Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Relating to Proposed Interpretive Material Regarding the Use of Investment Analysis Tools

Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”), and rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on February 3, 2003, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the NASD. On February 27, 2003, the NASD amended the proposed rule change. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested persons.

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

The NASD proposes to adopt a new Interpretive Material (“IM”) to NASD rule 2210(d)(2)(N), to allow NASD member firms to use certain investment analysis tools that show the probability that investing in specific securities or mutual funds may produce a desired result. The text of the proposed rule change is below. Proposed new language is in italics.

IM-2210-6. Requirements for the Use of Investment Analysis Tools

(a) General Considerations

This Interpretive Material provides a limited exception to NASD Rule 2210(d)(2)(N).

No member may imply that NASD endorses or approves the use of any investment analysis tool or any recommendation based on such a tool. A member that intends to offer an investment analysis tool under this Interpretive Material (whether customers use the member's tool independently or with assistance from the member) must, at least 30 days prior to first use, (1) provide NASD's Advertising Regulation Department (Department) access to the investment analysis tool and (2) file with the Department any template for written reports produced by, or sales material concerning, the tool. The member also must provide any supplemental information requested by the Department. If the Department requests changes to the investment analysis tool, written-report template or sales material, the member may not offer or use the tool, written-report template or sales material until all changes specified by the Department have been made by the member and approved by the Department. In addition, as in all cases, a member's compliance with this Interpretive Material does not mean that the member is acting in conformity with other applicable laws and rules. A member that offers an investment analysis tool under this Interpretive Material (whether customers use the member's tool independently or with assistance from the member) is responsible for ensuring that use of the investment analysis tool and all recommendations based on the investment analysis tool (whether made via the automated tool or a written report) comply with NASD's suitability rule (rule 2310), the other provisions of rule 2210, and the other applicable federal securities laws and Securities and Exchange Commission and NASD rules.

(b) Definition

For purposes of this Interpretive Material and any interpretation thereof, an “investment analysis tool” is an interactive technological tool that produces simulations and statistical analyses that present a range of probabilities that various investment outcomes might occur, thereby serving as an additional resource to investors in the evaluation of the potential risks of and returns on particular investments.

(c) Use of Investment Analysis Tools and Related Written Reports and Sales Material

A member may provide an investment analysis tool (whether customers use the member's tool independently or with assistance from the member), written reports indicating the results generated by such tool and related sales material only if:

(1) the tool presents a range of probabilities that various investment outcomes might occur and does not state that a particular investment outcome will, in fact, occur;

(2) the tool prominently presents a fair and balanced representation of the range of possible investment outcomes that the tool's algorithm determines have a reasonable probability of occurrence;

(3) the tool uses a mathematical process that can be audited and reviewed;

(4) the member describes the criteria and methodology used, including the investment analysis tool's limitations and key assumptions;

(5) the member explains that results may vary with each use and over time;

(6) the member describes the universe of investments considered in the analysis, explains how the tool determines which securities to select, discloses if the tool favors certain securities and, if so, explains the reasons for the selectivity, and states that other investments not considered may have characteristics similar or superior to those being analyzed; and

(7) the member displays the following additional disclosure: “IMPORTANT: The projections or other information generated by [name of investment analysis tool] regarding the probabilities that various investment outcomes might occur are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results and are not guarantees of future results. [Name of investment analysis tool] only presents a range of possible outcomes.”

(d) Disclosures

The disclosures and other required information discussed in paragraph (c) must be written, clear and prominent.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

In its filing with the Commission, the NASD included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in item IV below. The NASD has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

The NASD proposes to allow NASD member firms to use certain investment analysis tools that show the probability that investing in specific securities or mutual funds may produce a desired result. Under the proposed IM, members could offer investment analysis tools and written reports showing the results of such tools (and use related sales material) only if the tools, reports or sales material present a range of probabilities that various investment outcomes might occur and do not state that a particular investment outcome will, in fact, occur; present a fair and balanced representation of the range of possible investment outcomes that the tool's algorithm determines have a reasonable probability of occurrence; use a mathematical process that can be audited and reviewed; describe the criteria and methodology used, including the tool's limitations and key assumptions; explain that results may vary with each use and over time; and describe the universe of investments considered in the analysis, explain how the tool determines which securities to select, disclose if the tool favors certain securities and, if so, explain the reason for the selectivity, and state that other investments not considered may have characteristics similar or superior to those being analyzed.

In addition, the following disclosure must be displayed: “Important: The projections or other information generated by [name of investment analysis tool] regarding the probabilities that various investment outcomes might occur are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results and are not guarantees of future results. [Name of investment analysis tool] only presents a range of possible outcomes.”

The proposed IM also would require members to provide NASD's Advertising Regulation Department with access to the tool (as well as any template for written reports showing the results of the tool or sales material concerning such tool) at least 30 days prior to first use. The review and approval are not merit-based, but rather focus on whether the member has complied with the disclosure requirements and the other requirements of NASD rule 2210, such as the prohibitions on exaggerated, unwarranted and misleading statements and claims. Finally, the IM makes clear that, to the extent that these tools produce recommendations, the NASD's suitability rule would apply.

2. Statutory Basis

The NASD believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of section 15A(b)(6) of the Act, which requires, among other things, that the NASD's rules be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. As discussed above, the proposed IM requires members to disclose various material aspects of the investment analysis tools and reports that they generate. The proposed IM also would require members to provide access to the tool (as well as any template for written reports showing the results of the tool or sales material concerning such tool) to the Advertising Regulation Department at least 30 days prior to first use. In addition, the proposal reminds firms of their suitability obligations. The NASD believes that these restrictions will enable firms to provide investment analysis tools to investors while making clear to investors the limitations of such tools. As such, the investment analysis tools should allow investors to make educated judgments about how particular strategies or investments might perform.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

The NASD does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act, as amended.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others

The proposed IM was published for comment in NASD Notice to Members 02-51 (August 2002). Fifty-six comments were received in response to the Notice. A copy of the Notice to Members is attached as Exhibit 2. Copies of the comment letters received in response to the Notice are attached as Exhibit 3. Of the 56 comment letters received, 50 were generally in favor of allowing members to provide customers access to investment analysis tools and five were opposed. (One of the comments received was non-responsive.) Numerous commenters noted that other financial service providers have used these types of tools for years without any customer confusion.

The NASD both clarified and modified certain aspects of the IM as a result of some of the comments that it received. For instance, a number of commenters requested that the NASD clarify the types of tools that rule 2210(d)(2)(N) currently prohibits and that would be eligible for the IM's limited exception. The IM now explains that NASD staff has interpreted rule 2210(d)(2)(N) as prohibiting members from providing customers with access to investment analysis tools that show the probability that investing in specific securities or mutual funds may produce a desired result. Such tools would be permitted under the proposed IM if they adhere to the IM's requirements. The revised proposed IM also states that rule 2210(d)(2)(N) does not prohibit and the proposed IM thus does not apply to automated educational tools that are hypothetical or general in nature. Rule 2210(d)(2)(N), for example, generally does not prohibit and the proposed IM does not cover portfolio-based planning tools that merely generate a suggested mix of asset classes, broad categories of securities or funds, or probabilities regarding how classes of financial assets or styles of investing might perform.

Some commenters also requested that the NASD broaden the IM to include an exception for written reports indicating the results of the tools' analyses, which the NASD did not expressly discuss in the proposed IM that was distributed for comment. In general, these commenters opined that members should be able to provide reports to customers so that the customers have the opportunity to review the results and to ask follow-up questions or otherwise consult with a registered representative about the results. The IM now provides such an exception. Members may provide customers with such written reports if they fulfill the requirements set forth in the IM for members' use of the tools, including the first-use filing requirement, which could be accomplished by filing a template with the NASD (rather than by filing each individual report).

In addition, a number of commenters who reviewed the IM that previously was published for comment asked for clarification of the provision that required members to “prominently disclose the range of all possible investment outcomes generated by the investment analysis tool.” In general, the commenters stated that providing a range of “all possible outcomes” would be cumbersome, confusing and impractical given the number of variables. Indeed, one commenter opined that it would be virtually impossible to depict all possible outcomes. Several commenters suggested that members should not be required to provide the range of all possible outcomes, but rather the range of outcomes that can be determined with a high degree of certainty.

In response to these comments, the NASD modified the provision. The IM explains that the entire range of investment outcomes would encompass a range of numbers that, as a practical matter, cannot be calculated accurately. The IM therefore requires a “fair and balanced representation” of the range of possible investment outcomes that the tool's algorithm determines have a “reasonable probability of occurrence.” For example, a range of outcomes for which there is at least a one in 20 chance of occurrence on both the “upside” of the range and on the “downside” of the range would be deemed a range of outcomes that have a “reasonable probability of occurrence.” This requirement will allow tools to eliminate the statistically insignificant outcomes (for example, those for which there is less than a one in 20 chance of occurrence), while still guaranteeing that the tool will show a range of likely investment outcomes that illustrates the relationship between risk and return. The tool should measure the outcomes that have a “reasonable probability of occurrence” with adequate precision to ensure a high degree of confidence in their accuracy.

However, the tool, written report of the tool's results or related sales material must depict a “fair and balanced representation” of this range. A “fair and balanced representation” would include, at a minimum, the “upside,” “downside” and “median” projections of estimated outcomes, but would not require a depiction of every outcome in between. Any representation that, in light of all the facts and circumstances, is misleading will not be considered a “fair and balanced representation” of the range. For example, the presentation of a range of possible outcomes skewed to depict only or to weigh in favor of positive market performance would not be a “fair and balanced representation” of the range. In this regard, whenever the tool, written report of the tool's results or related sales material shows an outcome that the investor has a certain chance of achieving on the “upside,” the tool, written report or related sales material must also show the corresponding outcome on the “downside.” Moreover, the tool, written report or related sales material should also make clear that the dollar amount representing the “downside” is not the worst-case scenario, and it must include a prominent statement of the estimated probability (for example, a “5% chance” or “one in 20 chance”) that the investor will end up with less than the “downside” amount that the tool generates.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing For Commission Action

Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the NASD consents, the Commission will:

A. By order approve such proposed rule change, or

B. Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. The Commission specifically seeks comment on whether the fund advertising rules or any other Commission rules are implicated by the use of the investment analysis tools described in this proposed rule change. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the NASD. All submissions should refer to file number SR-NASD-2003-13 and should be submitted by April 24, 2003.