New Research Rules – FINRA Rule 2241

New Research Rules

FINRA’s released new research rules which generally:

– reduce the research quiet periods following IPOs and secondary offerings,
– eliminate the quiet periods surrounding lock-up agreements, and
– exempt certain debt research reports issued to institutional investors from most of these provisions

The Rule goes effective in stages. The rules that went effective on September 25, 2015 – and are now testable – are discussed below.

Effective September 25

Research Quiet Periods

Equity research has a 10 day quiet period following an IPO’s offering date. This applies to both syndicate managers and members (previously 40 days and 25 days). The IPO or secondary offering date is the later of the effective date of the registration statement or the first date when securities are offered to the public.

For follow-on offerings syndicate managers and co-managers will have a three day quiet period (previously 10 days). Syndicate member have no blackout period for follow-on offerings.

	IPO	Follow-on
Syndicate Manager or Co-Manager	10 days	3 days
Syndicate member	10 days	No blackout period

New debt offerings are not subject to any quiet period.

Registration of Research Analysts

Individuals who only occasionally produce research reports are no longer considered research analysts. The definition of “research analyst” is someone who is primarily responsible for the preparation of the substance of a research report (plus their direct and indirect reports).

Conflicts of Interest

Firms must have written policies and procedures to manage 1) conflicts of interest, 2) research analyst public appearances, and 3) interactions and influence between research and non-research personnel.

Annual Attestation Requirement:

Firms do not have to annually attest that they have written supervisory policies and procedures reasonably designed to achieve compliance with the relevant research rules. FINRA Rule 3110 requires member firms to have a system of supervision reasonably designed to achieve compliance with all securities laws, regulations, and FINRA Rules (including research rules).

General Exemptive Authority:

FINRA, in exceptional and unusual circumstances, may conditionally or unconditionally grant an exemption from any of these new research rules for good cause, to protect investors, and serve the public interest.

Knopman Note

Be sure to focus on the revised equity blackout restrictions. Knowing that research can publish more quickly following the issuance of new shares will serve test-takers well.