Rule 15g-9
  Sales Practice Requirements for
Certain Low-Priced Securities
a.
As a means reasonably
designed to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative acts or practices,
it shall be unlawful for a broker or dealer to sell a penny stock to,
or to effect the purchase of a penny stock by, any person unless:
1.
The transaction is exempt under paragraph (c)
of this section; or
2.
Prior to the transaction:
i.
The broker or dealer has approved the person's account for transactions
in penny stocks in accordance with the procedures set forth in paragraph (b) of this section; and
ii.
The broker or dealer has received from the person a written agreement
to the transaction setting forth the identity and quantity of the penny
stock to be purchased.
b.
In order to approve
a person's account for transactions in penny stocks, the broker or dealer
must:
1.
Obtain from the person information concerning the person's financial situation,
investment experience, and investment objectives;
2.
Reasonably determine, based on the information required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section and any other information known by the broker-dealer,
that transactions in penny stocks are suitable for the person, and that
the person (or the person's independent adviser in these transactions)
has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial matters that the
person (or the person's independent adviser in these transactions) reasonably
may be expected to be capable of evaluating the risks of transactions
in penny stocks;
3.
Deliver to the
person a written statement:
i.
Setting forth the basis on which the broker or dealer made the determination
required by paragraph (b)(2) of this section;
ii.
Stating in a highlighted format that it is unlawful for the broker or
dealer to effect a transaction in a penny stock subject to the provisions
of paragraph (a)(2) of this section unless
the broker or dealer has received, prior to the transaction, a written
agreement to the transaction from the person; and
iii.
Stating
in a highlighted format immediately preceding the customer signature line
that:
A.
The broker or dealer is required by this section to provide the person
with the written statement; and
B.
The person should not sign and return the written statement to the broker
or dealer if it does not accurately reflect the person's financial situation,
investment experience, and investment objectives; and
4.
Obtain from the person a manually signed and dated copy of the written
statement required by paragraph (b)(3) of
this section.
c.
For purposes of this
section, the following transactions shall be exempt:
1.
Transactions that are exempt under Rule 15g-1(a),(b),(d), (e),
and (f).
2.
Transactions that meet the requirements of
Rule
505 or
Rule
506 (including, where applicable, the requirements of
Rule
501 through 230.503, and
Rule
507 through
Rule
508), or transactions with an issuer not involving any public offering
pursuant to section
4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.
3.
Transactions in which the purchaser is an established customer of the
broker or dealer.
d.
For purposes of this
section:
1.
The term penny stock shall have the same meaning as in
Rule
3a51-1.
2.
The term established
customer shall mean any person for whom the broker or dealer, or a
clearing broker on behalf of such broker or dealer, carries an account,
and who in such account:
i.
Has effected a securities transaction, or made a deposit of funds or securities,
more than one year previously; or
ii.
Has made three purchases of penny stocks that occurred on separate days
and involved different issuers.
Regulatory History |
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57 FR 18045, Apr. 28, 1992 |
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