Self-Regulatory Organizations; C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1, To Reduce the Minimum Size of the Nominating and Governance Committee, 38231-38232 [2011-16243]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 29, 2011 / Notices Register or within such longer period (i) As the Commission may designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the Exchange consents, the Commission will: A. By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change, or B. Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved. IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make publicly available. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–BX–2011–034 and should be submitted on or before July 20, 2011. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.13 Cathy H. Ahn, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011–16293 Filed 6–28–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–64727; File No. SR–C2– 2011–012] mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Electronic Comments • Use the Commission’s Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or • Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–BX–2011–034 on the subject line. Self-Regulatory Organizations; C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1, To Reduce the Minimum Size of the Nominating and Governance Committee Paper Comments • Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–BX–2011–034. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission’s Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of BX. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying I. Introduction VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:48 Jun 28, 2011 Jkt 223001 June 22, 2011. On April 27, 2011, C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated (‘‘C2’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to reduce the minimum size of the Nominating and Governance Committee (‘‘NGC’’) from seven to five. On May 18, 2011, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.3 The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register on May 10, 2011.4 The Commission received no comment letters regarding the proposal. This order approves the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1. 13 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 3 At the time C2 submitted the original proposed rule change, it had not yet obtained formal approval from its Board of Directors for the specific Bylaw changes set forth in this proposed rule change. C2 stated that once that approval was obtained, it would file a technical amendment to its proposed rule change to reflect that approval. In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange notes that the C2 Board of Directors approved the specific Bylaw changes set forth in SR–C2–2011–012 on May 17, 2011 and stated that no further action was necessary in connection with its proposal. Because Amendment No. 1 is technical in nature, the Commission is not required to publish it for public comment. 4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64394 (May 4, 2011), 76 FR 27112 (‘‘Notice’’). 1 15 PO 00000 Frm 00124 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 38231 II. Description of the Proposal C2 is proposing to reduce the minimum size of its NGC from seven to five directors. Section 4.4 of the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of C2 (‘‘Bylaws’’) currently provides, in pertinent part, that the NGC shall consist of at least seven directors, including both Industry and NonIndustry Directors; that a majority of the directors on the Committee shall be Non-Industry Directors; and that the exact number of members on the Committee shall be determined from time to time by C2’s Board of Directors (the ‘‘Board’’ or ‘‘C2 Board’’). Pursuant to the proposed rule change, Section 4.4 of the Bylaws would be amended to provide that the NGC shall consist of at least five directors. The other provisions of Section 4.4 of the Bylaws would remain unchanged.5 In outlining the purpose behind its proposal, the Exchange noted that the size of its Board declined from its initial size of twenty-three to nineteen directors in 2009 and again to sixteen directors in 2011.6 As the size of its Board has declined, the Exchange noted that it has become more challenging to populate larger-size Board committees since there are fewer directors to serve on a multitude of committees.7 The Exchange’s proposal to reduce the minimum size of the NGC is intended to help address this issue. III. Discussion After careful review of the proposal, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange.8 In particular, the Commission finds that the proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)(1) of the Act,9 which requires a national securities exchange to be so organized and have the capacity to carry out the purposes of the Act and to comply, and to enforce compliance by its members and persons associated with its members, with the provisions of the Act, as well as Section 6(b)(5) of the 5 Additionally, the title of the Bylaws would be changed to the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of C2. 6 Section 3.1 of the Bylaws provides that the C2 Board shall consist of not less than eleven and not more than twenty-three directors, with the exact size determined by the Board. 7 See Notice, supra note 4, at 27112. 8 In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has considered the proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). 9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1). E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM 29JNN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 38232 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 29, 2011 / Notices Act,10 in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. While the Exchange has proposed to reduce the minimum size of the NGC, it has not proposed any other changes to the composition of the committee or the scope or exercise of its responsibilities. In its filing, the Exchange affirmatively represented that the NGC ‘‘will continue to be able to appropriately perform its functions’’ despite the reduction in minimum required size.11 The Commission further finds that the proposal, as modified by Amendment No. 1, is consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b)(3) of the Act,12 which requires that one or more directors of an exchange shall be representative of issuers and investors and not be associated with a member of the exchange, broker or dealer. In particular, the Commission notes that the Exchange will continue to provide for the fair representation of C2 Trading Permit Holders in the selection of directors and the administration of the Exchange consistent with Section 6(b)(3) of the Act 13 following this rule change. Specifically, the C2 Bylaws will continue to require that at least thirty percent of the directors on the C2 Board be Industry Directors and that at least twenty percent of C2’s directors be Representative Directors elected by permit holders.14 Further, the NGC will continue to include both Industry and Non-Industry Directors (including a majority of Non-Industry Directors) and have an Industry-Director Subcommittee that is composed of all of the Industry Directors serving on the Committee. Representative Directors will continue to be nominated (or otherwise selected through a petition process) by the Industry-Director Subcommittee. Additionally, C2 Trading Permit Holders will continue to be able to nominate alternative Representative Director candidates to those nominated by the Industry Director Subcommittee, in which case a Run-off Election will be held in which C2’s Trading Permit Holders vote to determine which candidates will be elected to the C2 Board to serve as Representative Directors. Furthermore, the Commission notes that the Exchange’s proposal to 10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). 11 See Notice, supra note 4, at 27112. 12 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(3). 13 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(3). 14 See Section 3.2 of the C2 Bylaws (defining ‘‘Representative Director’’). VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:48 Jun 28, 2011 Jkt 223001 reduce the minimum size of its NGC is consistent with a proposal that the Commission previously approved for another self-regulatory organization in which that self-regulatory organization reduced the minimum size of its nominating and governance committee from six to four members.15 Finally, the Exchange has represented that, although the proposed rule change would permit the Exchange to appoint a five-person NGC and the Exchange may elect to do so in the future, it is the current intention of the Exchange to appoint a six-person NGC.16 IV. Conclusion It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,17 that the proposed rule change (SR–C2–2011– 012), as modified by Amendment No. 1, be, and hereby is, approved. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.18 Cathy H. Ahn, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011–16243 Filed 6–28–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–64729; File No. SR–NYSE– 2011–24] Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Amending NYSE Rule 17 To Codify Inbound Routing Functions Performed by Its Affiliate Broker-Dealer, Archipelago Securities LLC June 23, 2011. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that, on June 16, 2011, New York Stock Exchange LLC (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have 15 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54494 (September 25, 2006), 71 FR 58023 (October 2, 2006) (SR–CHX–2006–23) (approving reduction of the Chicago Stock Exchange’s Nominating and Governance Committee from six directors to four directors). See also Article II, Section 3 of the Bylaws of the Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. (providing for a Nominating and Governance Committee with four directors). 16 See Notice, supra note 4, at 27112. 17 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). 18 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. PO 00000 Frm 00125 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 been prepared by NYSE. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Rule 17 to codify inbound routing functions performed by its affiliate broker-dealer, Archipelago Securities LLC (‘‘Arca Securities’’). The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange’s principal office, at https:// www.nyse.com, at the Commission’s Public Reference Room, and at the Commission’s Web site at https:// www.sec.gov. II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant parts of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose The Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Rule 17 to codify inbound routing functions performed by its affiliate broker-dealer, Arca Securities, which have previously been approved by the Commission.3 Background—Arca Securities Functions as Routing Broker Arca Securities currently is the primary outbound and inbound routing broker for NYSE. The outbound routing function for NYSE is governed by NYSE Rules 13 and 17.4 These rules permit NYSE to utilize Arca Securities to route orders to an away market center for execution whenever such routing is 3 The Exchange’s affiliates, NYSE Amex LLC (‘‘NYSE Amex’’) and NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE Arca’’), are proposing substantially similar rule changes. See SR–NYSEAmex–2011–39 and SR– NYSEArca–2011–38. 4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55590 (April 5, 2007), 72 FR 18707 (April 13, 2007) (SR– NYSE–2007–29). E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM 29JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38231-38232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16243]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-64727; File No. SR-C2-2011-012]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated; 
Order Approving Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1, 
To Reduce the Minimum Size of the Nominating and Governance Committee

 June 22, 2011.

I. Introduction

    On April 27, 2011, C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated (``C2'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission''), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a 
proposed rule change to reduce the minimum size of the Nominating and 
Governance Committee (``NGC'') from seven to five. On May 18, 2011, the 
Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.\3\ The 
proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register 
on May 10, 2011.\4\ The Commission received no comment letters 
regarding the proposal. This order approves the proposed rule change, 
as modified by Amendment No. 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ At the time C2 submitted the original proposed rule change, 
it had not yet obtained formal approval from its Board of Directors 
for the specific Bylaw changes set forth in this proposed rule 
change. C2 stated that once that approval was obtained, it would 
file a technical amendment to its proposed rule change to reflect 
that approval. In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange notes that the C2 
Board of Directors approved the specific Bylaw changes set forth in 
SR-C2-2011-012 on May 17, 2011 and stated that no further action was 
necessary in connection with its proposal. Because Amendment No. 1 
is technical in nature, the Commission is not required to publish it 
for public comment.
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64394 (May 4, 2011), 
76 FR 27112 (``Notice'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Description of the Proposal

    C2 is proposing to reduce the minimum size of its NGC from seven to 
five directors. Section 4.4 of the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws 
of C2 (``Bylaws'') currently provides, in pertinent part, that the NGC 
shall consist of at least seven directors, including both Industry and 
Non-Industry Directors; that a majority of the directors on the 
Committee shall be Non-Industry Directors; and that the exact number of 
members on the Committee shall be determined from time to time by C2's 
Board of Directors (the ``Board'' or ``C2 Board''). Pursuant to the 
proposed rule change, Section 4.4 of the Bylaws would be amended to 
provide that the NGC shall consist of at least five directors. The 
other provisions of Section 4.4 of the Bylaws would remain 
unchanged.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Additionally, the title of the Bylaws would be changed to 
the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of C2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In outlining the purpose behind its proposal, the Exchange noted 
that the size of its Board declined from its initial size of twenty-
three to nineteen directors in 2009 and again to sixteen directors in 
2011.\6\ As the size of its Board has declined, the Exchange noted that 
it has become more challenging to populate larger-size Board committees 
since there are fewer directors to serve on a multitude of 
committees.\7\ The Exchange's proposal to reduce the minimum size of 
the NGC is intended to help address this issue.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Section 3.1 of the Bylaws provides that the C2 Board shall 
consist of not less than eleven and not more than twenty-three 
directors, with the exact size determined by the Board.
    \7\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 27112.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Discussion

    After careful review of the proposal, the Commission finds that the 
proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, is consistent 
with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations 
thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange.\8\ In 
particular, the Commission finds that the proposal is consistent with 
Section 6(b)(1) of the Act,\9\ which requires a national securities 
exchange to be so organized and have the capacity to carry out the 
purposes of the Act and to comply, and to enforce compliance by its 
members and persons associated with its members, with the provisions of 
the Act, as well as Section 6(b)(5) of the

[[Page 38232]]

Act,\10\ in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative 
acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, 
to remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. 
While the Exchange has proposed to reduce the minimum size of the NGC, 
it has not proposed any other changes to the composition of the 
committee or the scope or exercise of its responsibilities. In its 
filing, the Exchange affirmatively represented that the NGC ``will 
continue to be able to appropriately perform its functions'' despite 
the reduction in minimum required size.\11\ The Commission further 
finds that the proposal, as modified by Amendment No. 1, is consistent 
with the requirements of Section 6(b)(3) of the Act,\12\ which requires 
that one or more directors of an exchange shall be representative of 
issuers and investors and not be associated with a member of the 
exchange, broker or dealer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has 
considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, 
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1).
    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \11\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 27112.
    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In particular, the Commission notes that the Exchange will continue 
to provide for the fair representation of C2 Trading Permit Holders in 
the selection of directors and the administration of the Exchange 
consistent with Section 6(b)(3) of the Act \13\ following this rule 
change. Specifically, the C2 Bylaws will continue to require that at 
least thirty percent of the directors on the C2 Board be Industry 
Directors and that at least twenty percent of C2's directors be 
Representative Directors elected by permit holders.\14\ Further, the 
NGC will continue to include both Industry and Non-Industry Directors 
(including a majority of Non-Industry Directors) and have an Industry-
Director Subcommittee that is composed of all of the Industry Directors 
serving on the Committee. Representative Directors will continue to be 
nominated (or otherwise selected through a petition process) by the 
Industry-Director Subcommittee. Additionally, C2 Trading Permit Holders 
will continue to be able to nominate alternative Representative 
Director candidates to those nominated by the Industry Director 
Subcommittee, in which case a Run-off Election will be held in which 
C2's Trading Permit Holders vote to determine which candidates will be 
elected to the C2 Board to serve as Representative Directors. 
Furthermore, the Commission notes that the Exchange's proposal to 
reduce the minimum size of its NGC is consistent with a proposal that 
the Commission previously approved for another self-regulatory 
organization in which that self-regulatory organization reduced the 
minimum size of its nominating and governance committee from six to 
four members.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(3).
    \14\ See Section 3.2 of the C2 Bylaws (defining ``Representative 
Director'').
    \15\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54494 (September 
25, 2006), 71 FR 58023 (October 2, 2006) (SR-CHX-2006-23) (approving 
reduction of the Chicago Stock Exchange's Nominating and Governance 
Committee from six directors to four directors). See also Article 
II, Section 3 of the Bylaws of the Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. 
(providing for a Nominating and Governance Committee with four 
directors).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, the Exchange has represented that, although the proposed 
rule change would permit the Exchange to appoint a five-person NGC and 
the Exchange may elect to do so in the future, it is the current 
intention of the Exchange to appoint a six-person NGC.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 27112.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\17\ that the proposed rule change (SR-C2-2011-012), as modified by 
Amendment No. 1, be, and hereby is, approved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
    \18\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\18\
Cathy H. Ahn,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-16243 Filed 6-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.