Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Chapter V, Section 26 of the BOX Rules, 14452-14454 [2012-5731]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 47 / Friday, March 9, 2012 / Notices
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The proposed rule change has taken
effect upon filing pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act 10 and
subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b–4 11
thereunder, because, as provided in
(f)(2), it changes ‘‘a due, fee or other
charge applicable only to a member’’
(known on the Exchange as an ETP
Holder). At any time within 60 days 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:
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
NSX–2012–04 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street NE., Washington, DC
20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NSX–2012–04. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if email 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
will also be available for inspection and
copying at the principal office of the
Exchange. All comments received will
be posted without change; the
Commission does not edit personal
identifying information from
submissions. You should submit only
information that you wish to make
available publicly. All submissions
should refer to File No. SR–NSX–2012–
04 and should be submitted on or before
March 30, 2012.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.12
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–5730 Filed 3–8–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
[Release No. 34–66512; File No. SR–BX–
2012–011]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing
and Immediate Effectiveness of
Proposed Rule Change To Amend
Chapter V, Section 26 of the BOX
Rules
March 5, 2012.
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 February
22, 2012, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.
(‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared
by the self-regulatory organization. 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
Chapter V, Section 26 (Limitation of
Liability) of the Rules of the Boston
Options Exchange Group, LLC (‘‘BOX’’).
The text of the proposed rule change is
available from the principal office of the
Exchange, at the Commission’s Public
Reference Room and also on the
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
11 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
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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
Exchange 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 these
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 aspects of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
12 17
10 15
Exchange’s Internet Web site at https://
nasdaqomxbx.cchwallstreet.com/
NASDAQOMXBX/Filings/.
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Chapter V, Section 26 of the BOX
Trading Rules provides, in general, that
neither the Exchange, BOXR, BOX, nor
any of their respective affiliates with
regard to BOX will be liable to BOX
Options Participants for any losses
arising from the use of BOX or the BOX
Trading Host. The Exchange is
proposing to codify provisions within
the BOX Trading Rules that permit
BOX, for customer service reasons, to
compensate an Options Participant,
within specified limits as proposed, for
certain identified losses. Additionally,
the Exchange is proposing to clarify
certain provisions within Section 26
regarding to whom it is applicable.
Accordingly, the Exchange proposes
to amend Chapter V, Section 26 of the
BOX Trading Rules to (1) clarify certain
provisions within Section 26 regarding
to whom the liability limitation applies;
(2) codify provisions within the BOX
Rules to permit BOX to compensate
Participants for losses under certain
circumstances; and (3) establish the
maximum amount of such
compensation that BOX may provide
during a calendar month pursuant to
Section 26.
The Exchange proposes to clarify
Section 26(a) by adding the respective
directors, officers, committee members,
employees, contractors, agents, and
other persons acting on the behalf of the
Exchange, BOXR, BOX and any of their
respective affiliates to the paragraph
that identifies the persons to which the
limitation of liability is applicable. The
Exchange proposes that ‘‘Exchange
Related Persons and/or Entities’’ be
defined to include the Exchange, BOXR,
E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 47 / Friday, March 9, 2012 / Notices
BOX, and any of their respective
affiliates, and their respective directors,
officers, committee members,
employees, contractors, and agents or
other persons acting on their behalf.3
The Exchange proposes corresponding
changes in Sections 26(a)(ii), 26(a)(iii),
and in Sections 26(b), 26(c) and 26(d) to
add references to the defined term
Exchange Related Persons and/or
Entities. Additionally, the Exchange
proposes to add terrorism to the list of
items beyond the control of Exchange
Related Persons and/or Entities for
which liability is limited.
The Exchange proposes adding new
Section 26(e) to establish, subject to the
express limits set forth in Section
26(e)(1) through 26(e)(3), that BOX may
compensate Options Participants for
losses resulting directly from the
malfunction of the physical equipment,
devices, or programming of Exchange
Related Persons and/or Entities, or from
the negligent acts or omissions of
employees of the Exchange, BOXR or
BOX.
Under the proposal, BOX’s payments
for the aggregate of all claims made by
all Options Participants during a single
calendar month would not exceed the
larger of $500,000, or the amount of any
recovery obtained by BOX under any
applicable insurance maintained by
BOX. Additionally, in the event that all
of the claims made during a single
calendar month cannot be fully satisfied
because they exceed the applicable
maximum limitation, then the
maximum permitted amount will be
proportionally allocated among all such
claims. Finally, the Exchange proposes
that all claims for compensation under
the new proposed provisions must be
submitted in writing no later than 12
p.m. ET on the next business day
following the day on which the use of
BOX gave rise to such claims. Once in
receipt of a claim, BOX will verify that:
(i) a valid order was accepted into BOX;
and (ii) any loss claimed resulted
directly from the malfunction of the
physical equipment, devices, or
programming of Exchange Related
Persons and/or Entities, or from the
negligent acts or omissions of
employees of the Exchange, BOXR or
BOX during the execution or handling
of that order. BOX will only compensate
Participants for valid claims, and will
compensate such Participants at the end
of the month.
BOX represents that the
determination to compensate a BOX
Options Participant will be made on an
equitable and non-discriminatory basis
3 See proposed Section 26(a) of Chapter V of the
BOX Rules.
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14453
without regard to whether the
Participant is a Market Maker or Order
Flow Provider on BOX, and that such
determinations will be made pursuant
to procedures of BOX Market
Operations Center (‘‘MOC’’) with
regulatory oversight established by
BOXR. Additionally, BOX represents
that BOX will maintain a record of
Participant claims including
documentation detailing its findings
and details for approving or denying
claims in accordance with its
obligations under Section 17 of the Act.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will impose
any burden on competition not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act.
2. Statutory Basis
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the foregoing proposed rule
change: (1) Does not significantly affect
the protection of investors or the public
interest; (2) does not impose any
significant burden on competition; and
(3) by its terms, does not become
operative for 30 days after the date of
this filing, or such shorter time as the
Commission may designate if consistent
with the protection of investors and the
public interest, the proposed rule
change has become effective pursuant to
Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 7 and Rule
19b–4(f)(6) thereunder.8
The Exchange requested that the
Commission waive the 30-day operative
delay so that the proposed rule change
would become effective and operative
upon filing. The Commission believes
that waiving the 30-day operative delay
is consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest.9 The
Commission notes that the waiver will
allow the Exchange to immediately
implement the proposed rule change,
which should promote fairness in the
market by allowing BOX to compensate
Options Participants for losses resulting
directly from the malfunctions of the
physical equipment, devices, or
programming of Exchange Related
Persons and/or Entities, or from the
negligent acts or omissions of
employees of the Exchange, BOXR, or
BOX. The Commission also notes that
the proposal is substantially similar to
rules of other registered national
The Exchange believes that the
proposal is consistent with the
requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,4
in general, and Section 6(b)(5) of the
Act,5 in particular, in that it is designed
to promote just and equitable principles
of trade, to remove impediments to and
perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market and a national market
system, and, in general to protect
investors and the public interest. In
particular, the proposal will amend
Chapter V, Section 26 of the BOX
Trading Rules to codify provisions
within the BOX Rules to permit BOX to
compensate Participants for losses
resulting directly from the malfunction
of the physical equipment, devices, and/
or programming of Exchange Related
Persons and/or Entities, or from the
negligent acts or omissions of
employees of the Exchange, BOXR or
BOX, and to establish the maximum
amount of such compensation that BOX
may provide during a calendar month.
Additionally, the Exchange believes
that the codification of these policies
should add transparency to the BOX
Rules and that its proposal to amend
Chapter V, Section 26 will promote
fairness in the national market system.
The proposed change will allow BOX to
address Participant claims under
various circumstances, and allow BOX
to act in a similar fashion as many of its
competitors. Several exchanges have
substantially similar rules and the
Exchange believes that the proposed
rule change would place BOX in a
similar position to address Participant
claims.6
4 15
U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
6 See EDGA Exchange, Inc. (‘‘EDGA’’) Rule 11.12,
NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (‘‘NASDAQ’’) Rule
4626, Chicago Board Options Exchange,
Incorporated (‘‘CBOE’’), Rule 6.7, NYSE Arca, Inc.
(‘‘NYSE Arca’’). Options Rule 14.2, International
Securities Exchange, LLC (‘‘ISE’’), Rule 705, and
BATS Exchange, Inc. (‘‘BATS’’) Rule 11.16.
5 15
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Fmt 4703
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C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants or Others
No written comments were either
solicited or received.
7 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b–
4(f)(6)(iii) requires a self-regulatory organization to
provide the Commission with written notice of its
intent to file the proposed rule change, along with
a brief description and text of the proposed rule
change, at least five business days prior to the date
of filing of the proposed rule change, or such
shorter time as designated by the Commission. The
Exchange has fulfilled this requirement.
9 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day
operative delay, the Commission has also
considered the proposed rule’s impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See
15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
8 17
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14454
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 47 / Friday, March 9, 2012 / Notices
securities exchanges and does not raise
any new regulatory issues.10 For these
reasons, the Commission designates the
proposed rule change as operative upon
filing.
At any time within 60 days 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:
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
BX–2012–011 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street NE., Washington, DC
20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–BX–2012–011. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if email 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/vsro.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 the filing also
will be available for inspection and
copying at the principal office of the
10 See
supra note 6.
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Jkt 226001
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–BX–
2012–011 and should be submitted on
or before March 30, 2012.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.11
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–5731 Filed 3–8–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–66513; File No. SR–FINRA–
2012–016]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change To Allow FINRA To
Exempt Certain Alternative Trading
Systems From the Trade Reporting
Obligation Under the Trade Reporting
and Compliance Engine (‘‘TRACE’’)
Reporting Rules
March 5, 2012.
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 February
28, 2012, the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’)
filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the
proposed rule change as described in
Items I and II below, which Items have
been prepared by FINRA. FINRA has
designated the proposed rule change as
constituting a non-controversial rule
change under Rule 19b–4(f)(6) under the
Act,3 which renders the proposal
effective upon filing with the
Commission. 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
FINRA is proposing to adopt new
Rule 6731 to provide FINRA with
authority to exempt a member
alternative trading system (‘‘ATS’’) that
11 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
1 15
PO 00000
Frm 00116
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
meets the specified criteria from the
trade reporting obligation under the
Rule 6700 Series. In addition, FINRA is
proposing a conforming change to Rule
9610 to specify that FINRA has
exemptive authority under proposed
Rule 6731.
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on FINRA’s Web site at
https://www.finra.org, at the principal
office of FINRA and at the
Commission’s Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission,
FINRA 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 these statements
may be examined at the places specified
in Item IV below. FINRA has prepared
summaries, set forth in sections A, B,
and C below, of the most significant
aspects of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
A member that is a ‘‘Party to a
Transaction’’ as defined in FINRA Rule
6710(e) in a transaction in a TRACEEligible Security must report the trade
to TRACE under Rule 6730(a).4 ‘‘Party
to a Transaction’’ is defined as ‘‘an
introducing broker-dealer, if any, an
executing broker-dealer, or a
customer.’’ 5 An ATS, which term
includes electronic communications
networks, is a Party to a Transaction and
has a trade reporting obligation when a
transaction in a TRACE-Eligible
Security is executed through the ATS.6
FINRA is proposing to adopt new
Rule 6731 to provide FINRA with
authority to exempt, upon application
and subject to specified terms and
conditions, a member ATS from the
4 See Rule 6730(a). In transactions between
members, each member must report the trade, and
for transactions between a member and a customer,
the member must report the trade.
5 Under Rule 6710(e), ‘‘customer’’ includes a
broker-dealer that is not a FINRA member.
6 See www.finra.org/Industry/Compliance/
MarketTransparency/TRACE/FAQ/
P125244#reporting (FAQ: Who reports trades
executed through electronic trading systems that are
themselves broker-dealers? All FINRA members
that are ‘‘parties to a transaction’’ have a trade
reporting obligation under TRACE Rules. Where
two FINRA members effect/execute a transaction
through an electronic trading system that is
registered as a broker-dealer, both members, as well
as the electronic trading system would have a trade
reporting obligation).
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14452-14454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5731]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-66512; File No. SR-BX-2012-011]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend
Chapter V, Section 26 of the BOX Rules
March 5, 2012.
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 February 22, 2012, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (``Exchange'') filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule
change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been
prepared by the self-regulatory organization. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend Chapter V, Section 26 (Limitation of
Liability) of the Rules of the Boston Options Exchange Group, LLC
(``BOX''). The text of the proposed rule change is available from the
principal office of the Exchange, at the Commission's Public Reference
Room and also on the Exchange's Internet Web site at https://nasdaqomxbx.cchwallstreet.com/NASDAQOMXBX/Filings/.
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 Exchange 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 these 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 aspects of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
Chapter V, Section 26 of the BOX Trading Rules provides, in
general, that neither the Exchange, BOXR, BOX, nor any of their
respective affiliates with regard to BOX will be liable to BOX Options
Participants for any losses arising from the use of BOX or the BOX
Trading Host. The Exchange is proposing to codify provisions within the
BOX Trading Rules that permit BOX, for customer service reasons, to
compensate an Options Participant, within specified limits as proposed,
for certain identified losses. Additionally, the Exchange is proposing
to clarify certain provisions within Section 26 regarding to whom it is
applicable.
Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to amend Chapter V, Section 26
of the BOX Trading Rules to (1) clarify certain provisions within
Section 26 regarding to whom the liability limitation applies; (2)
codify provisions within the BOX Rules to permit BOX to compensate
Participants for losses under certain circumstances; and (3) establish
the maximum amount of such compensation that BOX may provide during a
calendar month pursuant to Section 26.
The Exchange proposes to clarify Section 26(a) by adding the
respective directors, officers, committee members, employees,
contractors, agents, and other persons acting on the behalf of the
Exchange, BOXR, BOX and any of their respective affiliates to the
paragraph that identifies the persons to which the limitation of
liability is applicable. The Exchange proposes that ``Exchange Related
Persons and/or Entities'' be defined to include the Exchange, BOXR,
[[Page 14453]]
BOX, and any of their respective affiliates, and their respective
directors, officers, committee members, employees, contractors, and
agents or other persons acting on their behalf.\3\ The Exchange
proposes corresponding changes in Sections 26(a)(ii), 26(a)(iii), and
in Sections 26(b), 26(c) and 26(d) to add references to the defined
term Exchange Related Persons and/or Entities. Additionally, the
Exchange proposes to add terrorism to the list of items beyond the
control of Exchange Related Persons and/or Entities for which liability
is limited.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See proposed Section 26(a) of Chapter V of the BOX Rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange proposes adding new Section 26(e) to establish,
subject to the express limits set forth in Section 26(e)(1) through
26(e)(3), that BOX may compensate Options Participants for losses
resulting directly from the malfunction of the physical equipment,
devices, or programming of Exchange Related Persons and/or Entities, or
from the negligent acts or omissions of employees of the Exchange, BOXR
or BOX.
Under the proposal, BOX's payments for the aggregate of all claims
made by all Options Participants during a single calendar month would
not exceed the larger of $500,000, or the amount of any recovery
obtained by BOX under any applicable insurance maintained by BOX.
Additionally, in the event that all of the claims made during a single
calendar month cannot be fully satisfied because they exceed the
applicable maximum limitation, then the maximum permitted amount will
be proportionally allocated among all such claims. Finally, the
Exchange proposes that all claims for compensation under the new
proposed provisions must be submitted in writing no later than 12 p.m.
ET on the next business day following the day on which the use of BOX
gave rise to such claims. Once in receipt of a claim, BOX will verify
that: (i) a valid order was accepted into BOX; and (ii) any loss
claimed resulted directly from the malfunction of the physical
equipment, devices, or programming of Exchange Related Persons and/or
Entities, or from the negligent acts or omissions of employees of the
Exchange, BOXR or BOX during the execution or handling of that order.
BOX will only compensate Participants for valid claims, and will
compensate such Participants at the end of the month.
BOX represents that the determination to compensate a BOX Options
Participant will be made on an equitable and non-discriminatory basis
without regard to whether the Participant is a Market Maker or Order
Flow Provider on BOX, and that such determinations will be made
pursuant to procedures of BOX Market Operations Center (``MOC'') with
regulatory oversight established by BOXR. Additionally, BOX represents
that BOX will maintain a record of Participant claims including
documentation detailing its findings and details for approving or
denying claims in accordance with its obligations under Section 17 of
the Act.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the
requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,\4\ in general, and Section
6(b)(5) of the Act,\5\ in particular, in that it is designed to promote
just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and
perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market
system, and, in general to protect investors and the public interest.
In particular, the proposal will amend Chapter V, Section 26 of the BOX
Trading Rules to codify provisions within the BOX Rules to permit BOX
to compensate Participants for losses resulting directly from the
malfunction of the physical equipment, devices, and/or programming of
Exchange Related Persons and/or Entities, or from the negligent acts or
omissions of employees of the Exchange, BOXR or BOX, and to establish
the maximum amount of such compensation that BOX may provide during a
calendar month.
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\4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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Additionally, the Exchange believes that the codification of these
policies should add transparency to the BOX Rules and that its proposal
to amend Chapter V, Section 26 will promote fairness in the national
market system. The proposed change will allow BOX to address
Participant claims under various circumstances, and allow BOX to act in
a similar fashion as many of its competitors. Several exchanges have
substantially similar rules and the Exchange believes that the proposed
rule change would place BOX in a similar position to address
Participant claims.\6\
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\6\ See EDGA Exchange, Inc. (``EDGA'') Rule 11.12, NASDAQ Stock
Market LLC (``NASDAQ'') Rule 4626, Chicago Board Options Exchange,
Incorporated (``CBOE''), Rule 6.7, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca'').
Options Rule 14.2, International Securities Exchange, LLC (``ISE''),
Rule 705, and BATS Exchange, Inc. (``BATS'') Rule 11.16.
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others
No written comments were either solicited or received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the foregoing proposed rule change: (1) Does not
significantly affect the protection of investors or the public
interest; (2) does not impose any significant burden on competition;
and (3) by its terms, does not become operative for 30 days after the
date of this filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may
designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public
interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to
Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \7\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\8\
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\7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii)
requires a self-regulatory organization to provide the Commission
with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change,
along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change,
at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the
proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the
Commission. The Exchange has fulfilled this requirement.
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The Exchange requested that the Commission waive the 30-day
operative delay so that the proposed rule change would become effective
and operative upon filing. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-
day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and
the public interest.\9\ The Commission notes that the waiver will allow
the Exchange to immediately implement the proposed rule change, which
should promote fairness in the market by allowing BOX to compensate
Options Participants for losses resulting directly from the
malfunctions of the physical equipment, devices, or programming of
Exchange Related Persons and/or Entities, or from the negligent acts or
omissions of employees of the Exchange, BOXR, or BOX. The Commission
also notes that the proposal is substantially similar to rules of other
registered national
[[Page 14454]]
securities exchanges and does not raise any new regulatory issues.\10\
For these reasons, the Commission designates the proposed rule change
as operative upon filing.
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\9\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the
Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C.
78c(f).
\10\ See supra note 6.
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At any time within 60 days 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 email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-BX-2012-011 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BX-2012-011. This file
number should be included on the subject line if email 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/vsro.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 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-BX-2012-011 and should be
submitted on or before March 30, 2012.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
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\11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-5731 Filed 3-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P