Frequently Asked Questions About Block Trade Reporting Requirements
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BLOCK TRADE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS smaller amounts of stock than are typically offered in an Block Trades and Distributions underwritten transaction. What is a block trade? When must a block trade be reported for FINRA Many people use the term “block trade” colloquially. purposes? Technically, a block trade is an order or trade submitted The execution of a block trade may vary. A block trade for the sale or purchase of a large quantity of securities. may be offered and sold in a manner that would render Although the term is not defined under the securities it a “distribution.” For purposes of the Financial laws, Rule 10b‐18 under the Securities Exchange Act of Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) trade 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), refers to a reporting rules, “distribution” has the meaning set forth “block” as a quantity of shares with a purchase price of under Regulation M (see definition below). A $200,000 or more or a quantity of shares of at least 5,000 “distribution” generally does not need to be reported with a purchase price of at least $50,000. Block trades under the trade reporting rules. However, a are typically executed by institutional investors “distribution” may be subject to reporting under (including mutual funds and pension funds), financial Regulation M. A FINRA member (“member”) must or private equity sponsors, venture capitalists and other notify FINRA when participating in any “trade” or large stockholders who may have acquired large “transaction” in an over‐the‐counter (“OTC”) equity quantities of securities in a merger, acquisition or other security that is not subject to an exemption under the transaction and wish to sell down their position. trade reporting rules. For purposes of the trade Block trades offer a number of advantages to selling reporting rules, a “trade” or “transaction” involves a shareholders. For instance, many securities exchanges change of beneficial ownership of securities between permit large block trades to be privately negotiated and parties (i.e., a purchase or sale of securities) in which a transacted off‐exchange. In addition, a block trade member participates (i.e., as an agent or a dealer). allows a party to access a different and often larger FINRA Rule 5190 requires members to provide investor base than regular electronic trading. Finally, information related to a “distribution” of securities block trades are often cheaper than standard subject to a restricted period under Regulation M, such underwritten transactions, and are fast and effective for as the determination of the restricted period under “distribution.” Similarly, the block repurchase Regulation M, whether members are relying on the limitations under Rule 10b‐18 under the Exchange Act “actively‐traded securities” exemption and pricing provides a safe harbor from liability for market information.1 manipulation when an issuer or its affiliated purchaser engages in a block repurchase of shares of the issuer’s Is there any helpful guidance under Regulation M for common stock. determining when a “distribution” exists? Regulation M was adopted by the Securities and Special selling efforts and selling methods Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in order to curtail Activities that may constitute “special selling efforts and manipulative practices by distribution participants and selling methods” might include a broker‐dealer provides some guidance for determining whether a receiving higher compensation than it ordinarily would distribution exists. Under Regulation M, a receive for normal trading transactions or dealer “distribution” is defined as “an offering of securities, activity, using sales documents, conducting a road show whether or not subject to registration under the in connection with a transaction or holding investor Securities Act, that is distinguished from ordinary meetings. trading transactions by the magnitude of the offering The guidance under Regulation M is useful because it and the presence of special selling efforts and selling narrows the broad scope of the definition of an methods.” underwriter by limiting the situations in which that definition is implicated. The definition of a distribution Magnitude of the offering is based on facts and circumstances, and can lead to the In determining the “magnitude of the offering,” the SEC similarly structured transactions being considered a will look at the number of shares being sold, the distribution in one case but not in another. For this percentage that these shares represent of the total shares reason, a broker‐dealer must analyze each situation not outstanding of that issuer, the issuer’s public float and only on its merits, but also in the context of its regular the average trading volume of the issuer’s securities. activities. If a broker‐dealer is concerned about whether The SEC has provided guidance regarding trading its activities constitute a “distribution,” the broker‐ volume, as it relates to determining whether a dealer may find it prudent to conduct diligence transaction is deemed a “distribution.” For example, activities and enter into an agreement with its client, Rule 144 (“Rule 144”) under the Securities Act of 1933, providing for the making of representations and as amended (the “Securities Act”), imposes a volume warranties and requiring the delivery of opinions of limitation requirement which provides a safe harbor for counsel. sales of securities that would otherwise be deemed a What is a “distribution” in the context of a block trade? 1 FINRA members are required to submit these Regulation M Generally, trading activities for a block may not rise to notices electronically through FINRA’s “Firm Gateway” system. For more information regarding Regulation M, see our the level associated with a “distribution” under federal “Frequently Asked Questions About Regulation M” available at: http://media2.mofo/documents/faqs‐regulation‐m.pdf. securities laws. Shares that are purchased and sold in a Morrison & Foerster LLP 2 block trade are often placed quickly by an investment (pursuant to a registration statement) transaction. As bank’s block trade desk and executed for a standard used in the Securities Act, an “issuer” is defined to “dealers’ fee,” without the use of sales documents and include the issuer itself and its affiliates or control without special selling efforts. Further, these shares persons. In executing a block trade on behalf of an often are sold to relatively few institutional buyers who issuer or on behalf of an affiliate, a broker‐dealer should already may have expressed an interest in acquiring consider the factors discussed above and may wish to stock should a block become available. However, under structure its activities in a manner intended not to be a certain circumstances, block trades may be considered a “distribution.” However, if a broker‐dealer is executing “distribution,” which has the effect of exposing the a block trade on behalf of a third party (unrelated to the broker‐dealer to potential liability as a statutory issuer and not an affiliate or control person), depending underwriter. on the facts and circumstances, the transaction will Under Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, an more likely than not be deemed to constitute a “underwriter” is defined as “any person who offers or “distribution.” sells for an issuer in connection with the distribution of This broad definition of a “distribution” is fact‐specific any security.” The SEC has defined “issuer” broadly to and the SEC has routinely refused to make include any person directly or indirectly controlling or determinations on specific cases, explaining that the controlled by the issuer or under common control with individual or entity in question is in a better position to the issuer. As a result, activities undertaken by a determine its status than the SEC. In addition, the broker‐dealer on behalf of affiliates of an issuer (officers, Securities Act does not contain definitions for certain of directors or greater than 10% stockholders) may raise the other terms used in Section 2(a)(11), including the the same concerns as those taken on behalf of the issuer. term “distribution.” It is clear that only when a Further, a broker‐dealer does not need to be engaged distribution occurs can an underwriter be involved. formally as an underwriter or placement agent in order to incur this potential liability. The broker‐dealer’s Reporting Requirements relationship to the transaction, the extent of its activities, and its fees, taken as a whole, will determine whether it What are the reporting requirements for block trades may be considered to be acting as a statutory under the exchanges? underwriter. In general, the transaction reporting requirements for The nature of the party for whom the broker‐dealer is the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and executing the block trade also may implicate the NASDAQ are similar. The NYSE has a general broker‐dealer as a potential underwriter. A reporting rule specifying that transactions must be broker‐dealer will be considered a statutory reported promptly. In particular, NYSE Rule 131 underwriter if the broker‐dealer participates in a specifies that trades must be reported within an hour distribution of securities for an issuer. A “distribution” after the close of business on the day the trade was may include a private transaction as well as a public made. Morrison & Foerster LLP 3 The NASDAQ rules provide more detail as to the is closed are not subject to the 10‐second reporting types of information a broker‐dealer must provide for requirement. Specifically, trades executed between equity trades. A broker‐dealer must specify the midnight and 8:00 a.m. ET must be reported by following information: 8:15 a.m. ET on the trade date, and trades executed the symbol of the stock; between the close of the relevant reporting facility and midnight or on any non‐business day (i.e., holiday or the number of shares bought or sold; weekend) must be reported on an “as/of” basis by the price paid or received for such shares; 8:15 a.m.