Order Granting Application by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. for Exemption Pursuant to Section 36(a) of the Exchange Act From the Rule Filing Requirements of Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act With Respect to Certain Rules Incorporated by Reference, 78422-78423 [2013-30764]

Download as PDF emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES 78422 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 248 / Thursday, December 26, 2013 / Notices 10. The Manager will waive fees otherwise payable to it by a Fund of Funds in an amount at least equal to any compensation (including fees received pursuant to any plan adopted by an Unaffiliated Investment Company under rule 12b–1 under the Act) received from an Unaffiliated Fund by the Manager, or an affiliated person of the Manager, other than any advisory fees paid to the Manager or its affiliated person by an Unaffiliated Investment Company, in connection with the investment by the Fund of Funds in the Unaffiliated Fund. Any Subadviser will waive fees otherwise payable to the Subadviser, directly or indirectly, by the Fund of Funds in an amount at least equal to any compensation received by the Subadviser, or an affiliated person of the Subadviser, from an Unaffiliated Fund, other than any advisory fees paid to the Subadviser or an affiliated person of the Subadviser by the Unaffiliated Investment Company, in connection with the investment by the Fund of Funds in the Unaffiliated Fund made at the direction of the Subadviser. In the event that the Subadviser waives fees, the benefit of the waiver will be passed through to the Fund of Funds. 11. With respect to Registered Separate Accounts that invest in a Fund of Funds, no sales load will be charged at the Fund of Funds level or at the Underlying Fund level. Other sales charges and service fees, as defined in NASD Conduct Rule 2830, if any, will only be charged at the Fund of Funds level or at the Underlying Fund level, not both. With respect to other investments in a Fund of Funds, any sales charges and/or service fees charged with respect to shares of a Fund of Funds will not exceed the limits applicable to funds of funds set forth in NASD Conduct Rule 2830. 12. No Underlying Fund will acquire securities of any other investment company or company relying on section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the Act in excess of the limits contained in section 12(d)(1)(A) of the Act, except to the extent that such Underlying Fund (a) acquires such securities in compliance with section 12(d)(1)(E) of the Act and either is an Affiliated Fund or is in the same ‘‘group of investment companies,’’ as defined in section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Act, as its corresponding master fund; (b) receives securities of another investment company as a dividend or as a result of a plan of reorganization of a company (other than a plan devised for the purpose of evading section 12(d)(1) of the Act); or (c) acquires (or is deemed to have acquired) securities of another investment company pursuant to exemptive relief from the Commission VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:06 Dec 24, 2013 Jkt 232001 permitting such Underlying Fund to: (i) Acquire securities of one or more investment companies for short-term cash management purposes, or (ii) engage in interfund borrowing and lending transactions. B. Other Investments by Section 12(d)(1)(G) Funds of Funds 13. Applicants will comply with all provisions of rule 12d1–2 under the Act, except for paragraph (a)(2) to the extent that it restricts any Section 12(d)(1)(G) Fund of Funds from investing in Other Investments as described in the application. For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, pursuant to delegated authority. Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2013–30771 Filed 12–24–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–71143] Order Granting Application by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. for Exemption Pursuant to Section 36(a) of the Exchange Act From the Rule Filing Requirements of Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act With Respect to Certain Rules Incorporated by Reference December 19, 2013. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’) has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) an application for an exemption under Section 36(a)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’) 1 from the rule filing requirements of Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act 2 with respect to certain rules of other self-regulatory organizations (‘‘SROs’’) that FINRA seeks to incorporate by reference. Section 36 of the Exchange Act authorizes the Commission to conditionally or unconditionally exempt any person, security, or transaction, or any class thereof, from any provision of the Exchange Act or rule thereunder, if necessary or appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors. FINRA Rule 2360 (Options) and FINRA Rule 2359 (Position and Exercise Limits; Liquidations) incorporate by reference comparable position and exercise limit rules of the options 1 15 2 15 PO 00000 U.S.C. 78mm(a)(1). U.S.C. 78s(b). Frm 00098 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 exchanges. Specifically: (i) FINRA Rule 2360(b)(3)(B) incorporates position limits for index options established by the exchange on which the option trades; (ii) FINRA Rule 2360(b)(2) incorporates position and exercise limits for FLEX Equity Options (as defined in FINRA Rule 2360(a)(16)) established by the exchange on which such FLEX Equity Options are traded; and (iii) FINRA Rule 2359 incorporates position and exercise limits for index warrants established by the exchange on which the index warrant is listed.3 Thus, FINRA members comply with these FINRA rules by complying with the relevant, incorporated exchange rule.4 In addition, if its request for an exemption is granted, FINRA intends to propose further amendments to FINRA Rule 2360, pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Exchange Act, to incorporate by reference other rules of the options exchanges regarding position limits. Specifically, with respect to standardized equity options, FINRA intends to propose that FINRA Rule 2360(b)(3) be amended so that the FINRA position limit will be the highest position limit established by an exchange on which the option trades.5 With respect to conventional equity options,6 FINRA intends to propose that FINRA Rule 2360(b)(3) be amended so that the position limit tiers for such options reflect the same tier structure used in exchange rules for standardized equity options and, for each tier, incorporate for conventional equity options the same position limit that exchange rules establish for standardized equity options in the equivalent tier.7 In addition, FINRA 3 See FINRA Rules 2359 and 2360; see also Letter from Robert L.D. Colby, Chief Legal Officer, FINRA, to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary, Commission, dated October 10, 2013 (‘‘FINRA Exemptive Request’’), at 1 n.1. 4 FINRA has not previously sought an exemption from the Commission pursuant to Section 36(a)(1) of the Exchange Act from the rule filing requirements of Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act with respect to these incorporations by reference. 5 See FINRA Exemptive Request, supra note 3, at 1 n.2. Based on the standardized equity option position limits currently imposed by the option exchanges, this incorporation by reference would have the immediate effect of eliminating FINRA’s position limit for standardized options on Standard and Poor’s Depository Receipts Trust (‘‘SPY’’) and increasing FINRA’s position limit for standardized options on the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund (‘‘EEM’’) to 500,000 contracts. 6 The term ‘‘conventional option’’ means any option contract not issued, or subject to issuance, by the Options Clearing Corporation. See FINRA Rule 2360(a)(9). 7 See FINRA Exemptive Request, supra note 3, at 1 n.2. This aspect of FINRA’s intended proposal would not change position limits for conventional equity options, as FINRA’s rule currently imposes conventional equity option position limits that are E:\FR\FM\26DEN1.SGM 26DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 248 / Thursday, December 26, 2013 / Notices emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES Rule 2360(b)(4) sets forth exercise limits by referring to the position limits in FINRA Rule 2360(b)(3).8 Accordingly, FINRA’s anticipated proposed rule change also would correspondingly raise exercise limits.9 FINRA has requested, pursuant to Rule 0–12 under the Exchange Act,10 that the Commission grant it an exemption from the rule filing requirements of Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act for changes to FINRA Rule 2359 and FINRA Rule 2360, as amended by FINRA’s intended proposal, that are effected solely by virtue of a change to the corresponding cross-referenced rules of the options exchanges. Specifically, FINRA requests that it be permitted to incorporate by reference changes made to each such options exchange rule without the need for FINRA to file separately the same proposed rule changes pursuant to Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act.11 By virtue of these incorporations by reference, the requirements applicable to FINRA members will change when the applicable incorporated exchanges’ rules change, without the need for FINRA to file separately the proposed rule changes pursuant to Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act.12 FINRA represents that the rules it seeks to incorporate by reference into FINRA Rules 2359 and 2360 are categories of exchange rules (rather than individual rules within a category) that are not trading rules.13 FINRA has agreed to provide written notice to its members whenever an exchange proposes a change to its relevant, cross-referenced rule (or series of rules).14 FINRA believes this exemption is necessary and appropriate to maintain the same as the tiered limits for standardized equity options set forth in FINRA Rule 2360(b)(3)(A)(ii) through (v) for which the underlying security qualifies or would be able to qualify. See FINRA Rule 2360(b)(3)(A)(viii). Currently, FINRA Rule 2360(b)(3)(A)(viii) cross references FINRA Rule 2360(b)(3)(A)(ii) through (v) instead of reproducing the language of those paragraphs setting forth the position limit tiers. This aspect of FINRA’s intended proposal would amend FINRA’s conventional equity option position limit rule to replace that cross reference with the actual language setting forth the position limit tiers. 8 See FINRA Exemptive Request, supra note 3, at 1 n.2. 9 Id. 10 17 CFR 240.0–12. 11 See FINRA Exemptive Request, supra note 3, at 2. 12 Id. 13 Id. 14 Id. at 3. FINRA states that it will provide such notice on its Web site where it posts its own proposed rule change filings as required by Rule 19b–4(l). In addition, FINRA states that the Web site posting will include a link to the location on the exchange’s Web site where the proposed rule change is posted. Id. at 3 n.8. VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:06 Dec 24, 2013 Jkt 232001 the consistency between FINRA rules and the relevant provisions of the exchanges’ rules at all times, thus helping to ensure identical regulation of members of FINRA that are also members of one or more exchanges with respect to the incorporated provisions, as well as helping to ensure that FINRAonly members are subject to consistent regulation as members that are members of exchanges.15 Without such an exemption, such members could be subject to two different standards.16 The Commission has issued exemptions to other exchanges similar to FINRA’s request.17 In granting one such exemption in 2010, the Commission repeated a prior, 2004 Commission statement that it would consider similar future exemption requests from other SROs, provided that: • An SRO wishing to incorporate rules of another SRO by reference has submitted a written request for an order exempting it from the requirement in Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act to file proposed rule changes relating to the rules incorporated by reference, has identified the applicable originating SRO(s), together with the rules it wants to incorporate by reference, and otherwise has complied with the procedural requirements set forth in the Commission’s release governing procedures for requesting exemptive orders pursuant to Rule 0–12 under the Exchange Act; 18 • An incorporating SRO has requested incorporation of categories of rules (rather than individual rules within a category) that are not trading rules (e.g., the SRO has requested 15 Id. at 2–3. at 3. 17 For example, on behalf of their respective options markets, BATS Exchange, Inc., NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc., and The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC incorporate, among other things, the position limit rules of other exchanges. See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61534 (February 18, 2010), 75 FR 8760 (February 25, 2010) (order granting BATS Exchange, Inc. exemptive request relating to rules incorporated by reference by the BATS Exchange Options Market rules) (‘‘BATS Options Market Order’’); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67256 (June 26, 2012), 77 FR 39277, 39286 (July 2, 2012) (order approving SR–BX–2012– 030 and granting exemptive request relating to rules incorporated by reference by the BX Options rules); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57478 (March 12, 2008), 73 FR 14521, 14539–40 (March 18, 2008) (order approving SR–NASDAQ–2007–004 and SR– NASDAQ–2007–080, and granting exemptive request relating to rules incorporated by reference by The NASDAQ Options Market). 18 See 17 CFR 240.0–12 and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 39624 (February 5, 1998), 63 FR 8101 (February 18, 1998) (Commission Procedures for Filing Applications for Orders for Exemptive Relief Pursuant to Section 36 of the Exchange Act; Final Rule). 16 Id. PO 00000 Frm 00099 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 78423 incorporation of rules such as margin, suitability, or arbitration); and • The incorporating SRO has reasonable procedures in place to provide written notice to its members each time a change is proposed to the incorporated rules of another SRO.19 The Commission believes that FINRA has satisfied each of these conditions. The Commission also believes that granting FINRA an exemption from the rule filing requirements under Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act will promote efficient use of Commission and FINRA resources by avoiding duplicative rule filings based on simultaneous changes to identical rule text sought by more than one SRO.20 The Commission therefore finds it appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors to exempt FINRA from the rule filing requirements under Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act with respect to the above-described rules it has incorporated, and intends to incorporate, by reference. This exemption is conditioned upon FINRA promptly providing written notice to its members whenever an exchange changes a rule that FINRA has incorporated by reference. Accordingly, it is ordered, pursuant to Section 36 of the Exchange Act,21 that FINRA is exempt from the rule filing requirements of Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act solely with respect to changes to the rules identified in its request that incorporate by reference certain rules of the options exchanges,22 provided that FINRA promptly provides written notice to its members whenever an exchange proposes to change a rule that FINRA has incorporated by reference. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.23 Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2013–30764 Filed 12–24–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 19 See BATS Options Market Order, supra note 17 (citing Securities Exchange Act Release No. 49260 (February 17, 2004), 69 FR 8500 (February 24, 2004) (order granting exemptive request relating to rules incorporated by reference by several SROs) (‘‘2004 Order’’)). 20 See BATS Options Market Order, supra note 17, 75 FR at 8761; see also 2004 Order, supra note 19, 69 FR at 8502. 21 15 U.S.C. 78mm. 22 See supra notes 3 through 9, and accompanying text. 23 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(76). E:\FR\FM\26DEN1.SGM 26DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 248 (Thursday, December 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78422-78423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30764]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-71143]


Order Granting Application by Financial Industry Regulatory 
Authority, Inc. for Exemption Pursuant to Section 36(a) of the Exchange 
Act From the Rule Filing Requirements of Section 19(b) of the Exchange 
Act With Respect to Certain Rules Incorporated by Reference

December 19, 2013.
    The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (``FINRA'') has 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') an 
application for an exemption under Section 36(a)(1) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act'') \1\ from the rule filing 
requirements of Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act \2\ with respect to 
certain rules of other self-regulatory organizations (``SROs'') that 
FINRA seeks to incorporate by reference. Section 36 of the Exchange Act 
authorizes the Commission to conditionally or unconditionally exempt 
any person, security, or transaction, or any class thereof, from any 
provision of the Exchange Act or rule thereunder, if necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection 
of investors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78mm(a)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FINRA Rule 2360 (Options) and FINRA Rule 2359 (Position and 
Exercise Limits; Liquidations) incorporate by reference comparable 
position and exercise limit rules of the options exchanges. 
Specifically: (i) FINRA Rule 2360(b)(3)(B) incorporates position limits 
for index options established by the exchange on which the option 
trades; (ii) FINRA Rule 2360(b)(2) incorporates position and exercise 
limits for FLEX Equity Options (as defined in FINRA Rule 2360(a)(16)) 
established by the exchange on which such FLEX Equity Options are 
traded; and (iii) FINRA Rule 2359 incorporates position and exercise 
limits for index warrants established by the exchange on which the 
index warrant is listed.\3\ Thus, FINRA members comply with these FINRA 
rules by complying with the relevant, incorporated exchange rule.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See FINRA Rules 2359 and 2360; see also Letter from Robert 
L.D. Colby, Chief Legal Officer, FINRA, to Elizabeth M. Murphy, 
Secretary, Commission, dated October 10, 2013 (``FINRA Exemptive 
Request''), at 1 n.1.
    \4\ FINRA has not previously sought an exemption from the 
Commission pursuant to Section 36(a)(1) of the Exchange Act from the 
rule filing requirements of Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act with 
respect to these incorporations by reference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, if its request for an exemption is granted, FINRA 
intends to propose further amendments to FINRA Rule 2360, pursuant to 
Section 19(b)(1) of the Exchange Act, to incorporate by reference other 
rules of the options exchanges regarding position limits. Specifically, 
with respect to standardized equity options, FINRA intends to propose 
that FINRA Rule 2360(b)(3) be amended so that the FINRA position limit 
will be the highest position limit established by an exchange on which 
the option trades.\5\ With respect to conventional equity options,\6\ 
FINRA intends to propose that FINRA Rule 2360(b)(3) be amended so that 
the position limit tiers for such options reflect the same tier 
structure used in exchange rules for standardized equity options and, 
for each tier, incorporate for conventional equity options the same 
position limit that exchange rules establish for standardized equity 
options in the equivalent tier.\7\ In addition, FINRA

[[Page 78423]]

Rule 2360(b)(4) sets forth exercise limits by referring to the position 
limits in FINRA Rule 2360(b)(3).\8\ Accordingly, FINRA's anticipated 
proposed rule change also would correspondingly raise exercise 
limits.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See FINRA Exemptive Request, supra note 3, at 1 n.2. Based 
on the standardized equity option position limits currently imposed 
by the option exchanges, this incorporation by reference would have 
the immediate effect of eliminating FINRA's position limit for 
standardized options on Standard and Poor's Depository Receipts 
Trust (``SPY'') and increasing FINRA's position limit for 
standardized options on the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund 
(``EEM'') to 500,000 contracts.
    \6\ The term ``conventional option'' means any option contract 
not issued, or subject to issuance, by the Options Clearing 
Corporation. See FINRA Rule 2360(a)(9).
    \7\ See FINRA Exemptive Request, supra note 3, at 1 n.2. This 
aspect of FINRA's intended proposal would not change position limits 
for conventional equity options, as FINRA's rule currently imposes 
conventional equity option position limits that are the same as the 
tiered limits for standardized equity options set forth in FINRA 
Rule 2360(b)(3)(A)(ii) through (v) for which the underlying security 
qualifies or would be able to qualify. See FINRA Rule 
2360(b)(3)(A)(viii). Currently, FINRA Rule 2360(b)(3)(A)(viii) cross 
references FINRA Rule 2360(b)(3)(A)(ii) through (v) instead of 
reproducing the language of those paragraphs setting forth the 
position limit tiers. This aspect of FINRA's intended proposal would 
amend FINRA's conventional equity option position limit rule to 
replace that cross reference with the actual language setting forth 
the position limit tiers.
    \8\ See FINRA Exemptive Request, supra note 3, at 1 n.2.
    \9\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FINRA has requested, pursuant to Rule 0-12 under the Exchange 
Act,\10\ that the Commission grant it an exemption from the rule filing 
requirements of Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act for changes to FINRA 
Rule 2359 and FINRA Rule 2360, as amended by FINRA's intended proposal, 
that are effected solely by virtue of a change to the corresponding 
cross-referenced rules of the options exchanges. Specifically, FINRA 
requests that it be permitted to incorporate by reference changes made 
to each such options exchange rule without the need for FINRA to file 
separately the same proposed rule changes pursuant to Section 19(b) of 
the Exchange Act.\11\ By virtue of these incorporations by reference, 
the requirements applicable to FINRA members will change when the 
applicable incorporated exchanges' rules change, without the need for 
FINRA to file separately the proposed rule changes pursuant to Section 
19(b) of the Exchange Act.\12\ FINRA represents that the rules it seeks 
to incorporate by reference into FINRA Rules 2359 and 2360 are 
categories of exchange rules (rather than individual rules within a 
category) that are not trading rules.\13\ FINRA has agreed to provide 
written notice to its members whenever an exchange proposes a change to 
its relevant, cross-referenced rule (or series of rules).\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ 17 CFR 240.0-12.
    \11\ See FINRA Exemptive Request, supra note 3, at 2.
    \12\ Id.
    \13\ Id.
    \14\ Id. at 3. FINRA states that it will provide such notice on 
its Web site where it posts its own proposed rule change filings as 
required by Rule 19b-4(l). In addition, FINRA states that the Web 
site posting will include a link to the location on the exchange's 
Web site where the proposed rule change is posted. Id. at 3 n.8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FINRA believes this exemption is necessary and appropriate to 
maintain the consistency between FINRA rules and the relevant 
provisions of the exchanges' rules at all times, thus helping to ensure 
identical regulation of members of FINRA that are also members of one 
or more exchanges with respect to the incorporated provisions, as well 
as helping to ensure that FINRA-only members are subject to consistent 
regulation as members that are members of exchanges.\15\ Without such 
an exemption, such members could be subject to two different 
standards.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ Id. at 2-3.
    \16\ Id. at 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission has issued exemptions to other exchanges similar to 
FINRA's request.\17\ In granting one such exemption in 2010, the 
Commission repeated a prior, 2004 Commission statement that it would 
consider similar future exemption requests from other SROs, provided 
that:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ For example, on behalf of their respective options markets, 
BATS Exchange, Inc., NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc., and The NASDAQ Stock 
Market LLC incorporate, among other things, the position limit rules 
of other exchanges. See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
61534 (February 18, 2010), 75 FR 8760 (February 25, 2010) (order 
granting BATS Exchange, Inc. exemptive request relating to rules 
incorporated by reference by the BATS Exchange Options Market rules) 
(``BATS Options Market Order''); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
67256 (June 26, 2012), 77 FR 39277, 39286 (July 2, 2012) (order 
approving SR-BX-2012-030 and granting exemptive request relating to 
rules incorporated by reference by the BX Options rules); Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 57478 (March 12, 2008), 73 FR 14521, 14539-
40 (March 18, 2008) (order approving SR-NASDAQ-2007-004 and SR-
NASDAQ-2007-080, and granting exemptive request relating to rules 
incorporated by reference by The NASDAQ Options Market).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     An SRO wishing to incorporate rules of another SRO by 
reference has submitted a written request for an order exempting it 
from the requirement in Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act to file 
proposed rule changes relating to the rules incorporated by reference, 
has identified the applicable originating SRO(s), together with the 
rules it wants to incorporate by reference, and otherwise has complied 
with the procedural requirements set forth in the Commission's release 
governing procedures for requesting exemptive orders pursuant to Rule 
0-12 under the Exchange Act; \18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ See 17 CFR 240.0-12 and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
39624 (February 5, 1998), 63 FR 8101 (February 18, 1998) (Commission 
Procedures for Filing Applications for Orders for Exemptive Relief 
Pursuant to Section 36 of the Exchange Act; Final Rule).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     An incorporating SRO has requested incorporation of 
categories of rules (rather than individual rules within a category) 
that are not trading rules (e.g., the SRO has requested incorporation 
of rules such as margin, suitability, or arbitration); and
     The incorporating SRO has reasonable procedures in place 
to provide written notice to its members each time a change is proposed 
to the incorporated rules of another SRO.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ See BATS Options Market Order, supra note 17 (citing 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 49260 (February 17, 2004), 69 FR 
8500 (February 24, 2004) (order granting exemptive request relating 
to rules incorporated by reference by several SROs) (``2004 
Order'')).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission believes that FINRA has satisfied each of these 
conditions. The Commission also believes that granting FINRA an 
exemption from the rule filing requirements under Section 19(b) of the 
Exchange Act will promote efficient use of Commission and FINRA 
resources by avoiding duplicative rule filings based on simultaneous 
changes to identical rule text sought by more than one SRO.\20\ The 
Commission therefore finds it appropriate in the public interest and 
consistent with the protection of investors to exempt FINRA from the 
rule filing requirements under Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act with 
respect to the above-described rules it has incorporated, and intends 
to incorporate, by reference. This exemption is conditioned upon FINRA 
promptly providing written notice to its members whenever an exchange 
changes a rule that FINRA has incorporated by reference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ See BATS Options Market Order, supra note 17, 75 FR at 
8761; see also 2004 Order, supra note 19, 69 FR at 8502.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Accordingly, it is ordered, pursuant to Section 36 of the Exchange 
Act,\21\ that FINRA is exempt from the rule filing requirements of 
Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act solely with respect to changes to the 
rules identified in its request that incorporate by reference certain 
rules of the options exchanges,\22\ provided that FINRA promptly 
provides written notice to its members whenever an exchange proposes to 
change a rule that FINRA has incorporated by reference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ 15 U.S.C. 78mm.
    \22\ See supra notes 3 through 9, and accompanying text.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(76).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kevin M. O'Neill,
 Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-30764 Filed 12-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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