Securities Lawyer's Deskbook                          published by The University of Cincinnati College of Law

Rule 15c2-5 -- Disclosure and Other Requirements When Extending or Arranging Credit in Certain Transactions

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1. It shall constitute a "fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative act or practice" as used in Section 15(c)(2) of the Act for any broker or dealer to offer or sell any security to, or to attempt to induce the purchase of any security by, any person, in connection with which such broker or dealer directly or indirectly offers to extend any credit to or to arrange any loan for such person, or extends to or participates in arranging any loan for such person, unless such broker or dealer, before any purchase, loan or other related element of the transaction is entered into:
   1. Delivers to such person a written statement setting forth the exact nature and extent of
      
      
      1. such person's obligations under the particular loan arrangement, including among other things, the specific charges which such person will incur under such loan in each period during which the loan may continue or be extended,

      2. the risks and disadvantages which such person will incur in the entire transaction, including the loan arrangement,

      3. all commissions, discounts, and other remuneration received and to be received in connection with the entire transaction including the loan arrangment, by the broker or dealer, by any person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the broker or dealer, and by any other person participating in the transaction; Provided, however, That the broker or dealer shall be deemed to be in compliance with this paragraph if the customer, before any purchase, loan, or other related element of the transaction is entered into in a manner legally binding upon the customer, receives a statement from the lender, or receives a prospectus or offering circular from the broker or dealer, which statement, prospectus or offering circular contains the information required by this paragraph; and
         
         
   2. Obtains from such person information concerning his financial situation and needs, reasonably determines that the entire transaction, including the loan arrangement, is suitable for such person, and retains in his files a written statement setting forth the basis upon which the broker or dealer made such determination; Provided, however, That the written statement referred to in this paragraph must be made available to the customer on request.
      
      
2. This section shall not apply to any credit extended or any loan arranged by any broker or dealer subject to the provisions of Regulation T (issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) if such credit is extended or such loan is arranged, in compliance with the requirements of such regulation, only for the purpose of purchasing or carrying the security offered or sold: Provided, however, That notwithstanding this paragraph, the provisions of paragraph (a) shall apply in full force with respect to any transaction involving the extension of or arrangement for credit by a broker or dealer
   1. in a special insurance premium funding account within the meaning of section 4(k) of Regulation T or

   2. in compliance with the terms of Rule 3a12-5 of this chapter.
      
      
3. This section shall not apply to any offer to extend credit or arrange any loan, or to any credit extended or loan arranged, in connection with any offer or sale, or attempt to induce the purchase, of any municipal security.
   
   
4. This section shall not apply to a transaction involving the extension of credit by an OTC derivatives dealer, as defined in Rule 3b-12, if the transaction is exempt from the provisions of Section 7(c) of the Act pursuant to Rule 36a1-1.
   
   

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