Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission
CONCISE STATEMENT OF SUBSTANCE AND PURPOSE
The Proposed Securities (General) By-Laws, 2014
The proposed Securities (General) By-Laws, 2014 (“the proposed By-Laws”) are being made
pursuant to Section 148 of the Securities Act, 2012 (“the Act”) to accompany and to provide
operational guidance with respect to matters requiring prescription in the Act as amended.
The proposed By-Laws are structured into twelve (12) parts and three (3) schedules. The various
parts expand upon certain requirements and procedures applicable to provisions of the Act, and
clarify certain obligations and standards of conduct applicable to registrants and self-regulatory
organizations under the Act, such as: -
The requirements that must be met to be registered under the Act;
The disclosure obligations applicable to reporting issuers and other registrants;
The internal operations of the Commission and the operations of self-regulatory
organizations;
Business conduct and practices required of registrants and self-regulatory organizations;
and
Standards of conduct and disclosure obligations for the auditors of registrants.
The schedules address the fees applicable to participate in the securities industry, fit and proper
requirements and the changes that must be reported to the Commission.
In accordance with Section 149 of the Act, the proposed By-Laws will be uploaded to the
Commission’s website (www.ttsec.org.tt).
You are hereby invited to submit written comments on the proposed Securities (General) ByLaws, 2014. Comments may be filed with the Commission on or before October 24, 2014 by
delivering same to:
The Chairman
Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission
57-59 Dundonald Street
Port of Spain
By Order of the Commission.
Dated this 19th day of September, 2014.
September 12, 2014
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SECURITIES (GENERAL) BY-LAWS, 2014
PART I
PRELIMINARY
SECTION Page
- Citation
- Interpretation
- Financial Statements
- Fees
- Forms
- Fit and Proper Requirements
- Prescribed Definitions
- Market capitalization of approved foreign issuers
- Standards of solvency
PART II
THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
- Application
- General Conduct
- Reporting to the Minister or Commission
- Disclosure of interest
- Filing of documents with Commission
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PART III
THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO STOCK EXCHANGE AND OTHER SELFREGULATORY ORGANIZATIONS
Application for registration as a self-regulatory
organization
16. Prescribed records for self-regulatory organizations
PART IV
REGISTRANTS
17. Designated Person
18. Application for registration as a broker-dealer
19. Application for registration as investment advisor
20. Application for registration as an underwriter
21. Registration of Registered Representatives
22.
Requirements for registration of Registered
Representatives
23.
Application for sponsored broker-dealer or investment
adviser
24. Approval of Substantial Shareholders
25. Registration Statement
26 Distribution Statement
PART V
OBLIGATIONS OF REGISTRANTS
27. Capital requirements and notification
September 12, 2014
- Quarterly calculation of capital requirements
- Record-keeping by registrants
- Adequate precautions and access
- Records of original entry
- Ledgers
- Ledger account
- Securities record
- Order and instructions
- Confirmation and notice
- Cash and margin account
- Option records
Audited annual comparative financial statements of
registrants
40. Interim Financial Statements
41. Financial statements to customer by registrants
42. Education and training
43. Standards of investment for filing
44. Statements of accounts
45. Acknowledgement of record entry transfers in contract
46. Branch Offices
47. Filing of annual report
48. Material Change reports
49. Annual comparative financial statements
September 12, 2014
- Management Discussion and Analysis
- Acceptable accounting principles
- Filing of material sent to security holders or filed abroad
- Notification of changes
PART VI
MARKET CONDUCT AND REGULATION
- Trading confirmations
- Client accounts
- Trades other than through a securities exchange
- Separate supervision of accounts and pooling
- Segregation of client securities
- Improper use of client assets
- Know your client
- Suitability obligation
- Discretionary Trading
- Executing order name or code
- Supervision, compliance and risk management systems
- Complaints
PART VII
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
- Related parties of registrants
- Conflict of interest rules statement
September 12, 2014
- Limitations on trading – related parties of registrants
- Limitation on advising – related parties of registrants
Limitations on the exercise of discretion – related party of a
registrant
71.
Confirmation and reporting of transactions in securities of
a related party of a registrant
PART VIII
DISTRIBUTIONS
72. Advertisements in connection with a distribution
73.
Advertisement in connection with certain exempt
distributions
74. Risk disclosure statements for asset-backed securities
75. Re-sale restriction statement
76. Submission to jurisdiction for approved foreign issuers
77. Marketing restrictions for prospectus offerings
78. Advice to individual accredited purchasers
79. Post-Distribution statements
PART IX
SIMPLIFIED CLEARING FACILITIES
80. Notice to clearing agency of closing of securities register
PART X
DEALING BY PERSONS CONNECTED WITH ISSUERS
81. Report by persons connected to a reporting issuer
PART XI
CONTINGENCY FUND AND SETTLEMENT ASSURANCE FUND
82. Definitions and Application
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- Purpose of fund
- Administration of fund
- Power of trustees
- Obligatory rules of governance
- Accounting for the fund
- Appointment of auditors
- Refusal of claims
- Winding up of fund
PART XII
AUDITORS
- Acceptable auditors
- Qualifications of auditors
- Criteria for independence of auditors
- Limit on timeframe of auditor for SRO or registrants
Restrictions on activities provided by auditors to SRO or
registrants
96. Appointment of auditor by the Commission
97. Notifications in respect of auditors
98. Notice on resignation of auditor
99. Notice of removal of Auditor
100. Appointment of replacement auditor
PART XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
101.
Imposition of penalties
September 12, 2014
- Securities Industry Bye-Laws revoked
SCHEDULE 1 – FEES
SCHEDULE 2 –FIT AND PROPER REQUIREMENTS
SCHEDULE 3– NOTIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS
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Legal Notice No.
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
THE SECURITIES ACT, 2012
BY-LAWS
Made by the Minister under section 148 of the Securities Act, 2012 and subject to
negative resolution of Parliament
THE SECURITIES (GENERAL) BY-LAWS, 2014
PART I
PRELIMINARY
Citation 1. These By-laws may be cited as the Securities (General) By-laws,
Interpretation Act
No. 17 of 2012
2. In these By-laws, “the Act” means the Securities Act, 2012.
Financial
Statements
3. The financial statements required under the Act and these Bylaws shall -
(a) be prepared in accordance with financial
reporting standards;
(b) include, but are not limited to-
(i) a statement of financial position;
(ii) a statement of comprehensive income;
(iii) a statement of changes in equity;
(iv) a statement of cash flows;
(v) notes, comprising a summary of significant
accounting policies and other explanatory
information;
(vi) a statement of financial position as at the
beginning of the earliest comparative
period when an entity applies an
accounting policy retrospectively, or
makes a retrospective restatement of
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items in its financial statements, or when
it reclassifies items in its financial
statement; and
(vii)any other statement or financial
information that may be associated with
the industry of operation;
(c) unless otherwise provided for in these By-laws, be
certified -
(i) for interim financial statements, by the
directors of the registrant or self-regulatory
organization, and the certification shall be
evidenced by the signature of the chief
executive officer or other senior officer duly
authorised by the board of directors to sign
on behalf of the registrant or self-regulatory
organization on the approved form; or
(ii) for annual audited financial statements, by
the signatures of two directors of the
registrant or self-regulatory organization
duly authorized to signify the certification
on the approved form.
Fees
Schedule 1
- The fees payable under the Act and these By-laws are those set
forth in Schedule 1.
Forms 5. The approved forms referred to in the Act and these By-laws
are such forms as the Commission may determine.
Fit and proper
requirements –
Schedule 2
- The fit and proper criteria referred to in the Act and these Bylaws are those set forth in Schedule 2.
Prescribed
definitions
- For the purposes of these By-laws-
(a) “accountant” means an individual who is a
member in good standing with the
Institute of Chartered Accountants of
Trinidad and Tobago or such equivalent
body in a foreign jurisdiction and meets
any other requirements as the Commission
may approve;
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(b) "advising representative" means a person
employed by, or acting for, a registrant
registered under section 51(1)(a) or (b),
who performs the activities of an
investment adviser on behalf of his
employer;
(c) “associate representative" means a person
employed by, or acting for, a registrant
registered under section 51(1) who-
(i) is supervised by an advising
representative, brokering representative, or
underwriting representative; and
(ii) performs the class of business activities for
which such registrant is registered;
(d) "brokering representative" means a person
employed by or acting for, a registrant
registered under section 51(1)(a), who
performs the activities of a broker-dealer on
behalf of his employer;
(e) “Former By-laws” means the Securities Industry
By-laws, 1997, repealed by these General
By-laws;
(f) “regulatory capital” means-
(i) cash or cash equivalents held in a financial
institution;
(ii) money market accounts of a collective
investment scheme in Trinidad and
Tobago;
(iii) the market value of securities of the
Government of Trinidad and Tobago; or
(iv) assets held in such other form as approved
by the Commission,
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which is free and clear of any encumbrances; and
(g) "underwriting representative" means a person
employed by, or acting for, a registrant
registered under section 51(1)(a) or (c), who
performs the activities of an underwriter on
behalf of his employer.
Market
capitalization of
approved foreign
issuers
- (1) For the purposes of section 69(1)(a) of the Act, the prescribed
market capitalization is five hundred million dollars and shall
be equal to the aggregate market value of the outstanding
equity securities of the issuer calculated by multiplying -
(a) the total number of equity securities of each class
outstanding on the day the issuer became a
reporting issuer under the Act; and
(b) the closing price of each class of equity securities
outstanding on the principal foreign securities
exchange upon which such equity securities are
traded on the day set forth in paragraph (1)(a), or
the immediately preceding day on which trading
took place on such foreign securities exchange if
the class of equity securities did not trade on the
last day of the most recently completed financial
year of the foreign issuer.
(2) For the purposes of section 80(2)(c) of the Act, the
prescribed market capitalization is five hundred million dollars
and shall be equal to the aggregate market value of the
outstanding equity securities of the issuer calculated by
multiplying -
(a) the total number of equity securities of each class
outstanding on the relevant date; and
(b) the closing price of each class of equity securities
outstanding on the principal foreign securities
exchange upon which such equity securities are
traded on the relevant date, or the immediately
preceding day on which trading took place on
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such foreign securities exchange if the class of
equity securities did not trade on the relevant date.
Standards of
solvency
- (1) For the purposes of reviewing the solvency of any person
required to be registered under the Act and these By-laws, a
person has failed to observe the standards of solvency when, at
any time, there are reasonable grounds to believe that -
(a) the person is unable to pay his liabilities as they
become due or;
(b) the realizable value of the assets of the person is
less than the aggregate of -
(i) its liabilities; and
(ii) the stated capital of its securities.
(2) In addition to the standards of solvency required by
paragraph (1), the Commission may require a person required
to be registered under the Act and these By-laws to maintain
such minimum level of capital as it may deem necessary.
PART II
THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Division 1 - Conduct
Application 10. (1) By-laws 11 and 12 apply to each member of the
Commission, the chief executive officer, and each officer, clerk
or other person who is employed by the Commission or who
holds office or an appointment under the Act or any person to
whom any authority has been delegated by the Commission.
(2) By-laws 11 and 12 do not apply to transactions in
personal promissory notes or securities issued by, or
guaranteed by a government entity.
General conduct 11. No person to whom this by-law applies shall -
(a) engage directly or indirectly in any personal
business transaction or private arrangement for
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personal profit or the avoidance of a loss which
accrues from, or is based upon his official
position or authority or upon confidential or
non-public information which he gains by
reason of such position or authority;
(b) act in a manner that might result in, or create the
appearance of -
(i) a public office being used for private
benefit, gain or profit or the avoidance of a
loss;
(ii) having received preferential treatment
other than as provided for in the Act;
(iii) a loss of independence or impartiality of
such person; or
(iv) a loss of public confidence in the integrity
of the Commission;
(c) divulge or release, in advance or otherwise,
confidential, non-public or official information
to any person unless authorized under the Act;
(d) divulge or release at any time after the
termination of his office, appointment or
employment with the Commission, or the
completion of any matter delegated to him,
confidential, non-public or official information
to any person unless authorized under the Act;
(e) act as an official in a matter in which the person
has a material direct or indirect personal interest
whether pecuniary or not;
(f) be involved, directly or indirectly, in any business
or financial affairs which may conflict with his
duties or responsibilities; or
(g) hold office in, or be a director of a registrant or
self-regulatory organization.
Reporting to the
Minister or
Commission
- (1) At the time of taking office or employment with the
Commission, a person referred to in by-law 10(1) shall provide
a report disclosing his direct and indirect beneficial ownership
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of, or control or direction over, securities of registrants and
self-regulatory organizations -
(a) in the case of members of the Commission, to the
Minister; and
(b) in the case of all other such persons to whom this
by-law applies, to the Chairman of the
Commission.
(2) Each member of the Commission shall report to the
Minister, and every other person to whom this by-law applies
shall report to the Chairman of the Commission, within five
business days from the day on which a change takes place in
his direct or indirect beneficial ownership of, or control or
direction over, securities of a reporting issuer, disclosing -
(a) his direct and indirect beneficial ownership of, or
control or direction over, securities of a reporting
issuer, at the end of that month; and
(b) the change or changes that occurred during that
month.
(3) Where the change in ownership in paragraph (2)
relates to an interest in a collective investment scheme, each
member of the Commission shall report to the Minister, and
every other person to whom this by-law applies shall report
to the Chairman of the Commission -
(a) every three months where the change is part of a
regularly scheduled, recurring pattern; and
(b) within five business days from the day on which
the change took place for any change other than
in paragraph (a).
(4) The Minister may require a person to dispose of his
beneficial interest in a security acquired as a result of a
violation of this by-law.
Disclosure of
interest
- Every person referred to in by-law 10(1) who -
(a) has any interest in a security of a reporting issuer,
or any personal interest in any issuer or project
that is the subject of, or part of the subject of any
matter assigned to him as part of, his duties; or
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(b) had prior employment or other relationship to
any person or project which may prejudice or
affect his work, independence or impartiality on
any assignment,
shall, if he is a member of the Commission, advise the
Minister, or in any other case, advise the Chairman of the
Commission.
Division 2 – Filings with the Commission
Filing of
documents with
Commission
- (1) Documents expressly required to be filed with the
Commission shall be filed by -
(a) mailing or delivering, such documents to the
address of the Commission; or
(b) providing to the Commission an electronic
version of such documents in a format as may be
required by the Commission.
(2) A document filed with the Commission under
paragraph (1)(a) shall be deemed to be filed on the day which
is the earlier of its actual receipt by the Commission and the
day which such document is postmarked.
(3) A document filed with the Commission under
paragraph (1)(b) shall be deemed to be filed on the day on
which it is received by the Commission.
PART III
THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO STOCK EXCHANGE
AND OTHER SELF-REGULATORY ORGANIZATIONS
Application for
registration as a
self-regulatory
organization
- (1) Application for registration, renewal or reinstatement
as a self-regulatory organization under Part III of the Act shall
be made on the approved form.
(2) Every self-regulatory organization shall have a
designated person responsible for the discharge of its
obligations under the Act who shall be the primary contact
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with respect to all matters related to the Commission and who
shall be a senior officer of the self-regulatory organization.
(3) Every self-regulatory organization shall notify the
Commission-
(a) within three months of the coming into force of
these By-laws, of the person designated under
paragraph (2) ; and
(b) forthwith, of any change in the designated
person.
Prescribed
records for selfregulatory
organizations
- (1) A self-regulatory organization shall prepare and keep -
(a) in the case of a self-regulatory organization that
is a securities exchange, a record of all orders or
transactions in securities effected through the
facilities of that securities exchange and the
record shall identify the buying and selling
broker-dealers, the price, quantity and account
numbers of the buyers and sellers of the
securities;
(b) in the case of a self-regulatory organization that
is a securities exchange, a record of all granting,
refusal or restrictions on membership, including
the reasons for granting, refusing or imposing
conditions on the applicant;
(c) in the case of a self-regulatory organization that is
a clearing agency, records that provide an audit
trail of transactions cleared and settled through
its facilities including the time the transaction was
cleared and settled, the name and quantity of the
security and the time of the transaction, identities
and where appropriate, the roles of the parties to
the transaction;
(d) an annual report containing a management
discussion and analysis and its annual audited
comparative financial statements;
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(e) an annual audited report on the operations and
financial conditions of a contingency fund or a
settlement assurance fund maintained by the selfregulatory organization;
(f) a record of all disciplinary matters involving
members of the self-regulatory organization,
detailing the nature of the matter, the names of
members involved and the actions taken; and
(g) a record of all written complaints made against
the self-regulatory organization or a member
regardless of whether any disciplinary action was
taken, detailing the nature of the complaint, the
names of the members involved, and the action
taken, if any.
(2) A self-regulatory organization is required to file with
the Commission the reports contained in by-law 16(1)(d) and
(e) within one hundred and twenty days of its financial year
end.
PART IV
REGISTRANTS
Division 1 - General
Designated
person
- (1) Every reporting issuer and registrant registered under
section 51(1) of the Act, shall have a designated person who
shall be the primary contact with respect to all matters related
to the Commission and, where applicable, shall be a senior
officer.
(2) Every reporting issuer and registrant registered under
section 51(1) of the Act shall notify the Commission of the
person designated under paragraph (1) within three months of
the coming into force of these By-laws.
(3) Where a registrant is an entity constituted in trust form,
the trustees or such other persons as may be approved by the
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Commission shall be responsible for the discharge of its
obligations under the Act.
Division 2 – Registration under section 51 of the Act
Application for
registration as a
broker-dealer
- (1) Every applicant for registration, renewal or
reinstatement to conduct the business activities of a brokerdealer shall -
Chap. 81:01
(a) be a company incorporated in Trinidad and
Tobago or incorporated in any other designated
foreign jurisdiction and registered in Trinidad
and Tobago as an external company under the
Companies Act;
(b) have as its primary business an activity for which
registration is required under section 51(1)(a) of
the Act;
(c) not have direct or indirect interests which may
conflict with, or be likely to affect the conduct and
integrity of its business as a broker-dealer;
(d) satisfy the minimum capital requirements
applicable to its class of business as set forth in
by-law 27(1);
(e) have at least two brokering representatives
registered under by-law 21 who each have at least
three years securities related work experience;
(f) pay the relevant fee; and
(g) be fit and proper.
(2) A person registered as a broker-dealer is deemed to be
registered as an investment adviser.
(3) A broker-dealer may perform the activities of an
underwriter provided that-
(a) the applicant has in its employ at least one
underwriting representative registered under bylaw 21;
(b) the applicant pays the relevant fee; and
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(c) the applicant meets any other conditions as the
Commission may require.
(4) An application for registration under paragraph (1)
shall be made on the approved form.
Application for
registration as
investment
advisor
- (1) Every applicant for registration, renewal or reinstatement
to conduct the business activities of an investment adviser
shall -
(a) in the case of an individual –
(i) be at least twenty-one years of age;
(ii) have a degree or professional qualification
in economics, banking, law, accountancy,
business administration, chartered
secretaryship, finance or such other
qualification or training from a university
or other educational institution recognized
by the Commission;
(iii) have at least three years securities-related
work experience;
(iv) pay the relevant fee; and
(v) be fit and proper; or
(b) in the case of a company –
Chap. 81:01
(i) be a company incorporated in Trinidad and
Tobago or incorporated in any other
designated foreign jurisdiction and
registered in Trinidad and Tobago as an
external company under the Companies
Act;
(ii) have as its primary business an activity for
which registration is required under
section 51(1)(b) of the Act;
(iii) not have direct or indirect interests which
may conflict with or be likely to affect the
conduct and integrity of its business as an
investment adviser;
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(iv) have at least two advising representatives
registered under by-law 21 who each have
at least three years securities related work
experience;
(v) pay the relevant fee; and
(vi) be fit and proper.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the following persons may
perform the business activities of an investment adviser
without registration under Part IV of the Act -
(a) an insurance company registered under the
Insurance Act and any director, officer or
employee thereof;
(b) a financial institution and any director, officer or
employee thereof;
(c) an Attorney-at-law or an accountant;
(d) a publisher of, or writer for, a newspaper, news
magazine, or business or financial publication that
is of general and paid circulation, distributed only
to subscribers to it for value or to purchasers of it,
who -
(i) gives advice as an investment adviser either
as such publisher or writer only, or as such
publisher or writer and as an Attorney-atlaw or an accountant;
(ii) discloses in the publication any direct or
indirect beneficial ownership or other
interest which he has in any of the securities
in respect of which he gives investment
advice;
(iii) discloses in the publication that he is not a
registered investment adviser with the
Commission; and
(iv) receives no commission or other
consideration, directly or indirectly,
from the issuer of the securities, or any
affiliate or associate of the issuer of the
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securities, in respect of which the
investment advice given.
(3) The exemption under paragraph (2) is available to a
person only if the performance of the services as an investment
adviser is solely incidental to his principal business or
occupation as stated in that paragraph.
(4) An application for registration under paragraph (1)(a)
shall be made on the approved form.
(5) An application for registration under paragraph (1)(b)
shall be made on the approved form.
Application for
registration as
an underwriter
- (1) Every applicant for registration, renewal or
reinstatement to conduct the business activities of an
underwriter shall -
Chap. 81:01
(a) be a company incorporated in Trinidad and
Tobago or incorporated in any other designated
foreign jurisdiction and registered in Trinidad
and Tobago as an external company under the
Companies Act;
(b) have as its primary business an activity for which
registration is required under section 51(1)(c) of
the Act;
(c) not have direct or indirect interests which may
conflict with, or be likely to affect the conduct and
integrity of its business as an underwriter;
(d) satisfy the minimum capital requirements set
forth in by-law 27(1);
(e) have at least two underwriting representatives
registered under by-law 21 who each have at least
three years securities-related work experience;
(f) pay the relevant fee; and
(g) be fit and proper.
(2) An underwriter may perform the business activities of
an investment adviser without registration so long as the
performance of the activities of an investment adviser is solely
incidental to its functions as an underwriter.
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(3) An application for registration under paragraph (1) shall
be made on the approved form.
Registration of
Registered
Representatives
(1) Every individual to whom section 51(2) of the Act
applies, shall be registered in one or more of the following
categories:
(a) an advising representative;
(b) a brokering representative;
(c) an underwriting representative; or
(d) an associate representative.
(2) A registrant under section 51(1) of the Act shall submit a
list of all registered representatives in its employment on the
approved form and pay the relevant fee upon its application
to register, renew or reinstate under section 52(1) of the Act.
(3) Where a registrant employs a registered representative
subsequent to an application under paragraph (2), it shall
submit the approved form in respect of that new registered
representative and pay the relevant fee.
(4) The functions of a registered representative shall be
restricted to the category of registration for which he is
registered.
(5) For each registered representative in its employ, a
registrant under section 51(1) of the Act shall maintain records
evidencing that the registered representative meets the criteria
set forth in by-law 22.
Requirements
for registration
of Registered
Representatives
22.
(1) Every senior officer, agent or employee who is to be
registered under by-law 21(1)(a),(b) or (c) shall-
(a) complete the approved form;
(b) be an individual of at least twenty-one years of
age;
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(c) have a degree or professional qualification in
economics, banking, law, accountancy, business
administration, chartered secretaryship, finance
or such other qualification or training from a
university or other educational institution
recognized by the Commission;
(d) have a least two years working experience in a
field specified in paragraph (c); and
(e) be fit and proper.
(2) A senior officer, agent or employee applying for
registration under by-law 21(1)(d) shall-
(a) complete the approved form;
(b) be an individual of at least twenty-one years of
age;
(d) be fit and proper; and
(d) be under the direct supervision of a registered
advising, brokering or underwriting
representative who is authorised to perform the
class of activities for which the associate
representative is being supervised.
Application for
sponsored
broker-dealer or
investment
adviser
- (1) Every applicant for registration under section 51(5) of
the Act shall -
(a) be an individual of at least twenty-one years of
age;
(b) not be registered to conduct the activities under
section 51(1) of the Act;
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(c) not be the senior officer or employee of a
registrant registered under section 51(1) of the
Act;
(d) be registered as an individual in the category of
broker-dealer or, investment adviser or any
equivalent or similar category, under the
securities legislation of a designated foreign
jurisdiction, which registration shall be in good
standing and not revoked, suspended or
cancelled by the competent securities regulatory
authority in the designated foreign jurisdiction;
(e) at the time of the application not be the subject of
any disciplinary proceedings by any selfregulatory organization or competent securities
regulatory authority in any jurisdiction;
(f) be a senior officer or employee of a broker-dealer
or investment adviser, or any equivalent or similar
entity,registered under the securities legislation of
a designated foreign jurisdiction, which
registration shall be in good standing and not
revoked, suspended or cancelled by the competent
securities regulatory authority in the designated
foreign jurisdiction; and
(g) be fit and proper.
(2) An application for registration under paragraph (1)
shall be made on the approved form and accompanied by -
(a) a letter from a broker-dealer or investment
adviser registered under section 51(1) of the Act
wherein the broker-dealer or, investment adviser
agrees to sponsor the applicant for registration
under section 51(5) of the Act;
(b) evidence of due registration in good standing in a
designated foreign jurisdiction required under
paragraphs (1)(d) and (f); and
(c) the relevant fee.
September 12, 2014
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(3) The broker-dealer or investment adviser, identified in
paragraph (2)(a), shall be responsible for the discharge of the
obligations of the sponsored broker-dealer or investment
adviser whom it agrees to sponsor pursuant to paragraph
(2)(a) an applicant under section 51(5) of the Act and these Bylaws in respect of the activities which the applicant conducts
in the securities market in Trinidad and Tobago.
(4) A person registered under section 51(5) of the Act shall
not engage in the business and activities of a broker-dealer or
investment adviser in Trinidad and Tobago for more than
ninety days in any one calendar year.
Division 3 – Registration under Section 54 of the Act
Approval of
substantial
shareholders
- (1) An application for approval under section 54 of the Act
shall be made on the approved form.
(2) In determining whether an applicant should be approved
to become a substantial shareholder under section 54 of the Act,
the Commission shall take into account-
(a) if an individual, whether he-
(i) is at least twenty-one years of age; and
(ii) is fit and proper; or
(b) if an entity, whether it is fit and proper.
Division 4 – Registration and Distribution Statements under Sections 61 and 62
Registration
Statement
- (1) A registration statement under section 61(1) or a revised
registration statement under section 61(2) of the Act shall be in
the approved form and shall be accompanied by such
documents as the Commission may require and the relevant
fee.
(2) The notification of a limited offering pursuant to section
61(4)(a)(i) and 62(9)(a)(i) of the Act shall be on the approved
form.
September 12, 2014
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Distribution
Statement
- A distribution statement required under section 62(2) of the
Act shall be in the approved form and shall be accompanied by
such documents as the Commission may require and the
relevant fee.
PART V
OBLIGATIONS OF REGISTRANTS AND SELF- REGULATORY
ORGANIZATIONS
Division 1 – Registrants under section 51(1) of the Act and self-regulatory
organizations
Capital
requirements and
notification
- (1) A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act shall
maintain at all times capital levels as follows:
(a) in the case of a broker-dealer-
(i) that only conducts the business of effecting
transactions in securities for the account of
others, minimum capital of two million
dollars, of which at least one million dollars
shall be regulatory capital; or
(ii) that conducts the business of effecting
transactions in securities for the account of
others or buying and selling securities for
his own account and who holds himself out
as willing to buy and sell securities at prices
specified by him, minimum capital of five
million dollars, of which at least two
million dollars shall be regulatory capital;
(b) in the case of a broker-dealer that also conducts the
activities of an underwriter, minimum capital of
six million dollars, of which at least three million
shall be regulatory capital;
(c) in the case of an underwriter, minimum capital of
five million dollars, of which at least two million
dollars shall be regulatory capital; or
September 12, 2014
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(d) in the case of an investment adviser, minimum
capital of fifty thousand dollars, all of which shall
be regulatory capital.
(2) The capital levels set forth in paragraph (1) are the
prescribed levels of capitalization for the purpose of section
57(1)(f) of the Act.
(3) The capital levels that shall be applied to registrants
specified in this by-law may be determined by the Commission
in accordance with international standards and modified from
time to time by order of the Commission.
Quarterly
calculation of
capital
requirements
- (1) A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
shall file with the Commission within thirty business days
following the end of each quarterly period in the financial year
of such registrant -
(a) a statement -
(i) setting forth the capital levels of the
registrant as at the last day of the end of such
quarterly period; and
(ii) setting forth the calculation utilized to
determine the capital levels disclosed in
paragraph (1)(a)(i);
(b) a certificate of a senior officer of the registrant
confirming the accuracy of the statement
required by paragraph (1)(a);
(c) a statement of any additions or withdrawals of
equity capital within the quarterly period.
Record keeping by
registrants
- (1) A registrant or self-regulatory organization shall, where
applicable, maintain records in a manner that permits it to be
provided promptly to the Commission and such records shall
(a) clearly record all of its business transactions and
financial affairs that are conducted in Trinidad and
Tobago;
(b) permit the timely creation and audit of financial
statements and other financial information
September 12, 2014
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required to be filed or delivered to the
Commission;
(c) permit the determination of the registrant’s capital
position;
(d) demonstrate compliance with the registrant’s
capital and insurance requirements;
(e) demonstrate compliance with the registrant’s
policies and procedures, including internal
control procedures;
(f) permit the identification and segregation of client
assets, cash, securities and other property;
(g) identify all transactions conducted on behalf of the
registrant and each of its clients, including the
parties to the transaction and the terms of
purchase or sale;
(h) provide an audit trail for –
(i) client instructions and orders; and
(ii) each trade transmitted or executed for the
account of a client or the registrant;
(i) permit the creation of account activity reports for
clients;
(j) demonstrate compliance with client account
opening requirements;
(k)document correspondence and other
communication with clients;
(l) document complaints and disciplinary matters;
(m)document compliance and supervisory actions
taken by the registrant; and
(n) demonstrate compliance with the registrant’s
obligations under the Act and these By-laws.
(2) The books and records required to be kept in accordance
with the Act and these By-laws shall be kept in English –
(a) in Trinidad and Tobago; or
(b) where the registrant is domiciled in a jurisdiction
outside of Trinidad and Tobago, such books and
September 12, 2014
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records may be kept in a designated foreign
jurisdiction, subject to the approval of the
Commission and on such terms and conditions as
the Commission may require.
Adequate
precautions and
access
- A registrant or self-regulatory organization may only record
or store information using mechanical, electronic or other
devices if -
(a) the method used is not prohibited by law;
(b) the registrant or self-regulatory organization takes
adequate precautions, appropriate to the
methods used, to guard against falsification of, or
tampering with, the information recorded or
stored; and
(c) the registrant or self-regulatory organization
provides a means for making the information
available in an accurate and easily understood
form within a reasonable time to any person
lawfully entitled to examine the information.
Records of original
entry
- A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act as a
broker-dealer or underwriter shall keep records of original
entry which shall contain an itemized daily record of -
(a) all purchases and sales of securities;
(b) all receipts and deliveries of securities including
certificate numbers;
(c) all receipts and disbursements of cash;
(d) all other debits and credits;
(e) the account for which each transaction was
effected;
(f) the name of the securities to which each
transaction recorded applies, their class or
designation, and their number or value;
(g) the unit purchase or sale price, if any;
(h) the aggregate purchase or sale price, if any; and
(i) the trade date and the name or other designation
of the person from whom the securities were
September 12, 2014
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purchased or received, or to whom they were sold
or delivered.
Ledgers 32. A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act as a
broker-dealer shall keep ledgers or other records which shall
reflect –
(a) in detail, the assets, liability and capital accounts
and the income and expenditure accounts;
(b) securities in transfer;
(c) dividends and interest received;
(d) securities borrowed and securities loaned;
(e) money borrowed and money loaned, together
with a record of related collateral and
substitutions in the collateral; and
(f) securities that the registrant should have, but has
not received, or has failed to deliver.
Ledger account 33. Ledger accounts of a registrant required to be kept by bylaw 32 shall be itemized separately showing -
(a) each cash and margin account of each client;
(b) all purchases, sales, receipts and deliveries of
securities and commodities for the account; and
(c) all other debits and credits to the account.
Securities record 34. A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act as a
broker-dealer shall keep a securities record which shall show
separately for each security, as at the trade date or settlement
date -
(a) all long and short positions, including securities in
safekeeping, carried for the account of the
registrant, or for the account of clients;
(b) the location of all securities sold long, and the
position offsetting securities sold short; and
(c) in all cases, the name or designation of the account
in which each position is carried.
Order and
instructions
- A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act as a
broker-dealer shall keep a record of each order and any other
September 12, 2014
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instructions given or received, for the purchase or sale of
securities, whether executed or not, and shall show with
respect to each order and instruction -
(a) its terms and conditions;
(b) any modification or cancellation of it;
(c) the account to which it relates;
(d) where it is placed by an individual, other than -
(i) the person in whose name the account is
operated; or
(ii) the individual who is duly authorized to
place orders or instructions on behalf of a
client that is a company,
the name or designation of the individual placing it;
(e) its time of entry and, where applicable, a statement
that it is entered under the exercise of a
discretionary power of the registrant or an
employee of the registrant;
(f) the price at which it was executed; and
(g) the time of its execution or cancellation.
Confirmation and
notice
- A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act as a
broker-dealer shall keep a record of confirmations and notices
which shall consist of -
(a) a copy of every confirmation for each purchase
and sale of securities required by section 109 of
the Act; and
(b) a copy of every notice of all other debits and
credits of securities, cash and other items for the
accounts of clients.
Cash and margin
account
- A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act as a
broker-dealer shall keep a record of cash and margin accounts
which shall show, with respect to each cash account and
margin account for each client -
(a) the name and address of the beneficial owner of
the account and of the guarantor, if any;
September 12, 2014
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(b) where the trading instructions are accepted from
a person other than the client, written
authorization or ratification from the client
naming that person; and
(c) in the case of a margin account, an executed
margin agreement containing the signature of the
beneficial owner and the guarantor, if any, and
any additional information prescribed under the
Act, but in the case of a joint account or an account
of a company, the record is required only in
respect of the person duly authorized to transact
business for the account.
Option records 38. A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act as a
broker-dealer shall keep an options record which shall show -
(a) all puts, calls, spreads, straddles and other options
granted or guaranteed by the registrant or in
which he has any direct or indirect interest; and
(b) the identification of the securities to which the put,
call, spread, straddle or other option relates.
Audited annual
comparative
financial
statements of
registrants
- (1) A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
shall file with the Commission, within ninety days of the end
of each financial year of such registrant, audited annual
comparative financial statements relating separately to-
(a) the period that commenced on the date of
incorporation or organization and ended as of
the close of the first financial year or, if the
registrant has completed a financial year, the last
financial year; and
(b) the period covered by the financial year
immediately preceding the last financial year, if
any.
(2) No person shall be appointed to act as the auditor of a
registrant for the purposes of this by-law unless such person is
a member in good standing of the ICATT or its equivalent in a
designated foreign jurisdiction and meets any other
requirements as the Commission may order.
(3) The Commission may, where the report of the auditor
required by paragraph (2) is qualified in any respect, take any
September 12, 2014
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action that it deems necessary until the matters giving rise to
the qualified audit report are resolved.
(4) The auditor shall, where he is, in the course of
performing his duties required by paragraph (2), of the opinion
that a matter could give rise to a qualification in the audit
report on the financial statements, provide notice to the
Commission immediately and deliver a copy of the notice
promptly to the registrant.
(5) The notice required in paragraph (4) shall contain
complete details about the circumstances giving rise to the
notice.
Interim financial
statements
- (1) A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
shall file with the Commission, an interim financial statement
(a) where the registrant has not completed its first
financial year, for the period commencing with
the beginning of that financial year and ending
six months before the date on which that
financial year ends; or
(b) where the reporting issuer has completed its
first financial year, for the period commencing
after the end of its last completed financial year
and ending six months after that date, including
a comparative financial information to the end
of the corresponding period in the last financial
year.
(2) The interim financial statement required under
paragraph (1) shall be filed with the Commission within sixty
days of the end of the period to which it relates.
(3) An interim financial statement need not be filed under
paragraph (1) for any period that is less than six months.
(4) An interim financial statement filed under paragraph
(1) need not include an auditor’s report, but if an auditor has
been associated with that statement, his audit report or his
comments on the unaudited financial information shall
accompany the statement.
Financial
statements to
41. A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act shall -
September 12, 2014
- 34 -
customer by
registrants
(a) when requested by a client -
(i) forthwith provide the client with a copy of
the most recently prepared audited
financial statements of the registrant, as
filed with the Commission or selfregulatory organization of which the
registrant is a member; and
(ii) a list of the names of the senior officers of
the registrant, prepared and certified as of
a date not more than thirty days before the
request; and
(b) inform its clients on every statement of account or
by other means approved by the Commission that
the audited financial statements referred to in
paragraph (a) are available on request.
Education and
training
- A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act shall
ensure that its employees, senior officers and other agents have
such education and training as are reasonably necessary to
ensure that its business as a registrant is conducted ethically
and in accordance with industry practice.
Standards of
investment for
filing
- (1) A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
shall develop written policies that maintain standards
ensuring fairness in the allocation of investment opportunities
among its clients.
(2) A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
shall submit a copy of its policies developed pursuant to
paragraph (1) to the Commission upon request by the
Commission.
(3) A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
shall provide a copy of its policies referred to in paragraph (1)
to each client at the time he becomes a client of the registrant.
Statements of
accounts
- (1) Where a client has a debit or credit balance with a
registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act as a brokerdealer, or a registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
as a broker-dealeris holding securities of a client, the registrant
September 12, 2014
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shall send a statement of account to that client at the end of
each month in which the client effects a transaction.
(2) Where a registrant registered under section 51(1) of the
Act as a broker-dealer is holding funds or securities of a client
on a continuing basis, the registrant shall forward, not less than
once in every three months, a statement of account to the client
showing-
(a) in the case of funds, any debit or credit balance;
and
(b) in the case of securities, the details of any
securities held.
(3) A statement of account sent under paragraph (1) or (2)
shall indicate clearly which securities are held for safekeeping.
Acknowledgement
of record entry
transfers in
contract
- A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act as a
broker-dealer shall obtain a written acknowledgment from
each client that any securities beneficially owned by the client
may be kept by means of record entries with a clearing agency.
Branch offices 46. (1) A registrant shall apply in accordance with section
56(6) of the Act for the registration of a new branch office,
where it proposes to conduct the categories of business for
which it is registered at that branch office and the application
shall be accompanied by such documents as the Commission
may require and the relevant fee.
(2) The Commission may, approve a branch office in
Trinidad and Tobago, on such terms and conditions as it
considers appropriate.
Division 2 – Registrants under section 61 of the Act
Filing of annual
report
- For the purpose of section 63(a) of the Act, an annual report of
a reporting issuer shall –
(a) contain the annual comparative financial
statements;
(b) contain a management discussion and analysis
and such other information as the Commission
may require; and
September 12, 2014
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(c) be filed with the Commission annually within one
hundred and twenty days of the financial year end
of the reporting issuer.
Annual
comparative
financial
statements
- (1) For the purposes of section 65(1) of the Act, the annual
comparative financial statements of a reporting issuer shall be
audited and shall be filed with the Commission annually within
ninety days of the financial year end of the reporting issuer.
(2) In addition to the requirements set forth in by-law 3, the
annual comparative financial statements of a reporting issuer that
is a collective investment scheme shall include a statement of
changes in net assets attributable to holders of redeemable shares.
(3) In addition to the requirements set forth in by-law 3, the
interim financial statements of a reporting issuer that is a
collective investment scheme shall include a statement of changes
in net assets attributable to holders of redeemable shares for the
periods specified in section 66(1) of the Act.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (3) the content of the
financial statements for a reporting issuer that is a collective
investment scheme may be varied or amended in such manner as
may be determined by the Commission from time to time.
Certification of
annual and
interim
comparative
financial
statements for
collective
investment
schemes
49 The annual and interim comparative financial statements of a
reporting issuer that is a collective investment scheme shall be
certified, if the reporting issuer is organized or constituted-
(a) as a company, by the directors of the reporting issuer,
and the approval shall be evidenced by the signatures
of two directors duly authorized to signify the
approval;
(b) as a trust, by the trustees of the reporting issuer, and the
approval shall be evidenced by the signatures of two
trustees duly authorized to signify the approval; and
(c) other than as a company or a trust, by any two persons
authorized to sign on behalf of the reporting issuer, and
the approval shall be evidenced by the signatures of
two such persons duly authorized to signify the
approval.
September 12, 2014
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Management
discussion and
analysis
- (1) The management discussion and analysis of a reporting
issuer shall include a discussion of the following items for the
financial year of the reporting issuer for which the management
discussion and analysis is being prepared, and a comparative
discussion for the financial year immediately preceding such
financial year:
(a) the overall performance of the reporting issuer
including -
(i) its year-end financial condition, its results of
operations, and cash flows;
(ii) general industry and economic factors affecting
the reporting issuer; and
(iii) changes in the business during the financial
year and how those changes have impacted
financial condition and performance;
(b) the results of operations for the reporting issuer,
including -
(i) net sales or revenues for the financial year,
including the impact of new goods or services
and factors affecting changes in sales;
(ii) cost of sales;
(iii) expenditures in the financial year including
research and development, administration and
marketing costs, and other material expenses;
(iv) trends, commitments, events, risks or other
factors that the reporting issuer believes may
materially affect the future results of operations
of the reporting issuer; and
(v) unusual or infrequent factors or transactions
which affected results of operations for the
financial year;
(d) the liquidity position of the reporting issuer,
including -
(i) the cash and cash equivalents of the reporting
issuer in both the short and long term, and the
September 12, 2014
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sufficiency of such cash and cash equivalents to
meet planned goals and objectives;
(ii) working capital requirements;
(iii) working capital deficiencies, and the reporting
issuer’s plans to deal with such deficiencies;
(iv) the impact of balance sheet items or cash flows
on the liquidity or working capital position of
the reporting issuer; and
(v) defaults on any debt obligations and the effect
of such defaults on the reporting issuer;
(e) the capital resources of the reporting issuer
including -
(i) the amount, nature and purpose of capital
expenditures required;
(ii) the sources of funds to meet capital
requirements; and
(iii) sources of financing for the reporting issuer,
including sources that have been arranged but
not yet used;
(e) material transactions between the reporting issuer and
its affiliate, including -
(i) identification of the affiliate of the reporting
issuer;
(ii) determination of the transaction price; and
(iii) the on-going relationship between the
reporting issuer and the affiliate of the reporting
issuer; and
(f) accounting policies of the reporting issuer, including -
(i) all changes in accounting policies during the
financial year, the reason for such change, and
the policy currently adopted by the reporting
issuer; and
(ii) accounting policies which are critical to the
reporting issuer in that they required judgments,
estimates or uncertainties where the use of
different judgments, estimates or uncertainties
September 12, 2014
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may result in materially different amounts
reported in the financial statements of the
reporting issuer.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a management discussion
and analysis of a reporting issuer may discuss such other matters
which the reporting issuer reasonably believes are necessary for
a full, true and complete understanding of the financial results,
financial position and future prospects of the reporting issuer.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a reporting issuer is not
required to make disclosure of any matter in a management
discussion and analysis which is not material to the reporting
issuer, or which is inapplicable given the business and operations
of the reporting issuer.
(4) A management discussion and analysis shall be prepared
in plain language and in a format that is easy to read and
understand.
Acceptable
accounting
principles
- For the purposes of sections 65(1) and 66(1) of the Act in respect
of a reporting issuer that is an approved foreign issuer, any body
of accounting principles that would be permitted to be used by
the approved foreign issuer under the securities laws of a
designated foreign jurisdiction in which the approved foreign
issuer is subject to foreign disclosure requirements, shall be
considered financial reporting standards for the purposes of the
Act and these By-laws.
Filing of
material sent to
security holders
or filed abroad
- (1) Every reporting issuer shall file with the Commission in the
manner specified in by-law 14 -
(a) a copy of all material sent by the reporting issuer to
its security holders pursuant to the Act and these Bylaws; and
(b) all elective information not already filed with the
Commission, whether in the same or a different
form.
(2) For the purpose of paragraph (1)(b), "elective information"
means information that is filed with or delivered to-
September 12, 2014
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(a) a government of another jurisdiction;
(b) a financial regulator of another jurisdiction; or
(c) a securities exchange of another jurisdiction,
on the basis that it is material to investors but does not include
information that is specifically required to be filed or delivered in
the other jurisdiction in accordance with the applicable law or,
the rules or regulations of the securities exchange.
(3) Any document or information required to be filed with the
Commission as a result of paragraph (1) shall be filed with the
Commission forthwith after the reporting issuer sends the
information referred to in paragraph (1)(a) to its security holders.
(4) Information that is filed with the Commission pursuant
to paragraph (1)(b) and that has been filed on a confidential basis
in all other jurisdictions in which it is filed, shall be kept
confidential so long as it remains confidential in all those other
jurisdictions.
Notification of
changes
(1) For the purposes of section 56(4) of the Act, the prescribed
events are those set forth in Schedule 3.
(2) For registrants registered under section 51(1) of the Act, the
prescribed time for notifications to be sent to the Commission in
accordance with section 56(4) of the Act shall be seven days from
the date of the occurrence of the prescribed event.
(3) For registrants registered under section 61(1) of the Act, the
prescribed time for notifications to be sent to the Commission in
accordance with section 56(4) of the Act shall be fourteen days
from the date of the occurrence of the prescribed event, unless the
Commission specifies otherwise.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), the prescribed time for the
notification to be sent to the Commission with respect to
paragraph (e) of List B of Schedule 3 of these By-laws shall be
quarterly within five business days of the end of the quarter.
PART VI
MARKET CONDUCT AND REGULATION
Trading
confirmations
54. The confirmation of a trade required by section 109 of the Act
shall contain the following information:
September 12, 2014
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(a) whether or not the registrant acted as principal or
agent;
(b) the price at and the consideration for which the
sale or purchase was effected;
(c) the commission charged in connection therewith
and any other charges incurred;
(d) the date and time at which the purchase or sale
took place; and
(e) the name of the market in which the trade took
place.
Client accounts 55. Payments made into client accounts for the purposes of
section 107(1)(a) and (b) of the Act, shall be made within three
business days of the transaction.
Trades
conducted other
than through a
securities
exchange
- For the purposes of section 86 of the Act, the report, on the
approved form, shall be filed with the Commission within ten
business days following the end of each quarterly period in the
financial year of the registrant.
Separate
supervision of
accounts and
pooling
- A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act shall
ensure that the account of each client is supervised separately
and distinctly from the accounts of other clients.
Segregation of
client securities
- (1) Securities that are held by a registrant for a client
pursuant to an agreement between the registrant and the client
and that are unencumbered shall be kept apart from all other
securities and be identified as being held for a client in the
records of a registrant required to be kept under by-laws 29 to
(2) Securities that are held under paragraph (1) may be
released only on an instruction from the client and not solely
because the client has become indebted to the registrant.
(3) A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
solely as an investment adviser shall not keep securities for, or
on behalf of, a client.
September 12, 2014
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Improper use of
client assets
No registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act shall-
(a) make improper use of a client’s securities or funds;
or
(b) borrow, lend, pledge or otherwise use a client’s
funds or securities without the client’s written
authorization.
Know your
client
60. (1) A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
shall take reasonable steps to-
(a) establish the identity of a client and, where there
may be cause for concern, the reputation of the
client;
(b) ascertain whether the client is a senior officer of a
reporting issuer;
(c) ensure that it has sufficient personal and financial
information about a client to enable it to meet its
obligations when it-
(i) makes a recommendation to the client;
(ii) accepts an instruction to trade from the
client;
(iii) makes a discretionary purchase or sale of
securities on behalf of the client; and
(d) establish the creditworthiness of a client, if the
registrant is financing the client's acquisition of a
security.
(2) If the client of the registrant registered under section
51(1) of the Act is an entity, the registrant shall, in order to
comply with the obligation under paragraph (1)(a), establish-
(a) the nature of the client's business;
(b) the identity of any directors; and
(c) the identity of any person who owns ten per cent or
more of the paid-up share capital of the entity.
(3) The registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
must make reasonable efforts to keep the information required
under this by-law up to date.
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Suitability
obligation
- (1) By-law 60(1) does not apply to a registrant registered
under section 51(1) as a broker-dealer in respect of a trade
executed by him on the instructions of another registrant or a
financial institution.
(2) Pursuant to section 98(1)(a) of the Act, if a client
instructs a registrant registered under section 51(1) or (5) of the
Act to buy, sell or hold a security and the registrant, acting
reasonably, is of the opinion that carrying out the instruction
would not be suitable for the client, the registrant shall inform
the client of the registrant's opinion and shall not buy or sell
the security unless the client instructs the registrant to proceed
nonetheless.
Discretionary
Trading
- (1) A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act as
a broker-dealer shall not execute any trade for a client unless
the registrant has the client’s prior authorization for the
transaction.
(2) A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act as
a broker-dealer, may only execute investment discretion over
a client’s account if –
(a) it has entered into a written agreement with the
client granting such authority; and
(b) the agreement has been signed and approved by a
senior officer of the registrant prior to the first
transaction for the client.
Executing order
name or code
- Where a registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
as a broker-dealer opens and trades on an account on behalf of
a client and executes the orders of a client in its own name or
identifies the client by means of a code or symbol, a registrant
who transacts business with another registrant concerning
those orders shall establish the credit worthiness of the other
registrant but need not otherwise determine the suitability of
a trade for the client of the other registrant.
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Supervision,
compliance and
risk
management
systems
- (1) A registrant shall establish, maintain and apply a
system of controls and supervision sufficient to –
(a) provide reasonable assurance that the entity and
each individual acting on its behalf complies with-
(i) the Act, By-laws or any other By-laws; and
(ii) any other law dealing with anti-money
laundering or combating the financing of
terrorism; and
(b) manage the risks associated with its business in
conformity with prudent business practices.
(2) The system of controls referred to in paragraph (1)
shall be documented in the form of written policies and
procedures.
Complaints 65. A registrant shall establish effective complaints handling
systems and procedures to ensure that –
(a) adequate records of complaints, including a
central register, are established and maintained;
(b) all complaints are responded to within a
reasonable timeframe;
(c) all written complaints are responded to in writing;
and
(d) reasonable efforts are undertaken to ensure that
each complaint is effectively and fairly resolved.
PART VII
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Related parties
of registrants
- (1) For the purposes of by-laws 67 to 71 -
"related party of a registrant" means, in respect of a
registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act-
September 12, 2014
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(a) any person who-
(i) beneficially owns, or exercises control or
direction over, securities, which constitute
in the aggregate more than thirty per cent
of the outstanding securities of any class or
series of voting securities of the registrant;
or
(ii) would, upon the conversion or exchange of
any security or the exercise of any right to
convert or exchange securities into voting
securities or to acquire voting securities or
securities convertible or exchangeable into
voting securities, beneficially own or
exercise control or direction over,
securities, which constitute in the aggregate
more than thirty per cent of the outstanding
securities of any class or series of voting
securities of the registrant; or
(b) any entity in which-
(i) the registrant beneficially owns, or
exercises control or direction over,
outstanding securities which constitute in
the aggregate more than thirty percent of
the outstanding securities of any class or
series of voting securities of the person; or
(ii) the registrant, upon the conversion or
exchange of any security or the exercise of
any right to convert or exchange securities
into voting securities or to acquire voting
securities or securities convertible or
exchangeable into voting securities, would
beneficially own or exercise control or
direction over, securities, which constitute
in the aggregate more than thirty per cent
of the outstanding securities of any class or
series of voting securities of the person.
September 12, 2014
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(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person is not a related
party of a registrant solely because the registrant, acting as an
underwriter and in the ordinary course of its business, owns
securities issued by the person in the course of a distribution.
Conflict of
interest rules
statement
- (1) Every registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
shall prepare and file annually with the Commission a conflict
of interest rules statement in the approved form at the time it
files its audited financial statements with the Commission.
(2) A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
shall provide free of charge a copy of its current conflict of
interest rules statement to each of its clients at the time he
becomes a client of the registrant.
(3) In the event of any material change in the information
required to be contained in the conflict of interest rules
statement, the registrant shall -
(a) forthwith prepare and file with the Commission a
revised conflict of interest rules statement
containing the information required by paragraph
(1); and
(b) within thirty days of the filing of the revised
conflict of interest rules statement with the
Commission, provide to each of its clients a copy
thereof.
Limitations on
trading – related
parties of
registrants
- (1) No registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
shall, as principal or agent, trade in or purchase a security from,
or on behalf of, any client, where the security is issued by the
registrant or a related party of the registrant.
(2) A registrant is not subject to the prohibition in
paragraph (1) if -
(a) the registrant has, before entering into an
agreement of purchase and sale respecting the
security, delivered its current conflict of interest
rules statement to the client, and all changes in
such information required by by-law 67(3) to be
included in the conflict of interest rules statement;
or
September 12, 2014
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(b) the client is purchasing as principal and is either a
registrant or a related party of the registrant.
Limitations on
advising –
related parties
of registrants
- (1) No registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
shall provide investment advice to any person where the
security that is the subject of the investment advice is issued by
the registrant or a related party of the registrant.
(2) A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act is
not subject to the prohibition in paragraph (1) if before
providing the investment advice -
(a) the registrant delivers its current conflict of
interest rules statement to the person receiving the
investment advice, and all changes in such
information required by by-law 67(3) to be included
in the conflict of interest rules statement; and
(b) the registrant discloses in writing the relationship
between the registrant and the related party of the
registrant to the person receiving the investment
advice.
(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply if -
(a) the person receiving the investment advice is a
registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
or a related party of the registrant;
(b) the investment advice given by the registrant
under section 51(1) of the Act is solely incidental
to a trade or purchase of the security carried out
by the registrant and no fee is charged for the
investment advice other than the usual and
customary commission for the trade or purchase;
or
(c) by-law 70 applies.
Limitations on
the exercise of
discretion –
related party of
a registrant
- (1) No registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act
shall in respect of any account or portfolio over which it has
discretionary authority, purchase or sell a security on behalf of
such account or portfolio where the security is issued by the
registrant or a related party of the registrant.
(2) A registrant registered under section 51(1) of the Act is
not subject to the prohibition in paragraph (1) if –
September 12, 2014
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(a) prior to the purchase or sale of the security on
behalf of the account or portfolio the registrant
delivers its current conflict of interest rules
statement to the client whose account or portfolio
the registrant has discretionary authority over,
and all changes in such information required by
by-law 67(3) to be included in the conflict of
interest rules statement; and
(b) the registrant has obtained the specific and
informed written consent of the client to purchase
or sell the security for or from his account or
portfolio.
(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply if the client is a registrant
under section 51(1) of the Act or a related party of the
registrant.
(4) No registrant under section 51(1) of the Act shall make
a loan from any account or portfolio of a client over which it
has discretionary authority.
Confirmation
and reporting of
transactions in
securities of a
related party of
a registrant
- (1) The written confirmation of a transaction required by
by-law 36 shall in the case of a security issued by the registrant
or a related party of the registrant, state that the security was
issued by the registrant or a related party of the registrant.
(2) Any report, other than the written confirmation
required by by-law 36, sent or delivered by a registrant to a
client respecting any trade or purchase of a security made by
the registrant with, from or on behalf of the client, including a
trade or purchase of a security for an account or portfolio of the
client over which the registrant has discretionary authority,
shall in the case of a security issued by the registrant or a
related party of the registrant, state that the security was issued
by the registrant or a related party.
September 12, 2014
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PART VIII
DISTRIBUTIONS
Advertisements
in connection
with a
distribution
- For the purposes of section 74 of the Act, an advertisement
used in connection with a distribution, in addition to the
requirements of the Act -
(a) shall contain the following statement:
“The Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange
Commission has not in any way evaluated the merits
of the securities offered hereunder and any
representation to the contrary is an offence.”; and
(b) shall not contain any fact not disclosed in a
prospectus for which a receipt has been issued by
the Commission.
Advertisement
in connection
with certain
exempt
distributions
- For the purposes of the exemptions provided for in section
79(1)(l)(i) of the Act an advertisement announcing the
completion of an exempt distribution shall contain -
(a) the name of the issuer to which the distribution
relates;
(b) the names of all registrants registered under
section 51(1) of the Act which have participated in
the distribution; and
(c) a statement that the distribution has been
completed and that the advertisement is
appearing as a matter of public record only.
Risk disclosure
statement for
asset-backed
securities
- The risk disclosure statement required by section 79(2) of the
Act shall be in the approved form.
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Re-sale
restriction
statement
- For the purposes of section 79(3) of the Act, the certificate for
a security distributed under an exemption contained in section
79(1)(a), (k), (l), or (m) of the Act shall contain the following
statement:
“Unless permitted under the securities legislation of
Trinidad and Tobago, the holder of these securities shall not
trade the securities before [insert the date that is six months
and a day after the distribution date].”
Submission to
jurisdiction for
approved
foreign issuers
- (1) For the purposes of section 80(1)(a)(i) of the Act, the
certificate stating that an issuer is an approved foreign issuer
shall be in the approved form.
(2) For the purposes of section 80(1)(a)(v) of the Act, the
form of submission to jurisdiction and appointment of agent for
service of process shall be in the approved form.
(3) The form referred to in paragraph (2) shall be submitted
to the Commission annually by the approved foreign issuer
until six years after the repayment or maturity of any securities
distributed by the approved foreign issuer in Trinidad and
Tobago.
(4) Where the name or address of the person appointed as
agent for service of process for an approved foreign issuer
under section 80(1)(a)(v) of the Act changes, the approved
foreign issuer shall revise the form referred to in paragraph (2)
and submit it to Commission within thirty days of the change.
(5) For the purposes of section 80(1)(b)(ii) of the Act, the
addendum to the prospectus or offering document of an
approved foreign issuer shall be in the approved form.
Marketing
restrictions for
prospectus
offerings
- No person shall, in connection with the marketing of, or
solicitation of interest in the distribution of, a security by means
of a prospectus, make any oral or written representation or
disclose any fact to any person with respect to the issuer or the
securities being distributed under the prospectus which is not
contained in the prospectus for which a receipt has been issued
by the Commission.
September 12, 2014
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Advice to
individual
accredited
purchasers
- For the purposes of section 79(1)(l)(iii)(B) of the Act, a
prescribed person is a brokering representative, advising
representative or underwriting representative.
PostDistribution
statements
- A post-distribution statement filed with the Commission
under section 84 of the Act shall be in the approved form.
PART IX
SIMPLIFIED CLEARING FACILITIES
Notice to
clearing agency
of closing of
securities
register
- For the purposes of section 130(1) of the Act, an issuer shall
give the clearing agency no less than seven days’ notice of its
intention to close its securities register or fix a record date.
PART X
DEALINGS BY PERSONS CONNECTED WITH ISSUERS
Report by
persons
connected to a
reporting issuer
- The report required to be filed with the Commission under
section 136 (1), (2), or (3) of the Act shall be in the approved
form.
PART XI
CONTINGENCY FUND AND SETTLEMENT ASSURANCE FUND
Definitions and
Application
- (1) In this Part-
"claimant" means a person who makes a claim against a
contingency fund or settlement assurance fund
September 12, 2014
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except that the following shall not be regarded as
claimants:
(a) a member of a self-regulatory organization;
(b) the holder of thirty per cent or more of the issued
capital of the defaulting member of the selfregulatory organization; and
(c) a broker-dealer;
"contingency fund" means a contingency fund required
to be maintained pursuant to section 47(1) of the
Act;
"settlement assurance fund" means a settlement
assurance fund required to be maintained pursuant
to section 47(2) of the Act;
“member”, in relation to a self-regulatory organization
means a company duly licensed as a member
company of a self-regulatory organization that is a
securities exchange;
(2) This Part applies only to a contingency fund or
settlement assurance fund.
(3) A member shall participate in and contribute to a
contingency fund and settlement assurance fund prescribed in
this Part.
Purpose of funds
– contingency
fund and
settlement
assurance fund
- (1) A contingency fund shall be used solely for the
purpose of providing compensation to clients of a member
who suffer a financial loss as a result of the insolvency,
bankruptcy or default of a member up to the maximum
established in the obligatory rules of governance of the
contingency fund.
(2) A settlement assurance fund shall be used solely to
address the failure of a member to deliver securities or monies
required by the rules of governance of clearing agency up to
the maximum established in the obligatory rules of
governance of the settlement assurance fund.
Administration
of fund
- (1) A contingency fund or settlement assurance fund shall
be vested in and managed by a board of trustees appointed by
the board of directors of the self-regulatory organization.
September 12, 2014
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(2) The board of trustees of a contingency fund or
settlement assurance fund shall comprise at least three
individuals with a quorum being the majority.
(3) Members of the board of trustees shall serve for a term
of three years and are eligible for re-appointment.
(4) The appointment or removal of a member of the board
of trustees shall be at the discretion of the board of directors of
a self-regulatory organization.
(5) All administrative costs including the remuneration of
the board of trustees if applicable may be paid from the
resources of the fund.
(6) Any remuneration paid to the board of trustees shall be
approved by the board of directors of the self-regulatory
organization.
Power of trustees 85. (1) The board of trustees of a contingency fund or
settlement assurance fund may establish a trust account.
(2) The board of trustees of a contingency fund or
settlement assurance fund may incorporate income realized
through investments as part of the contingency fund or
settlement assurance fund.
(3) A contingency fund or settlement assurance fund may
be retained partly or wholly in the form of cash or may be
invested or reinvested in such interest bearing securities as the
board of trustees may from time to time deem appropriate.
(4) The board of trustees may pledge any or all of the
securities in a contingency fund or settlement assurance fund
to secure the payment of any borrowing effected by the board
of trustees, the proceeds of which shall be used to settle claims
against a contingency fund or settlement assurance fund.
(5) The board of trustees may examine all claims made
against a contingency fund or settlement assurance fund for
authenticity and shall accept all legitimate claims made
against a contingency fund or settlement assurance fund.
(6) The board of trustees may make proposals to the board
of the self-regulatory organization in respect of the operation
of a contingency fund or settlement assurance fund.
September 12, 2014
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(7) The board of trustees shall require all clients or members
to do or concur in doing or permitting to be done in respect of
a contingency fund or settlement assurance fund, at the
expense of a contingency fund or settlement assurance fund
all such acts and things as may be necessary or reasonably
required for the purpose of -
(a) enforcing rights and remedies; or
(b) obtaining relief or indemnity from other parties
to which a contingency fund or settlement
assurance fund shall be or would become entitled
or subrogated upon its paying for, or making
good, any loss suffered by the client as a result of
the default of a member of the self-regulatory
organization.
(8) The acceptance by a claimant of compensation from
the board of trustees shall constitute consent by the claimant
to be a party either solely or jointly with the board of trustees
who may, where they consider it expedient to do so, join as
parties with the claimant in respect of an action against a
member for indemnity or damages.
(9) Where the board of trustees join as parties in an action
against a member, the board of trustees may determine the
conduct and settlement of proceedings relating to such action
and the claimant shall provide the board of trustees with the
relevant information to determine whether or not to proceed
with the action.
(10) The board of trustees shall approve all administrative
expenses of a contingency fund or settlement assurance fund.
Obligatory rules
of governance
- (1) A self-regulatory organization shall establish rules of
governance for a contingency fund or a settlement assurance
fund which comply with the Act and paragraph (2).
(2) For the purposes of section 39(1)(g) of the Act the rules
of governance for a contingency fund or a settlement
assurance fund shall contain provisions relating to –
(a) the scope of the fund including-
(i) the contributions to be made by the members
into a fund;
September 12, 2014
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(ii)the criteria under which a claim may be
considered and the form in which
compensation may be paid; and
(iii) any limitation in respect of claims to be made
against the fund inclusive of the maximum
payment permissible per claimant, where
applicable;
(b) disciplinary action to be taken against a member
who is in breach of the rules of the fund; and
(c) general operating procedures including the
procedure for the making and settlement of a
claim including the timeframe in which a claim
may be eligible.
(3) For the purposes of assessing claims made against a
contingency fund or settlement assurance fund, the board of
trustees-
(a) shall exercise their best efforts to obtain a
statement of facts in relation to a claim made;
(b) may obtain information from such other sources
as may be considered relevant in the evaluation of
claims; and
(c) shall make every effort to settle claims within the
limit set by the self-regulatory organisation.
(4) For the avoidance of doubt, in no case is there any legal
right to compensation or any duty on the part of the board of
trustees to award compensation with respect to any claim or a
payment from a contingency fund or settlement assurance
fund as an ex gratia payment.
(5) Subject to section 49 of the Act, no member of a selfregulatory organization shall take any proceedings in any
court with respect to anything done or omitted to be done by
the board of trustees in the exercise of their absolute discretion
in the administration of a contingency fund or settlement
assurance fund, or the application of its assets unless that
member refers the decision of the board of trustees to the selfregulatory organization and the self-regulatory organization
gives its decision thereon.
Accounting for
the fund
- (1) The board of trustees of a contingency fund or a
settlement assurance fund shall maintain appropriate
September 12, 2014
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accounting records for the fund and submit annual financial
statements to the self-regulatory organization.
(2) The financial year end of a contingency fund or a
settlement assurance fund shall be December 31st of every
calendar year or such other date as the self-regulatory
organisation may determine subject to written notification
being given to the Commission.
Appointment of
auditors
- (1) The board of directors of a self-regulatory organization
shall appoint an auditor to audit the financial statements of a
contingency fund or settlement assurance fund.
(2) An auditor appointed under paragraph (1) shall
provide an opinion on the accounts of the contingency fund or
settlement assurance fund which shall be available for
inspection by members of the self-regulatory organization.
Refusal of claims 89. (1) If, after consideration by the board of trustees, a claim
is refused, the claimant shall be notified of the reasons for the
refusal and the claimant may appeal to the board of the selfregulatory organization.
(2) A refusal of a claim shall not prejudice the legal rights
of the claimant as a creditor of the member of the selfregulatory organization in relation to whom the claim is made.
Winding up of
fund
- (1) A contingency fund or settlement assurance fund shall
only be wound up in the event of dissolution of the selfregulatory organization.
(2) For the purposes of the winding up of a contingency
fund or settlement assurance fund, the board of trustees shall
first realize the assets of the fund and after meeting all
liabilities, the assets so realized shall form part of the assets of
the self-regulatory organization and shall be appropriated or
utilized accordingly among the members of the selfregulatory organization.
PART XII
AUDITORS
September 12, 2014
For the purpose of section 65(6) of the Act in relation to a
reporting issuer that is an approved foreign issuer, any
auditor that would be permitted to be an auditor of the
approved foreign issuer under the securities laws of a
designated foreign jurisdiction under which the approved
foreign issuer is subject to foreign disclosure requirements is
an acceptable auditor under the Act.
Qualifications of
auditors
92. A registrant or self-regulatory organization shall not
appoint an auditor unless-
(a) the auditor is an entity having the capacity and
resources to satisfactorily audit the registrant;
(b) at least one member of the auditor is a practising
member in good standing with ICATT or such
equivalent body and meets any other requirements
as the Commission may approve; and
(c) each audit partner, having primary responsibility for
the audit of the registrant is independent, within the
meaning of by-law 93;
Criteria for
independence of
auditors
93. (1) For the purposes of by-law 92(c), a member of an
auditor is not independent of the registrant or self-regulatory
organization if he-
(a) is a connected party of the registrant or selfregulatory organization;
(b) beneficially owns or controls, directly or
indirectly five per cent or more of the shares or
other securities of the registrant or self-regulatory
organization or of any of its affiliates;
(c) is indebted to the registrant or self-regulatory
organization or any of its affiliates other than
by virtue of a fully collateralized loan; or
(d) has within two years immediately preceding
the appointment of the auditor, been a
receiver, receiver-manager, liquidator or
trustee in bankruptcy of any affiliate of the
registrant or self-regulatory organization
other than a subsidiary or affiliate acquired
through a realization of security.
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(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), a person is a
connected party of a registrant or self-regulatory
organization if the person-
(a) is a senior officer of the registrant or selfregulatory organization; or
(b) is a senior officer of—
(i) an affiliate of the registrant or selfregulatory organization; or
(ii) an entity that beneficially owns, directly
or indirectly, or exercises control or
direction over voting securities of the
registrant or self-regulatory organization,
carrying an aggregate of ten per cent or
more of the votes attached to all
outstanding voting securities of the
registrant or self-regulatory organization.
Limit on time
frame of auditor
for SRO or
registrants
- A member of an auditor shall not have primary
responsibility for the audit of a registrant or self-regulatory
organization for a period of more than five consecutive years.
Restrictions on
activities
provided by
auditors to SRO
or registrants
- The auditor of a registrant or self-regulatory organization
shall not provide to that registrant or self-regulatory
organization-
(a) book-keeping or other services related to its
accounting records or financial statements;
(b) financial information systems design and
implementation services;
(c) actuarial services;
(d) internal audit outsourcing services; or
(e) such other non-audit related services as the
Commission may specify.
September 12, 2014
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Appointment of
auditor by the
Commission
- Where the Commission is not satisfied with the audited
annual financial statements or report of the auditor
appointed by a registrant or self-regulatory organization, the
Commission may appoint another auditor to conduct an
independent audit and shall fix the remuneration to be paid
to the auditor by the registrant or self-regulatory
organization.
Notification in
respect of
auditors
A registrant or self-regulatory organization shall forthwith
give written notice, together with reasons, to the Commission
if-
(a) it intends to terminate the appointment of its auditor
before the expiration of its term of office;
(b) it intends to replace an auditor at the expiration of its
term with a different auditor; or
(c) an auditor ceases to be an auditor of the registrant or
self-regulatory organization in circumstances
otherwise than those set out in paragraphs (a) and (b).
Notice on
resignation of
auditor
98. The auditor of a registrant or self-regulatory organization
shall forthwith give written notice to the Commission if he-
(a) resigns before the expiration of his term of office; or
(b) does not seek re-appointment,
together with reasons for such resignation or decision not to
seek re-appointment.
Notice of
removal of
auditor
99. Where the auditor of a registrant or self-regulatory
organization is to be removed as a result of a disagreement
with the senior officers of a registrant or self-regulatory
organization, the auditor shall submit to the registrant or selfregulatory organization, and to the Commission, a written
statement setting out the nature of the disagreement.
Appointment of
Replacement
auditor
100. (1) Where the auditor of a registrant or self-regulatory
organization has resigned or the appointment of the auditor
has been revoked, no person shall accept an appointment as
auditor of that registrant or self-regulatory organization until
the person has requested and received from the auditor who
September 12, 2014
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has resigned or whose appointment as auditor has been
revoked, a written statement of the circumstances and
reasons for such resignation or why, in the opinion of the
former auditor, his appointment was revoked.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person may accept
an appointment as auditor of a registrant or self-regulatory
organization if, within fifteen days after a request under
paragraph (1) is made, no reply from the former auditor is
received.
PART XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Imposition of
Penalty
- Where a person fails to comply with a requirement of
these By-laws, the Commission may impose a penalty as set
out in section 148(2A) or an administrative fine in accordance
with section 156.
Securities
Industry ByeLaws revoked
Chap. 83:02
- The Securities Industry Bye-Laws are revoked.
September 12, 2014
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SCHEDULE 1
FEES
Proposed Registration and Renewal Fees for Registrants
Initial Renewal
Reporting Issuer $8,000 $8,000
Broker Dealer $25,000 $25,000
Broker-Dealer also conducting business as an
Underwriter
$30,000 $30,000
Underwriter $20,000 $20,000
Investment Adviser - Corporation $15,000 $15,000
Investment Adviser - Individual $10,000 $10,000
Registered Representative – per individual $2,000 $2,000
Sponsored Broker-Dealer or Investment Adviser $5,000 n/a
Substantial shareholder – per shareholder $1,000 n/a
Branch Office – per office $3,000 $3,000
Proposed Registration and Renewal Fees for Self-Regulatory Organizations
Initial Renewal
Self-Regulatory Organization - Clearing
Agency
$50,000 the higher of
$30,000 or 0.02% of
the profits of the
clearing agency in
the prior financial
year
Self-Regulatory Organization – Stock
Exchange
$50,000 0.02% of value of
transactions in
each year based on
audited financial
statements
Proposed Registration Fees for Securities
Filing of a Registration Statement $1,000
Market Access Fees for Securities (including
close end CISs)
0.01% of the value of the funds
raised subject to a minimum of
$1,000
Market Access Fees for open end CISs 0.01% of the value of funds
raised in previous year (based
on Audited accounts)
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Proposed Filing Fees
Filing of Prospectus $17,500
Filing of Information Memorandum $10,000
Filing of takeover bid-circular or Issuer Bid
Circular
$15,000
Filing of a Notice of Change or Notice of
Variation under the Take-Over By-laws
$1,000
Other Proposed Fees
Inspection of and Extracts of Register Nominal fee of $100 per visit
plus $3.00 p/page copied
Application for de-listing a security from a
SRO that is a Securities Exchange
$1,000
Application for de-registration as a Reporting
Issuer
$1,000
Proposed Inspection and Examination Fees
Compliance review No Fee at this time
Examinations of Market Actors No Fee at this time
Costs associated with an investigation No Fee at this time
September 12, 2014
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SCHEDULE 2
FIT AND PROPER REQUIREMENTS
- For the purposes of this Schedule, “regulated activity” means the activity carried on
or proposed to be carried on by a person that is required to be registered or approved
by the Commission under the Act.
- In considering whether a person is fit and proper for the purposes of any
provision of the Act or these By-laws, the Commission shall, in addition to any
other matter that the Commission may consider relevant, have regard to-
(a) the financial status or solvency of the person;
(b) the educational or other qualifications or experience of the person,
having regard to the nature of the functions that, if the application is
allowed or granted, the person will perform;
(c) the ability of the person to carry on the regulated activity or execute its
fiduciary duty, competently and fairly;
(d) the reputation, character, reliability and financial integrity, of the
person;
(e) where the person is an individual, the individual himself; or
(f) where the person is an entity, the entity and any senior officer or
significant security holder of the entity.
- Without limiting the generality of subsection (2), the Commission may in
considering whether a person is fit and proper, take into account –
(a) any enforcement action or other decision made in respect of the person
by the Commission or any other regulatory authority or any disciplinary
action taken by a professional body in respect of that person including
but not limited to:
(i) whether the person has been expelled from the Stock Exchange,
any other self-regulatory organization or otherwise disqualified
by a professional body in relation to any trade, business or
profession;
(ii) whether the person’s registration to conduct securities business
or other forms of financial business has been revoked by a
securities regulator or any other financial regulatory authority;
and
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(iii) whether the person has been charged or convicted of an offence
under the Act or the former Act;
(b) where the person is an individual-
(i) his competence and soundness of judgment for fulfilling the
responsibilities of the relevant position, the diligence with
which he is fulfilling or likely to fulfil those responsibilities and
whether the interests of investors, clients or potential investors
or clients are, or are likely to be, in any way threatened by his
holding that position;
(ii) whether the person has an employment record which leads the
Commission to believe that the person carried out an act of
impropriety in the handling of his employer’s business;
(iii) whether the person has been the subject of an investigation
conducted by a regulatory or criminal investigative body;
(iv) whether the person has been barred by the Commission,
another regulator or court of law from working or otherwise
holding a position of a senior officer within an entity which
conducts business in the financial or securities industry of
Trinidad and Tobago or elsewhere;
(v) whether the person has engaged in or been associated with any
other business practices or otherwise conducted himself in such
a way as to cast doubt on his competence or soundness of
judgment; and
(vi) whether the person was a senior officer of an entity company
which was-
(A)disqualified by any professional or regulatory body in relation
to any trade, business or profession while he was a senior
officer of that entity; and
(B) the subject of an investigation conducted by a regulatory
or criminal investigative body while he was a senior
officer of that entity;
(c) any information in the possession of the Commission, whether provided
by the person or not, relating to –
(i) the person;
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(ii) any person who is or is to be employed by or associated with
the person for the purposes of the regulated activity for which
registration and approval is granted or the application is made;
(iii) any other person who will be acting for or on behalf of the person
in relation to the related activity;
(iv) where the person is an entity which is part of a group of entities–
(A)any other entity in the same group; or
(B) any substantial shareholder or senior officer of any other
entity in the group of entities; and
(v) the financial integrity of the person including but not limited
to –
(A)whether the person has a receivership or bankruptcy
order made against the person and whether such order
remains undischarged; and
(B) whether the person has been charged at the time of the
application, or been convicted at any time, of an offence
involving fraud or dishonesty;
(d) where the consideration relates to an application for registration under
section 51(1) or as a self-regulatory organization, or to a current
registrant of the Commission, excluding a reporting issuer, whether the
person has established effective internal control procedures and risk
management systems to ensure compliance with all applicable
regulatory requirements; and
(e) the state of affairs of any other business that the person carries on or proposes to
carry on.
September 12, 2014
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SCHEDULE 3
List A - Changes Requiring Notification by Registrants Registered under
section 51(1) of the Act
For the purposes of section 56(4) of the Act and by-law 53, a registrant registered
under section 51(1) of the Act shall notify the Commission in the approved form of
any of the following in relation to the registrant:
(a) the presentation of a petition for the winding up of the registrant or the
summoning of any meeting to consider such a winding-up;
(b) the application by another person for the appointment of a receiver,
administrator or trustee of the registrant;
(c) the appointment of inspectors by a domestic or foreign regulatory authority
to investigate the affairs of the registrant;
(d) any claims on or material changes to the indemnity insurance arrangements
of the registrant;
(e) any hiring, resignation, dismissal, or retirement of a senior officer,
designated person, registered representative or an individual in charge of
the operations of any branch office of the registrant, by or from the
registrant and in the case of a dismissal, the reason therefor;
(f) where the registrant becomes aware that any of its senior officers or
registered representatives has been charged or convicted of fraud or any
other offence involving dishonesty;
(g) any material breakdown of administrative or control procedures,
including breakdowns of computer systems or other problems resulting or
likely to result in failure to maintain proper records, and the steps that the
registrant proposes to take to correct the problem;
(h) the date on which the registrant proposes to cease to carry on business for
which registration is required under the Act and the reasons for the
cessation;
(i) a breach by the registrant of the requirements regarding financial resources,
maintenance of any prescribed capital requirement under the Act and these
By-laws, books and records and risk management and internal controls,
together with details of the steps that it is taking to remedy the breach;
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(j) any change made to the ending date of the financial year of the registrant;
(k) where the registrant has reason to believe that it may be unable to submit
financial statements required under the Act and these By-laws within the
time specified in the Act or these By-laws;
(l) where the registrant has reason to believe that it may be unable to pay its
annual renewal fees to the Commission;
(m) the failure of any bank or other entity with which the registrant has
deposited or to which it has passed client money, and for these purposes
“failure” means the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrator or
trustee in bankruptcy or any equivalent procedure in the relevant
jurisdiction;
(n) where the registrant is party to any legal proceeding in Trinidad and
Tobago or elsewhere, and the actual or contingent claim, or any amount
claimed or disputed by or against the registrant in relation to its business
is likely to exceed ten per cent of its financial resources;
(o) the opening and closing of any branch office in Trinidad and Tobago, of a
person registered under 51(1) of the Act, and the name of the most senior
person responsible for the operations thereof;
(p) any change in the registered name, registered address or contact
information of the registrant; or
(q) any development that poses material risk to the operation of the registrant
registered under section 51(1) of the Act.
September 12, 2014
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SCHEDULE 3 - Continued
List B - Changes Requiring Notification by Reporting Issuers Registered under
section 61(1) of the Act
For the purposes of section 56(4) of the Act and by-law 53, a registrant registered
under section 61 of the Act shall notify the Commission in the approved form of the
following in relation to the reporting issuer:
(a) any hiring, resignation, dismissal or retirement of a senior officer or
designated person by or from the reporting issuer and in the case of a
dismissal, the reason therefor;
(b) the repayment or maturity of, or default of payment on, any security issued
by the reporting issuer other than a reporting issuer that is a collective
investment scheme;
(c) any change made to the ending date of the financial year of the reporting
issuer;
(d) where the reporting issuer has reason to believe that it may be unable to
submit financial statements required under the Act and these By-laws
within the time specified in the Act or these By-laws;
(e) where the reporting issuer is party to any legal proceeding, in Trinidad and
Tobago or elsewhere, and the actual or contingent claim, or any amount
claimed or disputed by or against the reporting issuer in relation to its
business is likely to exceed 10 per cent of its financial resources;
(f) any change in the registered name, registered address or contact information
of the reporting issuer; or
(g) any change in the constituent documents of the reporting issuer
Dated this day of , 2014.
Minister of Finance and the Economy