(a) Principal. Principal means, with respect to an entity that is an applicant for registration, a registrant or a person required to be registered under the Act or the regulations in this part:

(1) If the entity is organized as a sole proprietorship, the proprietor and chief compliance officer; if a partnership, any general partner and chief compliance officer; if a corporation, any director, the president, chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, chief compliance officer, and any person in charge of a principal business unit, division or function subject to regulation by the Commission; if a limited liability company or limited liability partnership, any director, the president, chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, chief compliance officer, the manager, managing member or those members vested with the management authority for the entity, and any person in charge of a principal business unit, division or function subject to regulation by the Commission; and, in addition, any person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions, having the power, directly or indirectly, through agreement or otherwise, to exercise a controlling influence over the entity's activities that are subject to regulation by the Commission;

(2)(i) Any individual who directly or indirectly, through agreement, holding company, nominee, trust or otherwise, is either the owner of ten percent or more of the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities, other than non-voting securities, is entitled to vote or has the power to sell or direct the sale of ten percent or more of the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities, other than non-voting securities, is entitled to receive ten percent or more of the profits of the entity, or has the power to exercise a controlling influence over the entity's activities that are subject to regulation by the Commission; or

(ii) Any person other than an individual that is the direct owner of ten percent or more of the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities, other than non-voting securities; or

(3) Any person that has contributed ten percent or more of the capital of the entity, provided, however, that if such capital contribution consists of subordinated debt contributed by either:

(i) An unaffiliated bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,

(ii) An unaffiliated “foreign bank,” as defined in 12 CFR 211.21(n) that currently operates an “office of a foreign bank,” as defined in 12 CFR 211.21(t), which is licensed under 12 CFR 211.24(a),

(iii) Such unaffiliated office of a foreign bank that is licensed, or

(iv) An insurance company subject to regulation by any State, such bank, foreign bank, office of a foreign bank, or insurance company will not be deemed to be a principal for purposes of this section, provided such debt is not guaranteed by another party not listed as a principal.

(4) Any individual who, directly or indirectly, creates or uses a trust, proxy, power of attorney, pooling arrangement or any other contract, arrangement, or device with the purpose or effect of divesting such person of direct or indirect ownership of an equity security of the entity, other than a non-voting security, or preventing the vesting of such ownership, or of avoiding making a contribution of ten percent or more of the capital of the entity, as part of a plan or scheme to evade being deemed a principal of the entity, shall be deemed to be a principal of the entity.

(b) Current. As used in this subpart, a Form 8-R is current if, subsequent to the filing of that form and continuously thereafter, the registrant or principal has been either registered or affiliated with a registrant as a principal.

(c) Sponsor. Sponsor means the futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator or leverage transaction merchant which makes the certification required by § 3.12 of this part for the registration of an associated person of such sponsor.

(d)-(e) [Reserved]

(f) Section 4s Implementing Regulation. Section 4s Implementing Regulation means a regulation the Commission issues pursuant to section 4s(e), 4s(f), 4s(g), 4s(h), 4s(i), 4s(j), 4s(k) or 4s(l) of the Act.

(g) Swap Definitional Regulation. Swap Definitional Regulation means a regulation the Commission issues to further define the term “swap dealer,” “major swap participant” or “swap” in section 1a(49), 1a(33) or 1a(47) of the Act, respectively, pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

(h) Swaps activities. Swaps activities means, with respect to a registrant, such registrant's activities related to swaps and any product used to hedge such swaps, including, but not limited to, futures, options, other swaps or security-based swaps, debt or equity securities, foreign currency, physical commodities, and other derivatives.

(i) Board of directors. Board of directors means the board of directors, board of governors, or equivalent governing body of a registrant.

(j) Senior officer. Senior officer means the chief executive officer or other equivalent officer of a registrant.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in any rule, regulation or order of the Commission, the registration functions of the Commission set forth in subpart A, subpart B and subpart C of this part shall be performed by the National Futures Association, in accordance with such rules, consistent with the provisions of the Act and this part, applicable to registrations granted under the Act that the National Futures Association may adopt and are approved by the Commission pursuant to section 17(j) of the Act.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the original of any registration form, any schedule or supplement thereto, any fingerprint card or other document required by this part to be filed with both the Commission and the National Futures Association, may be filed with either the Commission or the National Futures Association if:

(1) A legible, accurate, and complete photocopy of that form, schedule, supplement, fingerprint card, or other document is filed simultaneously with the National Futures Association or the Commission, respectively, and

(2) Such photocopy contains an original signature and date in each place where such signature and date is required on the original form, schedule, supplement, fingerprint card, or other document.

(c) The National Futures Association shall notify the registrant, or the sponsor in the case of an applicant for registration as an associated person, and each designated contract market and swap execution facility that has granted the applicant trading privileges in the case of an applicant for registration as a floor broker or floor trader, if registration has been granted under the Act.

(1) If an applicant for registration as an associated person receives a temporary license in accordance with § 3.40, the National Futures Association shall notify the sponsor that only a temporary license has been granted.

(2) If an applicant for registration as a floor broker or floor trader receives a temporary license in accordance with § 3.40, the National Futures Association shall notify the designated contract market or swap execution facility that has granted the applicant trading privileges that only a temporary license has been granted.

(3)(i) If an applicant for registration as a swap dealer or major swap participant pursuant to § 3.10(a)(1)(v) files a Form 7-R and a Form 8-R and fingerprint card for each natural person who is a principal of the applicant, accompanied by such documentation as may be required to demonstrate compliance with each of the Section 4s Implementing Regulations, as defined in § 3.1(f), as are applicable to it, in accordance with the terms of the Section 4s Implementing Regulations, the National Futures Association shall notify the swap dealer or major swap participant, as the case may be, that it is provisionally registered.

(ii) Subsequent to providing notice of provisional registration to an applicant for registration as a swap dealer or major swap participant, the National Futures Association shall determine whether the documentation submitted pursuant to § 3.10(a)(1)(v) by the applicant demonstrates compliance with the Section 4s Implementing Regulation to which it pertains; Provided, that where the National Futures Association has notified the applicant that it is provisionally registered, the applicant must supplement its registration application by providing such documentation as may be required to demonstrate compliance with each Section 4s Implementing Regulation that the Commission issues subsequent to the date the National Futures Association notifies the applicant that it is provisionally registered.

(iii) On and after the date on which the National Futures Association confirms that the applicant for registration as a swap dealer or major swap participant has demonstrated its initial compliance with the applicable requirements of each of the Section 4s Implementing Regulations and all other applicable registration requirements under the Act and Commission regulations, the provisional registration of the applicant shall cease and it shall be registered as a swap dealer or major swap participant, as the case may be.

(d) Any registration form, any schedule or supplement thereto, any fingerprint card or other document required by this part or any rule of the National Futures Assocation to be filed with the National Futures Association shall be deemed for all purposes to have been filed with, and to be the official record of, the Commission.

(a) Designation. Each futures commission merchant, swap dealer, and major swap participant shall designate an individual to serve as its chief compliance officer, and provide the chief compliance officer with the responsibility and authority to develop, in consultation with the board of directors or the senior officer, appropriate policies and procedures to fulfill the duties set forth in the Act and Commission regulations relating to the swap dealer's or major swap participant's swaps activities, or to the futures commission merchant's business as a futures commission merchant and to ensure compliance with the Act and Commission regulations relating to the swap dealer's or major swap participant's swaps activities, or to the futures commission merchant's business as a futures commission merchant.

(1) The chief compliance officer shall report to the board of directors or the senior officer of the futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant. The board of directors or the senior officer shall appoint the chief compliance officer, shall approve the compensation of the chief compliance officer, and shall meet with the chief compliance officer at least once a year and at the election of the chief compliance officer.

(2) Only the board of directors or the senior officer of the futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant may remove the chief compliance officer.

(b) Qualifications. The individual designated to serve as chief compliance officer shall have the background and skills appropriate for fulfilling the responsibilities of the position. No individual disqualified, or subject to disqualification, from registration under section 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the Act may serve as a chief compliance officer.

(c) Submission with registration. Each application for registration as a futures commission merchant under § 3.10, a swap dealer under § 23.21, or a major swap participant under § 23.21, must include a designation of a chief compliance officer by submitting a Form 8-R for the chief compliance officer as a principal of the applicant pursuant to § 3.10(a)(2).

(d) Chief compliance officer duties. The chief compliance officer's duties shall include, but are not limited to:

(1) Administering each of the registrant's policies and procedures relating to its business as a futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant that are required to be established pursuant to the Act and Commission regulations;

(2) In consultation with the board of directors or the senior officer, taking reasonable steps to resolve material conflicts of interest relating to the registrant's business as a futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant that may arise;

(3) Taking reasonable steps to ensure compliance with the Act and Commission regulations relating to the registrant's business as a futures commission merchant, swap dealer or major swap participant;

(4) Taking reasonable steps to ensure the registrant establishes, maintains, and reviews written policies and procedures reasonably designed to remediate noncompliance issues identified by the chief compliance officer through any means, including any compliance office review, look-back, internal or external audit finding, self-reporting to the Commission and other appropriate authorities, or complaint that can be validated;

(5) Taking reasonable steps to ensure the registrant establishes written procedures reasonably designed for the handling, management response, remediation, retesting, and resolution of noncompliance issues; and

(6) Preparing and signing the annual report required under paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section.

(e) Annual report. The chief compliance officer annually shall prepare a written report that covers the most recently completed fiscal year of the futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant. The annual report shall, at a minimum, contain a description of:

(1) The written policies and procedures of the futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant described in paragraph (d) of this section, including the code of ethics and conflicts of interest policies;

(2) The futures commission merchant's, swap dealer's, or major swap participant's assessment of the effectiveness of its policies and procedures relating to its business as a futures commission merchant, swap dealer or major swap participant;

(3) Areas for improvement, and recommended potential or prospective changes or improvements to its compliance program and resources devoted to compliance;

(4) The financial, managerial, operational, and staffing resources set aside for compliance with respect to the Act and Commission regulations relating to its business as a futures commission merchant, swap dealer or major swap participant, including any material deficiencies in such resources;

(5) Any material noncompliance issues identified and the corresponding action taken; and

(6) Any material changes to compliance policies and procedures during the coverage period for the report.

(f) Furnishing the annual report and related matters—(1) Furnishing the annual report. (i) Prior to furnishing the annual report to the Commission, the chief compliance officer shall provide the annual report to the board of directors or senior officer of the futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant for its review.

(ii) If the futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant has established an audit committee (or an equivalent body), then the chief compliance officer shall furnish the annual report to the audit committee (or equivalent body) not later than its next scheduled meeting after the annual report is furnished to the Commission, but in no event more than 90 days after the applicable date specified in paragraph (f)(2) of this section for furnishing the annual report to the Commission.

(iii) A written record of transmittal of the annual report to the board of directors or the senior officer, and audit committee, if applicable, shall be made and maintained in accordance with § 1.31 of this chapter.

(2) Furnishing the annual report to the Commission. (i) Except as provided in paragraph (f)(2)(ii) of this section, the annual report shall be furnished electronically to the Commission not more than 90 days after the end of the fiscal year of the futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant.

(ii) The annual report of a swap dealer or major swap participant that is eligible to comply with a substituted compliance regime for paragraph (e) of this section pursuant to a comparability determination of the Commission may be furnished to the Commission electronically up to 15 days after the date on which the comparable annual report must be completed under the requirements of the applicable substituted compliance regime. If the substituted compliance regime does not specify a date by which the comparable annual report must be completed, then the annual report shall be furnished to the Commission by the date specified in paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section.

(3) Certification. The report shall include a certification by the chief compliance officer or chief executive officer of the registrant that, to the best of his or her knowledge and reasonable belief, and under penalty of law, the information contained in the annual report is accurate and complete in all material respects.

(4) Amending the annual report. The futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant shall promptly furnish an amended annual report if material errors or omissions in the report are identified. An amendment must contain the certification required under paragraph (f)(3) of this section.

(5) Extensions. A futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant may request from the Commission an extension of time to furnish its annual report, provided the registrant's failure to timely furnish the report could not be eliminated by the registrant without unreasonable effort or expense. Extensions of the deadline will be granted at the discretion of the Commission.

(6) Incorporation by reference and related registrants—(i) Prior reports. A futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant may incorporate by reference sections of an annual report that has been furnished within the current or immediately preceding reporting period to the Commission.

(ii) Dual registrants. If a futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant is registered in more than one capacity with the Commission, an annual report submitted as one registrant may incorporate by reference sections in the annual report furnished within the current or immediately preceding reporting period as the other registrant. A dual registrant may submit one annual report that addresses the requirements set forth in paragraphs (e), (f)(1) and (f)(3) of this section with respect to each registration capacity.

(iii) Affiliated registrants. If a futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, one or more other futures commission merchants, swap dealers, or major swap participants, and each of the affiliated registrants must submit an annual report, an affiliated registrant may incorporate by reference in its annual report sections from an annual report prepared by any of its affiliated registrants furnished within the current or immediately preceding reporting period. Affiliated registrants may submit one annual report that addresses the requirements set forth in paragraphs (e), (f)(1) and (f)(3) of this section with respect to each affiliated registrant.

(g) Recordkeeping. (1) The futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant shall maintain:

(i) A copy of the registrant's policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the Act and Commission regulations;

(ii) Copies of materials, including written reports provided to the board of directors or the senior officer in connection with the review of the annual report under paragraph (e) of this section; and

(iii) Any records relevant to the annual report, including, but not limited to, work papers and other documents that form the basis of the report, and memoranda, correspondence, other documents, and records that are created, sent or received in connection with the annual report and contain conclusions, opinions, analyses, or financial data related to the annual report.

(2) All records or reports that a futures commission merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant are required to maintain pursuant to this section shall be maintained in accordance with § 1.31 and shall be made available promptly upon request to representatives of the Commission and to representatives of the applicable prudential regulator, as defined in 1a(39) of the Act.

(h) Delegation of authority. The Commission hereby delegates to the Director of the Market Participants Division, or such other employee or employees as the Director may designate, the authority to grant extensions of time, as set forth in paragraph (f)(5) of this section. Notwithstanding such delegation, in any case in which a Commission employee delegated authority under this paragraph believes it appropriate, he or she may submit to the Commission for its consideration the question of whether an extension of time should be granted. The delegation of authority in this paragraph shall not prohibit the Commission, at its election, from exercising the authority set forth in paragraph (f)(5) of this section.

(a) Except as may be otherwise provided in the Act or in any rule, regulation, or order of the Commission, each futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, floor broker, floor trader of any commodity for future delivery, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, introducing broker, leverage transaction merchant, and associated person (other than an associated person of a swap dealer or major swap participant) must register as such under the Act. Except as may be otherwise provided in the Act or in any rule, regulation, or order of the Commission, registration in one capacity under the Act shall not include registration in any other capacity.

(b) Except as may be provided in any rule, regulation or order of the Commission, registration as an associated person in one capacity shall not include registration as an associated person in any other capacity: Provided, however, That an associated person who is sponsored by a registrant, which itself is registered in more than one capacity, need register only once to act as an associated person of the registrant, and shall be deemed to be an associated person of such registrant, in each such capacity.

(a) Application for registration. (1)(i) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, application for registration as a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, introducing broker, commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor, or leverage transaction merchant must be on Form 7-R, completed and filed with the National Futures Association in accordance with the instructions thereto.

(ii) Applicants for registration as a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer or introducing broker must accompany their Form 7-R with a Form 1-FR-FCM or Form 1-FR-IB, respectively, in accordance with the provisions of § 1.10 of this chapter: Provided, however, That an applicant for registration as a futures commission merchant or introducing broker which is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a securities broker or dealer may accompany its Form 7-R with a copy of its Financial and Operational Combined Uniform Single Report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Part II or Part II A, in accordance with the provisions of § 1.10(h) of this chapter.

(iii) Applicants for registration as a commodity pool operator must accompany their Form 7-R with the financial statements described in § 4.13(c) of this chapter.

(iv) Applicants for registration as a leverage transaction merchant must accompany their Form 7-R with a Form 2-FR in accordance with the provisions of § 31.13 of this chapter.

(v)(A) Applicants for registration as a swap dealer or major swap participant must accompany their Form 7-R with such documentation as may be required to demonstrate compliance with each Section 4s Implementing Regulation, as defined in § 3.1(f), applicable to them, in accordance with the terms of the Section 4s Implementing Regulation; Provided, however, that for the purposes of this paragraph (a)(1)(v) the term “compliance” includes the term “the ability to comply,” to the extent that a particular Section 4s Implementing Regulation may require demonstration of the ability to comply with a requirement thereunder.

(B) The filing of the Form 7-R and accompanying documentation by the applicant swap dealer or major swap participant authorizes the Commission to conduct on-site inspection of the applicant to determine compliance with the Section 4s Implementing Regulations applicable to it.

(C)(1) At any time prior to the latest effective date of the Swap Definitional Regulations, defined in § 3.1(g), any person may apply to be registered as a swap dealer or major swap participant.

(2) By no later than the latest effective date of the Swap Definitional Regulations, each person who is a swap dealer or major swap participant on that date must apply to be registered as a swap dealer or major swap participant, as the case may be.

(3) From and after the latest effective date of the Swap Definitional Regulations, each person who intends to engage in business as a swap dealer or major swap participant must apply to be registered as a swap dealer or major swap participant, as the case may be.

(D)(1) Where an applicant for registration as a swap dealer or major swap participant to whom the National Futures Association has provided notice of provisional registration under § 3.2(c)(3) fails to demonstrate compliance with a Section 4s Implementing Regulation, the National Futures Association will notify the applicant that its application is deficient, whereupon the applicant must withdraw its registration application, it must not engage in any new activity as a swap dealer or major swap participant, as the case may be, and the applicant shall cease to be provisionally registered; Provided, that in the event the applicant fails to withdraw its registration application or cure the deficiency within 90 days following receipt of notice from the National Futures Association that its application is deficient, the application will be deemed withdrawn and thereupon its provisional registration shall cease; Provided further, that upon written request by the applicant submitted to the Commission, the Commission may in its discretion extend the time by which the applicant must cure the deficiency.

(2) The provisions of the foregoing paragraph (a)(1)(v)(D)(1) of this section shall supplement and be in addition to any other activities in which the National Futures Association engages under the Act and Commission regulations in connection with processing an application for registration as a swap dealer or major swap participant.

(E) Unless specifically reserved in the applicable swap documentation, no withdrawal, deemed withdrawal, cessation or revocation of registration as a swap dealer or major swap participant pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)(v), (b), or (d) of this section shall constitute a termination event, force majeure, an illegality, increased costs, a regulatory change, or a similar event under a swap (including any related credit support arrangement) that would permit a party to terminate, renegotiate, modify, amend or supplement one or more transactions under the swap.

(2) Each Form 7-R filed in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section must be accompanied by a Form 8-R, completed in accordance with the instructions thereto and executed by each natural person who is a principal of the applicant, and must be accompanied by the fingerprints of that principal on a fingerprint card provided by the National Futures Association for that purpose: Provided, however, that if such principal is a director who qualifies for the exemption from the fingerprint requirement pursuant to § 3.21(c) or has a current Form 8-R on file with the Commission or the National Futures Association, the fingerprints of that principal do not need to accompany the Form 7-R.

(3) Notice registration as a futures commission merchant or introducing broker for certain securities brokers or dealers. (i) Any broker or dealer that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission may be registered as a futures commission merchant or introducing broker, as applicable, by following such procedures for notice registration as may be specified by the National Futures Association, if—

(A) The broker or dealer limits its solicitation of orders, acceptance of orders, or execution of orders, or placing of orders on behalf of others involving any contracts of sale of any commodity for future delivery, on or subject to the rules of any contract market, to security futures products as defined in section 1a(44) of the Act;

(B) The registration of the broker or dealer is not suspended pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and

(C) The broker or dealer is a member of a national securities association registered pursuant to section 15A(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(ii) The registration will be effective upon the filing of the notice prescribed by the National Futures Association in accordance with the instructions thereto.

(b) Duration of registration. (1) A person registered as a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, introducing broker, commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor, or leverage transaction merchant in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section will continue to be so registered until the effective date of any revocation or withdrawal of such registration. Upon effectiveness of any revocation or withdrawal of registration, such person will immediately be prohibited from engaging in new activities requiring registration under the Act or from representing himself to be a registrant under the Act or the representative or agent of any registrant during the pendency of any suspension of such registration.

(2) A person registered as an introducing broker who was a party to a guarantee agreement with a futures commission merchant in accordance with § 1.10(j) of this chapter will have its registration cease thirty days after the termination of such guarantee agreement unless the procedures set forth in § 1.10(j)(8) of this chapter are followed.

(c) Exemption from registration for certain persons—(1) Definitions. For purposes of this paragraph (c), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below.

(i) Covered transaction means a commodity interest transaction, as defined in § 1.3 of this chapter, executed bilaterally or made on or subject to the rules of any designated contract market or registered swap execution facility.

(ii) Foreign located person means a person located outside the United States, its territories, or possessions.

(iii) International financial institution means the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank, the United Nations, the European Stability Mechanism, the North American Development Bank, those institutions defined as “international financial institutions” in 22 U.S.C. 262r(c)(2), those institutions defined as “multilateral development banks” in Article 1(5(a)) of Regulation (EU) No. 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on OTC Derivative Transactions, Central Counterparties and Trade Repositories, their agencies and pension plans, and any other similar international organizations, and their agencies and pension plans.

(2) Exempt futures commission merchants—(i) Proprietary accounts. A person trading solely for proprietary accounts, as defined in § 1.3 of this chapter, is not required to register as a futures commission merchant; provided, that such person remains subject to all other provisions of the Act and of the rules, regulations and orders thereunder.

(ii) Foreign located persons. (A) A foreign located person engaging in the activity of a futures commission merchant, as defined in § 1.3 of this chapter, in connection with any covered transaction only on behalf of foreign located persons or international financial institutions is not required to register in such capacity; provided, that if any such covered transaction is required or intended to be cleared on a registered derivatives clearing organization and the foreign located person or international financial institution that is party to the covered transaction is not a clearing member of such registered derivatives clearing organization, the covered transaction is submitted for clearing through a futures commission merchant registered in accordance with section 4d of the Act.

(B) A foreign located person acting in accordance with paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(A) of this section is not required to comply with those provisions of the Act and of the rules, regulations and orders thereunder applicable solely to any registered futures commission merchant or any person required to be so registered.

(3) Exempt introducing brokers—(i) Foreign located persons. (A) A foreign located person engaged in the activity of an introducing broker, as defined in § 1.3 of this chapter, in connection with any covered transaction only on behalf of foreign located persons or international financial institutions is not required to register in such capacity; provided, that if any such covered transaction is required or intended to be cleared on a registered derivatives clearing organization and the foreign located person or international financial institution that is party to the covered transaction is not a clearing member of such registered derivatives clearing organization, the covered transaction is submitted for clearing through a futures commission merchant registered in accordance with section 4d of the Act.

(B) A foreign located person acting in accordance with paragraph (c)(3)(i)(A) of this section is not required to comply with those provisions of the Act and of the rules, regulations and orders thereunder applicable solely to any registered introducing broker or any person required to be so registered.

(ii) Exempt foreign brokers. (A) A foreign located person that is exempt from registration as a futures commission merchant in accordance with § 30.10 of this chapter is not required to register as an introducing broker in accordance with section 4d of the Act if:

(1) Such person is affiliated with a futures commission merchant registered in accordance with section 4d of the Act;

(2) Such person introduces, on a fully-disclosed basis in accordance with § 1.57 of this chapter, any institutional customer, as defined in § 1.3 of this chapter, to a registered futures commission merchant for the purpose of trading on a designated contract market;

(3) Such person's affiliated futures commission merchant has filed with the National Futures Association (Attn: Vice President, Compliance) an acknowledgement that the affiliated futures commission merchant will be jointly and severally liable for any violations of the Act or the Commission's regulations committed by such person in connection with those introducing activities, whether or not the affiliated futures commission merchant submits for clearing any trades resulting from those introducing activities; and

(4) Such person does not solicit any person located in the United States, its territories or possessions for trading on a designated contract market, nor does such person handle the customer funds of any person located in the United States, its territories or possessions for the purpose of trading on any designated contract market.

(B) For the purposes of this paragraph, a person shall be affiliated with a futures commission merchant if such a person owns 50 percent or more of the futures commission merchant, is owned 50 percent or more by the futures commission merchant, or is owned 50 percent or more by a third person that also owns 50 percent or more of the futures commission merchant.

(4) Exempt commodity trading advisors. (i) A foreign located person engaging in the activity of a commodity trading advisor, as defined in § 1.3 of this chapter, in connection with any covered transaction only on behalf of foreign located persons or international financial institutions is not required to register in such capacity; provided, that if any such covered transaction is required or intended to be cleared on a registered derivatives clearing organization and the foreign located person or international financial institution that is party to the covered transaction is not a clearing member of such registered derivatives clearing organization, the covered transaction is submitted for clearing through a futures commission merchant registered in accordance with section 4d of the Act.

(ii) A foreign located person acting in accordance with paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this section remains subject to section 4o of the Act, but otherwise is not required to comply with those provisions of the Act and of the rules, regulations and orders thereunder applicable solely to any registered commodity trading advisor or any person required to be so registered.

(5) Exempt commodity pool operators. (i) A foreign located person engaged in the activity of a commodity pool operator, as defined in § 1.3 of this chapter, in connection with any covered transaction is not required to register in such capacity, when such covered transactions are executed on behalf of a commodity pool, the participants of which are all foreign located persons or international financial institutions; provided, that if any such covered transaction is required or intended to be cleared on a registered derivatives clearing organization and the commodity pool that is party to the covered transaction is not a clearing member of such registered derivatives clearing organization, the covered transaction is submitted for clearing through a futures commission merchant registered in accordance with section 4d of the Act.

(ii) With respect to paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section, initial capital contributed to a commodity pool by an affiliate, as defined by § 4.7(a)(1)(i) of this chapter, of the pool's commodity pool operator shall not be considered for purposes of determining whether such commodity pool operator is executing commodity interest transactions on behalf of a commodity pool, the participants of which are all foreign located persons; provided, that:

(A) The affiliate is not a natural person;

(B) The affiliate and its principals are not barred or suspended from participating in commodity interest markets in the United States, its territories or possessions; and

(C) Interests in the affiliate are not marketed as providing access to trading in commodity interest markets in the United States, its territories or possessions.

(iii) A commodity pool operated by a foreign located person shall be considered to be operated in accordance with the terms of paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section, if:

(A) The commodity pool is organized and operated outside of the United States, its territories or possessions;

(B) The commodity pool's offering materials and any underwriting or distribution agreements include clear, written prohibitions on the commodity pool's offering to participants located in the United States and on U.S. ownership of the commodity pool's participation units;

(C) The commodity pool's constitutional documents and offering materials:

(1) are reasonably designed to preclude persons located in the United States from participating therein; and

(2) include mechanisms reasonably designed to enable its operator to exclude any persons located in the United States that attempt to participate in the offshore pool, notwithstanding those prohibitions;

(D) The commodity pool operator exclusively uses non-U.S. intermediaries for the distribution of participations in the commodity pool;

(E) The commodity pool operator uses reasonable investor due diligence methods at the time of sale to preclude persons located in the United States from participating in the commodity pool; and

(F) The commodity pool's participation units are directed and distributed to participants outside the United States, including by means of listing and trading such units on secondary markets organized and operated outside of the United States, and in which the commodity pool operator has reasonably determined participation by persons located in the United States is unlikely.

(iv) Utilizing the relief under paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section for a qualifying commodity pool will not affect the ability of a person to register with the Commission as a commodity pool operator, or to qualify for, rely upon, or claim other relief from regulation as such by the Commission, with respect to the operation of commodity pools or trading vehicles not otherwise eligible for the relief offered in this section.

(v) A person acting in accordance with paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section remains subject to section 4o of the Act, but otherwise is not required to comply with those provisions of the Act and of the rules, regulations and orders thereunder applicable solely to any person registered in such capacity, or any person required to be so registered.

(6) Associated persons of swap dealers. In determining whether a person is a swap dealer, the activities of a registered swap dealer with respect to which such person is an associated person shall not be considered.

(d) On a date to be established by the National Futures Association, and in accordance with procedures established by the National Futures Association, each registrant as a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, introducing broker, commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor, or leverage transaction merchant shall, on an annual basis, review and update registration information maintained with the National Futures Association. The failure to complete the review and update within thirty days following the date established by the National Futures Association shall be deemed to be a request for withdrawal from registration, which shall be processed in accordance with the provisions of § 3.33(f).

(a) Application for registration. (1) Application for registration as a floor broker or floor trader must be on Form 8-R, if as an individual, or Form 7-R, if as a non-natural person, and must be completed and filed with the National Futures Association in accordance with the instructions thereto. Each Form 7-R filed in accordance with this paragraph (a) must be accompanied by a Form 8-R, completed in accordance with the instructions thereto and executed by each individual who is a principal of the applicant, and each individual responsible for entry of orders from that applicant's own account. Each Form 8-R filed in accordance with this paragraph (a) must be accompanied by the fingerprints of the applicant on a fingerprint card provided for that purpose by the National Futures Association, except that a fingerprint card need not be filed by any applicant who has a current Form 8-R on file with the Commission or the National Futures Association.

(2) An applicant for registration as a floor broker or floor trader will not be registered or issued a temporary license as a floor broker or floor trader unless the applicant has been granted trading privileges by a board of trade designated as a contract market or registered as a swap execution facility by the Commission.

(3) When the Commission or the National Futures Association determines that an applicant for registration as a floor broker or floor trader is not disqualified from such registration or temporary license, the National Futures Association will notify the applicant and any contract market or swap execution facility that has granted the applicant trading privileges that the applicant's registration or temporary license as a floor broker or floor trader is granted.

(b) Duration of registration. A person registered as a floor broker or floor trader in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, and whose registration has neither been revoked nor withdrawn, will continue to be so registered unless such person's trading privileges on all contract markets and swap execution facilities have ceased: Provided, that if a floor broker or floor trader whose trading privileges on all contract markets and swap execution facilities have ceased for reasons unrelated to any Commission action or any contract market or swap execution facility disciplinary proceeding and whose registration is not revoked, suspended or withdrawn is granted trading privileges as a floor broker or floor trader, respectively, by any contract market or swap execution facility where such person held such privileges within the preceding sixty days, such registration as a floor broker or floor trader, respectively, shall be deemed to continue and no new Form 7-R, Form 8-R or change to Form 7-R or Form 8-R need be filed solely on the basis of the resumption of trading privileges. A floor broker or floor trader is prohibited from engaging in activities requiring registration under the Act or from representing such person to be a registrant under the Act or the representative or agent of any registrant during the pendency of any suspension of such registration or of all such trading privileges. Each contract market and swap execution facility that has granted trading privileges to a person who is registered, or has applied for registration, as a floor broker or floor trader, must provide notice in accordance with § 3.31(d) after such person's trading privileges on such contract market or swap execution facility have ceased.

(c) Exceptions. A registered floor broker need not also register as a floor trader in order to engage in activity as a floor trader.

(a) Registration required. It shall be unlawful for any person to be associated with a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator or leverage transaction merchant as an associated person unless that person shall have registered under the Act as an associated person of that sponsoring futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator or leverage transaction merchant in accordance with the procedures in paragraphs (c), (d), (f), or (i), of this section or is exempt from such registration pursuant to paragraph (h) of this section.

(b) Duration of registration. A person registered in accordance with paragraphs (c), (d), (f), or (i) of this section and whose registration has not been revoked will continue to be so registered until the revocation or withdrawal of the registration of each of the registrant's sponsors, or until the cessation of the association of the registrant with each of the registrant's sponsors. Such person will be prohibited from engaging in activities requiring registration under the Act or from representing himself or herself to be a registrant under the Act or the representative or agent of any registrant during the pendency of any suspension of his or her registration, or his or her sponsor's registration. Each of the registrant's sponsors must file a notice in accordance with § 3.31(c) reporting the termination of the association of the associated person.

(c) Application for registration. Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (d), (f), and (i) of this section, application for registration as an associated person in any capacity must be on Form 8-R, completed and filed in accordance with the instructions thereto.

(1) No person will be registered as an associated person in accordance with this paragraph (c) unless a person duly authorized by the sponsor certifies that:

(i) It is the intention of the sponsor to hire or otherwise employ the applicant as an associated person and that it will do so within thirty days after the receipt of the notification provided in accordance with paragraph (c)(4) of this section and that the applicant will not be permitted to engage in any activity requiring registration as an associated person until the applicant is registered as such in accordance with this section;

(ii) The sponsor has verified the information supplied by the applicant in response to the questions on Form 8-R which relate to the applicant's education and employment history during the preceding three years.

(iii) To the best of the sponsor's knowledge, information, and belief, all of the publicly available information supplied by the applicant on Form 8-R is accurate and complete: Provided, That it is unlawful for the sponsor to make the certification required by this paragraph (c)(1)(iii) if the sponsor knew or should have known that any of that information is not accurate and complete; and

(2) The certification required by paragraph (c)(1) of this section must be submitted concurrently with the Form 8-R.

(3) Each Form 8-R filed in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section must be accompanied by the fingerprints of the applicant on a fingerprint card provided for that purpose by the National Futures Association.

(4) When the Commission or the National Futures Association determines that an applicant for registration as an associated person is not unfit for such registration, it will notify the sponsor that has made the certifications required by paragraph (c)(1) of this section that the applicant's registration as an associated person is granted contingent upon the sponsor hiring or otherwise employing the applicant as such within thirty days.

(d) Special temporary licensing and registration procedures for certain persons—(1) Registration terminated within the preceding 60 days. Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (f) and (i) of this section, any person whose registration as an associated person in any capacity has terminated within the preceding 60 days and who becomes associated with a new sponsor will be granted a temporary license to act in the capacity of an associated person of such sponsor upon filing by that sponsor with the National Futures Association a Form 8-R, completed in accordance with the instructions thereto and, if applicable, a Supplemental Sponsor Certification Statement filed on behalf of the new sponsor (who must meet the requirements set forth in § 3.60(b)(2)(i)(A) and (B)) stating that the new sponsor will supervise the applicant in accordance with conditions identical to those agreed to by the previous sponsor, which includes certifications stating:

(i) That such person has been hired or is otherwise employed by that sponsor;

(ii) That such person's registration as an associated person in any capacity is not suspended or revoked;

(iii) That such person is eligible to be registered or temporarily licensed in accordance with this paragraph (d);

(iv) Whether there is a pending adjudicatory proceeding under sections 6(c), 6(d), 6c, 6d, 8a or 9 of the Act or § 3.55, § 3.56 or § 3.60 or if, within the preceding 12 months, the Commission has permitted the withdrawal of an application for registration in any capacity after instituting the procedures provided in § 3.51 and, if so, that the sponsor has been given a copy of the notice of the institution of a proceeding in connection therewith; and

(v) That the sponsor has received a copy of the notice of the institution of a proceeding if the applicant has certified, in accordance with paragraph (d)(1)(iv) of this section, that there is a proceeding pending against the applicant as described in that paragraph or that the Commission has permitted the withdrawal of an application for registration as described in that paragraph.

(2) Any temporary license granted pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this section shall be terminated immediately upon notice to the sponsor of the person granted the temporary license that, within 20 days following the date the temporary license was issued, the National Futures Association has not received the applicant's fingerprints.

(3) A temporary license received in accordance with paragraph (d)(1) of this section shall be subject to the provisions of §§ 3.42 and 3.43.

(4) The certifications permitted by paragraphs (d)(1)(i) and (v) of this section must be filed by a person duly authorized by the sponsor. The certifications permitted by paragraphs (d)(1)(ii)-(iv) must be filed by the applicant for registration as an associated person.

(e) Retention of records. The sponsor must retain in accordance with § 1.31 of this chapter such records as are necessary to support the certifications required by this section.

(f) Reporting of dual and multiple associations. (1)(i) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (f)(4) of this section, a person who is already registered as an associated person in any capacity whose registration is not subject to conditions or restrictions may become associated as an associated person with another sponsor if the new sponsor (who must meet the requirements set forth in § 3.60(b)(2)(i) (A) and (B)) files with the National Futures Association a Form 8-R in accordance with the instructions thereto.

(ii) NFA shall notify each sponsor of the associated person that the associated person has applied to become associated with another sponsor.

(iii) Each sponsor of the associated person shall supervise that associated person and each sponsor is jointly and severally responsible for the conduct of the associated person with respect to the:

(A) Solicitation or acceptance of customers' orders,

(B) Solicitation of funds, securities, or property for a participation in a commodity pool,

(C) Solicitation of a client's or prospective client's discretionary account,

(D) Solicitation or acceptance of leverage customers' orders for leverage transactions, and

(E) Associated person's supervision of any person or persons engaged in any of the foregoing solicitations or acceptances, with respect to any customers common to it and any other futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, or leverage transaction merchant with which the associated person is associated.

(2) Upon receipt by the National Futures Association of a Form 8-R filed in accordance with paragraph (f)(1) of this section from an associated person, the associated person named therein shall be registered as an associated person of the new sponsor.

(3) A person who is simultaneously associated with more than one sponsor in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this section shall be required, upon receipt of notice from the National Futures Association, to file with the National Futures Association his fingerprints on a fingerprint card provided by the National Futures Association for that purpose as well as such other information as the National Futures Association may require. The National Futures Association may require such a filing every two years, or at such greater period of time as the National Futures Association may deem appropriate, after the associated person has become associated with a new sponsor in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this section.

(4) If a person is associated with a futures commission merchant, with a retail foreign exchange dealer, or with an introducing broker and he directs customers seeking a managed account to use the services of a commodity trading advisor(s) approved by the futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer or introducing broker and all such customers' accounts solicited or accepted by the associated person are carried by the futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer or introduced by the introducing broker with which the associated person is associated, such a person shall be deemed to be associated solely with the futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer or introducing broker and may not also register as an associated person of the commodity trading advisor(s).

(5)(i)(A) A person who is already registered as an associated person in any capacity whose registration is not subject to conditions or restrictions may become associated as an associated person of a swap dealer or major swap participant if the swap dealer or major swap participant meets the requirements set forth in § 3.60(b)(2)(i)(A).

(B) A person who is already associated as an associated person of a swap dealer or major swap participant may become registered as an associated person of a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, or leverage transaction merchant if the futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, or leverage transaction merchant with which the person intends to associate meets the requirements set forth in § 3.60(b)(2)(i)(A) and (B).

(ii) Each sponsor and each swap dealer and/or major swap participant with whom the person is associated shall supervise that associated person, and each sponsor and each swap dealer and/or major swap participant is jointly and severally responsible for the conduct of the associated person with respect to the:

(A) Solicitation or acceptance of customer orders,

(B) Solicitation of funds, securities or property for a participation in a commodity pool,

(C) Solicitation of a client's or prospective client's discretionary account,

(D) Solicitation or acceptance of leverage customers' orders for leverage transactions,

(E) Solicitation or acceptance of swaps, and

(F) Associated person's supervision of any person or persons engaged in any of the foregoing solicitations or acceptances, with respect to any customers common to it and any futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, leverage transaction merchant, swap dealer, or major swap participant with which the associated person is associated.

(g) Petitions for exemption. Any person adversely affected by the operation of this section may file a petition with the Secretary of the Commission, which petition must set forth with particularity the reasons why that person believes that an applicant should be exempted from the requirements of this section and why such an exemption would not be contrary to the public interest and the purposes of the provision from which exemption is sought. The petition will be granted or denied by the Commission on the basis of the papers filed. The Commission may grant such a petition if it finds that the exemption is not contrary to the public interest and the purposes of the provision from which exemption is sought. The petition may be granted subject to such terms and conditions as the Commission may find appropriate.

(h) Exemption from registration. (1) A person is not required to register as an associated person in any capacity if that person is:

(i) Registered under the Act as a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, floor broker, or as an introducing broker;

(ii) Engaged in the solicitation of funds, securities, or property for a participation in a commodity pool, or the supervision of any person or persons so engaged, pursuant to registration with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority as a registered representative, registered principal, limited representative or limited principal, and that person does not engage in any other activity subject to regulation by the Commission;

(iii) The chief operating officer, general partner or other person in the supervisory chain-of-command, provided the futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, or leverage transaction merchant engages in commodity interest related activity for customers as no more than ten percent of its total revenue on an annual basis, the firm is not subject to a pending proceeding brought by the Commission or a self-regulatory organization alleging fraud or failure to supervise, and has not been found in such a proceeding to have committed fraud or failed to supervise, as required by the Act, the rules promulgated thereunder or the rules of a self-regulatory organization, the person for whom exemption is sought and the person designated in accordance with paragraphs (h)(1)(iii)(C) or (h)(1)(iii)(D) of this section are listed as principals of the firm, the fitness examination conducted by the National Futures Association with respect to these persons discloses no derogatory information that would disqualify any of such persons as a principal or as an associated person, and the firm files with the National Futures Association corporate or partnership resolutions stating that:

(A) Such supervisory person is not authorized to:

(1) Solicit or accept customers', retail forex customers', or leverage customers' orders,

(2) Solicit a client's or prospective client's discretionary account,

(3) Solicit funds, securities or property for a participation in a commodity pool, or

(4) Exercise any line supervisory authority over those persons so engaged;

(B) Such supervisory person has no authority with respect to hiring, firing or other personnel matters involving persons engaged in activities subject to regulation under the Act;

(C) Another person (or persons) designated therein, who is registered as an associated person(s) or who has applied for registration as an associated person(s) and is not subject to a pending proceeding brought by the Commission or a self-regulatory organization alleging fraud or failure to supervise, and has not been found in such a proceeding to have committed fraud or failed to supervise, as required by the Act, the rules promulgated thereunder or the rules of a self-regulatory organization, holds and exercises full and final supervisory authority, including authority to hire and fire personnel, over the customer commodity interest related activities of the firm; and

(D) If the person (or persons) so designated in accordance with paragraph (h)(1)(iii)(C) of this section ceases to have the authority referred to therein, the firm will notify the National Futures Association within twenty days of such occurrence by means of a subsequent resolution which resolution must also include the name of another associated person (or persons) who has been vested with full supervisory authority, including authority to hire and fire personnel, over the customer commodity interest related activities of the firm in the event that all of those previously designated in accordance with paragraph (h)(1)(iii)(C) of this section have been relieved of such authority. Subsequent changes in supervisory authority shall be reported in the same manner; or

(iv) Engaged in any activity as an associated person, as defined in § 1.3 of this chapter, from a location outside the United States, its territories or possessions, and limits such activities to customers located outside the United States, its territories or possessions.

(2) A person is not required to register as an associated person of a commodity trading advisor if that person is:

(i) Registered as a commodity trading advisor, if that person is associated with a commodity trading advisor; or

(ii) Exempt from registration as a commodity trading advisor pursuant to the provisions of § 4.14(a)(1), § 4.14(a)(2) or § 4.14(a) (8) of this chapter or is associated with a person who is so exempt from registration: Provided, That the provisions of paragraph (h)(2)(ii) of this section shall not apply to the solicitation of a client's or prospective client's discretionary account, or the supervision of any person or persons so engaged, by, for or on behalf of a commodity trading advisor which is:

(A) Not exempt from registration pursuant to the provisions of § 4.14(a)(1), § 4.14(a)(2) or § 4.14(a)(8) of this chapter or

(B) Registered as a commodity trading advisor notwithstanding the availability of that exemption.

(3) A person is not required to register as an associated person of a commodity pool operator if that person is:

(i) Registered as a commodity pool operator, if that person is associated with a commodity pool operator;

(ii) Exempt from registration as a commodity pool operator pursuant to the provisions of § 4.13 of this chapter or is associated with a person who is so exempt from registration: Provided, That the provisions of paragraph (h)(3)(ii) of this section shall not apply to the solicitation of funds, securities, or property for a participation in a commodity pool, or the supervision of any person or persons so engaged, by, for, or on behalf of a commodity pool operator which is

(A) Not exempt from registration pursuant to the provisions of § 4.13 of this chapter or

(B) Registered as a commodity pool operator notwithstanding the availability of that exemption; or

(iii) Where a commodity pool is operated or to be operated by two or more commodity pool operators, registered as an associated person of one of the pool operators of the commodity pool in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (c), (d), (f), or (i) of this section: Provided, That each such commodity pool operator shall be jointly and severally liable for the conduct of that associated person in the solicitation of funds, securities, or property for participation in the commodity pool, or the supervision of any person or persons so engaged, regardless of whether that associated person is registered as an associated person of each such commodity pool operator.

(i) Special registration or temporary licensing procedures when previous sponsor's registration ceases. (1) Any person whose registration as an associated person in any capacity was not subject to conditions or restrictions, and was terminated within the preceding sixty days because the previous sponsor's registration was revoked or withdrawn, and who becomes associated with a new sponsor, will be registered as an associated person of such new sponsor upon the mailing by that new sponsor to the National Futures Association of written certifications stating:

(i) That such person has been hired or is otherwise employed by that sponsor;

(ii) That such person's registration as an associated person in any capacity is not suspended or revoked;

(iii) That such person is eligible to be registered in accordance with paragraph (i) of this section;

(iv) Whether there is a pending adjudicatory proceeding under sections 6(c), 6(d), 6c, 6d, 8a or 9 of the Act or § 3.55, 3.56 or 3.60 or if, within the preceding twelve months, the Commission has permitted the withdrawal of an application for registration in any capacity after instituting the procedures provided in § 3.51 and, if so, that the sponsor has been given a copy of the notice of the institution of a proceeding in connection therewith;

(v) That the new sponsor has received a copy of the notice of the institution of a proceeding if the applicant for registration has certified, in accordance with paragraph (i)(1)(iv) of this section, that there is a proceeding pending against the applicant as described in that paragraph or that the Commission has permitted the withdrawal of an application for registration as described in that paragraph; and

(vi) That the new sponsor will be responsible for supervising all activities of the person in connection with the sponsor's business as a registrant under the Act. Provided, however, That if such person's prior registration as an associated person was subject to conditions or restrictions, the new sponsor (who must meet the requirements set forth in § 3.60(b)(2)(i) (A) and (B) of this part) must also file a signed Supplemental Sponsor Certification Statement that contains conditions identical to those agreed to by the original sponsor and, in such case, the person will be granted a temporary license, subject to the provisions of §§ 3.41, 3.42 and 3.43 of this part.

(2) The certifications required by paragraphs (i)(1)(i), (i)(1)(v), and (i)(1)(vi) of this section must be signed and dated by an officer, if the sponsor is a corporation, a general partner, if a partnership, or the proprietor, if a sole proprietorship. The certifications required by paragraphs (i)(1)(ii)-(iv) of this section must be signed and dated by the applicant for registration as an associated person.

(3) A person who is registered in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (i)(1) of this section shall be required, upon receipt of notice from the National Futures Association, to file with the National Futures Association his fingerprints on a fingerprint card provided by the National Futures Association for that purpose as well as such other information as the National Futures Association may require. The National Futures Association may require such a filing every two years, or at such greater period of time as the National Futures Association may deem appropriate, after the associated person has become associated with a new sponsor in connection with the requirements of paragraph (i)(1) of this section.

(a) Any person who is required by this part to submit a fingerprint card may file, or cause to be filed, in lieu of such card:

(1) A legible, accurate and complete photocopy of a fingerprint card that has been submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for identification and appropriate processing and of each report, record, and notation made available by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with respect to that fingerprint card if such identification and processing has been completed satisfactorily by the Federal Bureau of Investigation not more than ninety days prior to the filing with the National Futures Association of the photocopy;

(2) A statement that such person's application for initial registration in any capacity was granted within the preceding ninety days, provided that the provisions of this paragraph (a)(2) shall not be applicable to any person who, by Commission rule, regulation, or order, was not required to file a fingerprint card in connection with such application for initial registration; or

(3) A statement that such person has a current Form 8-R on file with the Commission or the National Futures Association.

(b) Each photocopy and statement filed in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section must be signed and dated. Such signature shall constitute a certification by that individual that the photocopy or statement is accurate and complete and must be made by:

(1) With respect to the fingerprints of an associated person: An officer, if the sponsor is a corporation; a general partner, if a partnership; or the sole proprietor, if a sole proprietorship;

(2) With respect to fingerprints of a floor broker or individual floor trader: The applicant for registration; and with respect to fingerprints of each individual who is responsible for entry of orders from the account of a floor trader that is a non-natural person, the applicant for registration, or

(3) With respect to the fingerprints of a principal: An officer, if the futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, introducing broker, floor trader that is a non-natural person, or leverage transaction merchant with which the principal will be affiliated is a corporation; a general partner, if a partnership; or the sole proprietor, if a sole proprietorship.

(c) Outside directors. Any futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, introducing broker, commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor, floor trader that is a non-natural person, or leverage transaction merchant that has a principal who is a director but is not also an officer or employee of the firm may, in lieu of submitting a fingerprint card in accordance with the provisions of § 3.10(a)(2), file a “Notice Pursuant to Rule 3.21(c)” with the National Futures Association. Such notice shall state, if true, that such outside director:

(1) Is not engaged in:

(i) The solicitation or acceptance of customers' orders or retail forex customers' orders,

(ii) The solicitation of funds, securities or property for a participation in a commodity pool,

(iii) The solicitation of a client's or prospective client's discretionary account,

(iv) The solicitation of leverage customers' orders for leverage transactions,

(v) The solicitation or acceptance of a swap agreement;

(2) Does not regularly have access to the keeping, handling or processing of:

(i) Transactions involving “commodity interests,” as that term is defined in § 1.3;

(ii) Customer funds, retail forex customer funds, leverage customer funds, foreign futures or foreign options secured amount, or adjusted net capital; or

(3) Does not have direct supervisory responsibility over persons engaged in the activities referred to in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section; and

(4) The Notice Pursuant to Rule 3.21(c) shall also include:

(i) The name of the futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor trader that is a non-natural person, leverage transaction merchant, or applicant for registration in any of these capacities of which the person is an outside director;

(ii) The nature of the duties of the outside director for whom exemption under paragraph (c) of this section is sought;

(iii) The internal controls used to ensure that the outside director for whom exemption under this paragraph (c) is sought does not have access to the keeping, handling or processing of the items described in paragraphs (c)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section; and

(iv) The reasons why the outside director believes he should be exempted from the fingerprint requirement and why such an exemption would not be contrary to the public interest and the purposes of the provision from which exemption is sought.

(d) A firm that has filed a Notice Pursuant to Rule 3.21(c) with respect to an outside director described therein must file with the National Futures Association on behalf of such outside director a Form 8-R, completed in accordance with the instructions thereto and executed by the outside director. The exemption provided for in paragraph (c) of this section is limited solely to the outside director's fingerprint requirement and does not affect any other duties or responsibilities of the firm or the outside director under the Act or the rules set forth in this chapter. In appropriate cases, the Commission and the National Futures Association may require further information from the firm with respect to any outside director referred to in a Notice Pursuant to Rule 3.21(c).

(e) Foreign natural persons. (1) For purposes of this paragraph (e):

(i) The term foreign natural person means any natural person who has not resided in the United States since reaching the age of 18 years.

(ii) The term certifying firm means:

(A) For any natural person that is a principal or associated person of a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, introducing broker, commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor, leverage transaction merchant, floor broker, or floor trader, such futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, introducing broker, commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor, leverage transaction merchant, floor broker, or floor trader; and

(B) For any natural person that is responsible for, or directs, the entry of orders from a floor broker's or floor trader's own account, such floor broker or floor trader.

(2) Any obligation in this part to provide a fingerprint card for a foreign natural person shall be deemed satisfied with respect to a certifying firm if:

(i) Such certifying firm causes a criminal history background check of such foreign natural person to be performed; and

(ii) The criminal history background check:

(A) Is of a type that would reveal all matters listed under Sections 8a(2)(D) or 8a(3)(D), (E), or (H) of the Act relating to such foreign natural person;

(B) Does not reveal any matters that constitute a disqualification under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the Act, other than those disclosed to the National Futures Association; and

(C) Is completed not more than one calendar year prior to the date that such certifying firm submits the certification described in paragraph (e)(2)(iii) of this section;

(iii) A person authorized by such certifying firm submits, in reliance on such criminal history background check, a certification by such certifying firm to the National Futures Association, that:

(A) States that the conditions of paragraphs (e)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section have been satisfied; and

(B) Is signed by a person authorized by such certifying firm to make such certification.

(3) The certifying firm shall maintain, in accordance with § 1.31 of this chapter, records documenting that the criminal history background check performed pursuant to paragraph (e)(2)(i) of this section was completed and the results thereof.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Commission, the Directors of the Market Participants Division or Division of Enforcement or either Director's designee, or the National Futures Association may, at any time, give written notice to any registrant, applicant for registration, or person required to be registered:

(a)(1) That derogatory information has come to the attention of the staff of the Commission or the National Futures Association which, if true, could constitute grounds upon which to base a determination that the person is unfit to become, or to remain, registered or temporarily licensed in accordance with the Act or the regulations thereunder and setting forth such information in the notice and requesting the person to provide evidence mitigating the seriousness of the statutory disqualification set forth in the notice and evidence that the person has undergone rehabilitation, or

(2) That the Commission or the National Futures Association has undertaken a routine or periodic review of the registrant's fitness to remain registered or temporarily licensed; and

(b) That the person, or any individual who, based upon his or her relationship with that person is required to file a Form 8-R in accordance with the requirements of this part, as applicable, must, within such period of time as the Commission or the National Futures Association may specify, complete and file with the Commission or the National Futures Association a current Form 7-R, or if appropriate, a Form 8-R, in accordance with the instructions thereto.

(c) Failure to provide the information required under paragraph (b) of this section is a violation of the Commission's regulations which itself constitutes grounds upon which to base a determination that the person is unfit to become or to remain so registered.

(a) The address of each registrant, applicant for registration, and principal, as submitted on the application for registration (Form 7-R or Form 8-R) or as submitted on the biographical supplement (Form 8-R) shall be deemed to be the address for delivery to the registrant, applicant or principal for any communications from the Commission or the National Futures Association, including any summons, complaint, reparation claim, order, subpoena, special call, request for information, notice, and other written documents or correspondence, unless the registrant, applicant or principal specifies another address for this purpose: Provided that the Commission or the National Futures Association may address any correspondence relating to a biographical supplement submitted for or on behalf of a principal to the futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, introducing broker, commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor, floor trader that is a non-natural person, or leverage transaction merchant with which the principal is affiliated and may address any correspondence relating to an associated person to the futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, introducing broker, commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor, floor trader that is a non-natural person, or leverage transaction merchant with which the associated person or the applicant for registration is or will be associated as an associated person.

(b) Each registrant, while registered and for two years after termination of registration, and each principal, while affiliated and for two years after termination of affiliation, must notify in writing the National Futures Association of any change of the address on the application for registration, biographical supplement, or other address filed with the National Futures Association for the purpose of receiving communications from the Commission or the National Futures Association. Failure to file a required response to any communication sent to the latest such address filed with the National Futures Association that is caused by a failure to notify in writing the National Futures Association of an address change may result in an order of default and award of claimed monetary damages or other appropriate order in any National Futures Association or Commission proceeding, including a reparation proceeding brought under part 12 of this chapter.

(a)(1) Each applicant or registrant as a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, introducing broker, floor trader that is a non-natural person or leverage transaction merchant shall, in accordance with the instructions thereto, promptly correct any deficiency or inaccuracy in Form 7-R or Form 8-R that no longer renders accurate and current the information contained therein, with the exception of any change that requires withdrawal from registration under § 3.33 or any change resulting from an exchange disciplinary or access denial action. Each such correction shall be prepared and filed in accordance with the instructions thereto.

(2) Where a registrant has changed its form of organization to or from a sole proprietorship, the registrant must request withdrawal from registration in accordance with § 3.33.

(3) Where any person becomes a principal of an applicant or registrant subsequent to the filing of the applicant's or registrant's current Form 7-R:

(i) If the new principal is not a natural person, the registrant shall update such Form 7-R.

(ii) If the new principal is a natural person, the registrant shall file a Form 8-R, completed in accordance with the instructions thereto and executed by such person who is a principal of the registrant and who was not listed on the registrant's initial application for registration or any amendment thereto.

(b) Each applicant or registrant as a floor broker, floor trader or associated person, and each principal of a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, introducing broker, floor trader that is a non-natural person, or leverage transaction merchant must, in accordance with the instructions thereto, promptly correct any deficiency or inaccuracy in the Form 8-R or supplemental statement thereto.

(c)(1) After the filing of a Form 8-R or updating a Form 8-R by or on behalf of any person for the purpose of permitting that person to be an associated person of a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, introducing broker, or a leverage transaction merchant, that futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, introducing broker or leverage transaction merchant must, within thirty days after the occurrence of either of the following, file a notice thereof with the National Futures Association indicating:

(i) The failure of that person to become associated with the futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, introducing broker, or leverage transaction merchant, and the reasons therefor; or

(ii) The termination of the association of the associated person with the futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, introducing broker, or leverage transaction merchant, and the reasons therefor.

(2) Each person registered as, or applying for registration as, a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, introducing broker, floor trader that is a non-natural person, or leverage transaction merchant must, within thirty days after the termination of the affiliation of a principal with the registrant or applicant, file a notice thereof with the National Futures Association.

(3) Any notice required by paragraph (c) of this section must be filed on Form 8-T or on a Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration.

(d) Each contract market or swap execution facility that has granted trading privileges to a person who is registered, has received a temporary license, or has applied for registration as a floor broker or floor trader, must notify the National Futures Association within sixty days after such person has ceased having trading privileges on such contract market or swap execution facility.

(a) A futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor trader that is a non-natural person, or leverage transaction merchant must request that its registration be withdrawn prior to any voluntary resolution to file articles (or a certificate) of dissolution (or cancellation), and upon notice of any involuntary dissolution initiated by a third-party. A futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, leverage transaction merchant, floor broker or floor trader may request that its registration be withdrawn in accordance with the requirements of this section if:

(1) The registrant has ceased, or has not commenced, engaging in activities requiring registration in such capacity;

(2) The registrant is exempt from registration in such capacity; or

(3) The registrant is excluded from the persons or any class of persons required to be registered in such capacity: Provided, That the National Futures Association or the Commission, as appropriate, may consider separately each capacity for which withdrawal is requested in acting upon such a request.

(b) A request for withdrawal from registration as a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor trader that is a non-natural person, or leverage transaction merchant must be made on Form 7-W, and a request for withdrawal from registration as a floor broker or individual floor trader must be made on Form 8-W, completed and filed with the National Futures Association in accordance with the instructions thereto. The request for withdrawal must be made by a person duly authorized by the registrant and must specify:

(1) The name of the registrant for which withdrawal is being requested;

(2) The registration capacities for which withdrawal is being requested;

(3) The name, address, and telephone number of the person who will have custody of the books and records of the registrant; the address where such books and records will be located; and a statement that such person is authorized to make them available in accordance with the requirements of § 1.31 of this chapter;

(4) The applicable basis under paragraph (a) of this section for requesting withdrawal for each capacity for which withdrawal is requested.

(5) If withdrawal is requested under paragraph (a)(2) or (a)(3) of this section, then, with respect to each capacity for which withdrawal is requested, the section of the Act, regulations, or other authority permitting the exemption or exclusion, and the circumstances which entitle the registrant to claim such exemption or exclusion.

(6) If a basis for withdrawal from registration under paragraph (a)(1) of this section is that the registrant has ceased engaging in activities requiring registration, then, with respect to each capacity for which the registrant has ceased such activities:

(i) That all customer, retail forex customer or option customer agreements, if any, have been terminated;

(ii) That all customer, retail forex customer or option customer positions, if any, have been transferred on behalf of customers or option customers or closed;

(iii) That all customer, retail forex customer or option customer cash balances, securities, or other property, if any, have been transferred on behalf of customers, retail forex customers or option customers or returned, and that there are no obligations to customers, retail forex customers or option customers outstanding;

(iv) In the case of a commodity pool operator, that all interests in, and assets of, any commodity pool have been redeemed, distributed, or transferred, on behalf of the participants therein, and that there are no obligations to such participants outstanding;

(v) In the case of a leverage transaction merchant:

(A) Either that all leverage customer agreements, if any, and all leverage contracts have been terminated, and that all leverage customer cash balances, securities or other property, if any, have been returned, or

(B) Alternatively, that pursuant to Commission approval, the leverage contract obligations of the leverage transaction merchant have been assumed by another leverage transaction merchant and all leverage customer cash balances, securities or other property, if any, have been transferred to such leverage transaction merchant on behalf of leverage customers or returned, and that there are no obligations to leverage customers outstanding;

(vi) The nature and extent of any pending customer, retail forex customer, option customer, leverage customer, swap counterparty or commodity pool participant claims against the registrant, and, to the best of the registrant's knowledge and belief, the nature and extent of any anticipated or threatened customer, option customer, leverage customer, swap counterparty or commodity pool participant claims against the registrant;

(vii) In the case of a futures commission merchant or a retail foreign exchange dealer which is a party to a guarantee agreement, that all such agreements have been or will be terminated in accordance with the provisions of § 1.10(j) of this chapter not more than thirty days after the filing of the request for withdrawal from registration;

(viii) In the case of a swap dealer, that the person will not engage in any new activity described in the definition of the term “swap dealer” in section 1a(49) of the Act, as such term may be further defined by the Commission; and

(ix) In the case of a major swap participant, that the person will not engage in any new activity described in the definition of the term “major swap participant” in section 1a(33) of the Act, as such term may be further defined by the Commission.

(c) Where a leverage transaction merchant is requesting withdrawal from registration in that capacity and the basis for withdrawal under paragraph (a)(1) of this section is that it has ceased engaging in activities requiring registration, the request for withdrawal must be accompanied by a form 2-FR which contains the information specified in § 31.13(f) of this chapter as of a date not more than 30 days prior to the date of the withdrawal request.

(d) [Reserved]

(e) A request for withdrawal from registration as a futures commission merchant, retail foreign exchange dealer, swap dealer, major swap participant, introducing broker, commodity pool operator, commodity trading advisor, floor trader that is a non-natural person, or leverage transaction merchant on Form 7-W, and a request for withdrawal from registration as a floor broker or individual floor trader on Form 8-W, must be filed with the National Futures Association and a copy of such request must be sent by the National Futures Association within three business days of the receipt of such withdrawal request to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Market Participants Division, at the Commission's Washington, DC headquarters. In addition, any floor broker or individual floor trader requesting withdrawal from registration must file a copy of his or her Form 8-W with each contract market or swap execution facility that has granted him or her trading privileges, and any floor trader that is a non-natural person requesting withdrawal from registration must file a copy of its Form 7-W with each contract market or swap execution facility that has granted it trading privileges. Within three business days of any determination by the National Futures Association under § 3.10(d) to treat the failure by a registrant to file an annual Form 7-R as a request for withdrawal, the National Futures Association shall send the Commission notice of that determination.

(f) A request for withdrawal from registration will become effective on the thirtieth day after receipt of such request by the National Futures Association, or earlier upon written notice from the National Futures Association (with the written concurrence of the Commission) of the granting of such request, unless prior to the effective date:

(1) The Commission or the National Futures Association has instituted a proceeding to suspend or revoke such registration;

(2) The Commission or the National Futures Association imposes, or gives notice by mail which notice shall be complete upon mailing, that it intends to impose terms or conditions upon such withdrawal from registration;

(3) The Commission or the National Futures Association notifies the registrant by mail, which notice shall be complete upon mailing, or the registrant otherwise is notified that it is the subject of an investigation to determine, among other things, whether such registrant has violated, is violating, or is about to violate the Act, rules, regulations or orders adopted thereunder;

(4) The Commission or the National Futures Association requests from the registrant further information pertaining to its request for withdrawal from registration; or

(5) The Commission or National Futures Association determines that it would be contrary to the requirements of the Act, or of any rule, regulation or order thereunder, or to the public interest to permit such withdrawal from registration.

(g) Withdrawal from registration in one capacity does not constitute withdrawal from registration in any other capacity.

(h) Withdrawal from registration does not constitute a release from liability for any violation of the Act or of any rule, regulation, or order thereunder.