Section 28Sec./Art. 28

Registration of Brokers, Dealers, Salesmen and Associated Persons. 28.1. No person shall engage in the business of buying or selling securities in the Philippine as a broker or dealer, or act as a salesman, or an associated person of any broker or dealer unless registered as such with the Commission.

28.2. No registered broker or dealer shall employ any salesman or any associated person, and no issuer shall employ any salesman, who is not registered as such with the Commission.

28.3. The Commission, by rule or order, may conditionally or unconditionally exempt from subsection 28.1 and 28.2 any broker, dealer, salesman, associated person of any broker or dealer, or any class of the foregoing, as it deems consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors.

28.4. The Commission shall promulgate rules and regulation prescribing the qualifications for registration of each category of applicant, which shall, among other things, require as a condition for registration that:

(a) If a natural person, the applicant satisfactorily pass a written examination as to his proficiency and knowledge in the area of activity for which registration is sought;

(b) In the case of a broker or dealer, the applicant satisfy a minimum net capital as prescribed by the Commission, and provide a bond or other security as the Commission may prescribe to secure compliance with the provisions of this Code; and

(c) If located outside of the Philippines, the applicant files a written consent to service of process upon the Commission pursuant to Section 65 hereof.

28.5. A broker or dealer may apply for registration by filing with the Commission a written application in such forms and containing such information and documents concerning such broker or dealer as the Commission by rule shall prescribe.

28.6. Registration of a salesman or of an associated person of a registered broker or dealer may be made upon written application filed with the Commission by such salesman or associated person. The application shall be separately signed and certified by the registered broker or dealer to which such salesman or associated person is to become affiliated, or by the issuer in the case of a salesman employed appointed or authorized solely by such issuer. The application shall be in such form and contain such information and documents concerning the salesman or associated person as the Commission by rule shall prescribe. For purposes of this Section, a salesman shall not include any employee of an issuer whose compensation is not determined directly or indirectly on sales of securities if the issuer.

28.7. Applications filed pursuant to Subsections 28.5 and 28.6 shall be accompanied by a registration fee in such reasonable amount prescribed by the Commission.

28.8. Within thirty (30) days after the filing of any application under this Section, the Commission shall by order: (a) Grant registrations if it determines that the requirements of this Section and the qualifications for registrations set forth in its rules and regulations have been satisfied ; or (b) Deny said registration.

28.9. The names and addresses of all persons approved for the registration as brokers, dealers, associated persons or salesman and all orders of the Commission with respect thereto shall be recorded in a Register of Securities Market Professionals kept in the office of the Commission which shall be open to public inspection.

28.10. Every person registered pursuant to this Section shall file with the Commission, in such form as the Commission shall prescribe, information necessary to keep the application for registration current and accurate, including in the case of a broker or dealer changes in salesmen, associated persons and owners thereof.

28.11. Every person registered pursuant to this Selection shall pay to the Commission an annual fee at such time and in such reasonable amount as the Commission shall prescribe. Upon notice by the Commission that such annual fee has not been paid as required, the registration of such person shall be suspended until payment has been made.

28.12. The registration of a salesman or associated person shall be automatically terminated upon the cessation of his affiliation with said registered broker or dealer or with an issuer in the case of a salesman employed, appointed or authorized by such issuer. Promptly following any such cessation of affiliation, the registered broker or dealer, issuer as the case may be, shall file with the Commission a notice of separation of such salesman or associated person.