already implemented by the Montreal Exchange. (MX) | IIROC Rule section 3786 already requires Dealer Members to keep an up-to-date record of all client complaints and associated documentation relating to the conduct, business and affairs of its Dealer Members. This requirement includes the derivatives offering of Dealer Members. The proposed amendment to IIROC Rule section 3728 is meant to clarify that information about derivatives or other property should be retained when subject to a complaint. |
| 1.2.3 Derivatives-specific business conduct | |
24. One commenter points out that it isn’t clear under the proposed IIROC Rule section 3251 if an entirely separate and new derivatives account application is required. For example, in the case of an OEO client opening a margin account and seeking to trade both equities and derivatives, are two separate account applications required? This same commenter also raises the question whether a designated supervisor must be proficient on all derivatives. (Questrade) | A single account application would suffice provided the relevant account opening procedures are followed. IIROC Rule 3200 Part F currently provides additional account opening and updating procedures that are specific to options, futures contract and futures contract options. The IIROC Proposals broaden the scope of these requirements, where appropriate, to apply to all derivatives transactions, positions and accounts. In the case of an OEO client opening a margin account and seeking to trade both equities and derivatives, the applicable requirements would be those provided under IIROC Rule 3200 Parts A, B, D, E and F pursuant to IIROC Rule section 3240. Under the IIROC Proposals, designated supervisors must be proficient in the category relevant to the account they are responsible for the supervision. For example, supervisors designated to be responsible for the supervision of options and similar derivative contract accounts must have completed the courses provided under IIROC Rule clause 2602(3)(xxiii). |
| 25. One commenter notes that forcing firms to enter into a trading agreement may, in some circumstances, be contrary to industry practices and does not add any value versus the current process of sending trade confirmations. (IIAC) | Trading agreements (or where permissible, undertakings in lieu of a trading agreement) are already required for options, futures contracts and futures contract options under IIROC Rules sections 3253, 3254, 3258 and 3259. The IIROC Proposals broaden the scope of this requirement so that it applies to all derivatives transactions, positions and accounts. The trading agreement defines the rights and obligations between the Dealer Member and the client and the undertaking, which may be obtained in lieu of the trading agreement where the client is classified as an institutional client, confirms that the client agrees to comply with IIROC requirements and the requirements of any entity through which the derivative is traded, cleared, or issued. We believe these requirements are fundamental and a necessary part of the Dealer Member/client relationship. |
| 26. One commenter notes that the requirement to have policies and procedures in place to provide clients with access to qualified front-line Approved Persons for all derivatives and securities account offerings should be specific to a firm’s product shelf only and not for all possible offerings in derivatives and securities. (IIAC) | The IIROC Proposals extend the scope of existing requirements under IIROC Rules to all derivatives offerings, whereby a Dealer Member should have policies and procedures in place to provide clients with access to qualified front-line Approved Persons as it relates to the products it offers. The amendments to IIROC Rule section 3964 provide that Dealer Member’s policies and procedures must specifically address that derivatives’ clients have access, during normal business hours, to a Registered Representative, Investment Representative, Portfolio Manager or Associate Portfolio Manager qualified to deal in, where applicable:
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27. Two commenters raise significant impact to the business and operational cost concerns associated with establishing, reviewing, and monitoring of risk capital limits for all derivatives products by pointing out that the percentage of clients trading options is significantly higher than CFDs. In addition, from a practical perspective:
| The intention was to require that risk capital limits be established for all speculative accounts with derivative positions held by retail clients. We will revise the relevant proposed amendments to make this clearer. There may also be a misunderstanding as to the intended application of this proposed new requirement. Specifically, if an account is opened by a client to speculate in positions in a number of derivative types within the same account, it is not intended that a separate risk limit be established and maintained for each derivative type; rather it is intended that a risk limit be established and maintained for the account. Finally, we believe that many of the practical concerns raised are more relevant to hedging accounts rather than speculative accounts. |
| 28. One commenter suggests that the designated supervisor for any type of derivative account offering allows for the designated supervisor to be the same individual designated for equity accounts if the participant so chooses. (MX) | A Dealer Member that trades in options, futures contracts and futures contract options on behalf of clients must already designate a qualified supervisor to supervise those accounts under IIROC Rule 3900 Part F. The IIROC Proposals broaden this requirement to apply to any type of derivative account offering (i.e. not only options, futures contracts and futures contract options). The IIROC Rules and IIROC Proposals do not preclude a designated supervisor to be responsible for both equities and derivatives accounts. |
| 29. Another commenter asks whether from a proficiency standpoint a designated Supervisor is expected to be proficient on all derivatives immediately on the effective date of the amendments. There may be designated Supervisors who have options courses but not futures courses and it will take considerable time for them to complete the required courses. If needed, this would greatly impact business as that individual would not be able to approve “derivatives” accounts. (Questrade) | The amendments proposed do not require for designated supervisors to be proficient in all derivatives. IIROC Rule 2600, Proficiency Requirements and Exemptions from Proficiencies, sets out the minimum proficiency requirements for individuals requiring IIROC approval. The requirements provide that Approved Persons must have the education, training and experience that a reasonable person would consider necessary to perform the activity competently, including understanding the structure, features and risks of each product the Approved Persons recommend. The IIROC Proposals clarify that an individual must be duly qualified in the relevant category to be responsible for approving customer account opening and establishing and maintaining acceptable procedures for any type of derivative account offering (i.e. not only options, futures contracts, or futures contact options) The individual will therefore have to show proficiency based on the type of derivatives account they will be responsible for. We have also signalled that a detailed review of the proficiency and continuing education requirements for Approved Persons dealing in derivatives will be done later as part of a comprehensive review of the adequacy of the proficiency and continuing education requirements for all securities and derivatives business lines. Please refer to IIROC Notice 20-0174 – Administrative Notice – Request for Comments - Consultation Paper - Competency Profiles for Registered Representatives and Investment Representatives, Retail and Institutional (August 18, 2020) for the first phase of IIROC’s competency profiles project which will serve as a cornerstone to IIROC’s proficiency regime. |
| 1.2.4 Expectations, undertaking and conditions to offer CFDs and Forex | |
30. Two commenters believe the expectations regarding advance approval of new products is unclear. A commenter questions whether the approval would be at a security-by-security level or a new class of products (ex. Index CFDs vs Share CFDs)? While the other commenter does not believe IIROC should pre-approve all new offerings citing for example new listed products of a foreign exchange. (Questrade, IIAC) Another commenter suggests that these requirements may be appropriate for riskier highly leveraged instruments but consideration should be given to whether the application is too broad or too restrictive. (tFOSE) | The IIROC proposal relating to the advance approval of new products is a codification of the existing requirements applicable to investment dealers who offer contracts for difference to retail clients. The proposed language does not refer exclusively to contracts for difference as these are not the only products where investor protection concerns with the product or the product underlier may arise. Also, the proposed language does not refer exclusively to OTC products as investor protection concerns may arise with listed products, particularly in jurisdictions with lower listing standards and/or less product feature/risk transparency. We do not expect to use this approval authority frequently but require this authority to ensure that we can act in circumstances where a product featuring higher risk characteristics or complexity, and where investor protection may be a concern, is proposed to be made available to retail clients. |
| 31. Two commenters note that dealers are reliant on client disclosure to maintain accurate awareness and information on a client’s insider status and that any obligation placed on the dealer to restrict insider derivatives trading should be on a “best efforts” basis, taking into consideration information reasonably available to the dealer. (IIAC, MX) | We have revised the language relating to the requirement to identify insiders as part of IIROC’s Client Focused Reform amendments. The revised language clarifies that a Dealer Member must ‘take reasonable steps’ to establish whether a client is an insider. Please refer to IIROC Notice 21-0148 – Rules Notice – Implementation – IIROC Rules – Client Focused Reforms – IIROC Rule (August 26, 2021) for subsequent amendments made to IIROC Rules section 3202. |
| 32. Another commenter adds that IIROC should clarify that insider trading is only prohibited when executed based on non-public material information. (MX) | The IIROC Proposals specify that a Dealer Member must have policies and procedures that specifically prevent a client that is an insider of an issuer of publicly traded securities from transacting in derivatives to avoid insider trading restrictions (see proposed IIROC Rule clause 3962(5)(iv)). Dealers would also need to have policies and procedures that specifically address the review of derivative transactions to detect those made to avoid insider trading restrictions (see proposed IIROC Rule clause 3963(1)(ix)). We don’t believe it would be helpful to indicate within the IIROC requirements when insider trading is prohibited as this is already addressed within securities legislation. |
| 1.3 Client disclosure and periodic client reporting | |
| 1.3.1 Risk Disclosure Statement | |
| 33. Two commenters believe that requiring disclosure on the percentage of accounts that were profitable for OTC derivatives is not consistent with IIROC’s harmonization approach and is currently limited to “qualified persons” under the Quebec Derivatives Act. (IIAC, tFOSE) | The addition of this requirement would be in line with requirements applicable under the Quebec Derivatives Act (see section 11.36 of the Quebec Derivatives Regulation). Retail foreign exchange dealers, futures commission merchants and introducing brokers offering Forex to retail clients are subject to a similar requirement under U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulations (see 17 CFR 1 § 5.5(e)). This disclosure requirement is also part of the measures set by other jurisdictions / regulatory bodies:
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| 1.3.2 Pre-transaction compensation disclosure | |
34. One commenter questions how pre-transaction compensation disclosure would work for OTC derivatives. (IIAC) Another commenter notes that IIROC should determine if such a change would bring technological as well as operational challenges to Dealer Members and to provide Dealer Members sufficient time to comply with the new rules. In addition, IIROC should specify if the required disclosure is on a trade-by-trade basis or otherwise. IIROC should also consider if such disclosure obligation should be necessarily applicable to the same population of clients as for all investment product transactions. (MX) | IIROC currently expects Dealer Members to provide pre-transaction compensation disclosures to retail clients for all transactions, not just securities transactions. This expectation is set out in FAQ #2 of IIROC Rule Notice 16-0113 – Rules Notice – Technical, Client Relationship Model (“CRM”) Frequently Asked Questions (May 30, 2016). Adopting this recommendation will result in the codification of this expectation. Please note that since new issue distributions are not transactions and are subject to separate disclosure requirements, such distributions will continue to be excluded from the pre-transaction compensation disclosure requirement. |
| 1.3.3 Trade Confirmation | |
| 35. One commenter would like IIROC to clarify the intent of new IIROC Rule sub-clause 3816(2)(x)(c) to exempt a Dealer Member from having to provide a trade confirmation for a swap transaction in circumstances where the firm enters into a standard industry agreement that is acceptable to IIROC (such as the ISDA Master Swap Agreement) and the agreement confirms the key terms of the swap transaction. This commenter points out that ISDA Master Agreements do not confirm the key terms of a derivatives transaction. | The intent of the IIROC Proposals is to allow, where appropriate, the use of the confirmation format used within certain acceptable international agreements (such as the ISDA Master Agreement) rather than the confirmation format prescribed with the IIROC Rules. |
36. This same commenter believes a specific section on Give-Up arrangements should be included in the IIROC Proposals, notably regarding the requirement to deliver month-end statements and trade confirmations for institutional customer trades “given-up” to institutional clients. It is industry standard that once a “Give-Up Agreement” is signed and acknowledged by all relevant parties (client, executing firm and clearing firm) that the clearing firm has the obligation to provide the end-client with all trade confirmations and statements pertaining to transactions agreed to and directed to their accounts. Including a specific section on Give-up arrangements would prevent individual executing firms from seeking exemptions with both the provincial securities commissions and with IIROC. (IIAC) | We acknowledge the comment to codify the exemption relief from the requirements to deliver trade confirmations under IIROC Rule section 3816 and month-end statements under IIROC Rule section 3808, for institutional clients who entered a ‘give-up’ arrangement. We will add this exemption in the revised IIROC Proposals. |
| 37. One commenter notes that the Montreal Exchange’s rules already impose a one-year retention period for telephone recordings. This commenter believes that requiring Dealer Members to keep records such as telephone recordings for a period longer than one year may not be the current market practice and that it will be important for IIROC to make sure it does not create any inconsistencies. (MX) | IIROC Rule section 3803 currently provides that a Dealer Member must retain copies of all records required under IIROC requirements for a minimum of seven years from the date the record is created unless IIROC requirements or securities laws relating to the specific type of record require a different retention period. In the IIROC Rules, a “record” is defined as ‘Books, records, client files and information and other documentation, including electronic documents, related to the Regulated Person’s business’. If a telephone conversation is recorded to comply with securities laws, it will be captured under the definition of “record”. As such under IIROC Rule section 3803 such telephone conversation is a record and must be retained for a minimum of 7 years. |
| 1.3.4 Revisions to the “market value” definition | |
| 38. One commenter believes that clarification may be needed regarding market value of firm inventory and client account positions. This commenter is hoping for greater harmonization and not two different market values for the same positions held in inventory vs. in a client account. (IIAC) | The term “market value” is currently defined within the General Notes and Definitions section of Form 1 and within Dealer Member Rule 200. The definition language is the same in both spots. As part of the IIROC Proposals we have moved the “market value” definition in IIROC Rule subsection 1201(1), the definition section, and included additional language to address the unique issues associated with daily and intra-day reporting of market value information, including the reporting of this information to clients. The intent of this additional language is not to permit the reporting of different market values for the same positions held in inventory and client accounts at the same time. Rather, the intent is to provide more flexibility when reporting market value information daily, where there is significantly less time to validate the information, in relation to the time firms currently have to validate periodic market value information (including the information used in periodic account statements sent to clients and periodic regulatory financial filings sent to IIROC). |
| 1.3.5 Monthly Account Statement | |
| 39. One commenter believes that the economic exposure of the derivative product should be reported together with the market value, cash positions and other features of the derivative. (CFA Societies) | The possible inclusion of an additional reporting element within the monthly statement has been considered by assessing the potential benefits and costs of this inclusion. While there are no doubt benefits associated with this inclusion, the associated costs would likely be significant, particularly in instances where firms use external vendors to prepare account statements and these vendors generally conform to the account statement reporting requirements imposed by regulators in the United States. Based on this assessment we will not be pursuing this inclusion at this time. |
| 1.4 Registration and Proficiency | |
40. One commenter believes the IIROC proficiency requirements should remain product specific despite the proposed general definition of derivatives. This commenter wonders if the requirements will become more prescriptive for OTC derivatives if there will be a grandfathered clause prior to any new requirements becoming valid. This commenter also notes that IIROC-regulated members have a rigorous proficiency requirement structure and should be exempt from the CSA proficiency requirements. (IIAC) | The amendments proposed to the proficiency requirements remain product specific. IIROC Rule 2600, Proficiency Requirements and Exemptions from Proficiencies, sets out the minimum proficiency requirements for individuals requiring IIROC approval. The current requirements provide that Approved Persons must have the education, training and experience that a reasonable person would consider necessary to perform the activity competently, including understanding the structure, features and risks of each product the Approved Persons recommend. The IIROC Proposals require individuals to be approved by IIROC to transact in any type of derivatives, including OTC options. |
| 41. One commenter notes that the CPH is a new requirement for IRs dealing in Futures and would like IIROC to confirm if there are any grandfathering provisions or if existing registrants who have not completed CPH will be required to. (Questrade) | The intention is that all client facing registered individuals must complete the CPH and that this requirement will not include grandfathering provisions once implemented. We will allocate adequate time for those affected to pass the CPH when determining the implementation date for this requirement. |
| 42. One commenter would like IIROC to confirm that the proposed amendments to IIROC Rule section 2602 do not impact the "Trader on Montreal Exchange" category. (MX) | The IIROC Proposals do not impact the Traders on the Montreal Exchange category (see IIROC Rule clause 2602(3)(xvi)). |
| 43. One commenter urges IIROC and the CSA to address the fundamental barrier to providing products that enable investors to mitigate their investment portfolio risks that is exacerbated by the fact that initial proficiency requirements for advisers at securities firm do not include derivatives. (tFOSE) | A detailed review of the proficiency and continuing education requirements for Approved Persons dealing in derivatives will be done later as part of a comprehensive review of the adequacy of the proficiency and continuing education requirements for all securities and derivatives business lines. Please refer to IIROC Notice 20-0174 – Administrative Notice – Request for Comments - Consultation Paper - Competency Profiles for Registered Representatives and Investment Representatives, Retail and Institutional (August 18, 2020) for the first phase of IIROC’s competency profiles project which will serve as a cornerstone to IIROC’s proficiency regime. |
| 3.4 Effects of the revised proposed amendments on market structure, Dealer Members, non-members, competition and costs of compliance | |
44. One commenter notes that the proposed rules will create incremental compliance costs for Dealer Members and refers to the following elements of the OSC Regulatory Burden Reduction report:
| We have narrowed the scope of some of the IIROC Proposals and as a result we believe they will impose costs and restrictions on the activities of market participants that are proportionate to the goals of the regulatory objectives sought to be realized. Moreover, as indicated earlier, we will wait for the CSA to finalize its proposed NI 93-101 and NI 93-102 before proposing new amendments. |
| Hedger Guidance | |
Question #5 Does this proposed guidance detail all of the necessary considerations for determining which clients may qualify as hedgers? | |
| 45. One commenter notes that further clarification should be given on the nature of “request and consent” as it relates to a hedger being classified as an “institutional client”. (Questrade) | Thank you for your suggestion. The intent behind the “request and consent” language within the proposed institutional client definition is to ensure the institutional client categorization is initiated by the client and that it consents to the implication of being classified as such. To ensure an informed consent from the client, the Dealer Member will be expected to disclose and explain, with adequate details, the requirements which apply to “institutional clients” as opposed to retails clients under the IIROC Rules before accepting the classification. Dealer Members should also provide clear examples of information they do not have to provide to institutional clients (e.g. relationship disclosures and pre-trade disclosure of charges). The Draft Guidance Note enclosed as Attachment A to the Notice 19-0200 provides additional information to guide Dealer Members. |
46. One commenter requests clarification with respect to obtaining the hedging strategy/program. This commenter would also like to know how Dealer Members are expected to establish in a “conclusive and verifiable manner” that the requisite conditions were met. (IIAC) | Dealer Members should have reasonable basis to classify a hedger as an institutional client. For example, a Dealer Member should review with the client the nature and extent of the risk that is sought to be hedged and to confirm that the transactions are primarily for hedging purposes and not also for speculative purposes. This could be achieved by obtaining the client’s hedging strategy, if available. As indicated, we will wait for the CSA to finalize its proposed NI 93-101 and NI 93-102 before proposing new amendments to the definition of institutional client. |
| 47. One commenter supports the guidance because it is principle based and leaves implementation to firm's judgment. (tFOSE) | We acknowledge the comment. |
Question #6 Does this proposed guidance provide enough detail regarding necessary disclosure to clients by Dealer Members? If not, please provide examples of obligations that we should discuss further. | |
| 48. One commenter believes enough detail on necessary disclosures has been provided. (IIAC) | We acknowledge the comments. |
| 49. One commenter supports the guidance because it is principle based and leaves implementation to firm's judgment. (tFOSE) | |
| 50. One commenter believes sufficient detail has been provided. (Questrade) | |
| Attachment B – Draft Guidance Note – Derivatives Risk Disclosure Statement | |
Question #7 Have we captured all of the important risks relevant to derivatives in the proposed revised Derivatives Risk Disclosure Statement? | |
| 51. Two commenters believe all important risks have been captured. (IIAC, Questrade) | We acknowledge the comments. |
52. One commenter notes that the proposed Derivatives Risk Disclosure Statement is significantly more general than the current version and should reference common specific risks such as volatility risk and time risk. This commenter believes the counterparty risk for OTC derivatives should be explained, particularly for the benefit of individuals who qualify as institutional investors. This commenter also believes it is important to add a reference to the potential risk of a clearinghouse failure or failure of a clearinghouse member for listed derivatives. (CFA Societies) | Changes will be made to include specific common risks such as volatility risk and time risk amongst others. |
| 53. Another commenter notes that the discussion on OTC derivatives platforms is overly broad in its description and seems to be inconsistent with the definition of "listed derivatives." (tFOSE) | Changes will be made to harmonize the disclosure statement with the proposed definition of listed derivative. |
| Attachment C – Impact Assessment | |
| 54. One commenter notes that firms will require a significant transition period to properly implement the changes and to update their policies and procedures. The additional tasks required by member firms to implement the IIROC Proposals, as currently written, are significant and cannot be completed quickly. Therefore, the transition period should be significant. (IIAC) | An appropriate period of time will be provided before the IIROC Proposals are implemented. |
Question #8 Have we identified all of the proposal provisions that will materially impact clients, Dealer Members or IIROC? | |
| 55. One commenter believes that some CSA OTC derivatives exemptions should be part of the IIROC Proposals, such as the exemption for transactions with affiliates. (IIAC) | We do not feel it is necessary for IIROC to adopt in its rules all the exemptions or exclusions provided by various provincial legislation and instruments for transactions between affiliates. |
Question #9 Overall, IIROC has qualitatively assessed that the benefits of these proposals exceed their costs. Do you agree with IIROC’s assessment? | |
| 56. Two commenters believe the requirement for risk limits on all derivative accounts should be removed. (IIAC, Questrade) | We recognize the significant implications associated with establishing, reviewing, and monitoring of risk capital limits for options and have revised the scope of the requirement by limiting it to futures contracts, forward contracts, contracts for difference, futures contract options or similar derivative contracts. |
| 57. One commenter notes that while IIROC has provided an analysis of benefits and impacts, the impacts do not assess the actual costs. (tFOSE) | Based on our impact assessment, we believe the IIROC Proposals impose costs and restrictions on the activities of market participants that are proportionate to the goals of the regulatory objectives sought to be realized. Unfortunately, the dollar magnitude of the collective impacts of the IIROC Proposals can’t be known without detailed stakeholder feedback. |
| 58. One commenter supports IIROC’s process of assessing the benefits of the proposal in light of the potential costs. This commenter is of the view that elements of the proposals do materially resolve in favour of investor interests. (CFA Societies) | We acknowledge the comment. |
04/14/22
22-0055
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