Rule 17Ad-5
 
Written Inquiries and Requests
(a) When any person makes a written inquiry to a registered
transfer
agent concerning the status of an item presented for transfer during the
preceding six months by such person or anyone acting on his behalf, which inquiry identifies the issue, the
number of shares (or principal amount of debt securities or number of
units if relating to any other kind of security) presented, the
approximate date of presentment and the name in which it is registered,
the registered transfer agent shall, within five business days following
receipt of the inquiry, respond, stating whether the item has been
received; if received, whether it has been transferred; if received and
not transferred, the reason for the delay and what additional matter, if
any, is necessary before transfer may be effected; and, if received and
transferred, the date and manner in which the completed item was made
available, the addressee and address to which it was made available and
the number of any new certificate which was registered and the name in
which it was registered. If a new certificate is dispatched or mailed to
the presentor within five business days following receipt of an inquiry
pertaining to that certificate, no further response to the inquiry shall
be required pursuant to this paragraph.
(b) When any broker-dealer requests in writing that a
registered
transfer agent acknowledge the transfer instructions and the possession
of a security presented for transfer by such broker-dealer or revalidate
a window ticket with respect to such security and the request identifies
the issue, the number of shares (or principal amount of debt securities
or number of units if relating to any other kind of security), the
approximate date of presentment, the certificate number and the name in
which it is registered, every registered transfer agent shall, within
five business days following receipt of the request, in writing, confirm
or deny possession of the security, and, if the registered transfer
agent has possession, (1) acknowledge the transfer instructions or (2)
revalidate the window ticket. If a new certificate is dispatched or
mailed to the presentor within five business days following receipt of a
request pertaining to that certificate, no further response to the
inquiry shall be required pursuant to this paragraph.
(c) When any person, or anyone acting under his authority,
requests
in writing that a transfer agent confirm possession as of a given date
of a certificate presented by such person during the 30 days before the
date the inquiry is received and the request identifies the issue, the
number of shares (or principal amount of debt securities or number of
units if relating to any other kind of security), the approximate date
of presentment, the certificate number and the name in which the
certificate was registered, every registered transfer agent shall,
within ten business days following receipt of the request and upon
assurance of payment of a reasonable fee if required by such transfer
agent, make available a written response to such person, or anyone
acting under his authority, confirming or denying possession of such
security as of such given date.
(d) When any person requests in writing a transcript of such
person's account with respect to a particular issue, either as the
account appears currently or as it appeared on a specific date not more
than six months prior to the date the registered transfer agent receives
the request, every registered transfer agent shall, within twenty
business days following receipt of the request and upon assurance of
payment of a reasonable fee if required by such transfer agent, make
available to such person a transcript, ledger or statement of account in
sufficient detail to permit reconstruction of such account as of the
date for which the transcript was requested.
(e)(1) Response to written inquiries concerning dividend and
interest payments. A registered transfer agent shall respond, within ten
business days of receipt, to current claims that contain sufficient
detail. A registered transfer agent shall respond, within twenty
business days of receipt, to aged claims that contain sufficient detail.
The response shall indicate in writing that the inquiry has been
received, whether the claim requires further research and, if so, a
reasonable estimate of how long that research may take. If no further
research is required, the response shall indicate whether that claim is
being or will be paid and, if not, the reason for not paying the claim.
A registered transfer agent shall devote diligent attention to
unresolved inquiries and shall resolve all inquiries as soon as possible.
(2) Misdirected written inquiries concerning dividend and
interest
payments. In the event that a transfer agent is not the dividend
disbursing or interest paying agent for an issue that is the subject of
a claim under this section, but performed those or any transfer agent
services for that issue within the preceding three years, the transfer
agent shall provide in writing to the inquirer, within ten business days
of receipt of the inquiry, the name and address of the current dividend
disbursing or interest paying agent. If the transfer agent did not
perform those or other transfer agent services for the issue within the
preceding three years, the transfer agent must respond to the inquiry
and may respond by returning the inquiry with a statement that the
transfer agent is not the current dividend disbursing or interest paying
agent and that it does not know the name and address of the current
dividend disbursing or interest paying agent.
(3) As used in this paragraph:
(i) A current claim means a written inquiry concerning
non-payment
or incorrect payment of dividends or interest, the payment date for
which occurred within the preceding six months.
(ii) An aged claim means a written inquiry concerning
non-payment or
incorrect payment of dividends or interest, the payment date for which
occurred more than six months before the inquiry.
(iii) Sufficient detail means a written inquiry or request
that
identifies: The issue; the name(s) in which the securities are
registered; the number of shares (or principal amount of debt securities
or number of units for any other kind of security) involved; the
approximate record date(s) or payment date(s) relating to the claim;
and, with respect to registered broker-dealers, registered clearing
agencies, or banks, certificate numbers.
(f) Telephone response.
(1) A transfer agent may satisfy the
written
response requirements of this section by a telephone response to the
inquirer if:
(i) The telephone response resolves that inquiry; and
(ii) The inquirer does not request a written response.
(2) When any person makes a written inquiry or request that
would
qualify under paragraph (e) of this section except that it fails to
provide sufficient detail as specified in paragraph (e)(3)(iii) of this
section, a registered transfer agent may telephone the inquirer to
obtain the necessary additional detail within the time periods specified
in paragraph
(e)(1) of this section. If the transfer agent does not
receive the additional detail within ten business days, the transfer
agent immediately shall make a written request for the additional
information.
(g)(1) When any person makes a written inquiry or request
which
would qualify under paragraph (a), (b), (c), or (d) of this section
except that it fails to provide all of the information specified in
those paragraphs, or requests information which refers to a time earlier
than the time periods specified in those paragraphs, a registered
transfer agent shall confirm promptly receipt of the inquiry or request
and respond to it as soon as possible.
(2) When any person makes a written inquiry or request which
would
qualify under paragraph (e) of this section except that it fails to
provide sufficient detail as specified in paragraph (e)(3)(iii) of this
section, a registered transfer agent must respond to the inquiry within
the time periods specified in paragraph
(e)(1) of this section. A
registered transfer agent may respond to such an inquiry in accordance
with paragraph
(e)(1) of this section as though sufficient detail had
been provided, or may return it to the inquirer, requesting the
additional necessary details.
Regulatory History |
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42 FR 32413, June 24, 1977, as amended at 51 FR 5707, Feb. 18, 1986 |
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