Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 1, DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION | THE MISSION OF THE MSRB IS TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN THE MUNICIPAL BOND MARKET, ENABLING ACCESS TO CAPITAL, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND SOCIETAL PROGRESS IN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. - WE CREATE TRUST IN OUR MARKET THROUGH INFORMED REGULATION OF DEALERS AND MUNICIPAL ADVISORS THAT PROTECTS INVESTORS, ISSUERS AND THE PUBLIC INTEREST. - WE BUILD TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS THAT POWER OUR MARKET AND PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY FOR ISSUERS, INSTITUTIONS, AND THE INVESTING PUBLIC. - WE SERVE AS THE STEWARD OF MARKET DATA THAT EMPOWERS BETTER DECISIONS AND FUELS INNOVATION FOR THE FUTURE. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS | THE MSRB WAS CREATED BY CONGRESS TO REGULATE SECURITIES FIRMS, BANKS AND MUNICIPAL ADVISORS THAT ENGAGE IN MUNICIPAL SECURITIES AND MUNICIPAL ADVISORY ACTIVITIES (COLLECTIVELY "REGULATED ENTITIES") WITH THE GOAL OF PROTECTING INVESTORS, MUNICIPAL ENTITIES, OBLIGATED PERSONS AND THE PUBLIC INTEREST. IN FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2023, THE MSRB'S REGULATORY ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDED: - ADVANCING A RULE PROPOSAL TO SHORTEN THE TIMEFRAME FOR TRADES TO BE REPORTED TO THE MSRB; - FACILITATING THE TRANSITION TO T+1 SETTLEMENT FOR MUNICIPAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS IN COORDINATION WITH THE BROADER BOND MARKET; - CREATING A NEW RULE ESTABLISHING THE CORE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR SOLICITOR MUNICIPAL ADVISORS; AND - ADVANCING THE CODIFICATION OR RETIREMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 20% OF THE MSRB'S INTERPRETIVE GUIDANCE PIECES SINCE LAUNCHING THE MSRB RULEBOOK MODERNIZATION INITIATIVE IN 2021. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4B, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS | MARKET TRANSPARENCY: THE MSRB COLLECTS MUNICIPAL MARKET DOCUMENTS AND DATA FROM REGULATED ENTITIES, MUNICIPAL ENTITIES, OBLIGATED PERSONS AND/OR THEIR AGENTS AND MAKES THE INFORMATION PUBLICLY AVAILABLE. THE MSRB ENSURES THAT THE MARKET OPERATES TRANSPARENTLY AND EFFICIENTLY BY MAKING THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, FREE OF CHARGE, ON ITS ELECTRONIC MUNICIPAL MARKET ACCESS (EMMA) WEBSITE AT EMMA.MSRB.ORG. THE MSRB IS WORKING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ITS INVESTMENT IN ENTERPRISE CLOUD TECHNOLOGY WITH A VIEW TO CONSTANTLY IMPROVING THE TRANSPARENCY THAT EMMA PROVIDES. AS PART OF THIS MULTI-YEAR INITIATIVE, IN FY 2023, THE MSRB DELIVERED A NUMBER OF USER-DRIVEN ENHANCEMENTS TO THE EMMA PLATFORM TO ENHANCE THE ACCURACY AND QUALITY OF THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON EMMA AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MARKET TRANSPARENCY FOR MARKET PARTICIPANTS. THESE INCLUDED ADDING AN HOURLY MUNICIPAL YIELD CURVE TO EMMA AND RETIRING INDIVIDUAL USER ACCOUNTS TO GIVE ISSUERS GREATER CONTROL OF THEIR INFORMATION DISPLAYED ON EMMA. AS THE MUNICIPAL MARKET'S CENTRAL REPOSITORY FOR DATA, THE MSRB IS MODERNIZING ITS DATA PLATFORMS IN THE CLOUD AND HAS DEVELOPED AN INNOVATION SANDBOX CALLED EMMA LABS, WHICH WAS LAUNCHED IN FY 2022, WHERE MARKET STAKEHOLDERS CAN HELP REFINE PROTOTYPES OF POTENTIAL DATA TOOLS. IN FY 2023, THE MSRB INTRODUCED A NEW STRUCTURED DATA LAB WITH THE GOAL OF EDUCATING MUNICIPAL MARKET PARTICIPANTS ABOUT STRUCTURED DATA BY DEFINING KEY CONCEPTS AND TERMS, PROVIDING INFORMATIVE CASE STUDIES FROM MUNICIPAL ISSUERS AND DEMONSTRATING ONE POSSIBLE APPLICATION OF STRUCTURED DATA IN A FUTURE STATE VERSION OF EMMA. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4C, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS | PUBLIC TRUST: AS THE MUNICIPAL SECURITIES MARKET'S SELF REGULATORY ORGANIZATION, THE MSRB IS COMMITTED TO PRUDENT STEWARDSHIP OF THE RESOURCES IT RECEIVES FROM REGULATED ENTITIES. IN FY 2023, THE MSRB IMPLEMENTED A MORE TRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR ESTABLISHING ITS FEES. THE NEW RATE CARD MODEL ANNUALLY ADJUSTS FEE RATES TO ACCOUNT FOR PRIOR YEAR RESULTS, MITIGATING THE RISK OF EXCESS RESERVES BY AUTOMATICALLY RETURNING ANY OPERATING SURPLUS IN THE FORM OF LOWER FEES IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND ALLOWING THE MSRB TO MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY MANAGE RESERVES LEVELS OVER TIME. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SEC. A, LINE 2 - FAMILY & BUS. RELATIONSHIPS | NO OFFICER, DIRECTOR, TRUSTEE, OR KEY EMPLOYEE HAS A FAMILY RELATIONSHIP OR BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED FOR PURPOSES OF FORM 990) WITH ANY OTHER OFFICER, DIRECTOR, TRUSTEE, OR KEY EMPLOYEE. AS CONTEMPLATED BY THE CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED STRUCTURE OF THE MSRB'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS (WHICH SERVES AS THE ORGANIZATION'S GOVERNING BODY), AND WITH THE MSRB BEING A SELF-REGULATORY ORGANIZATION UNDER THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS, THE EMPLOYERS OF SOME MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND SUCH MEMBERS IN THEIR CAPACITIES AS EMPLOYEES OF THEIR EMPLOYERS, FROM TIME TO TIME TRANSACT BUSINESS WITH ONE ANOTHER IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF THEIR BUSINESS AS PARTICIPANTS IN THE MUNICIPAL MARKET ON THE SAME TERMS AS ARE GENERALLY OFFERED TO OTHERS IN THE SAME LINE OF BUSINESS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SEC. A, LINE 7B - GOVERNING BODY/MANAGEMENT | ALL PROPOSED RULE CHANGES ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MSRB MUST BE APPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PRIOR TO EFFECTIVENESS, UNLESS OTHERWISE ALLOWED BY LAW. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SEC. B, LINE 11b - FORM 990 REVIEW PROCESS | THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MSRB HAS AN AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE THAT IS CHARGED WITH REVIEWING WITH MANAGEMENT THE ORGANIZATION'S COMPLETED FORM ANNUALLY PRIOR TO THE FILING OF SUCH FORM AND REPORTING ANY FINDINGS OR CONCLUSIONS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMITTEE'S REVIEW OF SUCH FORM. THE AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE CONDUCTED ITS REVIEW ON 01/22/2024 AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONDUCTED ITS REVIEW ON 01/24/2024. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SEC. B, LINE 12C - CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY | THE MSRB MAINTAINS FOR ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS STAFF: A CODE OF ETHICS AND BUSINESS CONDUCT POLICY; A CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY; AND A WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY WITH COMPLAINT HANDLING PROCEDURES, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE ON MSRB.ORG. ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF ARE TRAINED ANNUALLY ON THESE POLICIES AND MUST SIGN VARIOUS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. THE MSRB REQUIRES OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND KEY EMPLOYEES TO DISCLOSE ANNUALLY INTERESTS THAT COULD GIVE RISE TO CONFLICTS, AND SUBSEQUENTLY DISCLOSE UPDATES. IN CONNECTION WITH THE ELECTION OF NEW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EACH CANDIDATE PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE MSRB CONCERNING POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. IN ADDITION, CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS ARE EFFECTIVELY PROHIBITED UNDER SECTION 15B(B)OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 DUE TO THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS REGARDING QUALIFICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IN PARTICULAR, PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES MUST BE INDEPENDENT OF ANY MUNICIPAL SECURITIES BROKER, MUNICIPAL SECURITIES DEALER OR MUNICIPAL ADVISOR. MSRB RULE A-3 DEFINES "INDEPENDENT" AS HAVING NO MATERIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH ANY MUNICIPAL SECURITIES BROKER, MUNICIPAL SECURITIES DEALER OR MUNICIPAL ADVISOR, INCLUDING AT A MINIMUM NOT CURRENTLY OR AT ANY TIME WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS BEING ASSOCIATED WITH A MUNICIPAL SECURITIES BROKER, MUNICIPAL SECURITIES DEALER OR MUNICIPAL ADVISOR AND NOT HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH ANY MUNICIPAL SECURITIES BROKER, MUNICIPAL SECURITIES DEALER OR MUNICIPAL ADVISOR, WHETHER COMPENSATORY OR OTHERWISE, THAT REASONABLY COULD AFFECT THE INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT OR DECISION MAKING OF THE INDIVIDUAL. THE MSRB'S GENERAL COUNSEL REVIEWS THE DIRECTOR'S CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND DISCLOSURE FORMS AND DETERMINES WHAT ACTIONS, IF ANY, NEED TO BE TAKEN, INCLUDING ASKING A BOARD MEMBER TO RECUSE HIM OR HERSELF FROM DELIBERATIONS OR VOTING ON AN ACTION. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SEC. B, LINE 15A - COMPENSATION REVIEW PROCESS | UNDER THE MSRB WRITTEN COMPENSATION STRATEGY AND PROGRAM, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE (COMPRISED OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROVING THE ORGANIZATION-WIDE COMPENSATION STRATEGY. THE ANNUAL SALARY BUDGET IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AT LEAST ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS, THE COMPENSATION STRATEGY AND STRUCTURE ARE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE BASED ON INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM AN EXTERNAL SALARY CONSULTANT. SUCH REVIEW WAS COMPLETED AND CHANGES WERE APPROVED BY THE BOARD EFFECTIVE APRIL 22, 2020. THE EXTERNAL SALARY CONSULTANT COMPARES THE MSRB WITH COMPARABLE PEER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE LOCAL GEOGRAPHIC MARKET AND WITHIN THE INDUSTRY AS APPROPRIATE. THE FULL BOARD APPROVES THE COMPENSATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ESTABLISHES THE COMPENSATION OF THE KEY EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE PARAMETERS AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE APPROVED COMPENSATION STRATEGY. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ANNUALLY PROVIDES TO THE BOARD THE SALARY, BENEFITS, AND TOTAL COMPENSATION OF THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 - GOVERNING DOCUMENTS | THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE (WWW.MSRB.ORG) CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING: SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 SECTION 15B (STATUTE CREATING THE MSRB), ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, BY-LAWS, GOVERNANCE-RELATED ADMINISTRATIVE RULES, BOARD COMMITTEE CHARTERS, CODE OF ETHICS AND BUSINESS CONDUCT, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY, RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY, AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, ANNUAL BUDGET, MOST RECENT IRS FORM 990 AND CERTAIN FINANCIAL POLICIES. |
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