Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Amending Rule 2 To Specify That the Definition of an Approved Person Does Not Include a Governmental Entity and Amending Rule 304 To Provide That If a Governmental Entity Directly or Indirectly Owns a Member Organization, Then the Member Organization Must Identify Such Governmental Entity to The Exchange, 62915-62917 [2013-24647]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2013 / Notices
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
NYSEArca–2013–96 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–NYSEArca–2013–96. 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
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 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–NYSEArca–2013–96 and
should be submitted on or before
November 12, 2013.
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with FRONT MATTER
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.29
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013–24552 Filed 10–21–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–70652; File No. SR–NYSE–
2013–66]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New
York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
Proposed Rule Change Amending Rule
2 To Specify That the Definition of an
Approved Person Does Not Include a
Governmental Entity and Amending
Rule 304 To Provide That If a
Governmental Entity Directly or
Indirectly Owns a Member
Organization, Then the Member
Organization Must Identify Such
Governmental Entity to The Exchange
October 10, 2013.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
notice is hereby given that on
September 26, 2013, New York Stock
Exchange LLC (‘‘NYSE’’ or the
‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the
‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I, II, and
III 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
Rule 2 to specify that the definition of
an approved person does not include a
governmental entity and amend Rule
304 to provide that if a governmental
entity directly or indirectly owns a
member organization, then the member
organization must identify such
governmental entity to the Exchange.
The text of the proposed rule change is
available on the Exchange’s Web site at
www.nyse.com, at the principal office of
the Exchange, and at the Commission’s
Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
self-regulatory organization included
statements concerning the purpose of,
and basis for, the proposed rule change
and discussed any comments it received
on the proposed rule change. The text
1 15
U.S.C.78s(b)(1).
U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
2 15
29 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
21:08 Oct 21, 2013
Jkt 232001
PO 00000
Frm 00333
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
62915
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
Rule 2 to specify that the definition of
an approved person does not include a
governmental entity and amend Rule
304 to provide that if a governmental
entity directly or indirectly owns a
member organization, then the member
organization must identify such
governmental entity to the Exchange.
Under Rule 2(b)(i), a ‘‘member
organization’’ is defined as a registered
broker-dealer that has been approved for
membership on NYSE. To qualify as a
member organization, a broker-dealer
must be a member of either (i) the
Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’) or (ii) a
registered securities exchange other
than NYSE. Under Rule 2(c), an
approved person of a member
organization is defined as a person,
other than a member, principal
executive or employee of a member
organization, who controls a member
organization, is engaged in a securities
or kindred business that is controlled by
a member or member organization, or is
a U.S.-registered broker-dealer under
common control with a member
organization. Under Rule 2(d), ‘‘control’’
means the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies
of a person whether through ownership
of securities, by contract or otherwise. A
person is presumed to control another
person if such person, directly or
indirectly, (i) has the right to vote 25
percent or more of the voting securities,
(ii) is entitled to receive 25 percent or
more of the net profits, or (iii) is a
director, general partner or principal
executive (or person occupying a similar
status or performing similar functions)
of the other person.4
Rule 304 provides that a member
organization must identify each
approved person to the Exchange. Each
approved person must execute a written
consent to the jurisdiction of the
Exchange and agree to (1) supply the
Exchange with information relating to
4 The Exchange notes that the approved person
definition is an Exchange convention and is not
intended to be identical to the definition of
‘‘associated person’’ pursuant to Section 3(a)(18) of
the Act. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(18).
E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM
22OCN1
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with FRONT MATTER
62916
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2013 / Notices
the existence of any statutory
disqualification to which the approved
person or any person associated with
the approved person may be subject, as
defined in the Act; (2) abide by such
provisions of the rules of the Exchange
relating to approved persons as shall
from time to time be in effect; and (3)
permit examination by the Exchange, or
any person designated by it, at any time
or from time to time, of its books and
records to verify the accuracy of the
information required to be supplied
herein and by the rules of the Exchange.
Supplementary Material .10 to Rule 304
sets forth certain additional
requirements for approved persons
domiciled outside the United States.
The Exchange recently received a
membership application for a brokerdealer that is an approved FINRA
member; this broker-dealer has an
owner that is a governmental entity that
indirectly controls the broker-dealer and
thus falls within the definition of
approved person under the Exchange’s
rules. This is the first time that the
Exchange has received a membership
application presenting this ownership
structure. The Exchange notes that a
governmental entity could be either a
direct or an indirect owner of a member
organization, and by virtue of its
control, fall within the Exchange’s
definition of approved person, although
this result was not contemplated at the
time the definition was created. The
Exchange does not believe that the
Exchange could, under conflict of laws,
have jurisdiction over a governmental
entity and therefore requiring a
governmental entity that falls under the
Exchange’s definition of approved
person to consent to jurisdiction, as
required by Rule 304, would not be
possible. In light of these conflicts and
in the interest of providing better notice
to member organizations, the Exchange
proposes to amend Rule 2(c) to
specifically exclude a governmental
entity from the definition of approved
person. The proposed rule text would
define governmental entity as a
sovereign nation, state, territory, or
other political subdivision, agency, or
instrumentality thereof. While it is
unnecessary for a governmental entity to
be deemed an approved person under
the Exchange’s rules, the Exchange
nonetheless wishes to have all direct
and indirect owners that control
member organizations identified to the
Exchange. Therefore, the Exchange
proposes to add new Supplementary
Material .20 to Rule 304 to specify that
a member organization that is directly or
indirectly controlled by a governmental
entity as defined in Rule 2(c) is required
VerDate Mar<15>2010
21:08 Oct 21, 2013
Jkt 232001
to identify such governmental entity to
the Exchange.5
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b) of the Act,6 in general, and
furthers the objectives of Sections
6(b)(5) of the Act,7 in particular, because
it is designed to foster cooperation and
coordination with persons engaged in
regulating transactions in securities, to
remove impediments to, and perfect the
mechanisms of, a free and open market
and a national market system and, in
general, to protect investors and the
public interest. The Exchange believes
that the proposed rule change would
remove impediments to, and perfect the
mechanisms of, a free and open market
and a national market system because
the Exchange does not have jurisdiction
over governmental entities and therefore
could not require a governmental entity
to execute a written consent to the
Exchange’s jurisdiction and attempting
to do so would serve no regulatory
purpose. The proposed rule change
would take such conflicts of law rules
into account and provide better notice
to member organizations about the
operation of the Exchange’s rules. The
proposed rule change would protect
investors and the public interest
because a member organization would
be required to identify to the Exchange
any governmental entity that directly or
indirectly controlled it. All other
Exchange membership requirements
would remain applicable as would any
other Exchange rules that would apply
to the member organization. For these
reasons, the Exchange believes that the
proposal is consistent with the Act.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of
the Act,8 the Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change will not impose
any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act. To the
contrary, the Exchange would be at a
competitive disadvantage in the absence
5 The Exchange notes that irrespective of the
proposed rule change, under the Act, any person
that directly or indirectly controls a broker-dealer
falls within the Act’s definition of an associated
person, and that the Act defines the term ‘‘person’’
to include a government or political subdivision,
agency, or instrumentality of a government. See 15
U.S.C. 78c(a)(9) and (18). Nonetheless, neither the
Act nor any rule thereunder requires a direct or
indirect owner of a broker-dealer to execute any
type of written consent to jurisdiction; only the
broker-dealer itself does so by virtue of executing
and submitting the Form BD.
6 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
7 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
8 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
PO 00000
Frm 00334
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
of a proposed rule change. As noted
above, the Exchange has a pending
application for a member organization
that has a governmental entity as a
controlling indirect owner, and FINRA
has already approved this broker-dealer
for membership under FINRA rules. By
amending its rules so that this
governmental entity need not execute a
written consent to jurisdiction under
Rule 304, the Exchange can facilitate the
approval of this broker-dealer as its
member too. The Exchange has not
identified any other self-regulatory
organization that requires a direct or
indirect owner of a broker-dealer to
execute a written consent to
jurisdiction.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments were solicited
or received with respect to the proposed
rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The Exchange has filed the proposed
rule change pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 9 and Rule
19b–4(f)(6) thereunder.10 Because the
proposed rule change does not: (i)
significantly affect the protection of
investors or the public interest; (ii)
impose any significant burden on
competition; and (iii) become operative
prior to 30 days from the date on which
it was filed, 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 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii)
thereunder.
A proposed rule change filed under
Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 11 normally does not
become operative prior to 30 days after
the date of the filing. However, pursuant
to Rule 19b4(f)(6)(iii),12 the Commission
may designate a shorter time if such
action is consistent with the protection
of investors and the public interest. The
Exchange has asked the Commission to
waive the 30-day operative delay so that
the proposal may become operative
immediately upon filing.
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of such proposed rule change, the
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend such rule change if
9 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
11 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
12 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).
10 17
E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM
22OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2013 / Notices
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. If the
Commission takes such action, the
Commission shall institute proceedings
under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 13 of the Act to
determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or
disapproved.
submissions. You should submit only
information that you wish to make
available publicly. All submissions
should refer to File Number SR–NYSE–
2013–66 and should be submitted on or
before November 12, 2013.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.14
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013–24647 Filed 10–21–13; 8:45 am]
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–
NYSE–2013–66 on the subject line.
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with FRONT MATTER
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:
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change Adding a New Rule To
Adopt Price Protection Filters for
Electronic Complex Orders
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–NYSE–2013–66. 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 inspection and copying in
the Commission’s Public Reference
Section, 100 F Street NE., Washington,
DC 20549–1090. Copies of the filing will
also be available for Web site viewing
and printing at the NYSE’s principal
office and on its Internet Web site at
www.nyse.com. All comments received
will be posted without change; the
Commission does not edit personal
identifying information from
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
notice is hereby given that on October
3, 2013, NYSE MKT LLC (the
‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE MKT’’) filed with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ‘‘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.
13 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
21:08 Oct 21, 2013
Jkt 232001
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–70674; File No.
SR–NYSEMKT–2013–80]
October 11, 2013.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of the Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to add a new
rule to adopt price protection filters for
Electronic Complex Orders. The text of
the proposed rule change is available on
the Exchange’s Web site at
www.nyse.com, at the principal office of
the Exchange, and at the Commission’s
Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
self-regulatory organization included
statements concerning the purpose of,
and basis for, the proposed rule change
14 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
PO 00000
Frm 00335
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
62917
and discussed any comments it received
on the proposed rule change. The text
of those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below.
The Exchange has prepared summaries,
set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
of the most significant parts of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange is proposing to amend
Rule 980NY-Electronic Complex Order
Trading by establishing new
Commentary .05 governing price
protections filters applicable to
electronically entered Complex Orders.4
As defined in Exchange Rule 980NY,
which governs Electronic Complex
Order trading, an ‘‘Electronic Complex
Order’’ is a Complex Order that has
been entered into the NYSE Amex
Options System (‘‘System’’), which is
routed to the Complex Matching Engine
(‘‘CME’’) for possible execution. As set
forth in Rule 980NY, the CME is the
mechanism in which Electronic
Complex Orders are executed against
each other or against individual quotes
and orders in the Consolidated Book.
Electronic Complex Orders that are not
immediately executed by the CME are
routed to the Consolidated Book.
Electronic Complex Orders are
entered into the System at a net debit/
credit price for the entire strategy.
Electronic Complex Orders do not
include specified prices for any single
series component (‘‘leg’’) of the
Electronic Complex Order. Bids and
offers on Electronic Complex Orders
may be expressed in any decimal price,
and the legs(s) of an Electronic Complex
Order may be executed in one cent
increments regardless of the minimum
price variation (‘‘MPV’’) 5 otherwise
applicable to the individual legs of the
order. No leg of an Electronic Complex
Order submitted to the System will be
executed at a price outside the NYSE
Amex Options best bid/offer for that leg.
However Electronic Complex Orders
may be executed without consideration
of prices of the same Electronic
Complex Order that might be available
4 Exchange Rule 900.3NY(e) defines a Complex
Order as any order involving the simultaneous
purchase and/or sale of two or more different
option series in the same underlying security, for
the same account, in a ratio that is equal to or
greater than one-to-three (.333) and less than or
equal to three-to-one (3.00) and for the purpose of
executing a particular investment strategy.
5 The minimum price variations (‘‘MPV’’) are
equivalent to the Trading Differentials as prescribed
in Rule 960NY(a).
E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM
22OCN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62915-62917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24647]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-70652; File No. SR-NYSE-2013-66]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC;
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change
Amending Rule 2 To Specify That the Definition of an Approved Person
Does Not Include a Governmental Entity and Amending Rule 304 To Provide
That If a Governmental Entity Directly or Indirectly Owns a Member
Organization, Then the Member Organization Must Identify Such
Governmental Entity to The Exchange
October 10, 2013.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby
given that on September 26, 2013, New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE''
or the ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I,
II, and III 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\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
\3\ 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 Rule 2 to specify that the
definition of an approved person does not include a governmental entity
and amend Rule 304 to provide that if a governmental entity directly or
indirectly owns a member organization, then the member organization
must identify such governmental entity to the Exchange. The text of the
proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at
www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the
Commission's Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most
significant parts of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 2 to specify that the
definition of an approved person does not include a governmental entity
and amend Rule 304 to provide that if a governmental entity directly or
indirectly owns a member organization, then the member organization
must identify such governmental entity to the Exchange.
Under Rule 2(b)(i), a ``member organization'' is defined as a
registered broker-dealer that has been approved for membership on NYSE.
To qualify as a member organization, a broker-dealer must be a member
of either (i) the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
(``FINRA'') or (ii) a registered securities exchange other than NYSE.
Under Rule 2(c), an approved person of a member organization is defined
as a person, other than a member, principal executive or employee of a
member organization, who controls a member organization, is engaged in
a securities or kindred business that is controlled by a member or
member organization, or is a U.S.-registered broker-dealer under common
control with a member organization. Under Rule 2(d), ``control'' means
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or
policies of a person whether through ownership of securities, by
contract or otherwise. A person is presumed to control another person
if such person, directly or indirectly, (i) has the right to vote 25
percent or more of the voting securities, (ii) is entitled to receive
25 percent or more of the net profits, or (iii) is a director, general
partner or principal executive (or person occupying a similar status or
performing similar functions) of the other person.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The Exchange notes that the approved person definition is an
Exchange convention and is not intended to be identical to the
definition of ``associated person'' pursuant to Section 3(a)(18) of
the Act. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(18).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rule 304 provides that a member organization must identify each
approved person to the Exchange. Each approved person must execute a
written consent to the jurisdiction of the Exchange and agree to (1)
supply the Exchange with information relating to
[[Page 62916]]
the existence of any statutory disqualification to which the approved
person or any person associated with the approved person may be
subject, as defined in the Act; (2) abide by such provisions of the
rules of the Exchange relating to approved persons as shall from time
to time be in effect; and (3) permit examination by the Exchange, or
any person designated by it, at any time or from time to time, of its
books and records to verify the accuracy of the information required to
be supplied herein and by the rules of the Exchange. Supplementary
Material .10 to Rule 304 sets forth certain additional requirements for
approved persons domiciled outside the United States.
The Exchange recently received a membership application for a
broker-dealer that is an approved FINRA member; this broker-dealer has
an owner that is a governmental entity that indirectly controls the
broker-dealer and thus falls within the definition of approved person
under the Exchange's rules. This is the first time that the Exchange
has received a membership application presenting this ownership
structure. The Exchange notes that a governmental entity could be
either a direct or an indirect owner of a member organization, and by
virtue of its control, fall within the Exchange's definition of
approved person, although this result was not contemplated at the time
the definition was created. The Exchange does not believe that the
Exchange could, under conflict of laws, have jurisdiction over a
governmental entity and therefore requiring a governmental entity that
falls under the Exchange's definition of approved person to consent to
jurisdiction, as required by Rule 304, would not be possible. In light
of these conflicts and in the interest of providing better notice to
member organizations, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 2(c) to
specifically exclude a governmental entity from the definition of
approved person. The proposed rule text would define governmental
entity as a sovereign nation, state, territory, or other political
subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof. While it is
unnecessary for a governmental entity to be deemed an approved person
under the Exchange's rules, the Exchange nonetheless wishes to have all
direct and indirect owners that control member organizations identified
to the Exchange. Therefore, the Exchange proposes to add new
Supplementary Material .20 to Rule 304 to specify that a member
organization that is directly or indirectly controlled by a
governmental entity as defined in Rule 2(c) is required to identify
such governmental entity to the Exchange.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ The Exchange notes that irrespective of the proposed rule
change, under the Act, any person that directly or indirectly
controls a broker-dealer falls within the Act's definition of an
associated person, and that the Act defines the term ``person'' to
include a government or political subdivision, agency, or
instrumentality of a government. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(9) and (18).
Nonetheless, neither the Act nor any rule thereunder requires a
direct or indirect owner of a broker-dealer to execute any type of
written consent to jurisdiction; only the broker-dealer itself does
so by virtue of executing and submitting the Form BD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\6\ in general, and furthers the
objectives of Sections 6(b)(5) of the Act,\7\ in particular, because it
is designed to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged
in regulating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to, and
perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a national market
system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change would remove
impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market
and a national market system because the Exchange does not have
jurisdiction over governmental entities and therefore could not require
a governmental entity to execute a written consent to the Exchange's
jurisdiction and attempting to do so would serve no regulatory purpose.
The proposed rule change would take such conflicts of law rules into
account and provide better notice to member organizations about the
operation of the Exchange's rules. The proposed rule change would
protect investors and the public interest because a member organization
would be required to identify to the Exchange any governmental entity
that directly or indirectly controlled it. All other Exchange
membership requirements would remain applicable as would any other
Exchange rules that would apply to the member organization. For these
reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the
Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,\8\ the Exchange
believes that the proposed rule change will not impose any burden on
competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act. To the contrary, the Exchange would be at a
competitive disadvantage in the absence of a proposed rule change. As
noted above, the Exchange has a pending application for a member
organization that has a governmental entity as a controlling indirect
owner, and FINRA has already approved this broker-dealer for membership
under FINRA rules. By amending its rules so that this governmental
entity need not execute a written consent to jurisdiction under Rule
304, the Exchange can facilitate the approval of this broker-dealer as
its member too. The Exchange has not identified any other self-
regulatory organization that requires a direct or indirect owner of a
broker-dealer to execute a written consent to jurisdiction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the
proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \9\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\10\
Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) significantly affect the
protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to
30 days from the date on which it was filed, 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 and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
\10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \11\ normally
does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the
filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b4(f)(6)(iii),\12\ the Commission
may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the
protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked
the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal
may become operative immediately upon filing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
\12\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if
[[Page 62917]]
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. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \13\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-NYSE-2013-66 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-NYSE-2013-66. 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 inspection and
copying in the Commission's Public Reference Section, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090. Copies of the filing will also be available
for Web site viewing and printing at the NYSE's principal office and on
its Internet Web site at www.nyse.com. 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-NYSE-2013-66 and should be submitted on
or before November 12, 2013.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\14\
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-24647 Filed 10-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P