The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) makes the Transfer Agent liable for improper securities registration. When securities are sold or transferred, the Transfer Agent or issuer relies upon the warranties made by a Medallion Guarantor. A Medallion Guarantee Stamp on a security is a warranty that the signature is genuine, the signer is an appropriate person to endorse, and the signer had the legal capacity to sign. Signature guarantee bonds limit the liability of Transfer Agents if a signature turns out to be forged.

SEC Rule 17ad-15 requires that Transfer Agents adopt an equitable methodology for acceptance of signature guarantees. To comply with the SEC Rule, Transfer Agents approved three Medallion Signature Guarantee Programs, STAMP, SEMP and MSP.

Financial Institutions (broker-dealer firms, RIA firms, banks and credit unions) who want to guarantee signatures when securities are sold or transferred must enroll in one of the Medallion Signature Guarantee Programs. To enroll in a signature guarantee program, the financial institution must provide the appropriate surety bond and the corresponding indemnity agreement.

STAMP — Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program and Indemnity Agreement For Financial Institution Enrollees

SEMP — Stock Exchanges Medallion Program and Indemnity Agreement For Financial Institution Enrollees

MSP — Medallion Signature Program (NYSE) and Indemnity Agreement NYSE MSP -- lowest limit is $1,000,000

To enroll in the signature guarantee programs, the financial institutions must complete other paperwork which can be obtained from the Medallion Signature Program administrator — Kemark Financial Services, Inc. (1) Program Application & Subscription Agreement; (2) Equipment Order Form; (3) Supplement to Program Application & Subscription Agreement. Kemark manages the enrollment process and monitors the records to make sure that each guarantor maintains a current surety bond with the appropriate limit and the appropriate equipment. KFS Technologies, LLC administers MSP.

SIGNATURE GUARANTEES

When securities are sold, the certificates or securities powers must be signed. The seller will need to get his/her signature “guaranteed” before a transfer agent will accept the transaction. The signature guarantee process protects the seller by making it harder for someone to forge another’s signature on securities certificates or related documents.

Transfer Agents maintain records of the individuals and entities that own stocks and bonds. Transfer Agents issue and cancel certificates to reflect changes in ownership. Transfer Agents keep records of who owns a company’s stock and bonds and how those stocks and bonds are held — whether by the owner in certificate form, by the company in book entry form, or by the investor’s brokerage firm in street name. They also keep records of how many shares or bonds each investor owns.

More information is available on The Securities Transfer Associations website: www.stai.org.

Signature Guarantee Surety Bonds
A STAMP, SEMP, or MSP Surety Bond is a financial guarantee to the Obligee that if there is a loss due to a “signature guarantee” by the Principal (RIA firm) that the surety will pay a claim made by the obligee for the amount of the loss up to the bond limit. The principal signs an indemnity agreement stating that the principal will reimburse the surety for all claims and associated costs.

1. The guarantor (broker-dealer, RIA, bank or credit union) is the Principal
2. The Surety is the insurance/surety company
3. The Obligee is the beneficiary of the surety bond

Signature Guarantee Medallion Surety Bond Program Highlights:

• Coverage available for firms of all sizes — serving both new and established firms.
• Select a limit as low as $100,000 or as high as $10 million.
• Hartford Fire Insurance Company Summary
• Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America Summary
• ACE Property & Casualty Insurance Company Summary

 

Signature Guarantee Medallion equipment is for guaranteeing of signatures on the transfer of securities. The Signature Validation Program offers an alternative to the use of Notaries Public for validation of signatures on non-securities commercial business transactions. The Signature Validation Program requires a surety bond to enroll.

 

• Signature Validation Program Surety Bond Summary