Joint Industry Plan; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Amendment No. 22 to the Joint Self-Regulatory Organization Plan Governing the Collection, Consolidation and Dissemination of Quotation and Transaction Information for Nasdaq-Listed Securities Traded on Exchanges on an Unlisted Trading Privileges Basis Submitted by the BATS Exchange, Inc., Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated, Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc., Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., International Securities Exchange LLC, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc., NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc., Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, National Stock Exchange, Inc., New York Stock Exchange LLC, NYSE Amex, Inc., and NYSE Arca, Inc., 59755-59771 [2010-24225]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices A proposed rule change filed pursuant to Rule 19b–4(f)(6) under the Act 11 normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of its filing. However, Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 12 permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. NYSE Amex requests that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Commission notes that the proposed rule change codifies into rule text an existing policy and provides certain other clarifications. For this reason, the Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay 13 is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Therefore, the Commission designates the proposal operative upon filing. At any time within the 60-day period beginning on the date of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. 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 rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–NYSEAmex–2010–71 on the subject line. 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,14 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 website viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the 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–NYSEAmex–2010–71 and should be submitted on or before October 19, 2010. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.15 Florence E. Harmon, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2010–24178 Filed 9–27–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010–01–P srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 [Release No. 34–62965; File No. S7–24–89] Joint Industry Plan; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Amendment No. 22 to the Joint SelfRegulatory Organization Plan Governing the Collection, Consolidation and Dissemination of Quotation and Transaction Information for Nasdaq-Listed Securities Traded on Exchanges on an Unlisted Trading Privileges Basis Submitted by the BATS Exchange, Inc., Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated, Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc., Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., International Securities Exchange LLC, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc., NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc., Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, National Stock Exchange, Inc., New York Stock Exchange LLC, NYSE Amex, Inc., and NYSE Arca, Inc. September 21, 2010. Pursuant to Rule 608 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Act’’) 1 notice is hereby given that on September 21, 2010, the operating committee (‘‘Operating Committee’’ or ‘‘Committee’’) 2 of the Joint SelfRegulatory Organization Plan Governing the Collection, Consolidation, and Dissemination of Quotation and Transaction Information for NasdaqListed Securities Traded on Exchanges on an Unlisted Trading Privilege Basis (‘‘Nasdaq/UTP Plan’’ or ‘‘Plan’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) an amendment to the Plan.3 This amendment represents Amendment No. 22 to the Plan and proposes to add EDGA Exchange, Inc. and EDGX CFR 242.608. Plan Participants (collectively, ‘‘Participants’’) are the: BATS Exchange, Inc. (‘‘BATS’’); Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (‘‘CBOE’’); Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. (‘‘CHX’’); Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’); International Securities Exchange LLC (‘‘ISE’’); NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (‘‘BX’’); NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc. (‘‘PHLX’’); Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’); National Stock Exchange, Inc. (‘‘NSX’’); New York Stock Exchange LLC (‘‘NYSE’’); NYSE Amex, Inc. (‘‘NYSEAmex’’); and NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSEArca’’). 3 The Plan governs the collection, processing, and dissemination on a consolidated basis of quotation information and transaction reports in Eligible Securities for each of its Participants. This consolidated information informs investors of the current quotation and recent trade prices of Nasdaq securities. It enables investors to ascertain from one data source the current prices in all the markets trading Nasdaq securities. The Plan serves as the required transaction reporting plan for its Participants, which is a prerequisite for their trading Eligible Securities. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55647 (April 19, 2007) 72 FR 20891 (April 26, 2007). 2 The • 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–NYSEAmex–2010–71. This file number should be included on the change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. NYSE Amex has satisfied this requirement. 11 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). 12 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). 13 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has considered the proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 1 17 Paper Comments 14 The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Commission’s Web site at https:// www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml. 15 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 59755 E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 59756 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices Exchange, Inc. to the Plan. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments from interested persons on the proposed Amendment. II. Rule 601(a) I. Rule 608(a) B. Manner of Collecting, Processing, Sequencing, Making Available and Disseminating Last Sale Information A. Purpose of the Amendments The amendment proposes to add EDGA Exchange, Inc. and EDGX Exchange, Inc. as new Participants to each Plan. A. Reporting Requirements Not applicable. Not applicable. C. Manner of Consolidation Not applicable. B. Governing or Constituent Documents Not applicable. C. Implementation of Amendment D. Standards and Methods Ensuring Promptness, Accuracy and Completeness of Transaction Reports Not applicable. Because the Participants designate the amendment as concerned solely with the administration of the Plan, the amendment becomes effective upon filing with the Commission. E. Rules and Procedures Addressed to Fraudulent or Manipulative Dissemination D. Development and Implementation Phases F. Terms of Access to Transaction Reports Not applicable. Not applicable. E. Analysis of Impact on Competition The proposed amendment does not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Exchange Act. The Participants do not believe that the proposed plan amendment introduces terms that are unreasonably discriminatory for the purposes of Section 11A(c)(1)(D) of the Exchange Act. F. Written Understanding or Agreements Relating to Interpretation of, or Participation in, Plan Not applicable. G. Approval by Sponsors in Accordance With Plan Each of the Plan’s Participants has executed a written amendment to the Plan. Not applicable. I. Terms and Conditions of Access See Item I(A) above. srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES J. Method of Determination and Imposition, and Amount of, Fees and Charges See Item I(A) above. K. Method and Frequency of Processor Evaluation Not applicable. L. Dispute Resolution Not applicable. 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 G. Identification of Marketplace of Execution Not Applicable. III. Solicitation of Comments The Commission seeks general comments on Amendment No. 22. Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposal 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 rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File Number S7–24–89 on the subject line. Paper Comments H. Description of Operation of Facility Contemplated by the Proposed Amendment VerDate Mar<15>2010 Not applicable. • 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 S7–24–89. 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 written statements with respect to the proposed Plan amendment that are filed with the Commission, and all written PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 communications relating to the proposed Plan amendment 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 Web site viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for Web site viewing and printing at the Office of the Secretary of the Committee, currently located at the CBOE, 400 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60605. 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 S7–24–89 and should be submitted on or before October 19, 2010. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.4 Florence E. Harmon, Deputy Secretary. Exhibit A Nasdaq UTP Plan Amended and Restated Plan Amendment No. 22 The undersigned registered national securities association and national securities exchanges (collectively referred to as the ‘‘Participants’’), have jointly developed and hereby enter into this Nasdaq Unlisted Trading Privileges Plan (‘‘Nasdaq UTP Plan’’ or ‘‘Plan’’). I. Participants The Participants include the following: A. Participants 1. BATS Exchange, Inc. 8050 Marshall Drive Lenexa, Kansas 66214 2. Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. 400 South LaSalle Street, 26th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60605 3. Chicago Stock Exchange 440 South LaSalle Street Chicago, Illinois 60605 4. EDGA Exchange, Inc. 545 Washington Boulevard Sixth Floor Jersey City, NJ 07310 5. EDGX Exchange, Inc. 545 Washington Boulevard Sixth Floor Jersey City, NJ 07310 4 17 E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM CFR 200.30–3(a)(27). 28SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices 6. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. 1735 K Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006 7. International Securities Exchange, LLC 60 Broad Street New York, New York 10004 8. NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. One Liberty Plaza New York, New York 10006 9. NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc. 1900 Market Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 10. National Stock Exchange, Inc. 101 Hudson, Suite 1200 Jersey City, NJ 07302 11. New York Stock Exchange LLC 11 Wall Street New York, New York 10005 12. NYSE Amex LLC 20 Broad Street New York, New York 10005 13. NYSE Arca, Inc. 100 South Wacker Drive Suite 1800 Chicago, IL 60606 14. The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC 1 Liberty Plaza 165 Broadway New York, NY 10006 B. Additional Participants Any other national securities association or national securities exchange, in whose market Eligible Securities become traded, may become a Participant, provided that said organization executes a copy of this Plan, provides to the Processor its Projected Processor Capacity Requirements, as specified in Exhibit 3, and pays its share of development costs as specified in Section XIII. srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES II. Purpose of Plan The purpose of this Plan is to provide for the collection, consolidation and dissemination of Quotation Information and Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities from the Participants in a manner consistent with the Exchange Act. The Participants commenced publication of Quotation Information and Transaction Reports on Eligible Securities as contemplated by this Plan on July 12, 1993. It is expressly understood that each Participant shall be responsible for the collection of Quotation Information and Transaction Reports within its market and that nothing in this Plan shall be deemed to govern or apply to the manner in which each Participant does so. III. Definitions A. ‘‘Current’’ means, with respect to Transaction Reports or Quotation VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 Information, such Transaction Reports or Quotation Information during the fifteen (15) minute period immediately following the initial transmission thereof by the Processor. B. ‘‘Eligible Security’’ means any Nasdaq Global Market or Nasdaq Capital Market security, as defined in NASDAQ Rule 4200. Eligible Securities under this Nasdaq UTP Plan shall not include any security that is defined as an ‘‘Eligible Security’’ within Section VII of the Consolidated Tape Association Plan. A security shall cease to be an Eligible Security for purposes of this Plan if: (i) The security does not substantially meet the requirements from time to time in effect for continued listing on Nasdaq, and thus is suspended from trading; or (ii) the security has been suspended from trading because the issuer thereof is in liquidation, bankruptcy or other similar type proceedings. The determination as to whether a security substantially meets the criteria of the definition of Eligible Security shall be made by the exchange on which such security is listed provided, however, that if such security is listed on more than one exchange then such determination shall be made by the exchange on which, the greatest number of the transactions in such security were effected during the previous twelvemonth period. C. ‘‘Commission’’ and ‘‘SEC’’ shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. D. ‘‘Exchange Act’’ means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. E. ‘‘Market’’ shall mean (i) when used with respect to Quotation Information, FINRA in the case of a FINRA Participant, or the Participant on whose floor or through whose facilities the quotation was disseminated; and (ii) when used with respect to Transaction Reports, the Participant through whose facilities the transaction took place or is reported, or the Participant to whose facilities the order was sent for execution. F. ‘‘FINRA’’ means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. G. ‘‘FINRA Participant’’ means a FINRA member that is registered as a market maker or an electronic communications network or otherwise utilizes the facilities of FINRA pursuant to applicable FINRA rules. H. ‘‘UTP Quote Data Feed’’ means the service that provides Subscribers with the National Best Bid and Offer quotations, size and market center identifier, as well as the Best Bid and Offer quotations, size and market center identifier from each individual Participant in Eligible Securities and, in PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 59757 the case of FINRA, the FINRA Participant(s) that constitutes FINRA’s Best Bid and Offer quotations. I. ‘‘Nasdaq System’’ means collectively the automated quotation system operated by Nasdaq and the system provided for in the Transaction Reporting Plan filed with and approved by the Commission pursuant to SEC Rule 11Aa3–1, subsequently redesignated as Rule 601 of Regulation NMS, governing the reporting of transactions in Nasdaq securities. J. ‘‘UTP Trade Data Feed’’ means the service that provides Vendors and Subscribers with Transaction Reports. K. ‘‘Nasdaq Security’’ or ‘‘Nasdaqlisted Security’’ means any security listed on the Nasdaq Global Market or Nasdaq Capital Market. L. ‘‘News Service’’ means a person who receives Transaction Reports or Quotation Information provided by the Nasdaq System or provided by a Vendor, on a Current basis, in connection with such person’s business of furnishing such information to newspapers, radio and television stations and other news media, for publication at least fifteen (15) minutes following the time when the information first has been published by the Processor. M. ‘‘OTC Montage Data Feed’’ means the data stream of information that provides Vendors and Subscribers with quotations and sizes from each FINRA Participant. N. ‘‘Participant’’ means a registered national securities exchange or national securities association that is a signatory to this Plan. O. ‘‘Plan’’ means this Nasdaq UTP Plan, as from time to time amended according to its provisions, governing the collection, consolidation and dissemination of Quotation Information and Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities. P. ‘‘Processor’’ means the entity selected by the Participants to perform the processing functions set forth in the Plan. Q. ‘‘Quotation Information’’ means all bids, offers, displayed quotation sizes, the market center identifiers and, in the case of FINRA, the FINRA Participant that entered the quotation, withdrawals and other information pertaining to quotations in Eligible Securities required to be collected and made available to the Processor pursuant to this Plan. R. ‘‘Regulatory Halt’’ means a trade suspension or halt called for the purpose of dissemination of material news, as described at Section X hereof or that is called for where there are regulatory problems relating to an E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 59758 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices Eligible Security that should be clarified before trading therein is permitted to continue, including a trading halt for extraordinary market activity due to system misuse or malfunction under Section X.E.1. of the Plan (‘‘Extraordinary Market Regulatory Halt’’). S. ‘‘Subscriber’’ means a person who receives Current Quotation Information or Transaction Reports provided by the Processor or provided by a Vendor, for its own use or for distribution on a nonCurrent basis, other than in connection with its activities as a Vendor. T. ‘‘Transaction Reports’’ means reports required to be collected and made available pursuant to this Plan containing the stock symbol, price, and size of the transaction executed, the Market in which the transaction was executed, and related information, including a buy/sell/cross indicator and trade modifiers, reflecting completed transactions in Eligible Securities. U. ‘‘Vendor’’ means a person who receives Current Quotation Information or Transaction Reports provided by the Processor or provided by a Vendor, in connection with such person’s business of distributing, publishing, or otherwise furnishing such information on a Current basis to Subscribers, News Services or other Vendors. IV. Administration of Plan srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES A. Operating Committee: Composition The Plan shall be administered by the Participants through an operating committee (‘‘Operating Committee’’), which shall be composed of one representative designated by each Participant. Each Participant may designate an alternate representative or representatives who shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Participant in the absence of the designated representative. Within the areas of its responsibilities and authority, decisions made or actions taken by the Operating Committee, directly or by duly delegated individuals, committees as may be established from time to time, or others, shall be binding upon each Participant, without prejudice to the rights of any Participant to seek redress from the SEC pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS under the Exchange Act or in any other appropriate forum. An Electronic Communications Network, Alternative Trading System, Broker-Dealer or other securities organization (‘‘Organization’’) which is not a Participant, but has an actively pending Form 1 Application on file with the Commission to become a national securities exchange, will be permitted to appoint one representative VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 and one alternate representative to attend regularly scheduled Operating Committee meetings in the capacity of an observer/advisor. If the Organization’s Form 1 petition is withdrawn, returned, or is otherwise not actively pending with the Commission for any reason, then the Organization will no longer be eligible to be represented in the Operating Committee meetings. The Operating Committee shall have the discretion, in limited instances, to deviate from this policy if, as indicated by majority vote, the Operating Committee agrees that circumstances so warrant. Nothing in this section or elsewhere within the Plan shall authorize any person or organization other than Participants, their representatives, and members of the Advisory Committee to participate on the Operating Committee in any manner other than as an advisor or observer. Only the Participants and their representatives as well as Commission staff may participate in Executive Sessions of the Operating Committee. B. Operating Committee: Authority The Operating Committee shall be responsible for: 1. Overseeing the consolidation of Quotation Information and Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities from the Participants for dissemination to Vendors, Subscribers, News Services and others in accordance with the provisions of the Plan; 2. Periodically evaluating the Processor; 3. Setting the level of fees to be paid by Vendors, Subscribers, News Services or others for services relating to Quotation Information or Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities, and taking action in respect thereto in accordance with the provisions of the Plan; 4. Determining matters involving the interpretation of the provisions of the Plan; 5. Determining matters relating to the Plan’s provisions for cost allocation and revenue-sharing; and 6. Carrying out such other specific responsibilities as provided under the Plan. C. Operating Committee: Voting Each Participant shall have one vote on all matters considered by the Operating Committee. 1. The affirmative and unanimous vote of all Participants entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute the action of the Operating Committee with respect to: a. Amendments to the Plan; PO 00000 Frm 00080 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 b. amendments to contracts between the Processor and Vendors, Subscribers, News Services and others receiving Quotation Information and Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities; c. replacement of the Processor, except for termination for cause, which shall be governed by Section V(B) hereof; d. reductions in existing fees relating to Quotation Information and Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities; and e. except as provided under Section IV(C)(3) hereof, requests for system changes; and f. all other matters not specifically addressed by the Plan. 2. With respect to the establishment of new fees or increases in existing fees relating to Quotation Information and Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities, the affirmative vote of twothirds of the Participants entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute the action of the Operating Committee. 3. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Participants entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute the action of the Operating Committee with respect to: a. requests for system changes reasonably related to the function of the Processor as defined under the Plan. All other requests for system changes shall be governed by Section IV(C)(1)(e) hereof. b. interpretive matters and decisions of the Operating Committee arising under, or specifically required to be taken by, the provisions of the Plan as written; c. interpretive matters arising under Rules 601 and 602 of Regulation NMS; and d. denials of access (other than for breach of contract, which shall be handled by the Processor), 4. It is expressly agreed and understood that neither this Plan nor the Operating Committee shall have authority in any respect over any Participant’s proprietary systems. Nor shall the Plan or the Operating Committee have any authority over the collection and dissemination of quotation or transaction information in Eligible Securities in any Participant’s marketplace, or, in the case of FINRA, from FINRA Participants. D. Operating Committee: Meetings Regular meetings of the Operating Committee may be attended by each Participant’s designated representative and/or its alternate representative(s), and may be attended by one or more other representatives of the parties. Meetings shall be held at such times and E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices locations as shall from time to time be determined by the Operating Committee. Quorum: Any action requiring a vote only can be taken at a meeting in which a quorum of all Participants is present. For actions requiring a simple majority vote of all Participants, a quorum of greater than 50% of all Participants entitled to vote must be present at the meeting before such a vote may be taken. For actions requiring a 2/3rd majority vote of all Participants, a quorum of at least 2/3rd of all Participants entitled to vote must be present at the meeting before such a vote may be taken. For actions requiring a unanimous vote of all Participants, a quorum of all Participants entitled to vote must be present at the meeting before such a vote may be taken. A Participant is considered present at a meeting only if a Participant’s designated representative or alternate representative(s) is either in physical attendance at the meeting or is participating by conference telephone, or other acceptable electronic means. Any action sought to be resolved at a meeting must be sent to each Participant entitled to vote on such matter at least one week prior to the meeting via electronic mail, regular U.S. or private mail, or facsimile transmission, provided however that this requirement may be waived by the vote of the percentage of the Committee required to vote on any particular matter, under Section C above. Any action may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is sent to and signed by all Participant representatives entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof. All the approvals evidencing the consent shall be delivered to the Chairman of the Operating Committee to be filed in the Operating Committee records. The action taken shall be effective when the minimum number of Participants entitled to vote have approved the action, unless the consent specifies a different effective date. The Chairman of the Operating Committee shall be elected annually by and from among the Participants by a majority vote of all Participants entitled to vote. The Chairman shall designate a person to act as Secretary to record the minutes of each meeting. The location of meetings shall be rotated among the locations of the principal offices of the Participants, or such other locations as may from time to time be determined by the Operating Committee. Meetings may be held by conference telephone and action may be taken without a meeting if the representatives VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 of all Participants entitled to vote consent thereto in writing or other means the Operating Committee deems acceptable. E. Advisory Committee (a) Formation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, an Advisory Committee to the Plan shall be formed and shall function in accordance with the provisions set forth in this section. (b) Composition. Members of the Advisory Committee shall be selected for two year terms as follows: (1) Operating Committee Selections. By affirmative vote of a majority of the Participants entitled to vote, the Operating Committee shall select at least one representative from each of the following categories to be members of the Advisory Committee: (i) A brokerdealer with a substantial retail investor customer base, (ii) a broker-dealer with a substantial institutional investor customer base, (iii) an alternative trade system, (iv) a data vendor, and (v) an investor. (2) Participant Selections. Each Participant shall have the right to select one member of the Advisory Committee. A Participant shall not select any person employed by or affiliated with any participant or its affiliates or facilities. (c) Function. Members of the Advisory Committee shall have the right to submit their views to the Operating Committee on Plan matters, prior to a decision by the Operating Committee on such matters. Such matters shall include, but not be limited to, any new or modified product, fee, contract, or pilot program that is offered or used pursuant to the Plan. (d) Meetings and Information. Members of the Advisory Committee shall have the right to attend all meetings of the Operating Committee and to receive any information concerning Plan matters that is distributed to the Operating Committee; provided, however, that the Operating Committee may meet in executive session if, by affirmative vote of a majority of the Participants entitled to vote, the Operating Committee determines that an item of Plan business requires confidential treatment. 59759 frequently than once each year. Based on this review, the Operating Committee may choose to make a recommendation to the Participants with respect to the continuing operation of the Processor. The Operating Committee shall notify the SEC of any recommendations the Operating Committee shall make pursuant to the Operating Committee’s review of the Processor and shall supply the Commission with a copy of any reports that may be prepared in connection therewith. B. Termination of the Processor for Cause If the Operating Committee determines that the Processor has failed to perform its functions in a reasonably acceptable manner in accordance with the provisions of the Plan or that its reimbursable expenses have become excessive and are not justified on a cost basis, the Processor may be terminated at such time as may be determined by a majority vote of the Operating Committee. C. Factors To Be Considered in Termination for Cause Among the factors to be considered in evaluating whether the Processor has performed its functions in a reasonably acceptable manner in accordance with the provisions of the Plan shall be the reasonableness of its response to requests from Participants for technological changes or enhancements pursuant to Section IV(C)(3) hereof. The reasonableness of the Processor’s response to such requests shall be evaluated by the Operating Committee in terms of the cost to the Processor of purchasing the same service from a third party and integrating such service into the Processor’s existing systems and operations as well as the extent to which the requested change would adversely impact the then current technical (as opposed to business or competitive) operations of the Processor. A. Generally D. Processor’s Right To Appeal Termination for Cause The Processor shall have the right to appeal to the SEC a determination of the Operating Committee terminating the Processor for cause and no action shall become final until the SEC has ruled on the matter and all legal appeals of right therefrom have been exhausted. The Processor’s performance of its functions under the Plan shall be subject to review by the Operating Committee at least every two years, or from time to time upon the request of any two Participants but not more E. Process for Selecting New Processor At any time following effectiveness of the Plan, but no later than upon the termination of the Processor, whether for cause pursuant to Section IV(C)(1)(c) or V(B) of the Plan or upon the V. Selection and Evaluation of the Processor PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 59760 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices Processor’s resignation, the Operating Committee shall establish procedures for selecting a new Processor (the ‘‘Selection Procedures’’). The Operating Committee, as part of the process of establishing Selection Procedures, may solicit and consider the timely comment of any entity affected by the operation of this Plan. The Selection Procedures shall be established by a two-thirds majority vote of the Plan Participants, and shall set forth, at a minimum: 1. The entity that will: (a) draft the Operating Committee’s request for proposal for bids on a new processor; (b) assist the Operating Committee in evaluating bids for the new processor; and (c) otherwise provide assistance and guidance to the Operating Committee in the selection process. 2. the minimum technical and operational requirements to be fulfilled by the Processor; 3. the criteria to be considered in selecting the Processor; and 4. the entities (other than Plan Participants) that are eligible to comment on the selection of the Processor. Nothing in this provision shall be interpreted as limiting Participants’ rights under Section IV or Section V of the Plan or other Commission order. VI. Functions of the Processor A. Generally The Processor shall collect from the Participants, and consolidate and disseminate to Vendors, Subscribers and News Services, Quotation Information and Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities in a manner designed to assure the prompt, accurate and reliable collection, processing and dissemination of information with respect to all Eligible Securities in a fair and non-discriminatory manner. The Processor shall commence operations upon the Processor’s notification to the Participants that it is ready and able to commence such operations. srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES B. Collection and Consolidation of Information For as long as Nasdaq is the Processor, the Processor shall be capable of receiving Quotation Information and Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities from Participants by the Planapproved, Processor sponsored interface, and shall consolidate and disseminate such information via the UTP Quote Data Feed, the UTP Trade Data Feed, and the OTC Montage Data Feed to Vendors, Subscribers and News Services. VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 C. Dissemination of Information The Processor shall disseminate consolidated Quotation Information and Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities via the UTP Quote Data Feed, the UTP Trade Data Feed, and the OTC Montage Data Feed to authorized Vendors, Subscribers and News Services in a fair and non-discriminatory manner. The Processor shall specifically be permitted to enter into agreements with Vendors, Subscribers and News Services for the dissemination of quotation or transaction information on Eligible Securities to foreign (non-U.S.) marketplaces or in foreign countries. The Processor shall, in such instance, disseminate consolidated quotation or transaction information on Eligible Securities from all Participants. Nothing herein shall be construed so as to prohibit or restrict in any way the right of any Participant to distribute quotation, transaction or other information with respect to Eligible Securities quoted on or traded in its marketplace to a marketplace outside the United States solely for the purpose of supporting an intermarket linkage, or to distribute information within its own marketplace concerning Eligible Securities in accordance with its own format. If a Participant requests, the Processor shall make information about Eligible Securities in the Participant’s marketplace available to a foreign marketplace on behalf of the requesting Participant, in which event the cost shall be borne by that Participant. 1. Best Bid and Offer The Processor shall disseminate on the UTP Quote Data Feed the best bid and offer information supplied by each Participant, including the FINRA Participant(s) that constitutes FINRA’s single Best Bid and Offer quotations, and shall also calculate and disseminate on the UTP Quote Data Feed a national best bid and asked quotation with size based upon Quotation Information for Eligible Securities received from Participants. The Processor shall not calculate the best bid and offer for any individual Participant, including FINRA. The Participant responsible for each side of the best bid and asked quotation making up the national best bid and offer shall be identified by an appropriate symbol. If the quotations of more than one Participant shall be the same best price, the largest displayed size among those shall be deemed to be the best. If the quotations of more than one Participant are the same best price and best displayed size, the earliest among those measured by the time PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 reported shall be deemed to be the best. A reduction of only bid size and/or ask size will not change the time priority of a Participant’s quote for the purposes of determining time reported, whereas an increase of the bid size and/or ask size will result in a new time reported. The consolidated size shall be the size of the Participant that is at the best. If the best bid/best offer results in a locked or crossed quotation, the Processor shall forward that locked or crossed quote on the appropriate output lines (i.e., a crossed quote of bid 12, ask 11.87 shall be disseminated). The Processor shall normally cease the calculation of the best bid/best offer after 6:30 p.m., Eastern Time. 2. Quotation Data Streams The Processor shall disseminate on the UTP Quote Data Feed a data stream of all Quotation Information regarding Eligible Securities received from Participants. Each quotation shall be designated with a symbol identifying the Participant from which the quotation emanates and, in the case of FINRA, the FINRA Participant(s) that constitutes FINRA’s Best Bid and Offer quotations. In addition, the Processor shall separately distribute on the OTC Montage Data Feed the Quotation Information regarding Eligible Securities from all FINRA Participants from which quotations emanate. 3. Transaction Reports The Processor shall disseminate on the UTP Trade Data Feed a data stream of all Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities received from Participants. Each transaction report shall be designated with a symbol identifying the Participant in whose Market the transaction took place. D. Closing Reports At the conclusion of each trading day, the Processor shall disseminate a ‘‘closing price’’ for each Eligible Security. Such ‘‘closing price’’ shall be the price of the last Transaction Report in such security received prior to dissemination. The Processor shall also tabulate and disseminate at the conclusion of each trading day the aggregate volume reflected by all Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities reported by the Participants. E. Statistics The Processor shall maintain quarterly, semi-annual and annual transaction and volume statistical counts. The Processor shall, at cost to the user Participant(s), make such statistics available in a form agreed E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices upon by the Operating Committee, such as a secure Web site. F. Capacity Planning 1. The Processor shall provide computer and communications facility capacity in accordance with a capacity planning process set forth in Exhibit 3, which process may be modified by the Operating Committee from time to time, requiring a simple majority vote. 2. The Processor shall establish information barriers to ensure that information revealed by any Plan Participant to the Processor during the capacity planning process is not shared with any other Plan Participant, including Nasdaq, other than information that is aggregated for all Plan Participants. 3. Plan Participants shall cooperate fully in the capacity planning process including complying with all requirements set forth in Exhibit 3. VII. Administrative Functions of the Processor Subject to the general direction of the Operating Committee, the Processor shall be responsible for carrying out all administrative functions necessary to the operation and maintenance of the consolidated information collection and dissemination system provided for in this Plan, including, but not limited to, record keeping, billing, contract administration, and the preparation of financial reports. srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES VIII. Transmission of Information to Processor by Participants A. Quotation Information Each Participant shall, during the time it is open for trading be responsible promptly to collect and transmit to the Processor accurate Quotation Information in Eligible Securities through any means prescribed herein. Quotation Information shall include: 1. identification of the Eligible Security, using the Nasdaq Symbol; 2. the price bid and offered, together with size; 3. the FINRA Participant along with the FINRA Participant’s market participant identification or Participant from which the quotation emanates; 4. identification of quotations that are not firm; and 5. through appropriate codes and messages, withdrawals and similar matters. B. Transaction Reports Each Participant shall, during the time it is open for trading, be responsible promptly to collect and transmit to the Processor Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities executed VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 in its Market by means prescribed herein. With respect to orders sent by one Market to another Market for execution, each Participant shall adopt procedures governing the reporting of transactions in Eligible Securities specifying that the transaction will be reported by the Participant whose member sold the security. This provision shall apply only to transactions between Participants. Transaction Reports shall include: 1. Identification of the Eligible Security, using the Nasdaq Symbol; 2. the number of shares in the transaction; 3. the price at which the shares were purchased or sold; 4. the buy/sell/cross indicator; 5. the Market of execution; and, 6. through appropriate codes and messages, late or out-of-sequence trades, corrections and similar matters. All such Transaction Reports shall be transmitted to the Processor within 90 seconds after the time of execution of the transaction. Transaction Reports transmitted beyond the 90-second period shall be designated as ‘‘late’’ by the appropriate code or message. The following types of transactions are not required to be reported to the Processor pursuant to the Plan: 1. Transactions that are part of a primary distribution by an issuer or of a registered secondary distribution or of an unregistered secondary distribution; 2. transactions made in reliance on Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933; 3. transactions in which the buyer and the seller have agreed to trade at a price unrelated to the current market for the security, e.g., to enable the seller to make a gift; 4. odd-lot transactions; 5. the acquisition of securities by a broker-dealer as principal in anticipation of making an immediate exchange distribution or exchange offering on an exchange; 6. purchases of securities pursuant to a tender offer; and 7. purchases or sales of securities effected upon the exercise of an option pursuant to the terms thereof or the exercise of any other right to acquire securities at a pre-established consideration unrelated to the current market. C. Symbols for Market Identification for Quotation Information and Transaction Reports The following symbols shall be used to denote the marketplaces: CODE PARTICIPANT A ....................... PO 00000 Frm 00083 NYSE Amex LLC. Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 59761 CODE PARTICIPANT Z ....................... B ....................... W ...................... BATS Exchange, Inc. NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. International Securities Exchange, LLC. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. National Stock Exchange, Inc. New York Stock Exchange LLC. NYSE Arca, Inc. Nasdaq OMX PHLX, Inc. M ...................... I ........................ D ....................... Q ...................... C ....................... N ....................... P ....................... X ....................... D. Whenever a Participant determines that a level of trading activity or other unusual market conditions prevent it from collecting and transmitting Quotation Information or Transaction Reports to the Processor, or where a trading halt or suspension in an Eligible Security is in effect in its Market, the Participant shall promptly notify the Processor of such condition or event and shall resume collecting and transmitting Quotation Information and Transaction Reports to it as soon as the condition or event is terminated. In the event of a system malfunction resulting in the inability of a Participant or its members to transmit Quotation Information or Transaction Reports to the Processor, the Participant shall promptly notify the Processor of such event or condition. Upon receiving such notification, the Processor shall take appropriate action, including either closing the quotation or purging the system of the affected quotations. IX. Market Access Pursuant to the requirements of Rule 610 of Regulation NMS, a Participant that operates an SRO trading facility shall provide for fair and efficient order execution access to quotations in each Eligible Security displayed through its trading facility. In the case of a Participant that operates an SRO display-only quotation facility, trading centers posting quotations through such SRO display-only quotation facility must provide for fair and efficient order execution access to quotations in each Eligible Security displayed through the SRO display-only quotation facility. A Participant that operates an SRO trading facility may elect to allow such access to its quotations through the utilization of private electronic linkages between the Participant and other trading centers. In the case of a Participant that operates an SRO display-only quotation facility, trading centers posting E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 59762 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES quotations through such SRO displayonly quotation facility may elect to allow such access to their quotations through the utilization of private electronic linkages between the trading center and SRO trading facilities of Participants and/or other trading centers. In accordance with Regulation NMS, a Participant shall not impose, or permit to be imposed, any fee or fees for the execution of an order against a protected quotation of the Participant or of a trading center posting quotes through a Participant’s SRO display-only quotation facility in an Eligible Security or against any other quotation displayed by the Participant in an Eligible Security that is the Participant’s displayed best bid or offer for that Eligible Security, where such fee or fees exceed the limits provided for in Rule 610(c) of Regulation NMS. As required under Regulation NMS, the terms of access to a Participant’s quotations or of a trading center posting quotes through a Participant’s SRO display-only quotation facility in an Eligible Security may not be unfairly discriminatory so as to prevent or inhibit any person from obtaining efficient access to such displayed quotations through a member of the Participant or a subscriber of a trading center. X. Regulatory Halts A. Whenever, in the exercise of its regulatory functions, the Listing Market for an Eligible Security determines that a Regulatory Halt is appropriate pursuant to Section III.S, the Listing Market will notify all other Participants pursuant to Section X.E and all other Participants shall also halt or suspend trading in that security until notified that the halt or suspension is no longer in effect. The Listing Market shall immediately notify the Processor of such Regulatory Halt as well as provide notice that a Regulatory Halt has been lifted. The Processor, in turn, shall disseminate to Participants notice of the Regulatory Halt (as well as notice of the lifting of a Regulatory Halt through the UTP Quote Data Feed. This notice shall serve as official notice of a Regulatory Halt for purposes of the Plan only, and shall not substitute or otherwise supplant notice that a Participant may recognize or require under its own rules. Nothing in this provision shall be read so as to supplant or be inconsistent with a Participant’s own rules on trade halts, which rules apply to the Participant’s own members. The Processor will reject any quotation information or transaction reports received from any Participant on an Eligible Security that has a Regulatory Halt in effect. VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 B. Whenever the Listing Market determines that adequate publication or dissemination of information has occurred so as to permit the termination of the Regulatory Halt then in effect, the Listing Market shall promptly notify the Processor and each of the other Participants that conducts trading in such security pursuant to Section X.F. Except in extraordinary circumstances, adequate publication or dissemination shall be presumed by the Listing Market to have occurred upon the expiration of one hour after initial publication in a national news dissemination service of the information that gave rise to the Regulatory Halt. C. Except in the case of a Regulatory Halt, the Processor shall not cease the dissemination of quotation or transaction information regarding any Eligible Security. In particular, it shall not cease dissemination of such information because of a delayed opening, imbalance of orders or other market-related problems involving such security. During a Regulatory Halt, the Processor shall collect and disseminate Transaction Information but shall cease collection and dissemination of all Quotation Information. D. For purposes of this Section X, ‘‘Listing Market’’ for an Eligible Security means the Participant’s Market on which the Eligible Security is listed. If an Eligible Security is dually listed, Listing Market shall mean the Participant’s Market on which the Eligible Security is listed that also has the highest number of the average of the reported transactions and reported share volume for the preceding 12-month period. The Listing Market for duallylisted Eligible Securities shall be determined at the beginning of each calendar quarter. E. For purposes of coordinating trading halts in Eligible Securities, all Participants are required to utilize the national market system communication media (‘‘Hoot-n-Holler’’) to provide realtime information to all Participants. Each Participant shall be required to continuously monitor the Hoot-n-Holler system during market hours, and the failure of a Participant to do so at any time shall not prevent the Listing Market from initiating a Regulatory Halt in accordance with the procedures specified herein. 1. The following procedures shall be followed when one or more Participants experiences extraordinary market activity in an Eligible Security that is believed to be caused by the misuse or malfunction of systems operated by or linked to one or more Participants. a. The Participant(s) experiencing the extraordinary market activity or any PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Participant that becomes aware of extraordinary market activity will immediately use best efforts to notify all Participants of the extraordinary market activity utilizing the Hoot-n-Holler system. b. The Listing Market will use best efforts to determine whether there is material news regarding the Eligible Security. If the Listing Market determines that there is undisclosed material news, it will immediately call a Regulatory Halt pursuant to Section X.E.2. c. Each Participant(s) will use best efforts to determine whether one of its systems, or the system of a direct or indirect participant in its market, is responsible for the extraordinary market activity. d. If a Participant determines the potential source of extraordinary market activity pursuant to Section X.1.c., the Participant will use best efforts to determine whether removing the quotations of one or more direct or indirect market participants or barring one or more direct or indirect market participants from entering orders will resolve the extraordinary market activity. Accordingly, the Participant will prevent the quotations from one or more direct or indirect market participants in the affected Eligible Securities from being transmitted to the Processor. e. If the procedures described in Section X.E.1.a.–d. do not rectify the situation, the Participant(s) experiencing extraordinary market activity will cease transmitting all quotations in the affected Eligible Securities to the Processor. f. If the procedures described in Section X.E.1.a–e do not rectify the situation within five minutes of the first notification through the Hoot-n-Holler system, or if Participants agree to call a halt sooner through unanimous approval among those Participants actively trading impacted Eligible Securities, the Listing Market may determine based on the facts and circumstances, including available input from Participants, to declare an Extraordinary Market Regulatory Halt in the affected Eligible Securities. Simultaneously with the notification of the Processor to suspend the dissemination of quotations across all Participants, the Listing Market must notify all Participants of the trading halt utilizing the Hoot-n-Holler system. g. Absent any evidence of system misuse or malfunction, best efforts will be used to ensure that trading is not halted across all Participants. 2. If the Listing Market declares a Regulatory Halt in circumstances other E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES than pursuant to Section X.E.1.f., the Listing Market must, simultaneously with the notification of the Processor to suspend the dissemination of quotations across all Participants, notify all Participants of the trading halt utilizing the Hoot-n-Holler system. F. If the Listing Market declares a Regulatory Halt, trading will resume according to the following procedures: 1. Within 15 minutes of the declaration of the halt, all Participants will make best efforts to indicate via the Hoot-n-Holler their intentions with respect to canceling or modifying transactions. 2. All Participants will disseminate to their members information regarding the canceled or modified transactions as promptly as possible, and in any event prior to the resumption of trading. 3. After all Participants have met the requirements of Section X.F.1–2, the Listing Market will notify the Participants utilizing the Hoot-n-Holler and the Processor when trading may resume. Upon receiving this information, Participants may commence trading pursuant to Section X.A. XI. Hours of Operation A. Quotation Information may be entered by Participants as to all Eligible Securities in which they make a market between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern Time (‘‘ET’’) on all days the Processor is in operation. Transaction Reports shall be entered between 9:30 a.m. and 4:01:30 p.m. ET by Participants as to all Eligible Securities in which they execute transactions between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET on all days the Processor is in operation. B. Participants that execute transactions in Eligible Securities outside the hours of 9:30 a.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET, shall report such transactions as follows: (i) transactions in Eligible Securities executed between 4 a.m. and 9:29:59 a.m. ET and between 4:01 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET, shall be designated as ‘‘.T’’ trades to denote their execution outside normal market hours; (ii) transactions in Eligible Securities executed after 8 p.m. and before 12 a.m. (midnight) shall be reported to the Processor between the hours of 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET on the next business day (T+1), and shall be designated ‘‘as/of’’ trades to denote their execution on a prior day, and be accompanied by the time of execution; (iii) transactions in Eligible Securities executed between 12 a.m. (midnight) and 4 a.m. ET shall be transmitted to the Processor between 4 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. ET, on trade date, shall be designated as VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 ‘‘.T’’ trades to denote their execution outside normal market hours, and shall be accompanied by the time of execution; (iv) transactions reported pursuant to this provision of the Plan shall be included in the calculation of total trade volume for purposes of determining net distributable operating revenue, but shall not be included in the calculation of the daily high, low, or last sale. C. Late trades shall be reported in accordance with the rules of the Participant in whose Market the transaction occurred and can be reported between the hours of 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. D. The Processor shall collect, process and disseminate Quotation Information in Eligible Securities at other times between 4 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. ET, and after 4 p.m. ET, when any Participant or FINRA Participant is open for trading, until 8 p.m. ET (the ‘‘Additional Period’’); provided, however, that the national best bid and offer quotation will not be disseminated before 4 a.m. or after 8 p.m. ET. Participants that enter Quotation Information or submit Transaction Reports to the Processor during the Additional Period shall do so for all Eligible Securities in which they enter quotations. XII. Undertaking by All Participants The filing with and approval by the Commission of this Plan shall obligate each Participant to enforce compliance by its members with the provisions thereof. In all other respects not inconsistent herewith, the rules of each Participant shall apply to the actions of its members in effecting, reporting, honoring and settling transactions executed through its facilities, and the entry, maintenance and firmness of quotations to ensure that such occurs in a manner consistent with just and equitable principles of trade. XIII. Financial Matters A. Development Costs Any Participant becoming a signatory to this Plan after June 26, 1990, shall, as a condition to becoming a Participant, pay to the other Plan Participants a proportionate share of the aggregate development costs previously paid by Plan Participants to the Processor, which aggregate development costs totaled $439,530, with the result that each Participant’s share of all development costs is the same. Each Participant shall bear the cost of implementation of any technical enhancements to the Nasdaq System made at its request and solely for its use, subject to reapportionment should any PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 59763 other Participant subsequently make use of the enhancement, or the development thereof. B. Cost Allocation, Revenue Sharing, and Fees The provisions governing cost allocation and revenue sharing among the Participants are set forth in Exhibit 1 to the Plan. The provisions governing fees applicable to Quotation Information and Transaction Reports disseminated pursuant to the Plan are set forth in Exhibit 2 to the Plan. C. Maintenance of Financial Records The Processor shall maintain records of revenues generated and development and operating expenditures incurred in connection with the Plan. In addition, the Processor shall provide the Participants with: (a) A statement of financial and operational condition on a quarterly basis; and (b) an audited statement of financial and operational condition on an annual basis. XIV. Indemnification Each Participant agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless each other Participant, Nasdaq (in its capacity as Processor), and each of its directors, officers, employees and agents (including the Operating Committee and its employees and agents) from and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever incurred or threatened against such persons as a result of any Transaction Reports, Quotation Information or other information reported to the Processor by such Participant and disseminated by the Processor to Vendors. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liability that the indemnifying Participant may otherwise have. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified Participant of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified Participant will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying Participant, notify the indemnifying Participant in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission to so notify the indemnifying Participant will not relieve the indemnifying Participant from any liability which it may have to any indemnified Participant. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified Participant and it promptly notifies an indemnifying Participant of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying Participant will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying Participant similarly E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 59764 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices notified, to assume and control the defense thereof with counsel chosen by it. After notice from the indemnifying Participant of its election to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying Participant will not be liable to such indemnified Participant for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified Participant in connection with the defense thereof but the indemnified Participant may, at its own expense, participate in such defense by counsel chosen by it without, however, impairing the indemnifying Participant’s control of the defense. The indemnifying Participant may negotiate a compromise or settlement of any such action, provided that such compromise or settlement does not require a contribution by the indemnified Participant. XV. Withdrawal Any Participant may withdraw from the Plan at any time on not less than 30 days prior written notice to each of the other Participants. Any Participant withdrawing from the Plan shall remain liable for, and shall pay upon demand, any fees for equipment or services being provided to such Participant pursuant to the contract executed by it or an agreement or schedule of fees covering such then in effect. A withdrawing Participant shall also remain liable for its proportionate share, without any right of recovery, of administrative and operating expenses, including start-up costs and other sums for which it may be responsible pursuant to Section XIV hereof. Except as aforesaid, a withdrawing Participant shall have no further obligation under the Plan or to any of the other Participants with respect to the period following the effectiveness of its withdrawal. XVI. Modifications to the Plan srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES The Plan may be modified from time to time when authorized by the agreement of all of the Participants, subject to the approval of the SEC or when such modification otherwise becomes effective pursuant to Section 11A of the Exchange Act and Rule 608 of Regulation NMS. XVII. Applicability of Securities Exchange Act of 1934 The rights and obligations of the Participants and of Vendors, News Services, Subscribers and other persons contracting with Participant in respect of the matters covered by the Plan shall at all times be subject to any applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and any VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. XVIII. Operational Issues A. Each Participant shall be responsible for collecting and validating quotes and last sale reports within its own system prior to transmitting this data to the Processor. B. Each Participant may utilize a dedicated Participant line into the Processor to transmit trade and quote information in Eligible Securities to the Processor. The Processor shall accept from Exchange Participants input for only those issues that are deemed Eligible Securities. C. The Processor shall consolidate trade and quote information from each Participant and disseminate this information on the Processor’s existing vendor lines. D. The Processor shall perform gross validation processing for quotes and last sale messages in addition to the collection and dissemination functions, as follows: 1. Basic Message Validation (a) The Processor may validate format for each type of message, and reject nonconforming messages. (b) Input must be for an Eligible Security. 2. Logging Function—The Processor shall return all Participant input messages that do not pass the validation checks (described above) to the inputting Participant, on the entering Participant line, with an appropriate reject notation. For all accepted Participant input messages (i.e., those that pass the validation check), the information shall be retained in the Processor system. BY: llllllllllllllll CHICAGO BOARD OPTIONS EXCHANGE, INC. BY: llllllllllllllll EDGX EXCHANGE, INC. BY: llllllllllllllll INTERNATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE, LLC BY: llllllllllllllll NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE LLC BY: llllllllllllllll NASDAQ OMX PHLX, INC. BY: llllllllllllllll BATS EXCHANGE, INC. BY: llllllllllllllll CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. BY: llllllllllllllll EDGA EXCHANGE, INC. BY: llllllllllllllll FINRA BY: llllllllllllllll NATIONAL STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. BY: llllllllllllllll NYSE ARCA, INC. BY: llllllllllllllll THE NASDAQ STOCK MARKET LLC BY: llllllllllllllll Exhibit 1 1. Each Participant eligible to receive revenue under the Plan will receive an annual payment for each calendar year that is equal to the sum of the Participant’s Trading Shares and Quoting Shares, as defined below, in each Eligible Security for the calendar year. In the event that total net distributable operating income (as defined below) is negative, each Participant eligible to receive revenue under the Plan will receive an annual bill for each calendar year to be XIX. Headings determined according to the same The section and other headings formula (described in this paragraph) for contained in this Plan are for reference determining annual payments to eligible purposes only and shall not be deemed Participants. Unless otherwise stated in to be a part of this Plan or to affect the this agreement, a year shall run from meaning or interpretation of any January 1 to December 31 and quarters provisions of this Plan. shall end on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. XX. Counterparts Processor shall endeavor to provide This Plan may be executed by the Participants with written estimates of Participants in any number of each Participant’s percentage of total counterparts, no one of which need volume within five business days of contain the signature of all Participants. month end. As many such counterparts as shall 2. Security Income Allocation. The together contain all such signatures Security Income Allocation for an shall constitute one and the same Eligible Security shall be determined by instrument. multiplying (i) the ‘‘net distributable IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Plan operating income’’ of this Nasdaq UTP has been executed as of the __ day of Plan for the calendar year by (ii) the ______, 2010, by each of the Signatories Volume Percentage for such Eligible hereto. Security (the ‘‘initial allocation’’), and NYSE AMEX LLC then adding or subtracting any amounts BY: llllllllllllllll specified in the reallocation set forth below. The Volume Percentage for an NASDAQ OMX BX, INC. PO 00000 Frm 00086 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices Eligible Security shall be determined by dividing (A) the square root of the dollar volume of transaction reports disseminated by the Processor in such Eligible Security during the calendar year by (B) the sum of the square roots of the dollar volume of transaction reports disseminated by the Processor in each Eligible Security during the calendar year. If the initial allocation of net distributable operating income in accordance with the Volume Percentage of an Eligible Security equals an amount greater than $4.00 multiplied by the total number of qualified transaction reports in such Eligible Security during the calendar year, the excess amount shall be subtracted from the initial allocation for such Eligible Security and reallocated among all Eligible Securities in direct proportion to the dollar volume of transaction reports disseminated by the Processor in Eligible Securities during the calendar year. A transaction report with a dollar volume of $5000 or more shall constitute one qualified transaction report. A transaction report with a dollar volume of less than $5000 shall constitute a fraction of a qualified transaction report that equals the dollar volume of the transaction report divided by $5000. 3. Trading Share. The Trading Share of a Participant in an Eligible Security shall be determined by multiplying (i) an amount equal to fifty percent of the Security Income Allocation for the Eligible Security by (ii) the Participant’s Trade Rating in the Eligible Security. A Participant’s Trade Rating in an Eligible Security shall be determined by taking the average of (A) the Participant’s percentage of the total dollar volume of transaction reports disseminated by the Processor in the Eligible Security during the calendar year, and (B) the 25 Participant’s percentage of the total number of qualified transaction reports disseminated by the Processor in the Eligible Security during the calendar year. 4. Quoting Share. The Quoting Share of a Participant in an Eligible Security shall be determined by multiplying (A) an amount equal to fifty percent of the Security Income Allocation for the Eligible Security by (B) the Participant’s Quote Rating in the Eligible Security. A Participant’s Quote Rating in an Eligible Security shall be determined by dividing (A) the sum of the Quote Credits earned by the Participant in such Eligible Security during the calendar year by (B) the sum of the Quote Credits earned by all Participants in such Eligible Security during the calendar year. A Participant shall earn one Quote Credit for each second of VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 time (with a minimum of one full second) multiplied by dollar value of size that an automated best bid (offer) transmitted by the Participant to the Processor during regular trading hours is equal to the price of the national best bid (offer) in the Eligible Security and does not lock or cross a previously displayed automated quotation. An automated bid (offer) shall have the meaning specified in Rule 600 of Regulation NMS of the Act for an ‘‘automated quotation.’’ The dollar value of size of a quote shall be determined by multiplying the price of a quote by its size. 5. For purposes of this Exhibit 1, net distributable operating income for any particular calendar year shall be calculated by adding all revenues from the UTP Quote Data Feed, the UTP Trade Data Feed, and the OTC Montage Data Feed including revenues from the dissemination of information respecting Eligible Securities to foreign marketplaces, and also including FINRA quotation data and last sale information for securities classified as OTC Equity Securities under FINRA’s Rule 6400 Series (the ‘‘FINRA OTC Data’’) (collectively, ‘‘the Data Feeds’’), and subtracting from such revenues 6.25% to compensate FINRA for the FINRA OTC Data, after which are subtracted the costs incurred by the Processor, set forth below, in collecting, consolidating, validating, generating, and disseminating the Data Feeds. These costs include,5 but are not limited to, the following: a. The Processor costs directly attributable to creating OTC Montage Data Feed, including: 1. cost of collecting Participant quotes into the Processor’s quote engine; 2. cost of processing quotes and creating OTC Montage Data Feed messages within the Processor’s quote engine; 3. cost of the Processor’s communication management subsystem that distributes OTC Montage Data Feed to the market data vendor network for further distribution. b. The costs directly attributable to creating the UTP Quote Data Feed, including: 5 All costs associated with collecting, consolidating, validating, generating, and disseminating the FINRA OTC Data are borne directly by FINRA and not the Plan and the Participants. Such costs are established in and subject to a separate bilateral contractual agreement between FINRA and the Processor (acting as FINRA’s vendor in this capacity). The Processor is responsible for insuring that no costs associated with the FINRA OTC Data are incorporated with the costs incurred by the Processor on behalf of the UTP Plan. PO 00000 Frm 00087 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 59765 1. the costs of collecting each Participant’s best bid, best offer, and aggregate volume into the Processor’s quote engine and, in the case of FINRA, the costs of identifying the FINRA Participant(s) that constitute FINRA’s Best Bid and Offer quotations; 2. cost of calculating the national best bid and offer price within the Processor’s quote engine; 3. cost of creating the UTP Quote Data Feed message within the Processor’s quote engine; 4. cost of the Processor’s communication management subsystem that distributes the UTP Quote Data Feed to the market data vendors’ networks for further distribution. c. The costs directly attributable to creating the UTP Trade Data Feed, including: 1. the costs of collecting each Participant’s last sale and volume amount into the Processor’s quote engine; 2. cost of determining the appropriate last sale price and volume amount within the Processor’s trade engine; 3. cost of utilizing the Processor’s trade engine to distribute the UTP Trade Data Feed for distribution to the market data vendors; 4. cost of the Processor’s communication management subsystem that distributes the UTP Trade Data Feed to the marker data vendors’ networks for further distribution. d. The additional costs that are shared across all Data Feeds, including: 1. telecommunication Operations costs of supporting the Participant lines into the Processor’s facilities; 2. Telecommunications Operations costs of supporting the external market data vendor network; 3. Data Products account management and auditing function with the market data vendors; 4. Market Operations costs to support symbol maintenance, and other data integrity issues; 5. overhead costs, including management support of the Processor, Human Resources, Finance, Legal, and Administrative Services; and 6. Costs of establishing and supporting the Security Income Allocation System. e. Processor costs excluded from the calculation of net distributable operating income include trade execution costs for transactions executed using a Nasdaq service and trade report collection costs reported through a Nasdaq service, as such services are market functions for which Participants electing to use such services pay market rate. f. For the purposes of this provision, the following definitions shall apply: E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES 59766 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices 1. ‘‘quote engine’’ shall mean the Nasdaq’s NT or Tandem system that is operated by Nasdaq to collect quotation information for Eligible Securities; 2. ‘‘trade engine’’ shall mean the Nasdaq Tandem system that is operated by Nasdaq for the purpose of collecting last sale information in Eligible Securities. 6. At the time a Participant implements a Processor-approved electronic interface with the Processor, the Participant will become eligible to receive revenue. 7. Processor shall endeavor to provide Participants with written estimates of each Participant’s quarterly net distributable operating income within 45 calendar days of the end of the quarter, and estimated quarterly payments or billings shall be made on the basis of such estimates. All quarterly payments or billings shall be made to each eligible Participant within 45 days following the end of each calendar quarter in which the Participant is eligible to receive revenue, provided that each quarterly payment or billing shall be reconciled against a Participant’s cumulative year-to-date payment or billing received to date and adjusted accordingly, and further provided that the total of such estimated payments or billings shall be reconciled at the end of each calendar year and, if necessary, adjusted by March 31st of the following year. Interest shall be included in quarterly payments and in adjusted payments made on March 31st of the following year. Such interest shall accrue monthly during the period in which revenue was earned and not yet paid and will be based on the 90-day Treasury bill rate in effect at the end of the quarter in which the payment is made. Monthly interest shall start accruing 45 days following the month in which it is earned and accrue until the date on which the payment is made. In conjunction with calculating estimated quarterly and reconciled annual payments under this Exhibit 1, the Processor shall submit to the Participants a quarterly itemized statement setting forth the basis upon which net operating income was calculated, including a quarterly itemized statement of the Processor costs set forth in Paragraph 3 of this Exhibit. Such Processor costs and Plan revenues shall be adjusted annually based solely on the Processor’s quarterly itemized statement audited pursuant to Processor’s annual audit. Processor shall pay or bill Participants for the audit adjustments within thirty days of completion of the annual audit. By majority vote of the Operating Committee, the Processor shall engage VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 an independent auditor to audit the Processor’s costs or other calculation(s), the cost of which audit shall be shared equally by all Participants. The Processor agrees to cooperate fully in providing the information necessary to complete such audit. Exhibit 2 Fees for UTP Services (a) Level 1 Service The charge for each interrogation device receiving UTP Level 1 Service is $20.00 per month. This Service includes the following data: (1) Inside bid/ask quotations calculated for securities listed in The Nasdaq Stock Market; (2) Last sale information on Nasdaqlisted securities. UTP Level 1 Service also includes FINRA OTC Data. (b) Non-Professional Services (1) The charge for distribution of UTP Level 1 Service to a non-professional subscriber shall be $1.00 per interrogation device per month. (2) A ‘‘non-professional’’ is a natural person who is neither: (A) Registered or qualified in any capacity with the Commission, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, any state securities agency, any securities exchange or association or any commodities or futures contract market or association; (B) Engaged as an ‘‘investment adviser’’ as that term is defined in Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 (whether or not registered or qualified under that Act); nor (C) Employed by a bank or other organization exempt from registration under federal or state securities laws to perform functions that would require registration or qualification if such functions were performed for an organization not so exempt. (c) Automated Voice Response Service Fee The monthly charge for distribution of UTP Level 1 Service through automated voice response services shall be $21.25 for each voice port. (d) Per Query Fee The charge for distribution of UTP Level 1 Service through a per query system shall be $.005 per query. (e) Cable Television Ticker Fee The monthly charge for distribution of UTP Level 1 Service through a cable television distribution system shall be as set forth below: PO 00000 Frm 00088 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 First 10 million Sub- $2.00 per 1,000 scriber Households. households. Next 10 million Sub- 1.00 per 1,000 scriber Households. households. For Subsequent Sub- 0.50 per 1,000 scriber Households. households. (f) Annual Administrative Fees The annual administrative fee to be paid by distributor for access to UTP Level 1 Service shall be as set forth below: Delayed distributor ...................... 0–999 real-time terminals ........... 1,000–4,999 real-time terminals 5,000–9,999 real-time terminals 10,000+ real-time terminals ........ $250 500 1,250 2,250 3,750 Exhibit 3 UTP Capacity Planning Process This document sets forth a capacity planning process for the Processor and includes certain procedures to facilitate that process. The capacity planning process will be done on a semi-annual basis and will cover the then current six-month period and each of the next two six-month periods, with each sixmonth period commencing on January 1st and July 1st, as appropriate (referred to collectively as the ‘‘Capacity Planning Period’’), provided however that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the first Capacity Planning Period shall cover the then current six-month period and each of the next two six-month periods. All information specified in this document that is required to be submitted by each of the Participants to the Processor, by the Processor to each of the Participants, and by the Operating Committee to the Processor, shall be submitted within the time frames set forth in the capacity planning process calendar attached hereto as Attachment 1, which may be modified from time to time by the Operating Committee. Projected Processor Capacity Requirements Each Participant’s ‘‘Projected Processor Capacity Requirements’’ shall consist of the following two components: 1. The projected peak quote/trade messages per second for such Participant calculated on a 5-second peak (the ‘‘Projected Peak 5-second MPS’’); and 2. The projected peak total quote/ trade transactions per day for such Participant. Each Participant’s projected requirements for both of these components shall include whatever buffer factor the Participant deems adequate for its needs and shall reflect the Participant’s anticipated requirements as of the beginning of each E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES six-month period in the applicable Capacity Planning Period. Each Participant shall submit to the Processor in writing, which may include email, an ‘‘initial’’ set of Projected Processor Capacity Requirements as of the beginning of each six-month period in the applicable Capacity Planning Period. Once the Processor receives the initial Projected Processor Capacity Requirements from all the Participants, the Processor will aggregate both components—the Projected Peak 5second MPS and the projected peak total transactions per day—to determine the initial Projected Processor Capacity Requirements for all Participants. The Processor will notify each Participant in writing, which may include email, of (a) the aggregate initial Projected Processor Capacity Requirements; and (b) the percentage of the aggregate initial Projected Peak 5-second MPS that is attributable to such Participant. Once each Participant receives the foregoing information, each such Participant shall submit to the Processor in writing, which may include email, its final Projected Processor Capacity Requirements. The Processor will then notify each Participant in writing, which may include email, of: (a) The aggregate final Projected Processor Capacity Requirements; and (b) the percentage of the aggregate final Projected Peak 5-second MPS that is attributable to such Participant. The Processor will not disclose to any Participant the initial or final individual capacity projections of any other Participant or the percentage of the Peak 5-second MPS attributable to any other Participant. In the event that a Participant fails to notify the Processor of its final Projected Processor Capacity Requirements within the required time frame, then such Participant’s final Projected Processor Capacity Requirements for: (a) Each sixmonth period for which the required notice was not given on a timely basis shall be deemed to be the same as that for the latest six-month period covered by the Participant’s most recent final Projected Processor Capacity Requirements provided to the Processor within the required time frame; and (b) each six-month period for which the required notice was previously given on a timely basis shall remain the same. Processor System Capacity Changes The Processor shall, on a semi-annual basis, determine and inform each Participant in writing, which may include email, of the total amount of the then-current system capacity available for each of the two capacity components—the Peak 5-second MPS VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 and the peak total transactions per day (referred to as ‘‘Total System Capacity’’). The Projected Processor Capacity Requirements for all Participants shall be referred to as the ‘‘Base Capacity.’’ The amount, if any, by which Total System Capacity exceeds Base Capacity, shall be referred to as ‘‘Excess Capacity.’’ The amount, if any, by which Total System Capacity is less than the Base Capacity shall be referred to as ‘‘Deficit Capacity.’’ At the time that the Processor notifies each Participant of the initial and final aggregate Projected Processor Capacity Requirements, the Processor shall also determine, based on such initial and final capacity projections, respectively, and inform each Participant in writing, which may include email, of, the amount of any projected Excess Capacity and/or any projected Deficit Capacity at the beginning of each six-month period in the applicable Capacity Planning Period. On a semi-annual basis, the Operating Committee shall determine and advise the Processor in writing, which may include email, of any changes (i.e., increases or decreases) that it proposes be made to the Total System Capacity, including any required ancillary systems and network capacity changes (‘‘System Capacity Changes’’); provided, however, that any System Capacity Changes must result in the Total System Capacity meeting or exceeding Base Capacity. The Processor will develop a written proposal for System Capacity Changes and submit it to the Operating Committee, which proposal will include the timeframe and estimated costs for implementing the System Capacity Changes. If the Processor’s proposal is accepted, such acceptance will be set forth in the minutes of the applicable Operating Committee meeting. The Processor will then implement such System Capacity Changes. Such System Capacity Changes implemented by the Processor may, in the Processor’s discretion reasonably exercised and with the prior approval of the Operating Committee, result in creating some additional amount of Excess Capacity. Emergency Capacity Planning Process In addition to the semi-annual capacity planning process described above, the Processor may recommend to the Operating Committee emergency planning cycles (‘‘EPC’’) as may be reasonably necessary. The Processor shall submit a recommendation to the Operating Committee detailing the EPC request and required timeframe for response, via e-mail. The Operating Committee, at an emergency meeting if PO 00000 Frm 00089 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 59767 necessary, shall determine whether to approve the request. Payment For Services Each Participant’s ‘‘Proportionate Share’’ shall be the percentage of the final Projected Peak 5-second MPS for all Participants that is attributable to such Participant. A Participant’s Proportionate Share shall remain in effect until the next System Capacity Change is implemented, provided, however, that such Proportionate Share may change from time to time in accordance with the provisions set forth in the following two Sections of this Exhibit. The cost for such services shall be such Participant’s Proportionate Share of the cost of the services rendered by the Processor to all Participants, unless otherwise agreed to by the Processor and the Operating Committee. Each Participant shall be entitled to use its Proportionate Share of the Base Capacity and the Excess Capacity, if any, at no additional cost. If, however, the report(s) generated by the Processor setting forth daily system activity for Participants shows that a Participant’s actual Peak 5-second MPS exceeds such Participant’s Proportionate Share of the Base Capacity and the Excess Capacity, if any (e.g., via dynamic throttling), such Participant may be required, in accordance with the provisions set forth in Attachment 2, which may be modified from time to time by the Operating Committee, to: (a) Pay a penalty to the Processor in the amount set forth in Attachment 2; and (b) increase its capacity projections in the next Capacity Planning Period to reflect at least such actual Peak 5second MPS. Any such penalty shall be divided and distributed to each of the other Participants in accordance with their Proportionate Shares. Purchase Of Capacity Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Participant may increase its Proportionate Share of the Base Capacity by purchasing all or a portion of the ‘‘Available Base Capacity’’ (as such term is defined in Item 1, below) and/or Excess Capacity, if any (collectively with ‘‘Available Base Capacity,’’ hereinafter referred to as ‘‘Capacity’’), subject to the following: 1. A Participant wishing to purchase Capacity shall advise the Processor in writing of the amount of Capacity (expressed as UTP 5-second MPS) it wishes to purchase. A Participant shall only be entitled to purchase Capacity (and such request shall only be filled) if, and to the extent that: a. There are any currently outstanding unfilled request(s) from other E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 59768 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices Participant(s) to decrease Base Capacity (referred to as ‘‘Available Base Capacity’’); and/or b. There is Excess Capacity. Furthermore, all requests to purchase Capacity shall be filled first through any Available Base Capacity, and second through any Excess Capacity. All Participant requests to purchase Capacity shall be filled on a ‘‘first come, first served’’ basis. 2. Within two (2) trading days of receipt of such notice, the Processor shall confirm the request directly with such Participant. The Processor shall fill the request if, and to the extent that, there is sufficient Available Base Capacity and/or Excess Capacity. The Processor shall then notify all Participants in writing of: a. The amount of Available Base Capacity and/or Excess Capacity that remains, if any; and/or b. The amount by which any Participant request(s) to increase Capacity remains unfilled. 3. A Participant’s request to increase Capacity shall remain outstanding until filled, or cancelled by such Participant, or the next System Capacity Change, whichever occurs first. Whenever a request is cancelled, the Processor shall then notify all Participants in writing whether, and the extent to which, any Participant request(s) to increase Capacity remain in effect. 4. The Processor will not disclose to any other Participant the Participant(s) that have requested purchasing, and/or that have purchased, Capacity. 5. Whenever a Participant purchases Available Base Capacity such Participant’s Proportionate Share of the Base Capacity shall be increased accordingly, effective on the first trading day that the Processor implements the requisite technical changes to reflect the changes in such Participant’s Base Capacity. As of such date, the costs associated, for that Participant, shall be increased to the extent of the resulting increase in that Participant’s Proportionate Share. The Processor shall notify such Participant of its new Proportionate Share and the effective date of such change. 6. Whenever a Participant purchases a portion (or all) of the Excess Capacity, such Participant’s Proportionate Share of the Base Capacity shall be increased accordingly, effective on the first trading day that the Processor implements the requisite technical changes to reflect the changes in such Participant’s Base Capacity. As of such date: a. The costs allocated to that Participant shall be increased to the extent of the resulting increase in that Participant’s Proportionate Share; and b. There shall be a corresponding reduction in: i. Each of the other Participants’ Proportionate Share of the Base Capacity; and ii. The costs allocated to the other Participants shall be decreased, to the extent of the resulting decrease in each such Participant’s Proportionate Share. The Processor shall notify each Participant of its new Proportionate Share and the effective date of such change. Reduction of Base Capacity Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Participant may be entitled to decrease its Proportionate Share by reducing its Base Capacity, subject to the following: 1. A Participant wishing to reduce its Base Capacity shall advise the Processor in writing of the amount of its Base Capacity it wishes to decrease (which decrease shall be expressed as UTP 5second MPS). A Participant shall only be entitled to decrease its Base Capacity (and such request shall only be filled) if, and to the extent that, there are any currently outstanding unfilled requests from other Participant(s) to increase Capacity. All Participant requests to decrease Base Capacity shall be filled on a ‘‘first come, first served’’ basis. 2. Within two (2) trading days of receipt of such notice, the Processor shall confirm the request directly with such Participant. The Processor shall fill the request if, and to the extent that, there are any currently outstanding unfilled requests from other Participant(s) to increase Capacity. The Processor shall then notify all Participants in writing of: a. The amount of Available Base Capacity that remains, if any; and/or b. The amount by which any Participant request(s) to decrease Base Capacity remain unfilled. 3. A Participant’s request to decrease Base Capacity shall remain outstanding until filled, or cancelled by such Participant, or the next System Capacity Change, whichever occurs first. Whenever a request is cancelled, the Processor shall then notify all Participants in writing whether, and the extent to which, any Participant request(s) to decrease Base Capacity remain in effect. 4. The Processor will not disclose to any other Participant the Participant(s) that have requested decreasing, and/or that have decreased, Base Capacity. Whenever a Participant reduces its Base Capacity pursuant to this Section, such Participant’s Proportionate Share of the Base Capacity shall be decreased accordingly, effective on the first trading day that the Processor implements the requisite technical changes to reflect the changes in such Participant’s Base Capacity. As of such date, the costs associated, for that Participant, shall be decreased to the extent of the resulting decrease in that Participant’s Proportionate Share. The Processor shall notify such Participant of its new Proportionate Share and the effective date of such change. ATTACHMENT 1 PROCESSOR CAPACITY PLANNING PROCESS CALENDAR [Approximately 3.5 Calendar Months] Duration (trading days) Description 1 ......................... srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES Step No. The Processor requests initial capacity projections from Participants via email. 1 2 ......................... Participants submit initial capacity projections to the Processor via email. 10 VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 PO 00000 Frm 00090 Start date Fmt 4703 End date 1st trading day in 3rd month of applicable Capacity Planning Period. 1st trading day in 3rd month of applicable Capacity Planning Period. Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 59769 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices PROCESSOR CAPACITY PLANNING PROCESS CALENDAR—Continued [Approximately 3.5 Calendar Months] Duration (trading days) Step No. Description Start date 3 ......................... The Processor advises each Participant of initial capacity projections for all Participants, current system capacity, and any projected Excess and/or Deficit Capacity, via email. 5 4 ......................... Participants submit final capacity projections to the Processor via email. 15 5 ......................... The Processor advises each Participant of final capacity projections for all Participants, current system capacity, and any projected Excess and/or Deficit Capacity, via email. 5 6 ......................... At a meeting of the Operating Committee at which the Processor is present, the Operating Committee will determine and then advise the Processor in writing (i.e., by minutes of such meeting) of any System Capacity Changes. 5 7 ......................... The Processor submits a proposal to the Operating Committee for System Capacity Changes, including estimated timeframes and costs for implementing them, via e-mail. The Processor will notify each Participant via email of: (a) the aggregate final Projected Processor Capacity Requirements; and (b) the percentage of the aggregate final Projected Peak 5-second MPS that is attributable to such Participant. 20 8 ......................... At a meeting of the Operating Committee at which the Processor is present, the Operating Committee will decide and then advise the Processor in writing (i.e., by minutes of such meeting) if it accepts the Processor’s proposal for System Capacity Changes. End date 10 ATTACHMENT 2 UTP CAPACITY PROCESS—PENALTIES FOR EXCEEDING PROPORTIONATE SHARE srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES Scenario Participant System Problem/Recovery. Occasional (inconsistent). VerDate Mar<15>2010 Description Penalty Participant’s actual peak 5-second MPS exceeds its Proportionate Share for 30 consecutive seconds artificially (e.g., due to draining of queued data following a system recovery). Participant’s actual peak 5-second MPS exceeds its Proportionate Share for 30 consecutive seconds on no more than 2 days during a month. None ................................................................ No. None ................................................................ No. 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM Increase projections 28SEN1 59770 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices UTP CAPACITY PROCESS—PENALTIES FOR EXCEEDING PROPORTIONATE SHARE—Continued Scenario Description Penalty Increase projections Regular ........................ Participant’s actual peak 5-Second MPS exceeds its Proportionate Share for 30 consecutive seconds on each of 3 or more days during a month. Participant’s penalty will be calculated and billed according to the following formula:. • (Total MPS in Excess) × (Penalty MPS $ Rate). To find the Total MPS in Excess for any month:. 1. Determine which days during the month (‘‘Days in Excess’’) the Participant exceeded its proportionate share of MPS for 30 or more consecutive seconds (each, a ‘‘Period in Excess’’), whether it did so once or multiple times on any day; 2. For each Day in Excess during a month, determine that day’s ‘‘Highest Period in Excess’’; and 3. Add the Participant’s MPS in excess of its Proportionate Share for each Day in Excess’ Highest Period in Excess. A day’s ‘‘Highest Period in Excess’’ refers to the Period in Excess during which the Participant exceeded its Proportionate Share of MPS by more than it did during the day’s other Periods in Excess. To find the Penalty MPS $ Rate for any month, multiply twice the current monthly MPS $ rate by the percentage of trading days during the month that were Days in Excess; that is: (2 × current monthly MPS $ rate) × (# Days in Excess/# trading days in the month). Yes—to be determined Notes: 1. The Processor reports containing daily/monthly/quarterly activity by Participant will be used to determine if any of the above penalty criteria have been met. 2. The Processor will notify a Participant in the event it has been assessed a penalty. 3. Participant penalties will be distributed to the other Participants based on each Participant’s Proportionate Share. 4. Reports provided by the Processor to the Participants will include the total monthly costs, that Participant’s Proportionate Share, any penalties to be paid by that Participant, any redistribution of penalties paid by other Participant(s) and the number of Participants who paid penalties broken down by Quote and Trade separately. • Participant’s Monthly Costs are Total Monthly Costs multiplied by Participant’s Proportionate Share. UTP Capacity Planning Initial Projected Requirements: Participant Projected Processor Capacity Requirements—Input Document Participant Name: llllllllll Projected peak 5 second MPS Period beginning: srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES UTP Quote Approved By: llllllllllll Date Submitted: lllllllllll UTP Trade Projected peak 5 second MPS UTP Quote 16:59 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 UTP Quote UTP Trade Final Projected Requirements: Period beginning: VerDate Mar<15>2010 Projected peak total daily transactions PO 00000 Frm 00092 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 UTP Trade E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 Projected peak total daily transactions UTP Quote UTP Trade Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 28, 2010 / Notices Projected peak 5 second MPS Projected peak total daily transactions Period beginning: srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES UTP Quote Approved By: llllllllllll of securities that are considered Date Submitted: lllllllllll ‘‘actively traded’’ and thus are not subject to a restricted period under Rule [FR Doc. 2010–24225 Filed 9–27–10; 8:45 am] 101 of Regulation M.4 In connection BILLING CODE 8010–01–P with such distributions, pursuant to Rule 5190(d)(1), FINRA members are required to provide written notice to SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE FINRA of the member’s determination COMMISSION that no restricted period applies and the [Release No. 34–62970; File No. SR–FINRA– basis for such determination. FINRA 2010–037] members must provide such notice at least one business day prior to the Self-Regulatory Organizations; pricing of the distribution, unless later Financial Industry Regulatory notification is necessary under specific Authority, Inc.; Order Approving the circumstances. Rule 5190(d)(2) requires Proposed Rule Change To Amend that, upon pricing a distribution of an FINRA Rule 5190 (Notification ‘‘actively traded’’ security, FINRA Requirements for Offering members provide written notice to Participants) FINRA along with pricing-related September 22, 2010. information such as the offering price, the last sale before the distribution, and I. Introduction the pricing basis. Notice of pricing must On July 27, 2010, the Financial be provided no later than the close of Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. business the next business day (‘‘FINRA’’) (f/k/a National Association of following the pricing of the distribution, Securities Dealers, Inc. (‘‘NASD’’)) filed unless later notification is necessary with the Securities and Exchange under specific circumstances. Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant FINRA proposed to amend Rule to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 5190(d) to require that notice under 19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposal to amend subparagraphs (1) and (2) be provided at the same time, specifically no later than FINRA Rule 5190 (Notification the close of business the next business Requirements for Offering Participants) day following the pricing of the relating to the notice requirements distribution. While the timing of notice applicable to distributions of ‘‘actively under subparagraph (1) would change, traded’’ securities, as defined under the information required would not Regulation M. This proposal was change. Thus, pursuant to the proposed published for comment in the Federal rule change, FINRA members will be 3 The Register on August 13, 2010. required to provide a single notice after Commission received no comments pricing of the distribution and will be regarding the proposal. This order required to provide all of the same approves this proposed rule change. information that they provide today. II. Description of the Proposed Rule FINRA has determined that it will be Change sufficient for members to provide notice of their determination that no restricted FINRA Rule 5190 imposes certain notice requirements on FINRA members period applies following the pricing of the distribution. FINRA clarified that participating in distributions of listed the proposed rule change will not and unlisted securities and is designed to ensure that FINRA receives pertinent impact FINRA’s Regulation M distribution-related information from its surveillance program. members in a timely fashion to facilitate 4 The exception for ‘‘actively traded’’ securities in its Regulation M surveillance program. Rule 101 of Regulation M applies to securities with Rule 5190(d) sets forth the notice requirements applicable to distributions an ADTV value, as defined in Rule 100 of 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 3 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62664 (Aug. 9, 2010), 75 FR 49542 (Aug. 13, 2010) (SR– FINRA–2010–037). VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:22 Sep 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 Regulation M, of at least $1 million and are issued by an issuer whose common equity securities have a public float value of at least $150 million, provided, however, that such securities are not issued by the distribution participant or an affiliate of the distribution participant. 17 CFR 242.101(c)(1). PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 UTP Trade 59771 UTP Quote UTP Trade In its filing, FINRA stated that a significant number of distributions of ‘‘actively traded’’ securities evolve quickly after the market close and are priced overnight before the next trading session. Thus, FINRA believes that its members frequently do not have sufficient advance knowledge of their participation in the distribution to provide notice to FINRA at least one business day prior to pricing and in such instances are unable to comply with the express terms of Rule 5190(d)(1). FINRA then must make a determination whether later notification was necessary under the circumstances, in accordance with the rule. FINRA has stated that the proposed rule change will clarify members’ notice obligations in the context of such distributions. FINRA represented that the proposed rule change will be effective on the date of Commission approval. III. Discussion and Findings After careful review, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder that are applicable to a national securities association.5 In particular, the Commission believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,6 which requires, among other things, that FINRA 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. The proposed rule change will streamline FINRA member obligations and continue FINRA’s surveillance program regarding Regulation M to protect investors. IV. Conclusion It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,7 that the proposed rule change (File No. SR– FINRA–2010–037) be, and hereby is, approved. 5 In approving this proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). 6 15 U.S.C. 78o–3(b)(6). 7 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59755-59771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24225]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-62965; File No. S7-24-89]


Joint Industry Plan; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness 
of Amendment No. 22 to the Joint Self-Regulatory Organization Plan 
Governing the Collection, Consolidation and Dissemination of Quotation 
and Transaction Information for Nasdaq-Listed Securities Traded on 
Exchanges on an Unlisted Trading Privileges Basis Submitted by the BATS 
Exchange, Inc., Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated, Chicago 
Stock Exchange, Inc., Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., 
International Securities Exchange LLC, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc., NASDAQ OMX 
PHLX, Inc., Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, National Stock Exchange, Inc., New 
York Stock Exchange LLC, NYSE Amex, Inc., and NYSE Arca, Inc.

September 21, 2010.
    Pursuant to Rule 608 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 
``Act'') \1\ notice is hereby given that on September 21, 2010, the 
operating committee (``Operating Committee'' or ``Committee'') \2\ of 
the Joint Self-Regulatory Organization Plan Governing the Collection, 
Consolidation, and Dissemination of Quotation and Transaction 
Information for Nasdaq-Listed Securities Traded on Exchanges on an 
Unlisted Trading Privilege Basis (``Nasdaq/UTP Plan'' or ``Plan'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') an 
amendment to the Plan.\3\ This amendment represents Amendment No. 22 to 
the Plan and proposes to add EDGA Exchange, Inc. and EDGX

[[Page 59756]]

Exchange, Inc. to the Plan. The Commission is publishing this notice to 
solicit comments from interested persons on the proposed Amendment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 17 CFR 242.608.
    \2\ The Plan Participants (collectively, ``Participants'') are 
the: BATS Exchange, Inc. (``BATS''); Chicago Board Options Exchange, 
Incorporated (``CBOE''); Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. (``CHX''); 
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (``FINRA''); 
International Securities Exchange LLC (``ISE''); NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. 
(``BX''); NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc. (``PHLX''); Nasdaq Stock Market LLC 
(``Nasdaq''); National Stock Exchange, Inc. (``NSX''); New York 
Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE''); NYSE Amex, Inc. (``NYSEAmex''); and 
NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSEArca'').
    \3\ The Plan governs the collection, processing, and 
dissemination on a consolidated basis of quotation information and 
transaction reports in Eligible Securities for each of its 
Participants. This consolidated information informs investors of the 
current quotation and recent trade prices of Nasdaq securities. It 
enables investors to ascertain from one data source the current 
prices in all the markets trading Nasdaq securities. The Plan serves 
as the required transaction reporting plan for its Participants, 
which is a prerequisite for their trading Eligible Securities. See 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55647 (April 19, 2007) 72 FR 
20891 (April 26, 2007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Rule 608(a)

A. Purpose of the Amendments

    The amendment proposes to add EDGA Exchange, Inc. and EDGX 
Exchange, Inc. as new Participants to each Plan.

B. Governing or Constituent Documents

    Not applicable.

C. Implementation of Amendment

    Because the Participants designate the amendment as concerned 
solely with the administration of the Plan, the amendment becomes 
effective upon filing with the Commission.

D. Development and Implementation Phases

    Not applicable.

E. Analysis of Impact on Competition

    The proposed amendment does not impose any burden on competition 
that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of 
the Exchange Act. The Participants do not believe that the proposed 
plan amendment introduces terms that are unreasonably discriminatory 
for the purposes of Section 11A(c)(1)(D) of the Exchange Act.

F. Written Understanding or Agreements Relating to Interpretation of, 
or Participation in, Plan

    Not applicable.

G. Approval by Sponsors in Accordance With Plan

    Each of the Plan's Participants has executed a written amendment to 
the Plan.

H. Description of Operation of Facility Contemplated by the Proposed 
Amendment

    Not applicable.

I. Terms and Conditions of Access

    See Item I(A) above.

J. Method of Determination and Imposition, and Amount of, Fees and 
Charges

    See Item I(A) above.

K. Method and Frequency of Processor Evaluation

    Not applicable.

L. Dispute Resolution

    Not applicable.

II. Rule 601(a)

A. Reporting Requirements

    Not applicable.

B. Manner of Collecting, Processing, Sequencing, Making Available and 
Disseminating Last Sale Information

    Not applicable.

C. Manner of Consolidation

    Not applicable.

D. Standards and Methods Ensuring Promptness, Accuracy and Completeness 
of Transaction Reports

    Not applicable.

E. Rules and Procedures Addressed to Fraudulent or Manipulative 
Dissemination

    Not applicable.

F. Terms of Access to Transaction Reports

    Not applicable.

G. Identification of Marketplace of Execution

    Not Applicable.

III. Solicitation of Comments

    The Commission seeks general comments on Amendment No. 22. 
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposal 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 Number S7-24-89 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 S7-24-89. 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 written statements with 
respect to the proposed Plan amendment that are filed with the 
Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed 
Plan amendment 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 Web site viewing and printing in 
the Commission's Public Reference Room on official business days 
between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will 
be available for Web site viewing and printing at the Office of the 
Secretary of the Committee, currently located at the CBOE, 400 S. 
LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60605. 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 S7-24-89 and should be submitted on or before October 19, 
2010.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(27).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\4\
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
Exhibit A
Nasdaq UTP Plan
Amended and Restated Plan
Amendment No. 22
    The undersigned registered national securities association and 
national securities exchanges (collectively referred to as the 
``Participants''), have jointly developed and hereby enter into this 
Nasdaq Unlisted Trading Privileges Plan (``Nasdaq UTP Plan'' or 
``Plan'').

I. Participants

    The Participants include the following:

A. Participants

 1. BATS Exchange, Inc.
 8050 Marshall Drive
 Lenexa, Kansas 66214
 2. Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc.
 400 South LaSalle Street, 26th Floor
 Chicago, Illinois 60605
 3. Chicago Stock Exchange
 440 South LaSalle Street
 Chicago, Illinois 60605
 4. EDGA Exchange, Inc.
 545 Washington Boulevard
 Sixth Floor
 Jersey City, NJ 07310
 5. EDGX Exchange, Inc.
 545 Washington Boulevard
 Sixth Floor
 Jersey City, NJ 07310

[[Page 59757]]

 6. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
 1735 K Street, N.W.
 Washington, D.C. 20006
 7. International Securities Exchange, LLC
 60 Broad Street
 New York, New York 10004
 8. NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.
 One Liberty Plaza
 New York, New York 10006
 9. NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc.
 1900 Market Street
 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
10. National Stock Exchange, Inc.
 101 Hudson, Suite 1200
 Jersey City, NJ 07302
11. New York Stock Exchange LLC
 11 Wall Street
 New York, New York 10005
12. NYSE Amex LLC
 20 Broad Street
 New York, New York 10005
13. NYSE Arca, Inc.
 100 South Wacker Drive
 Suite 1800
 Chicago, IL 60606
14. The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
 1 Liberty Plaza
 165 Broadway
 New York, NY 10006

B. Additional Participants

    Any other national securities association or national securities 
exchange, in whose market Eligible Securities become traded, may become 
a Participant, provided that said organization executes a copy of this 
Plan, provides to the Processor its Projected Processor Capacity 
Requirements, as specified in Exhibit 3, and pays its share of 
development costs as specified in Section XIII.

II. Purpose of Plan

    The purpose of this Plan is to provide for the collection, 
consolidation and dissemination of Quotation Information and 
Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities from the Participants in a 
manner consistent with the Exchange Act. The Participants commenced 
publication of Quotation Information and Transaction Reports on 
Eligible Securities as contemplated by this Plan on July 12, 1993.
    It is expressly understood that each Participant shall be 
responsible for the collection of Quotation Information and Transaction 
Reports within its market and that nothing in this Plan shall be deemed 
to govern or apply to the manner in which each Participant does so.

III. Definitions

    A. ``Current'' means, with respect to Transaction Reports or 
Quotation Information, such Transaction Reports or Quotation 
Information during the fifteen (15) minute period immediately following 
the initial transmission thereof by the Processor.
    B. ``Eligible Security'' means any Nasdaq Global Market or Nasdaq 
Capital Market security, as defined in NASDAQ Rule 4200. Eligible 
Securities under this Nasdaq UTP Plan shall not include any security 
that is defined as an ``Eligible Security'' within Section VII of the 
Consolidated Tape Association Plan.
    A security shall cease to be an Eligible Security for purposes of 
this Plan if: (i) The security does not substantially meet the 
requirements from time to time in effect for continued listing on 
Nasdaq, and thus is suspended from trading; or (ii) the security has 
been suspended from trading because the issuer thereof is in 
liquidation, bankruptcy or other similar type proceedings. The 
determination as to whether a security substantially meets the criteria 
of the definition of Eligible Security shall be made by the exchange on 
which such security is listed provided, however, that if such security 
is listed on more than one exchange then such determination shall be 
made by the exchange on which, the greatest number of the transactions 
in such security were effected during the previous twelve-month period.
    C. ``Commission'' and ``SEC'' shall mean the U.S. Securities and 
Exchange Commission.
    D. ``Exchange Act'' means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as 
amended.
    E. ``Market'' shall mean (i) when used with respect to Quotation 
Information, FINRA in the case of a FINRA Participant, or the 
Participant on whose floor or through whose facilities the quotation 
was disseminated; and (ii) when used with respect to Transaction 
Reports, the Participant through whose facilities the transaction took 
place or is reported, or the Participant to whose facilities the order 
was sent for execution.
    F. ``FINRA'' means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, 
Inc.
    G. ``FINRA Participant'' means a FINRA member that is registered as 
a market maker or an electronic communications network or otherwise 
utilizes the facilities of FINRA pursuant to applicable FINRA rules.
    H. ``UTP Quote Data Feed'' means the service that provides 
Subscribers with the National Best Bid and Offer quotations, size and 
market center identifier, as well as the Best Bid and Offer quotations, 
size and market center identifier from each individual Participant in 
Eligible Securities and, in the case of FINRA, the FINRA Participant(s) 
that constitutes FINRA's Best Bid and Offer quotations.
    I. ``Nasdaq System'' means collectively the automated quotation 
system operated by Nasdaq and the system provided for in the 
Transaction Reporting Plan filed with and approved by the Commission 
pursuant to SEC Rule 11Aa3-1, subsequently re-designated as Rule 601 of 
Regulation NMS, governing the reporting of transactions in Nasdaq 
securities.
    J. ``UTP Trade Data Feed'' means the service that provides Vendors 
and Subscribers with Transaction Reports.
    K. ``Nasdaq Security'' or ``Nasdaq-listed Security'' means any 
security listed on the Nasdaq Global Market or Nasdaq Capital Market.
    L. ``News Service'' means a person who receives Transaction Reports 
or Quotation Information provided by the Nasdaq System or provided by a 
Vendor, on a Current basis, in connection with such person's business 
of furnishing such information to newspapers, radio and television 
stations and other news media, for publication at least fifteen (15) 
minutes following the time when the information first has been 
published by the Processor.
    M. ``OTC Montage Data Feed'' means the data stream of information 
that provides Vendors and Subscribers with quotations and sizes from 
each FINRA Participant.
    N. ``Participant'' means a registered national securities exchange 
or national securities association that is a signatory to this Plan.
    O. ``Plan'' means this Nasdaq UTP Plan, as from time to time 
amended according to its provisions, governing the collection, 
consolidation and dissemination of Quotation Information and 
Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities.
    P. ``Processor'' means the entity selected by the Participants to 
perform the processing functions set forth in the Plan.
    Q. ``Quotation Information'' means all bids, offers, displayed 
quotation sizes, the market center identifiers and, in the case of 
FINRA, the FINRA Participant that entered the quotation, withdrawals 
and other information pertaining to quotations in Eligible Securities 
required to be collected and made available to the Processor pursuant 
to this Plan.
    R. ``Regulatory Halt'' means a trade suspension or halt called for 
the purpose of dissemination of material news, as described at Section 
X hereof or that is called for where there are regulatory problems 
relating to an

[[Page 59758]]

Eligible Security that should be clarified before trading therein is 
permitted to continue, including a trading halt for extraordinary 
market activity due to system misuse or malfunction under Section 
X.E.1. of the Plan (``Extraordinary Market Regulatory Halt'').
    S. ``Subscriber'' means a person who receives Current Quotation 
Information or Transaction Reports provided by the Processor or 
provided by a Vendor, for its own use or for distribution on a non-
Current basis, other than in connection with its activities as a 
Vendor.
    T. ``Transaction Reports'' means reports required to be collected 
and made available pursuant to this Plan containing the stock symbol, 
price, and size of the transaction executed, the Market in which the 
transaction was executed, and related information, including a buy/
sell/cross indicator and trade modifiers, reflecting completed 
transactions in Eligible Securities.
    U. ``Vendor'' means a person who receives Current Quotation 
Information or Transaction Reports provided by the Processor or 
provided by a Vendor, in connection with such person's business of 
distributing, publishing, or otherwise furnishing such information on a 
Current basis to Subscribers, News Services or other Vendors.

IV. Administration of Plan

A. Operating Committee: Composition

    The Plan shall be administered by the Participants through an 
operating committee (``Operating Committee''), which shall be composed 
of one representative designated by each Participant. Each Participant 
may designate an alternate representative or representatives who shall 
be authorized to act on behalf of the Participant in the absence of the 
designated representative. Within the areas of its responsibilities and 
authority, decisions made or actions taken by the Operating Committee, 
directly or by duly delegated individuals, committees as may be 
established from time to time, or others, shall be binding upon each 
Participant, without prejudice to the rights of any Participant to seek 
redress from the SEC pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS under the 
Exchange Act or in any other appropriate forum.
    An Electronic Communications Network, Alternative Trading System, 
Broker-Dealer or other securities organization (``Organization'') which 
is not a Participant, but has an actively pending Form 1 Application on 
file with the Commission to become a national securities exchange, will 
be permitted to appoint one representative and one alternate 
representative to attend regularly scheduled Operating Committee 
meetings in the capacity of an observer/advisor. If the Organization's 
Form 1 petition is withdrawn, returned, or is otherwise not actively 
pending with the Commission for any reason, then the Organization will 
no longer be eligible to be represented in the Operating Committee 
meetings. The Operating Committee shall have the discretion, in limited 
instances, to deviate from this policy if, as indicated by majority 
vote, the Operating Committee agrees that circumstances so warrant.
    Nothing in this section or elsewhere within the Plan shall 
authorize any person or organization other than Participants, their 
representatives, and members of the Advisory Committee to participate 
on the Operating Committee in any manner other than as an advisor or 
observer. Only the Participants and their representatives as well as 
Commission staff may participate in Executive Sessions of the Operating 
Committee.

B. Operating Committee: Authority

    The Operating Committee shall be responsible for:
    1. Overseeing the consolidation of Quotation Information and 
Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities from the Participants for 
dissemination to Vendors, Subscribers, News Services and others in 
accordance with the provisions of the Plan;
    2. Periodically evaluating the Processor;
    3. Setting the level of fees to be paid by Vendors, Subscribers, 
News Services or others for services relating to Quotation Information 
or Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities, and taking action in 
respect thereto in accordance with the provisions of the Plan;
    4. Determining matters involving the interpretation of the 
provisions of the Plan;
    5. Determining matters relating to the Plan's provisions for cost 
allocation and revenue-sharing; and
    6. Carrying out such other specific responsibilities as provided 
under the Plan.

C. Operating Committee: Voting

    Each Participant shall have one vote on all matters considered by 
the Operating Committee.
    1. The affirmative and unanimous vote of all Participants entitled 
to vote shall be necessary to constitute the action of the Operating 
Committee with respect to:
    a. Amendments to the Plan;
    b. amendments to contracts between the Processor and Vendors, 
Subscribers, News Services and others receiving Quotation Information 
and Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities;
    c. replacement of the Processor, except for termination for cause, 
which shall be governed by Section V(B) hereof;
    d. reductions in existing fees relating to Quotation Information 
and Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities; and
    e. except as provided under Section IV(C)(3) hereof, requests for 
system changes; and
    f. all other matters not specifically addressed by the Plan.
    2. With respect to the establishment of new fees or increases in 
existing fees relating to Quotation Information and Transaction Reports 
in Eligible Securities, the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the 
Participants entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute the 
action of the Operating Committee.
    3. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Participants entitled 
to vote shall be necessary to constitute the action of the Operating 
Committee with respect to:
    a. requests for system changes reasonably related to the function 
of the Processor as defined under the Plan. All other requests for 
system changes shall be governed by Section IV(C)(1)(e) hereof.
    b. interpretive matters and decisions of the Operating Committee 
arising under, or specifically required to be taken by, the provisions 
of the Plan as written;
    c. interpretive matters arising under Rules 601 and 602 of 
Regulation NMS; and
    d. denials of access (other than for breach of contract, which 
shall be handled by the Processor),
    4. It is expressly agreed and understood that neither this Plan nor 
the Operating Committee shall have authority in any respect over any 
Participant's proprietary systems. Nor shall the Plan or the Operating 
Committee have any authority over the collection and dissemination of 
quotation or transaction information in Eligible Securities in any 
Participant's marketplace, or, in the case of FINRA, from FINRA 
Participants.

D. Operating Committee: Meetings

    Regular meetings of the Operating Committee may be attended by each 
Participant's designated representative and/or its alternate 
representative(s), and may be attended by one or more other 
representatives of the parties. Meetings shall be held at such times 
and

[[Page 59759]]

locations as shall from time to time be determined by the Operating 
Committee.
    Quorum: Any action requiring a vote only can be taken at a meeting 
in which a quorum of all Participants is present. For actions requiring 
a simple majority vote of all Participants, a quorum of greater than 
50% of all Participants entitled to vote must be present at the meeting 
before such a vote may be taken. For actions requiring a 2/3rd majority 
vote of all Participants, a quorum of at least 2/3rd of all 
Participants entitled to vote must be present at the meeting before 
such a vote may be taken. For actions requiring a unanimous vote of all 
Participants, a quorum of all Participants entitled to vote must be 
present at the meeting before such a vote may be taken.
    A Participant is considered present at a meeting only if a 
Participant's designated representative or alternate representative(s) 
is either in physical attendance at the meeting or is participating by 
conference telephone, or other acceptable electronic means.
    Any action sought to be resolved at a meeting must be sent to each 
Participant entitled to vote on such matter at least one week prior to 
the meeting via electronic mail, regular U.S. or private mail, or 
facsimile transmission, provided however that this requirement may be 
waived by the vote of the percentage of the Committee required to vote 
on any particular matter, under Section C above.
    Any action may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, 
setting forth the action so taken, is sent to and signed by all 
Participant representatives entitled to vote with respect to the 
subject matter thereof. All the approvals evidencing the consent shall 
be delivered to the Chairman of the Operating Committee to be filed in 
the Operating Committee records. The action taken shall be effective 
when the minimum number of Participants entitled to vote have approved 
the action, unless the consent specifies a different effective date.
    The Chairman of the Operating Committee shall be elected annually 
by and from among the Participants by a majority vote of all 
Participants entitled to vote. The Chairman shall designate a person to 
act as Secretary to record the minutes of each meeting. The location of 
meetings shall be rotated among the locations of the principal offices 
of the Participants, or such other locations as may from time to time 
be determined by the Operating Committee.
    Meetings may be held by conference telephone and action may be 
taken without a meeting if the representatives of all Participants 
entitled to vote consent thereto in writing or other means the 
Operating Committee deems acceptable.

E. Advisory Committee

    (a) Formation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, an 
Advisory Committee to the Plan shall be formed and shall function in 
accordance with the provisions set forth in this section.
    (b) Composition. Members of the Advisory Committee shall be 
selected for two year terms as follows:
    (1) Operating Committee Selections. By affirmative vote of a 
majority of the Participants entitled to vote, the Operating Committee 
shall select at least one representative from each of the following 
categories to be members of the Advisory Committee: (i) A broker-dealer 
with a substantial retail investor customer base, (ii) a broker-dealer 
with a substantial institutional investor customer base, (iii) an 
alternative trade system, (iv) a data vendor, and (v) an investor.
    (2) Participant Selections. Each Participant shall have the right 
to select one member of the Advisory Committee. A Participant shall not 
select any person employed by or affiliated with any participant or its 
affiliates or facilities.
    (c) Function. Members of the Advisory Committee shall have the 
right to submit their views to the Operating Committee on Plan matters, 
prior to a decision by the Operating Committee on such matters. Such 
matters shall include, but not be limited to, any new or modified 
product, fee, contract, or pilot program that is offered or used 
pursuant to the Plan.
    (d) Meetings and Information. Members of the Advisory Committee 
shall have the right to attend all meetings of the Operating Committee 
and to receive any information concerning Plan matters that is 
distributed to the Operating Committee; provided, however, that the 
Operating Committee may meet in executive session if, by affirmative 
vote of a majority of the Participants entitled to vote, the Operating 
Committee determines that an item of Plan business requires 
confidential treatment.

V. Selection and Evaluation of the Processor

A. Generally

    The Processor's performance of its functions under the Plan shall 
be subject to review by the Operating Committee at least every two 
years, or from time to time upon the request of any two Participants 
but not more frequently than once each year. Based on this review, the 
Operating Committee may choose to make a recommendation to the 
Participants with respect to the continuing operation of the Processor. 
The Operating Committee shall notify the SEC of any recommendations the 
Operating Committee shall make pursuant to the Operating Committee's 
review of the Processor and shall supply the Commission with a copy of 
any reports that may be prepared in connection therewith.

B. Termination of the Processor for Cause

    If the Operating Committee determines that the Processor has failed 
to perform its functions in a reasonably acceptable manner in 
accordance with the provisions of the Plan or that its reimbursable 
expenses have become excessive and are not justified on a cost basis, 
the Processor may be terminated at such time as may be determined by a 
majority vote of the Operating Committee.

C. Factors To Be Considered in Termination for Cause

    Among the factors to be considered in evaluating whether the 
Processor has performed its functions in a reasonably acceptable manner 
in accordance with the provisions of the Plan shall be the 
reasonableness of its response to requests from Participants for 
technological changes or enhancements pursuant to Section IV(C)(3) 
hereof. The reasonableness of the Processor's response to such requests 
shall be evaluated by the Operating Committee in terms of the cost to 
the Processor of purchasing the same service from a third party and 
integrating such service into the Processor's existing systems and 
operations as well as the extent to which the requested change would 
adversely impact the then current technical (as opposed to business or 
competitive) operations of the Processor.

D. Processor's Right To Appeal Termination for Cause

    The Processor shall have the right to appeal to the SEC a 
determination of the Operating Committee terminating the Processor for 
cause and no action shall become final until the SEC has ruled on the 
matter and all legal appeals of right therefrom have been exhausted.

E. Process for Selecting New Processor

    At any time following effectiveness of the Plan, but no later than 
upon the termination of the Processor, whether for cause pursuant to 
Section IV(C)(1)(c) or V(B) of the Plan or upon the

[[Page 59760]]

Processor's resignation, the Operating Committee shall establish 
procedures for selecting a new Processor (the ``Selection 
Procedures''). The Operating Committee, as part of the process of 
establishing Selection Procedures, may solicit and consider the timely 
comment of any entity affected by the operation of this Plan. The 
Selection Procedures shall be established by a two-thirds majority vote 
of the Plan Participants, and shall set forth, at a minimum:
    1. The entity that will:
    (a) draft the Operating Committee's request for proposal for bids 
on a new processor;
    (b) assist the Operating Committee in evaluating bids for the new 
processor; and
    (c) otherwise provide assistance and guidance to the Operating 
Committee in the selection process.
    2. the minimum technical and operational requirements to be 
fulfilled by the Processor;
    3. the criteria to be considered in selecting the Processor; and
    4. the entities (other than Plan Participants) that are eligible to 
comment on the selection of the Processor.
    Nothing in this provision shall be interpreted as limiting 
Participants' rights under Section IV or Section V of the Plan or other 
Commission order.

VI. Functions of the Processor

A. Generally

    The Processor shall collect from the Participants, and consolidate 
and disseminate to Vendors, Subscribers and News Services, Quotation 
Information and Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities in a manner 
designed to assure the prompt, accurate and reliable collection, 
processing and dissemination of information with respect to all 
Eligible Securities in a fair and non-discriminatory manner. The 
Processor shall commence operations upon the Processor's notification 
to the Participants that it is ready and able to commence such 
operations.

B. Collection and Consolidation of Information

    For as long as Nasdaq is the Processor, the Processor shall be 
capable of receiving Quotation Information and Transaction Reports in 
Eligible Securities from Participants by the Plan-approved, Processor 
sponsored interface, and shall consolidate and disseminate such 
information via the UTP Quote Data Feed, the UTP Trade Data Feed, and 
the OTC Montage Data Feed to Vendors, Subscribers and News Services.

C. Dissemination of Information

    The Processor shall disseminate consolidated Quotation Information 
and Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities via the UTP Quote Data 
Feed, the UTP Trade Data Feed, and the OTC Montage Data Feed to 
authorized Vendors, Subscribers and News Services in a fair and non-
discriminatory manner. The Processor shall specifically be permitted to 
enter into agreements with Vendors, Subscribers and News Services for 
the dissemination of quotation or transaction information on Eligible 
Securities to foreign (non-U.S.) marketplaces or in foreign countries.
    The Processor shall, in such instance, disseminate consolidated 
quotation or transaction information on Eligible Securities from all 
Participants.
    Nothing herein shall be construed so as to prohibit or restrict in 
any way the right of any Participant to distribute quotation, 
transaction or other information with respect to Eligible Securities 
quoted on or traded in its marketplace to a marketplace outside the 
United States solely for the purpose of supporting an intermarket 
linkage, or to distribute information within its own marketplace 
concerning Eligible Securities in accordance with its own format. If a 
Participant requests, the Processor shall make information about 
Eligible Securities in the Participant's marketplace available to a 
foreign marketplace on behalf of the requesting Participant, in which 
event the cost shall be borne by that Participant.
1. Best Bid and Offer
    The Processor shall disseminate on the UTP Quote Data Feed the best 
bid and offer information supplied by each Participant, including the 
FINRA Participant(s) that constitutes FINRA's single Best Bid and Offer 
quotations, and shall also calculate and disseminate on the UTP Quote 
Data Feed a national best bid and asked quotation with size based upon 
Quotation Information for Eligible Securities received from 
Participants. The Processor shall not calculate the best bid and offer 
for any individual Participant, including FINRA.
    The Participant responsible for each side of the best bid and asked 
quotation making up the national best bid and offer shall be identified 
by an appropriate symbol. If the quotations of more than one 
Participant shall be the same best price, the largest displayed size 
among those shall be deemed to be the best. If the quotations of more 
than one Participant are the same best price and best displayed size, 
the earliest among those measured by the time reported shall be deemed 
to be the best. A reduction of only bid size and/or ask size will not 
change the time priority of a Participant's quote for the purposes of 
determining time reported, whereas an increase of the bid size and/or 
ask size will result in a new time reported. The consolidated size 
shall be the size of the Participant that is at the best.
    If the best bid/best offer results in a locked or crossed 
quotation, the Processor shall forward that locked or crossed quote on 
the appropriate output lines (i.e., a crossed quote of bid 12, ask 
11.87 shall be disseminated). The Processor shall normally cease the 
calculation of the best bid/best offer after 6:30 p.m., Eastern Time.
2. Quotation Data Streams
    The Processor shall disseminate on the UTP Quote Data Feed a data 
stream of all Quotation Information regarding Eligible Securities 
received from Participants. Each quotation shall be designated with a 
symbol identifying the Participant from which the quotation emanates 
and, in the case of FINRA, the FINRA Participant(s) that constitutes 
FINRA's Best Bid and Offer quotations. In addition, the Processor shall 
separately distribute on the OTC Montage Data Feed the Quotation 
Information regarding Eligible Securities from all FINRA Participants 
from which quotations emanate.
3. Transaction Reports
    The Processor shall disseminate on the UTP Trade Data Feed a data 
stream of all Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities received from 
Participants. Each transaction report shall be designated with a symbol 
identifying the Participant in whose Market the transaction took place.

D. Closing Reports

    At the conclusion of each trading day, the Processor shall 
disseminate a ``closing price'' for each Eligible Security. Such 
``closing price'' shall be the price of the last Transaction Report in 
such security received prior to dissemination. The Processor shall also 
tabulate and disseminate at the conclusion of each trading day the 
aggregate volume reflected by all Transaction Reports in Eligible 
Securities reported by the Participants.

E. Statistics

    The Processor shall maintain quarterly, semi-annual and annual 
transaction and volume statistical counts. The Processor shall, at cost 
to the user Participant(s), make such statistics available in a form 
agreed

[[Page 59761]]

upon by the Operating Committee, such as a secure Web site.

F. Capacity Planning

    1. The Processor shall provide computer and communications facility 
capacity in accordance with a capacity planning process set forth in 
Exhibit 3, which process may be modified by the Operating Committee 
from time to time, requiring a simple majority vote.
    2. The Processor shall establish information barriers to ensure 
that information revealed by any Plan Participant to the Processor 
during the capacity planning process is not shared with any other Plan 
Participant, including Nasdaq, other than information that is 
aggregated for all Plan Participants.
    3. Plan Participants shall cooperate fully in the capacity planning 
process including complying with all requirements set forth in Exhibit 
3.

VII. Administrative Functions of the Processor

    Subject to the general direction of the Operating Committee, the 
Processor shall be responsible for carrying out all administrative 
functions necessary to the operation and maintenance of the 
consolidated information collection and dissemination system provided 
for in this Plan, including, but not limited to, record keeping, 
billing, contract administration, and the preparation of financial 
reports.

VIII. Transmission of Information to Processor by Participants

A. Quotation Information

    Each Participant shall, during the time it is open for trading be 
responsible promptly to collect and transmit to the Processor accurate 
Quotation Information in Eligible Securities through any means 
prescribed herein.
    Quotation Information shall include:
    1. identification of the Eligible Security, using the Nasdaq 
Symbol;
    2. the price bid and offered, together with size;
    3. the FINRA Participant along with the FINRA Participant's market 
participant identification or Participant from which the quotation 
emanates;
    4. identification of quotations that are not firm; and
    5. through appropriate codes and messages, withdrawals and similar 
matters.

B. Transaction Reports

    Each Participant shall, during the time it is open for trading, be 
responsible promptly to collect and transmit to the Processor 
Transaction Reports in Eligible Securities executed in its Market by 
means prescribed herein. With respect to orders sent by one Market to 
another Market for execution, each Participant shall adopt procedures 
governing the reporting of transactions in Eligible Securities 
specifying that the transaction will be reported by the Participant 
whose member sold the security. This provision shall apply only to 
transactions between Participants.
    Transaction Reports shall include:
    1. Identification of the Eligible Security, using the Nasdaq 
Symbol;
    2. the number of shares in the transaction;
    3. the price at which the shares were purchased or sold;
    4. the buy/sell/cross indicator;
    5. the Market of execution; and,
    6. through appropriate codes and messages, late or out-of-sequence 
trades, corrections and similar matters.
    All such Transaction Reports shall be transmitted to the Processor 
within 90 seconds after the time of execution of the transaction. 
Transaction Reports transmitted beyond the 90-second period shall be 
designated as ``late'' by the appropriate code or message.
    The following types of transactions are not required to be reported 
to the Processor pursuant to the Plan:
    1. Transactions that are part of a primary distribution by an 
issuer or of a registered secondary distribution or of an unregistered 
secondary distribution;
    2. transactions made in reliance on Section 4(2) of the Securities 
Act of 1933;
    3. transactions in which the buyer and the seller have agreed to 
trade at a price unrelated to the current market for the security, 
e.g., to enable the seller to make a gift;
    4. odd-lot transactions;
    5. the acquisition of securities by a broker-dealer as principal in 
anticipation of making an immediate exchange distribution or exchange 
offering on an exchange;
    6. purchases of securities pursuant to a tender offer; and
    7. purchases or sales of securities effected upon the exercise of 
an option pursuant to the terms thereof or the exercise of any other 
right to acquire securities at a pre-established consideration 
unrelated to the current market.

C. Symbols for Market Identification for Quotation Information and 
Transaction Reports

    The following symbols shall be used to denote the marketplaces:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   CODE                              PARTICIPANT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.........................................  NYSE Amex LLC.
Z.........................................  BATS Exchange, Inc.
B.........................................  NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.
W.........................................  Chicago Board Options
                                             Exchange, Inc.
M.........................................  Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.
I.........................................  International Securities
                                             Exchange, LLC.
D.........................................  Financial Industry
                                             Regulatory Authority, Inc.
Q.........................................  Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.
C.........................................  National Stock Exchange,
                                             Inc.
N.........................................  New York Stock Exchange LLC.
P.........................................  NYSE Arca, Inc.
X.........................................  Nasdaq OMX PHLX, Inc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    D. Whenever a Participant determines that a level of trading 
activity or other unusual market conditions prevent it from collecting 
and transmitting Quotation Information or Transaction Reports to the 
Processor, or where a trading halt or suspension in an Eligible 
Security is in effect in its Market, the Participant shall promptly 
notify the Processor of such condition or event and shall resume 
collecting and transmitting Quotation Information and Transaction 
Reports to it as soon as the condition or event is terminated. In the 
event of a system malfunction resulting in the inability of a 
Participant or its members to transmit Quotation Information or 
Transaction Reports to the Processor, the Participant shall promptly 
notify the Processor of such event or condition. Upon receiving such 
notification, the Processor shall take appropriate action, including 
either closing the quotation or purging the system of the affected 
quotations.

IX. Market Access

    Pursuant to the requirements of Rule 610 of Regulation NMS, a 
Participant that operates an SRO trading facility shall provide for 
fair and efficient order execution access to quotations in each 
Eligible Security displayed through its trading facility. In the case 
of a Participant that operates an SRO display-only quotation facility, 
trading centers posting quotations through such SRO display-only 
quotation facility must provide for fair and efficient order execution 
access to quotations in each Eligible Security displayed through the 
SRO display-only quotation facility. A Participant that operates an SRO 
trading facility may elect to allow such access to its quotations 
through the utilization of private electronic linkages between the 
Participant and other trading centers. In the case of a Participant 
that operates an SRO display-only quotation facility, trading centers 
posting

[[Page 59762]]

quotations through such SRO display-only quotation facility may elect 
to allow such access to their quotations through the utilization of 
private electronic linkages between the trading center and SRO trading 
facilities of Participants and/or other trading centers.
    In accordance with Regulation NMS, a Participant shall not impose, 
or permit to be imposed, any fee or fees for the execution of an order 
against a protected quotation of the Participant or of a trading center 
posting quotes through a Participant's SRO display-only quotation 
facility in an Eligible Security or against any other quotation 
displayed by the Participant in an Eligible Security that is the 
Participant's displayed best bid or offer for that Eligible Security, 
where such fee or fees exceed the limits provided for in Rule 610(c) of 
Regulation NMS. As required under Regulation NMS, the terms of access 
to a Participant's quotations or of a trading center posting quotes 
through a Participant's SRO display-only quotation facility in an 
Eligible Security may not be unfairly discriminatory so as to prevent 
or inhibit any person from obtaining efficient access to such displayed 
quotations through a member of the Participant or a subscriber of a 
trading center.

X. Regulatory Halts

    A. Whenever, in the exercise of its regulatory functions, the 
Listing Market for an Eligible Security determines that a Regulatory 
Halt is appropriate pursuant to Section III.S, the Listing Market will 
notify all other Participants pursuant to Section X.E and all other 
Participants shall also halt or suspend trading in that security until 
notified that the halt or suspension is no longer in effect. The 
Listing Market shall immediately notify the Processor of such 
Regulatory Halt as well as provide notice that a Regulatory Halt has 
been lifted. The Processor, in turn, shall disseminate to Participants 
notice of the Regulatory Halt (as well as notice of the lifting of a 
Regulatory Halt through the UTP Quote Data Feed. This notice shall 
serve as official notice of a Regulatory Halt for purposes of the Plan 
only, and shall not substitute or otherwise supplant notice that a 
Participant may recognize or require under its own rules. Nothing in 
this provision shall be read so as to supplant or be inconsistent with 
a Participant's own rules on trade halts, which rules apply to the 
Participant's own members. The Processor will reject any quotation 
information or transaction reports received from any Participant on an 
Eligible Security that has a Regulatory Halt in effect.
    B. Whenever the Listing Market determines that adequate publication 
or dissemination of information has occurred so as to permit the 
termination of the Regulatory Halt then in effect, the Listing Market 
shall promptly notify the Processor and each of the other Participants 
that conducts trading in such security pursuant to Section X.F. Except 
in extraordinary circumstances, adequate publication or dissemination 
shall be presumed by the Listing Market to have occurred upon the 
expiration of one hour after initial publication in a national news 
dissemination service of the information that gave rise to the 
Regulatory Halt.
    C. Except in the case of a Regulatory Halt, the Processor shall not 
cease the dissemination of quotation or transaction information 
regarding any Eligible Security. In particular, it shall not cease 
dissemination of such information because of a delayed opening, 
imbalance of orders or other market-related problems involving such 
security. During a Regulatory Halt, the Processor shall collect and 
disseminate Transaction Information but shall cease collection and 
dissemination of all Quotation Information.
    D. For purposes of this Section X, ``Listing Market'' for an 
Eligible Security means the Participant's Market on which the Eligible 
Security is listed. If an Eligible Security is dually listed, Listing 
Market shall mean the Participant's Market on which the Eligible 
Security is listed that also has the highest number of the average of 
the reported transactions and reported share volume for the preceding 
12-month period. The Listing Market for dually-listed Eligible 
Securities shall be determined at the beginning of each calendar 
quarter.
    E. For purposes of coordinating trading halts in Eligible 
Securities, all Participants are required to utilize the national 
market system communication media (``Hoot-n-Holler'') to provide real-
time information to all Participants. Each Participant shall be 
required to continuously monitor the Hoot-n-Holler system during market 
hours, and the failure of a Participant to do so at any time shall not 
prevent the Listing Market from initiating a Regulatory Halt in 
accordance with the procedures specified herein.
    1. The following procedures shall be followed when one or more 
Participants experiences extraordinary market activity in an Eligible 
Security that is believed to be caused by the misuse or malfunction of 
systems operated by or linked to one or more Participants.
    a. The Participant(s) experiencing the extraordinary market 
activity or any Participant that becomes aware of extraordinary market 
activity will immediately use best efforts to notify all Participants 
of the extraordinary market activity utilizing the Hoot-n-Holler 
system.
    b. The Listing Market will use best efforts to determine whether 
there is material news regarding the Eligible Security. If the Listing 
Market determines that there is undisclosed material news, it will 
immediately call a Regulatory Halt pursuant to Section X.E.2.
    c. Each Participant(s) will use best efforts to determine whether 
one of its systems, or the system of a direct or indirect participant 
in its market, is responsible for the extraordinary market activity.
    d. If a Participant determines the potential source of 
extraordinary market activity pursuant to Section X.1.c., the 
Participant will use best efforts to determine whether removing the 
quotations of one or more direct or indirect market participants or 
barring one or more direct or indirect market participants from 
entering orders will resolve the extraordinary market activity. 
Accordingly, the Participant will prevent the quotations from one or 
more direct or indirect market participants in the affected Eligible 
Securities from being transmitted to the Processor.
    e. If the procedures described in Section X.E.1.a.-d. do not 
rectify the situation, the Participant(s) experiencing extraordinary 
market activity will cease transmitting all quotations in the affected 
Eligible Securities to the Processor.
    f. If the procedures described in Section X.E.1.a-e do not rectify 
the situation within five minutes of the first notification through the 
Hoot-n-Holler system, or if Participants agree to call a halt sooner 
through unanimous approval among those Participants actively trading 
impacted Eligible Securities, the Listing Market may determine based on 
the facts and circumstances, including available input from 
Participants, to declare an Extraordinary Market Regulatory Halt in the 
affected Eligible Securities. Simultaneously with the notification of 
the Processor to suspend the dissemination of quotations across all 
Participants, the Listing Market must notify all Participants of the 
trading halt utilizing the Hoot-n-Holler system.
    g. Absent any evidence of system misuse or malfunction, best 
efforts will be used to ensure that trading is not halted across all 
Participants.
    2. If the Listing Market declares a Regulatory Halt in 
circumstances other

[[Page 59763]]

than pursuant to Section X.E.1.f., the Listing Market must, 
simultaneously with the notification of the Processor to suspend the 
dissemination of quotations across all Participants, notify all 
Participants of the trading halt utilizing the Hoot-n-Holler system.
    F. If the Listing Market declares a Regulatory Halt, trading will 
resume according to the following procedures:
    1. Within 15 minutes of the declaration of the halt, all 
Participants will make best efforts to indicate via the Hoot-n-Holler 
their intentions with respect to canceling or modifying transactions.
    2. All Participants will disseminate to their members information 
regarding the canceled or modified transactions as promptly as 
possible, and in any event prior to the resumption of trading.
    3. After all Participants have met the requirements of Section 
X.F.1-2, the Listing Market will notify the Participants utilizing the 
Hoot-n-Holler and the Processor when trading may resume. Upon receiving 
this information, Participants may commence trading pursuant to Section 
X.A.

XI. Hours of Operation

    A. Quotation Information may be entered by Participants as to all 
Eligible Securities in which they make a market between 9:30 a.m. and 4 
p.m. Eastern Time (``ET'') on all days the Processor is in operation. 
Transaction Reports shall be entered between 9:30 a.m. and 4:01:30 p.m. 
ET by Participants as to all Eligible Securities in which they execute 
transactions between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET on all days the Processor 
is in operation.
    B. Participants that execute transactions in Eligible Securities 
outside the hours of 9:30 a.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET, shall report such 
transactions as follows:
    (i) transactions in Eligible Securities executed between 4 a.m. and 
9:29:59 a.m. ET and between 4:01 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET, shall be 
designated as ``.T'' trades to denote their execution outside normal 
market hours;
    (ii) transactions in Eligible Securities executed after 8 p.m. and 
before 12 a.m. (midnight) shall be reported to the Processor between 
the hours of 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET on the next business day (T+1), and 
shall be designated ``as/of'' trades to denote their execution on a 
prior day, and be accompanied by the time of execution;
    (iii) transactions in Eligible Securities executed between 12 a.m. 
(midnight) and 4 a.m. ET shall be transmitted to the Processor between 
4 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. ET, on trade date, shall be designated as ``.T'' 
trades to denote their execution outside normal market hours, and shall 
be accompanied by the time of execution;
    (iv) transactions reported pursuant to this provision of the Plan 
shall be included in the calculation of total trade volume for purposes 
of determining net distributable operating revenue, but shall not be 
included in the calculation of the daily high, low, or last sale.
    C. Late trades shall be reported in accordance with the rules of 
the Participant in whose Market the transaction occurred and can be 
reported between the hours of 4 a.m. and 8 p.m.
    D. The Processor shall collect, process and disseminate Quotation 
Information in Eligible Securities at other times between 4 a.m. and 
9:30 a.m. ET, and after 4 p.m. ET, when any Participant or FINRA 
Participant is open for trading, until 8 p.m. ET (the ``Additional 
Period''); provided, however, that the national best bid and offer 
quotation will not be disseminated before 4 a.m. or after 8 p.m. ET. 
Participants that enter Quotation Information or submit Transaction 
Reports to the Processor during the Additional Period shall do so for 
all Eligible Securities in which they enter quotations.

XII. Undertaking by All Participants

    The filing with and approval by the Commission of this Plan shall 
obligate each Participant to enforce compliance by its members with the 
provisions thereof. In all other respects not inconsistent herewith, 
the rules of each Participant shall apply to the actions of its members 
in effecting, reporting, honoring and settling transactions executed 
through its facilities, and the entry, maintenance and firmness of 
quotations to ensure that such occurs in a manner consistent with just 
and equitable principles of trade.

XIII. Financial Matters

A. Development Costs

    Any Participant becoming a signatory to this Plan after June 26, 
1990, shall, as a condition to becoming a Participant, pay to the other 
Plan Participants a proportionate share of the aggregate development 
costs previously paid by Plan Participants to the Processor, which 
aggregate development costs totaled $439,530, with the result that each 
Participant's share of all development costs is the same.
    Each Participant shall bear the cost of implementation of any 
technical enhancements to the Nasdaq System made at its request and 
solely for its use, subject to reapportionment should any other 
Participant subsequently make use of the enhancement, or the 
development thereof.

B. Cost Allocation, Revenue Sharing, and Fees

    The provisions governing cost allocation and revenue sharing among 
the Participants are set forth in Exhibit 1 to the Plan. The provisions 
governing fees applicable to Quotation Information and Transaction 
Reports disseminated pursuant to the Plan are set forth in Exhibit 2 to 
the Plan.

C. Maintenance of Financial Records

    The Processor shall maintain records of revenues generated and 
development and operating expenditures incurred in connection with the 
Plan. In addition, the Processor shall provide the Participants with: 
(a) A statement of financial and operational condition on a quarterly 
basis; and (b) an audited statement of financial and operational 
condition on an annual basis.

XIV. Indemnification

    Each Participant agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify 
and hold harmless each other Participant, Nasdaq (in its capacity as 
Processor), and each of its directors, officers, employees and agents 
(including the Operating Committee and its employees and agents) from 
and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense 
whatsoever incurred or threatened against such persons as a result of 
any Transaction Reports, Quotation Information or other information 
reported to the Processor by such Participant and disseminated by the 
Processor to Vendors. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to 
any liability that the indemnifying Participant may otherwise have.
    Promptly after receipt by an indemnified Participant of notice of 
the commencement of any action, such indemnified Participant will, if a 
claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying 
Participant, notify the indemnifying Participant in writing of the 
commencement thereof; but the omission to so notify the indemnifying 
Participant will not relieve the indemnifying Participant from any 
liability which it may have to any indemnified Participant. In case any 
such action is brought against any indemnified Participant and it 
promptly notifies an indemnifying Participant of the commencement 
thereof, the indemnifying Participant will be entitled to participate 
in, and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other 
indemnifying Participant similarly

[[Page 59764]]

notified, to assume and control the defense thereof with counsel chosen 
by it. After notice from the indemnifying Participant of its election 
to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying Participant will not be 
liable to such indemnified Participant for any legal or other expenses 
subsequently incurred by such indemnified Participant in connection 
with the defense thereof but the indemnified Participant may, at its 
own expense, participate in such defense by counsel chosen by it 
without, however, impairing the indemnifying Participant's control of 
the defense. The indemnifying Participant may negotiate a compromise or 
settlement of any such action, provided that such compromise or 
settlement does not require a contribution by the indemnified 
Participant.

XV. Withdrawal

    Any Participant may withdraw from the Plan at any time on not less 
than 30 days prior written notice to each of the other Participants. 
Any Participant withdrawing from the Plan shall remain liable for, and 
shall pay upon demand, any fees for equipment or services being 
provided to such Participant pursuant to the contract executed by it or 
an agreement or schedule of fees covering such then in effect.
    A withdrawing Participant shall also remain liable for its 
proportionate share, without any right of recovery, of administrative 
and operating expenses, including start-up costs and other sums for 
which it may be responsible pursuant to Section XIV hereof. Except as 
aforesaid, a withdrawing Participant shall have no further obligation 
under the Plan or to any of the other Participants with respect to the 
period following the effectiveness of its withdrawal.

XVI. Modifications to the Plan

    The Plan may be modified from time to time when authorized by the 
agreement of all of the Participants, subject to the approval of the 
SEC or when such modification otherwise becomes effective pursuant to 
Section 11A of the Exchange Act and Rule 608 of Regulation NMS.

XVII. Applicability of Securities Exchange Act of 1934

    The rights and obligations of the Participants and of Vendors, News 
Services, Subscribers and other persons contracting with Participant in 
respect of the matters covered by the Plan shall at all times be 
subject to any applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and any rules 
and regulations promulgated thereunder.

XVIII. Operational Issues

    A. Each Participant shall be responsible for collecting and 
validating quotes and last sale reports within its own system prior to 
transmitting this data to the Processor.
    B. Each Participant may utilize a dedicated Participant line into 
the Processor to transmit trade and quote information in Eligible 
Securities to the Processor. The Processor shall accept from Exchange 
Participants input for only those issues that are deemed Eligible 
Securities.
    C. The Processor shall consolidate trade and quote information from 
each Participant and disseminate this information on the Processor's 
existing vendor lines.
    D. The Processor shall perform gross validation processing for 
quotes and last sale messages in addition to the collection and 
dissemination functions, as follows:
    1. Basic Message Validation
    (a) The Processor may validate format for each type of message, and 
reject nonconforming messages.
    (b) Input must be for an Eligible Security.
    2. Logging Function--The Processor shall return all Participant 
input messages that do not pass the validation checks (described above) 
to the inputting Participant, on the entering Participant line, with an 
appropriate reject notation. For all accepted Participant input 
messages (i.e., those that pass the validation check), the information 
shall be retained in the Processor system.

XIX. Headings

    The section and other headings contained in this Plan are for 
reference purposes only and shall not be deemed to be a part of this 
Plan or to affect the meaning or interpretation of any provisions of 
this Plan.

XX. Counterparts

    This Plan may be executed by the Participants in any number of 
counterparts, no one of which need contain the signature of all 
Participants. As many such counterparts as shall together contain all 
such signatures shall constitute one and the same instrument.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Plan has been executed as of the ---- day 
of ------------, 2010, by each of the Signatories hereto.

NYSE AMEX LLC
BY:--------------------------------------------------------------------

NASDAQ OMX BX, INC.
BY:--------------------------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO BOARD OPTIONS EXCHANGE, INC.
BY:--------------------------------------------------------------------

EDGX EXCHANGE, INC.
BY:--------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE, LLC
BY:--------------------------------------------------------------------

NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE LLC
BY:--------------------------------------------------------------------

NASDAQ OMX PHLX, INC.
BY:--------------------------------------------------------------------

BATS EXCHANGE, INC.
BY:--------------------------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE, INC.
BY:--------------------------------------------------------------------

EDGA EXCHANGE, INC.
BY:--------------------------------------------------------------------

FINRA
BY:
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