Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change by International Securities Exchange, LLC Relating to Changes to the U.S. Exchange Holdings, Inc. Corporate Documents and International Securities Exchange Trust Agreement in Connection With the Form 1 Applications of EDGA Exchange, Inc. and EDGX Exchange, Inc., 61398-61400 [E9-28196]
Download as PDF
61398
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 225 / Tuesday, November 24, 2009 / Notices
2. Statutory Basis
IV. Solicitation of Comments
The Exchange believes that the
proposal is consistent with the
requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,9
in general, and Section 6(b)(5) of the
Act,10 in particular, in that it is designed
to foster cooperation and coordination
with persons engaged in regulating,
clearing, settling, processing
information with respect to, and
facilitating transactions in securities, to
remove impediments to and perfect the
mechanism for a free and open market
and a national market system and, in
general, to protect investors and the
public interest, as well Section 6(b)(4) of
the Act,11 in particular, in that it
provides for the equitable allocation of
reasonable dues, fees, and other charges
among its members and issuers and
other persons using its facilities. The
proposed changes will result in
clarification of the fees charged for
trading activity on BOX.
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.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will impose
any burden on competition not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange has neither solicited
nor received comments on the proposed
rule change.
WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Exchange Act12 and
Rule 19b–4(f)(2) thereunder,13 because
it establishes or changes a due, fee, or
other charge applicable only to a
member.
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of the proposed rule change, the
Commission may summarily abrogate
the rule change if it appears to the
Commission that the action is necessary
or appropriate in the public interest, for
the protection of investors, or would
otherwise further the purposes of the
Act.
9 15
U.S.C. 78f(b).
10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
11 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
12 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
13 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
VerDate Nov<24>2008
15:15 Nov 23, 2009
Jkt 220001
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–BX–2009–072 on the
subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC
20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–BX–2009–072. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if e-mail is used. To help the
Commission process and review your
comments more efficiently, please use
only one method. The Commission will
post all comments on the Commission’s
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro/shtml). 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, 100 F Street, NE., Washington,
DC 20549, on official business days
between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Copies of such filing will also be
available for inspection and copying at
the principal office of the Exchange. All
comments received will be posted
without change; the Commission does
not edit personal identifying
information from submissions. You
should submit only information that
you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File No.
SR–BX–2009–072 and should be
submitted on or before December 15,
2009.
PO 00000
Frm 00082
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.14
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–28099 Filed 11–23–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–61005; File No. SR–ISE–
2009–90]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule
Change by International Securities
Exchange, LLC Relating to Changes to
the U.S. Exchange Holdings, Inc.
Corporate Documents and
International Securities Exchange
Trust Agreement in Connection With
the Form 1 Applications of EDGA
Exchange, Inc. and EDGX Exchange,
Inc.
November 16, 2009.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on November
9, 2009, the International Securities
Exchange, LLC (‘‘ISE’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’),
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 Exchange.
The Commission is publishing this
notice to solicit comments on the
proposed rule change from interested
persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
In connection with a transaction 3
which closed on December 23, 2008, the
International Securities Exchange, LLC
(‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘ISE’’) merged the ISE
Stock Exchange, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company, with and into
Maple Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company and a whollyowned subsidiary of Direct Edge
Holdings LLC (‘‘Direct Edge’’). As part
of the same transaction, the parent
company of the Exchange, International
Securities Exchange Holdings, Inc. (‘‘ISE
Holdings’’), purchased a 31.54% equity
interest in Direct Edge. ISE Holdings is
a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of
14 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 See Securities and Exchange Act Release No.
59135 (December 22, 2008); 73 FR 79954 (December
30, 2008) (SR–ISE–2008–85).
1 15
E:\FR\FM\24NON1.SGM
24NON1
WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 225 / Tuesday, November 24, 2009 / Notices
U.S. Exchange Holdings, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (‘‘U.S. Exchange
Holdings’’), which in turn is a whollyowned subsidiary of Eurex Frankfurt.
Eurex Frankfurt is a wholly-owned
¨
subsidiary of Eurex Zurich AG (‘‘Eurex
¨
Zurich’’), which in turn is jointly owned
¨
by Deutsche Borse AG (‘‘Deutsche
¨
Borse’’) and SIX Swiss Exchange
(‘‘SIX’’). SIX is owned by SIX Group
¨
(Eurex Frankfurt, Eurex Zurich,
¨
Deutsche Borse, SIX, SIX Group, and
U.S. Exchange Holdings, Inc. are
collectively referred to herein as the
‘‘Upstream Owners’’).
On May 7, 2009, Direct Edge’s direct
subsidiaries, EDGA Exchange, Inc.
(‘‘EDGA’’) and EDGX Exchange, Inc.
(‘‘EDGX,’’ and together with EDGA, the
‘‘DE Exchanges’’), each filed a Form 1
Application 4 (the ‘‘Form 1
Applications’’) with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the
‘‘Commission’’), to own and operate a
registered national securities exchanges.
Each of the Upstream Owners will take
appropriate steps to incorporate
provisions regarding ownership,
jurisdiction, books and records, and
other issues related to their control of
EDGA and EDGX. Specifically, each of
the non-U.S. Upstream Owners (i.e.,
¨
Deutsche Borse, Eurex Frankfurt, Eurex
¨
Zurich, SIX, and SIX Group,) will adopt
resolutions to incorporate those
concepts with respect to itself, as well
as its board members, officers,
employees, and agents (as applicable).
The U.S. Upstream Owner, U.S.
Exchange Holdings, will include
appropriate provisions in its governing
documents to incorporate those
concepts with respect to itself, as well
as its directors, officers, employees, and
agents (as applicable).
In this filing, the Exchange is
submitting to the Commission: (i)
Amendments to the Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws of U.S.
Exchange Holdings (the ‘‘Corporate
Documents’’); and (ii) amendments to
the Trust Agreement dated as of
December 19, 2007, among ISE
Holdings, U.S. Exchange Holdings,
Wilmington Trust Company, as
Delaware trustee, and Sharon BrownHruska, Robert Schwartz and Heinz
Zimmermann, as trustees (the ‘‘ISE
Trust Agreement’’). The text of the
proposed rule change is available on the
Exchange’s Web site https://
www.ise.com, at the principal office of
the Exchange, and at the Commission’s
Public Reference Room.
4 See Securities and Exchange Act Release No.
60651 (September 11, 2009); 74 FR 179 (September
17, 2009) (File No. 10–193 and 10–194).
VerDate Nov<24>2008
15:15 Nov 23, 2009
Jkt 220001
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
self-regulatory organization 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 those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below.
The Exchange has prepared summaries,
set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
of the most significant parts of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
In this filing, the Exchange is
submitting to the Commission: (i)
Amendments to the Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws of U.S.
Exchange Holdings (the ‘‘Corporate
Documents’’); and (ii) amendments to
the Trust Agreement dated as of
December 19, 2007, among ISE
Holdings, U.S. Exchange Holdings,
Wilmington Trust Company, as
Delaware trustee, and Sharon BrownHruska, Robert Schwartz and Heinz
Zimmermann, as trustees (the ‘‘ISE
Trust Agreement’’).
U.S. Exchange Holdings’ Corporate
Documents
The Exchange proposes to amend
certain provisions of the Corporate
Documents of U.S. Exchange Holdings
in connection with the contemplated
ownership and operation of the DE
Exchanges. As a result of ISE Holdings
owning a 31.54 percent equity interest
in Direct Edge and possessing certain
contractual rights and obligations with
respect to Direct Edge, ISE Holdings’
parent company, U.S. Exchange
Holdings, will control, indirectly, EDGA
and EDGX. Accordingly, the Exchange
proposes to broaden certain references
that are currently limited to ISE (the
sole registered national securities
exchange indirectly controlled by U.S.
Exchange Holdings) to also reflect ISE
Holdings’ indirect ownership of EDGA
and EDGX. Thus, the Exchange
proposes to replace certain references to
ISE with each ‘‘Controlled National
Securities Exchange.’’ These references
appear in the ownership and voting
limitations sections of the Corporate
Documents, as well as other
miscellaneous sections, including, but
not limited to, the confidentiality
section, the books and records section,
PO 00000
Frm 00083
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
61399
the compliance with laws section, the
jurisdiction section, and the
amendments section.
ISE Trust Agreement
The Exchange proposes to amend
certain provisions of the ISE Trust
Agreement in connection with the
contemplated ownership and operation
of the DE Exchanges. The ISE Trust
serves four general purposes: (i) To
accept, hold and dispose of Trust
Shares 5 on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth therein, (ii)
determine whether a Material
Compliance Event 6 has occurred or is
continuing; (iii) determine whether the
occurrence and continuation of a
Material Compliance Event requires the
exercise of the Call Option; 7 and (iv)
transfer Deposited Shares from the Trust
to the Trust Beneficiary 8 as provided in
Section 4.2(h) therein. Accordingly, the
Exchange proposes to broaden certain
references that are currently limited to
ISE (the sole registered national
securities exchange controlled by ISE
Holdings) to also reflect ISE Holdings’
indirect ownership of the EDGA and
EDGX. Thus, the Exchange proposes to
replace certain references to ISE with
each ‘‘Controlled National Securities
Exchange.’’ These references appear in
Article II through Article VIII, inclusive.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
the provisions of Section 6 of the
Exchange Act,9 in general, and with
Sections 6(b)(1) and (b)(5),10 in
particular, in that the proposal enables
5 Under the ISE Trust Agreement, the term ‘‘Trust
Shares’’ means either Excess Shares or Deposited
Shares, or both, as the case may be.
Under the ISE Trust Agreement, the term ‘‘Excess
Shares’’ means that a Person obtained an ownership
or voting interest in ISE Holdings in excess of
certain ownership and voting restrictions pursuant
to Article Four of the Certificate of Incorporation of
ISE Holdings, through ownership of one of the
Upstream Owners, without obtaining the approval
of the Commission.
Under the ISE Trust Agreement, the term
‘‘Deposited Shares’’ means shares that are
transferred to the Trust pursuant to the Trust’s
exercise of the Call Option.
6 Under the ISE Trust Agreement, the term
‘‘Material Compliance Event’’ means, with respect
to a non-U.S. Upstream Owner, as any state of facts,
development, event, circumstance, condition,
occurrence or effect that results in the failure of any
of the non-U.S. Upstream Owners to adhere to their
respective commitments under the resolutions in
any material respect.
7 Under the ISE Trust Agreement, the term ‘‘Call
Option’’ means the option granted by the Trust
Beneficiary to the Trust to call the Voting Shares
as set forth in Section 4.2 therein.
8 Under the ISE Trust Agreement, the term ‘‘Trust
Beneficiary’’ means U.S. Exchange Holdings, Inc.
9 See 15 U.S.C. 78f.
10 See 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(3), (5) [sic].
E:\FR\FM\24NON1.SGM
24NON1
61400
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 225 / Tuesday, November 24, 2009 / Notices
the Exchange to be so organized as to
have the capacity to be able to carry out
the purposes of the Exchange Act and to
comply with and enforce compliance by
members and persons associated with
members with provisions of the
Exchange Act, the rules and regulations
thereunder, and SRO rules, and is
designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to
promote just and equitable principles of
trade, to remove impediments to and
perfect the mechanism for a free and
open market and a national market
system, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest.
Moreover, the proposed rule change will
ensure that U.S. Exchange Holdings, the
direct parent company of ISE Holdings
and indirect affiliate of the DE
Exchanges, will not act in a way that is
inconsistent with the DE Exchanges’
obligations under the Exchange Act.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will impose
any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act.
WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants or Others
The Exchange has not solicited, and
does not intend to solicit, comments on
this proposed rule change. The
Exchange has not received any
unsolicited written comments from
members or other interested parties.
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 Exchange consents,
the Commission will:
(A) By order approve the 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.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
VerDate Nov<24>2008
15:15 Nov 23, 2009
Jkt 220001
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
No. SR–ISE–2009–90 on the subject
line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
Station Place, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549–1090.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–61010; File No. SR–ISE–
2009–87]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule
Change Relating to Foreign Currency
Options
November 16, 2009.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on October
All submissions should refer to File
27, 2009, the International Securities
Number SR–ISE–2009–90. This file
Exchange, LLC (‘‘ISE’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’),
number should be included on the
filed with the Securities and Exchange
subject line if e-mail is used. To help the Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the
Commission process and review your
proposed rule change as described in
comments more efficiently, please use
Items I, II, and III below, which Items
only one method. The Commission will have been prepared by the Exchange.
post all comments on the Commission’s The Commission is publishing this
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
notice to solicit comments on the
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
proposed rule change from interested
submission, all subsequent
persons.
amendments, all written statements
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
with respect to the proposed rule
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
change that are filed with the
the Proposed Rule Change
Commission, and all written
communications relating to the
The Exchange proposes to amend its
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than rules regarding Foreign Currency
Options (‘‘FX Options’’).3 The text of the
those that may be withheld from the
proposed rule change is available on the
public in accordance with the
Exchange’s Web site https://
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
www.ise.com, at the principal office of
available for inspection and copying in
the Exchange, and at the Commission’s
the Commission’s Public Reference
Room, on official business days between Public Reference Room.
the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
of such filing also will be available for
Statement of the Purpose of, and
inspection and copying at the principal
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
office of the Exchange. All comments
Change
received will be posted without change;
In its filing with the Commission, the
the Commission does not edit personal
self-regulatory organization included
identifying information from
statements concerning the purpose of,
submissions. You should submit only
and basis for, the proposed rule change
information that you wish to make
and discussed any comments it received
available publicly. All submissions
on the proposed rule change. The text
should refer to File Number SR–ISE–
2009–90 and should be submitted on or of those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below.
before December 15, 2009.
The Exchange has prepared summaries,
For the Commission, by the Division of
set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
of the most significant parts of such
authority.11
statements.
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–28196 Filed 11–23–09; 8:45 am]
1 15
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 ISE began trading FX options on April 17, 2007.
See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55575
(April 3, 2007), 72 FR 17963 (April 10, 2007) (SR–
ISE–2006–59) (the ‘‘FX Options Filing’’).
2 17
11 17
PO 00000
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
Frm 00084
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\24NON1.SGM
24NON1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61398-61400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28196]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-61005; File No. SR-ISE-2009-90]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change by International
Securities Exchange, LLC Relating to Changes to the U.S. Exchange
Holdings, Inc. Corporate Documents and International Securities
Exchange Trust Agreement in Connection With the Form 1 Applications of
EDGA Exchange, Inc. and EDGX Exchange, Inc.
November 16, 2009.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the ``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given
that on November 9, 2009, the International Securities Exchange, LLC
(``ISE'' or ``Exchange''), 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
Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments
on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
In connection with a transaction \3\ which closed on December 23,
2008, the International Securities Exchange, LLC (``Exchange'' or
``ISE'') merged the ISE Stock Exchange, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, with and into Maple Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Direct Edge
Holdings LLC (``Direct Edge''). As part of the same transaction, the
parent company of the Exchange, International Securities Exchange
Holdings, Inc. (``ISE Holdings''), purchased a 31.54% equity interest
in Direct Edge. ISE Holdings is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of
[[Page 61399]]
U.S. Exchange Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (``U.S. Exchange
Holdings''), which in turn is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eurex
Frankfurt. Eurex Frankfurt is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eurex
Z[uuml]rich AG (``Eurex Z[uuml]rich''), which in turn is jointly owned
by Deutsche B[ouml]rse AG (``Deutsche B[ouml]rse'') and SIX Swiss
Exchange (``SIX''). SIX is owned by SIX Group (Eurex Frankfurt, Eurex
Z[uuml]rich, Deutsche B[ouml]rse, SIX, SIX Group, and U.S. Exchange
Holdings, Inc. are collectively referred to herein as the ``Upstream
Owners'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 59135 (December
22, 2008); 73 FR 79954 (December 30, 2008) (SR-ISE-2008-85).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On May 7, 2009, Direct Edge's direct subsidiaries, EDGA Exchange,
Inc. (``EDGA'') and EDGX Exchange, Inc. (``EDGX,'' and together with
EDGA, the ``DE Exchanges''), each filed a Form 1 Application \4\ (the
``Form 1 Applications'') with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the ``Commission''), to own and operate a registered national
securities exchanges. Each of the Upstream Owners will take appropriate
steps to incorporate provisions regarding ownership, jurisdiction,
books and records, and other issues related to their control of EDGA
and EDGX. Specifically, each of the non-U.S. Upstream Owners (i.e.,
Deutsche B[ouml]rse, Eurex Frankfurt, Eurex Z[uuml]rich, SIX, and SIX
Group,) will adopt resolutions to incorporate those concepts with
respect to itself, as well as its board members, officers, employees,
and agents (as applicable). The U.S. Upstream Owner, U.S. Exchange
Holdings, will include appropriate provisions in its governing
documents to incorporate those concepts with respect to itself, as well
as its directors, officers, employees, and agents (as applicable).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 60651 (September
11, 2009); 74 FR 179 (September 17, 2009) (File No. 10-193 and 10-
194).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In this filing, the Exchange is submitting to the Commission: (i)
Amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of U.S.
Exchange Holdings (the ``Corporate Documents''); and (ii) amendments to
the Trust Agreement dated as of December 19, 2007, among ISE Holdings,
U.S. Exchange Holdings, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware trustee,
and Sharon Brown-Hruska, Robert Schwartz and Heinz Zimmermann, as
trustees (the ``ISE Trust Agreement''). The text of the proposed rule
change is available on the Exchange's Web site https://www.ise.com, at
the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public
Reference Room.
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 self-regulatory organization
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 those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most
significant parts of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
In this filing, the Exchange is submitting to the Commission: (i)
Amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of U.S.
Exchange Holdings (the ``Corporate Documents''); and (ii) amendments to
the Trust Agreement dated as of December 19, 2007, among ISE Holdings,
U.S. Exchange Holdings, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware trustee,
and Sharon Brown-Hruska, Robert Schwartz and Heinz Zimmermann, as
trustees (the ``ISE Trust Agreement'').
U.S. Exchange Holdings' Corporate Documents
The Exchange proposes to amend certain provisions of the Corporate
Documents of U.S. Exchange Holdings in connection with the contemplated
ownership and operation of the DE Exchanges. As a result of ISE
Holdings owning a 31.54 percent equity interest in Direct Edge and
possessing certain contractual rights and obligations with respect to
Direct Edge, ISE Holdings' parent company, U.S. Exchange Holdings, will
control, indirectly, EDGA and EDGX. Accordingly, the Exchange proposes
to broaden certain references that are currently limited to ISE (the
sole registered national securities exchange indirectly controlled by
U.S. Exchange Holdings) to also reflect ISE Holdings' indirect
ownership of EDGA and EDGX. Thus, the Exchange proposes to replace
certain references to ISE with each ``Controlled National Securities
Exchange.'' These references appear in the ownership and voting
limitations sections of the Corporate Documents, as well as other
miscellaneous sections, including, but not limited to, the
confidentiality section, the books and records section, the compliance
with laws section, the jurisdiction section, and the amendments
section.
ISE Trust Agreement
The Exchange proposes to amend certain provisions of the ISE Trust
Agreement in connection with the contemplated ownership and operation
of the DE Exchanges. The ISE Trust serves four general purposes: (i) To
accept, hold and dispose of Trust Shares \5\ on the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth therein, (ii) determine whether a Material
Compliance Event \6\ has occurred or is continuing; (iii) determine
whether the occurrence and continuation of a Material Compliance Event
requires the exercise of the Call Option; \7\ and (iv) transfer
Deposited Shares from the Trust to the Trust Beneficiary \8\ as
provided in Section 4.2(h) therein. Accordingly, the Exchange proposes
to broaden certain references that are currently limited to ISE (the
sole registered national securities exchange controlled by ISE
Holdings) to also reflect ISE Holdings' indirect ownership of the EDGA
and EDGX. Thus, the Exchange proposes to replace certain references to
ISE with each ``Controlled National Securities Exchange.'' These
references appear in Article II through Article VIII, inclusive.
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\5\ Under the ISE Trust Agreement, the term ``Trust Shares''
means either Excess Shares or Deposited Shares, or both, as the case
may be.
Under the ISE Trust Agreement, the term ``Excess Shares'' means
that a Person obtained an ownership or voting interest in ISE
Holdings in excess of certain ownership and voting restrictions
pursuant to Article Four of the Certificate of Incorporation of ISE
Holdings, through ownership of one of the Upstream Owners, without
obtaining the approval of the Commission.
Under the ISE Trust Agreement, the term ``Deposited Shares''
means shares that are transferred to the Trust pursuant to the
Trust's exercise of the Call Option.
\6\ Under the ISE Trust Agreement, the term ``Material
Compliance Event'' means, with respect to a non-U.S. Upstream Owner,
as any state of facts, development, event, circumstance, condition,
occurrence or effect that results in the failure of any of the non-
U.S. Upstream Owners to adhere to their respective commitments under
the resolutions in any material respect.
\7\ Under the ISE Trust Agreement, the term ``Call Option''
means the option granted by the Trust Beneficiary to the Trust to
call the Voting Shares as set forth in Section 4.2 therein.
\8\ Under the ISE Trust Agreement, the term ``Trust
Beneficiary'' means U.S. Exchange Holdings, Inc.
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2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with the provisions of Section 6 of the Exchange Act,\9\ in general,
and with Sections 6(b)(1) and (b)(5),\10\ in particular, in that the
proposal enables
[[Page 61400]]
the Exchange to be so organized as to have the capacity to be able to
carry out the purposes of the Exchange Act and to comply with and
enforce compliance by members and persons associated with members with
provisions of the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations thereunder,
and SRO rules, and is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade,
to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism for a free and open
market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest. Moreover, the proposed rule change
will ensure that U.S. Exchange Holdings, the direct parent company of
ISE Holdings and indirect affiliate of the DE Exchanges, will not act
in a way that is inconsistent with the DE Exchanges' obligations under
the Exchange Act.
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\9\ See 15 U.S.C. 78f.
\10\ See 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(3), (5) [sic].
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others
The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit,
comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received
any unsolicited written comments from members or other interested
parties.
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 Exchange consents, the Commission will:
(A) By order approve the 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. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File No. SR-ISE-2009-90 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, Station Place, 100 F
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ISE-2009-90. This file
number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To
help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently,
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on
the Commission's Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). 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, on official business
days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also
will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of
the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; the
Commission does not edit personal identifying information from
submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make
available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ISE-
2009-90 and should be submitted on or before December 15, 2009.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
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\11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-28196 Filed 11-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P