Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending the Eighth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Exchange, 21636-21639 [2016-08300]

Download as PDF 21636 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 70 / Tuesday, April 12, 2016 / Notices On March 23, 2016, the Commission issued notice of the Committee meeting (Release No. 33–10058), indicating that the meeting is open to the public (except during that portion of the meeting reserved for an administrative work session during lunch), and inviting the public to submit written comments to the Committee. This Sunshine Act notice is being issued because a quorum of the Commission may attend the meeting. The agenda for the meeting includes: Remarks from Commissioners; a discussion of a recommendation of the Investor as Purchaser subcommittee regarding mutual fund cost disclosure; an update from the Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations; subcommittee reports; a discussion regarding cybersecurity and related investor protection concerns; reflections on the first full term of Investor Advisory Committee membership; and a nonpublic administrative work session during lunch. For further information, please contact the Office of the Secretary at (202) 551–5400. Dated: April 7, 2016. Brent J. Fields, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–08445 Filed 4–8–16; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P [Release No. 34–77536; File No. SR– NYSEMKT–2016–26] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending the Eighth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Exchange asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES April 6, 2016. 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 March 29, 2016, 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, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the selfregulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to U.S.C.78s(b)(1). 2 15 U.S.C. 78a. 3 17 CFR 240.19b–4. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 Apr 11, 2016 Jkt 238001 I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend the Eighth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Exchange (‘‘Operating Agreement’’) to (1) change the process for nominating nonaffiliated directors; (2) remove a reference to an obsolete category of member; and (3) add references to Designated Market Makers. 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 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 1 15 solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. 1. Purpose The Exchange proposes to amend the Operating Agreement to (1) change the process for nominating non-affiliated directors; (2) remove a reference to an obsolete category of member; and (3) add references to Designated Market Makers (‘‘DMMs’’). Process for Nominating Non-Affiliated Directors Pursuant to the Operating Agreement, at least 20% of the Board of Directors of the Exchange (‘‘Board’’) is made up of ‘‘Non-Affiliated Directors’’ (commonly referred to as ‘‘fair representation directors’’).4 Pursuant to Section 2.03(a) of the Operating Agreement, the nominating and governance committee 4 Pursuant to Section 2.03(a) of the Operating Agreement, Non-Affiliate Directors are persons who are not members of the board of directors of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (‘‘ICE’’). A person may not be a Non-Affiliate Director unless he or she is free of any statutory disqualification, as defined in Section 3(a)(39) of the Exchange Act. NonAffiliate Directors need not be independent. PO 00000 Frm 00104 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (‘‘NGC’’) of the board of directors of ICE, the indirect parent of the Exchange, nominates the candidates for NonAffiliated Directors, who are then elected by NYSE Group, as the sole member of the Exchange. The Exchange proposes to amend Section 2.03(a) to have the Director Candidate Recommendation Committee (‘‘DCRC’’) of the Exchange assume the role currently played by the ICE NGC, and to make a conforming change to Section 2.03(h)(i). In addition, if the Member Organizations endorse a petition candidate for Non-Affiliate Director, pursuant to Section 2.03(a)(iv) the ICE NGC makes the determination of whether the person is eligible.5 The Exchange proposes to amend Section 2.03(a)(iv) to have the Exchange make such determination instead of the ICE NGC. Currently, the nomination by the ICE NGC is the final step in the process for electing a Non-Affiliated Director. First, the DCRC recommends a candidate, whose name then is announced to the Exchange’s Member Organizations. The Member Organizations may propose alternate candidates by petition. If there are no petition candidates, the DCRC recommends its candidate to the ICE NGC. If petition candidates are proposed, the ICE NGC makes the determination of whether the candidates are eligible, and then all of the eligible candidates are submitted to the Member Organizations for a vote. The DCRC recommends to the ICE NGC the candidate receiving the highest number of votes. The ICE NGC is obligated to designate the DCRC-recommended candidate as the nominee, and NYSE Group is obligated to elect him or her as a Non-Affiliated Director. The Exchange believes obligating the ICE NGC to nominate the candidates for Non-Affiliated Directors based on the DCRC’s unalterable recommendation is neither necessary nor meaningful. Pursuant to Section 2.03(a)(iii) the ICE NGC is obligated to designate whomever the DCRC recommends or, if there is a petition candidate, whomever emerges from the petition process. The ICE NGC does not have any discretion. Removing this unnecessary step would make the NYSE MKT process more efficient. The Exchange believes that having the Exchange determine whether persons endorsed to be petition candidates are eligible also would be more efficient, as it would not require action from the ICE NGC, thereby removing the possibility 5 Pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Operating Agreement, ‘‘Member Organizations’’ refers to members and member organizations, as defined in NYSE MKT Rules 18 and 24, respectively. E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 70 / Tuesday, April 12, 2016 / Notices of any delay in the process. The proposed change would be consistent with the petition process of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, in which the exchange determines the eligibility of proposed nominees.6 The Exchange believes that the proposed changes will make its process more consistent with the process by which its affiliate, NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE Arca’’), designates its fair representation directors, in which the ICE NGC plays no role.7 Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to revise Section 2.03(a)(iii)–(v) of the Operating Agreement to amend the process for electing Non-Affiliated Directors. As proposed, the process would be as follows. First, as is currently the case, the DCRC would recommend a candidate, whose name would be announced to the Member Organizations, and the Member Organizations could propose alternate candidates by petition. Second, if there were no petition candidates, the DCRC would nominate the candidate it had previously recommended. If there were petition candidates, the Exchange would make the eligibility determination of petition candidates, all eligible candidates would be submitted to the Member Organizations for a vote, and the DCRC would nominate the candidate receiving the highest number of votes. Finally, NYSE Group would be obligated to elect the DCRC-nominated candidate as a Non-Affiliated Director. The Exchange would make a conforming change to Section 2.03(h)(i) to state that the DCRC ‘‘will be responsible for nominating NonAffiliate Director Candidates.’’ Currently, the provision states that the DCRC ‘‘will be responsible for recommending Non-Affiliated Director Candidates to the ICE NGC.’’ Elimination of a Category of DCRC Membership asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES As noted above, the Operating Agreement requires that the DCRC include representatives from each of four categories of Exchange members. The Exchange proposes to amend Section 2.03(h)(i) of the Operating 6 See By-Laws of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, Art. II, Sec. 1(b) (‘‘The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a Member Representative Director.’’). 7 See Article III, Section 3.02 of the NYSE Arca Bylaws and NYSE Arca Rule 3.2(b)(2). Similarly, the board of directors of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., the sole member of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, plays no role in nominating or determining the eligibility of Member Representative Directors. See By-Laws of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, Art. II, Sec. 1. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 Apr 11, 2016 Jkt 238001 Agreement to eliminate from the DCRC representatives of the fourth category, which relates to individuals who are ‘‘associated with a Member Organization and spend a majority of their time on the trading floor of the [Exchange] and have as a substantial part of their business the execution of transactions on the trading floor of the [Exchange] for their own account or the account of their Member Organization, but are not registered as a specialist.’’8 This fourth category describes a class of proprietary traders known as Registered Equity Market Makers (‘‘REMM’’) on the former American Stock Exchange LLC, a predecessor of the Exchange. REMMs were floor traders who engaged in on-floor proprietary trading, subject to certain requirements intended to have these members effectively function like market makers, pursuant to the exemption for market makers in Section 11(a)(1)(A) of the Exchange Act.9 The rules relating to this category of proprietary floor trader were eliminated shortly after the American Stock Exchange LLC was acquired by the NYSE.10 In addition, NYSE MKT Rule 114, which governed REMMs, was deleted as obsolete in 2012.11 As a result, there are no Exchange members or member organizations that fall under the fourth category specified in Section 2.03(h)(i) of the Operating Agreement, and so the Exchange proposes to delete references to it as obsolete. The changes would make Section 2.03(h)(i) more consistent with the categories of members of the Committee for Review in Section 2.03(h)(iii).12 8 Representatives from the following three categories would continue to be included on the DCRC: (1) Member organizations that engage in a business involving substantial direct contact with securities customers (commonly referred to as ‘‘upstairs firms’’), (2) specialists, and (3) floor brokers. The Exchange proposes to add DMMs to category (2), as discussed below. See note 15, infra, and accompanying text. 9 See 17 CFR 240.11a1–5; Division of Market Regulation, United States Securities and Exchange Commission, Market 2000: An Examination of Current Equity Market Developments (January 1994) (‘‘Market 2000’’), at A V–7, available at https:// www.sec.gov/divisions/marketreg/market2000.pdf. This class of proprietary traders were known as Registered Competitive Market Makers (‘‘RCMM’’) on the NYSE. 10 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58705 (October 1, 2008), 73 FR 58995, 58996 (October 8, 2008) (SR–Amex–2008–63). The NYSE eliminated RCMMs shortly thereafter. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60356 (July 21, 2009), 74 FR 37281 (July 28, 2009) (SR–NYSE–2009–08). 11 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68306 (November 28, 2012), 77 FR 71846 (December 4, 2012) (SR–NYSEMKT–2012–68). 12 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77008 (February 1, 2016), 81 FR 6311 (February 5, 2016) (SR–NYSEMKT–2015–106). PO 00000 Frm 00105 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 21637 References to Designated Market Makers In 2008, the Exchange adopted rules, based on NYSE rules, that transformed specialists in the Exchange’s equity market into DMMs.13 As a result, market makers on the NYSE MKT equity market are called DMMs and on the NYSE Amex Options LLC (‘‘NYSE Amex Options’’) options market are called ‘‘specialists.’’14 However, several provisions of the Operating Agreement were not updated, and refer only to specialists. Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to amend Sections 2.02 and 2.03(h)(i) to add references to DMMs. Section 2.02 of the Operating Agreement provides that the Board has general supervision over Member Organizations and over approved persons in connection with their conduct with or affecting Member Organizations. Section 2.02 further provides that the Board ‘‘may disapprove of any member acting as a specialist or odd lot dealer’’. The Exchange proposes to add ‘‘designated market maker (as defined in Rule 2 of the Company Rules) (‘DMM’)’’ after ‘‘specialist’’ in Section 2.02. Section 2.03(h)(i) sets out the categories of individuals that shall be represented on the DCRC. The Exchange proposes to add ‘‘or DMM’’ to the references to ‘‘specialist’’ in categories (ii) and (iii), so that they reference both types of market makers. The changes would be consistent with the categories of members of the Committee for Review in Section 2.03(h)(iii), which refers to both DMMs and specialists.15 Finally, the Exchange proposes to make technical and conforming changes to the recitals and signature page of the Operating Agreement. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Exchange Act 16 in general, and with Section 6(b)(1) 17 in particular, in that it enables the Exchange to be so organized as to have 13 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 58705 (Oct. 1, 2008), 73 FR 58995 (Oct. 8. 2008) (SR–Amex–2008–63) (approval order) and 59022 (Nov. 26, 2008), 73 FR 73683 (Dec. 3, 2008) (SR– NYSEALTR–2008–10) (amending equity rules to conform to NYSE New Market Model Pilot rules). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58845 (October 24, 2008), 73 FR 64379, 64381 (October 29, 2008) (SR–NYSE–2008–46) (approving rule change to create NYSE New Market Model Pilot). 14 The Exchange operates a marketplace for trading options through NYSE Amex Options, a facility of the Exchange. See Rule 2—Equities (i) & (j) (defining DMM) and Rule 927NY (defining specialist). 15 See note 12, supra. 16 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). 17 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1). E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1 asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 21638 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 70 / Tuesday, April 12, 2016 / Notices the capacity to be able to carry out the purposes of the Exchange Act and to comply, and to enforce compliance by its exchange members and persons associated with its exchange members, with the provisions of the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and the rules of the Exchange. The proposed change would remove the requirement that the ICE NGC nominate the candidates for NonAffiliated Directors and have the DCRC nominate the candidates for NonAffiliated Director directly. This proposed change would remove an unnecessary step in the process of nominating candidates for NonAffiliated Directors and increase efficiency. In addition, the proposed change would remove the requirement that the ICE NGC make the determination whether persons endorsed to be petition candidates are eligible to be Non-Affiliated Directors, and have the Exchange make such determination instead. By not requiring action from the ICE NGC, the possibility of any resulting delay in the process is removed. For these reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change would contribute to the orderly operation of the Exchange and would enable the Exchange to be so organized as to have the capacity to carry out the purposes of the Exchange Act and comply and enforce compliance with the provisions of the Exchange Act by its members and persons associated with its members. The Exchange therefore believes that approval of the proposed is consistent with Section 6(b)(1) of the Act. The Exchange believes that amending the Operating Agreement to remove the requirement that the DCRC include representatives from the fourth category of members would remove a reference to an obsolete category, thereby reducing potential confusion that may result from retaining obsolete references in the Exchange’s Operating Agreement. The Exchange believes that eliminating such obsolete references would not be inconsistent with the public interest and the protection of investors because investors will not be harmed and in fact would benefit from increased transparency, thereby reducing potential confusion. Removing such obsolete references will also further the goal of transparency and add clarity to the Exchange’s rules. The Exchange believes that adding references to DMMs enables the Exchange to be so organized as to have the capacity to be able to carry out the purposes of the Exchange Act and to comply, and to enforce compliance by its exchange members and persons VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 Apr 11, 2016 Jkt 238001 associated with its exchange members, with the provisions of the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and the rules of the Exchange. The proposed addition of a reference to DMMs in Section 2.02 will clarify that the Board has general supervision over all Member Organizations, including the ability to disapprove of any member acting as a DMM, as well as a specialist or odd lot dealer. The proposed addition of references to DMMs in Section 2.03(h)(i) further the goals of Section 6(b)(3) of ensuring fair representation of an exchange’s members in the selection of its directors and administration of its affairs by including both types of market makers in the categories of individuals that shall be represented on the DCRC. The Exchange also believes that this filing furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act 18 because the proposed rule change would be consistent with and facilitate a governance and regulatory structure that is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, 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. The Exchange believes that having the DCRC nominate the candidates for NonAffiliated Director would remove impediments to and perfect a national market system because the proposed rule change would remove an unnecessary step in the process for nominating candidates for NonAffiliated Directors and would remove the ICE NGC from making the determination whether persons endorsed to be petition candidates are eligible to be Non-Affiliated Directors. By not requiring action from the ICE NGC, the possibility of any resulting delay in the process is removed. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is therefore consistent with and facilitates a governance and regulatory structure that furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) 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 that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Exchange Act. 18 15 PO 00000 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). Frm 00106 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The proposed rule change is not intended to address competitive issues but rather is concerned solely with the administration and functioning of the Exchange and its board of directors. 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 Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will: (A) By order approve or disapprove the proposed rule change, or (B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved. IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: 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– NYSEMKT–2016–26 on the subject line. Paper Comments • Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NYSEMKT–2016–26. 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 E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 70 / Tuesday, April 12, 2016 / Notices 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– NYSEMKT–2016–26, and should be submitted on or before May 3, 2016. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.19 Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–08300 Filed 4–11–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P [Release No. 34–77539; File No. SR– NYSEARCA–2016–49] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change to Rule 6.64 With Respect to Opening Trading in an Options Series asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES April 6, 2016. 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 March 23, 2016, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) 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. 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 Apr 11, 2016 Jkt 238001 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 is proposing changes to Rule 6.64 with respect to opening trading in an option series as described below. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 19 17 I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes changes to Rule 6.64 (OX Opening Process) with respect to opening trading in an options series. 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. Opening Process Rule 6.64 describes the process pursuant to which OX (‘‘OX System’’) 4 opens an option series. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of Rule 6.64 provide that, after the primary market for the underlying security disseminates the opening trade or opening quote, the OX System then conducts an ‘‘Auction Process’’ to open a series whereby the OX System determines a single price at which a series may be opened by looking to: (i) The midpoint of the initial uncrossed NBBO disseminated by the Options Price Reporting Authority (‘‘OPRA’’), if any, or (ii) the midpoint of the best quotes or orders in the OX Book. If the bid-ask differential for a series is not within an acceptable range, the OX System will not conduct an Auction Process.5 For purposes of this rule, the acceptable range means the bid-ask 4 The term ‘‘OX’’ refers to the Exchange’s electronic order delivery, execution and reporting system for designated option issues through which orders and quotes of Users are consolidated for execution and/or display. See Rule 6.1A(a)(13) (defining ‘‘OX’’). 5 The Auction bid-ask differentials are known in common parlance as ‘‘legal-width quotes.’’ PO 00000 Frm 00107 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 21639 differential guidelines specified in Rule 6.37(b)(1)(A)–(E).6 Assuming the bid-ask differential is within the acceptable range, the OX System matches up orders and quotes based on price-time priority 7 and executes the orders that are matched at the midpoint pricing.8 Any orders in the OX System that are not executed in the Auction Process become eligible for the Core Trading Session immediately after the conclusion of the Auction Process. If the OX System does not open a series with an Auction Process, the OX System shall open the series for trading after receiving notification of an initial NBBO disseminated by OPRA for the series or on a Market Maker quote, provided that the bid-ask differential does not exceed the bid-ask differential specified under Rule 6.37A(b)(4).9 Proposed Modifications to the Opening Process First, the Exchange proposes to change Rule 6.64(b) regarding how the OX System determines when to start the Auction Process. Current paragraph (b) of the Rule provides that ‘‘[a]fter the primary market for the underlying security disseminates the opening trade or the opening quote, the related option series will be opened automatically.’’ However, because it is possible that either an opening quote or opening trade alone may not accurately reflect the state of the market, the Exchange proposes to specify that an option series will be opened automatically, ‘‘once the primary market for the underlying security disseminates a quote and a trade that is at or within the quote.’’ 10 The Exchange believes the proposed change makes clear that the Exchange would only open a series automatically after it receives a quote in the underlying security and a trade in that security at or between the disseminated quote rather than simply upon receipt of 6 Rule 6.37(b)(1). The bid-ask guidelines specified in Rule 6.37(b)(1)(A)–(E) that are required to open a series are narrower than the $5 wide bid-ask differential for options traded on OX during Core Trading Hours. 7 Orders will have priority over Market Maker quotes at the same price. See Rule 6.64(b)(B). 8 See Rule 6.64(b)(B). The Exchange notes that the word Order appears capitalized in this paragraph and, because it is not a defined term, the Exchange proposes the non-substantive change of eliminating the capitalization. 9 See Rule 6.37A(b)(4). See Rule 6.37(b)(5) [sic] provides that options traded on OX during Core Trading Hours may be quoted with a difference not to exceed $5 between the bid and offer regardless of the price of the bid. 10 See proposed Rule 6.64 (b). The Exchange also proposes to clarify that ‘‘[a]t or after 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time,’’ i.e., when the market opens, the Exchange would initiate the Opening Process for all series associated with the underlying security. See id. E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1

Agencies

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21636-21639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08300]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-77536; File No. SR-NYSEMKT-2016-26]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing of
Proposed Rule Change Amending the Eighth Amended and Restated Operating
Agreement of the Exchange

April 6, 2016.
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 March 29, 2016, 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, 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.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change

The Exchange proposes to amend the Eighth Amended and Restated
Operating Agreement of the Exchange (``Operating Agreement'') to (1)
change the process for nominating non-affiliated directors; (2) remove
a reference to an obsolete category of member; and (3) add references
to Designated Market Makers. 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 the Operating Agreement to (1)
change the process for nominating non-affiliated directors; (2) remove
a reference to an obsolete category of member; and (3) add references
to Designated Market Makers (``DMMs'').
Process for Nominating Non-Affiliated Directors
Pursuant to the Operating Agreement, at least 20% of the Board of
Directors of the Exchange (``Board'') is made up of ``Non-Affiliated
Directors'' (commonly referred to as ``fair representation
directors'').\4\ Pursuant to Section 2.03(a) of the Operating
Agreement, the nominating and governance committee (``NGC'') of the
board of directors of ICE, the indirect parent of the Exchange,
nominates the candidates for Non-Affiliated Directors, who are then
elected by NYSE Group, as the sole member of the Exchange. The Exchange
proposes to amend Section 2.03(a) to have the Director Candidate
Recommendation Committee (``DCRC'') of the Exchange assume the role
currently played by the ICE NGC, and to make a conforming change to
Section 2.03(h)(i). In addition, if the Member Organizations endorse a
petition candidate for Non-Affiliate Director, pursuant to Section
2.03(a)(iv) the ICE NGC makes the determination of whether the person
is eligible.\5\ The Exchange proposes to amend Section 2.03(a)(iv) to
have the Exchange make such determination instead of the ICE NGC.
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\4\ Pursuant to Section 2.03(a) of the Operating Agreement, Non-
Affiliate Directors are persons who are not members of the board of
directors of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (``ICE''). A person may
not be a Non-Affiliate Director unless he or she is free of any
statutory disqualification, as defined in Section 3(a)(39) of the
Exchange Act. Non-Affiliate Directors need not be independent.
\5\ Pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Operating Agreement,
``Member Organizations'' refers to members and member organizations,
as defined in NYSE MKT Rules 18 and 24, respectively.
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Currently, the nomination by the ICE NGC is the final step in the
process for electing a Non-Affiliated Director. First, the DCRC
recommends a candidate, whose name then is announced to the Exchange's
Member Organizations. The Member Organizations may propose alternate
candidates by petition. If there are no petition candidates, the DCRC
recommends its candidate to the ICE NGC. If petition candidates are
proposed, the ICE NGC makes the determination of whether the candidates
are eligible, and then all of the eligible candidates are submitted to
the Member Organizations for a vote. The DCRC recommends to the ICE NGC
the candidate receiving the highest number of votes. The ICE NGC is
obligated to designate the DCRC-recommended candidate as the nominee,
and NYSE Group is obligated to elect him or her as a Non-Affiliated
Director.
The Exchange believes obligating the ICE NGC to nominate the
candidates for Non-Affiliated Directors based on the DCRC's unalterable
recommendation is neither necessary nor meaningful. Pursuant to Section
2.03(a)(iii) the ICE NGC is obligated to designate whomever the DCRC
recommends or, if there is a petition candidate, whomever emerges from
the petition process. The ICE NGC does not have any discretion.
Removing this unnecessary step would make the NYSE MKT process more
efficient.
The Exchange believes that having the Exchange determine whether
persons endorsed to be petition candidates are eligible also would be
more efficient, as it would not require action from the ICE NGC,
thereby removing the possibility

[[Page 21637]]

of any delay in the process. The proposed change would be consistent
with the petition process of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, in which the
exchange determines the eligibility of proposed nominees.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\6\ See By-Laws of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, Art. II, Sec.
1(b) (``The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such
other information as it may reasonably require to determine the
eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a Member
Representative Director.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Exchange believes that the proposed changes will make its
process more consistent with the process by which its affiliate, NYSE
Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca''), designates its fair representation
directors, in which the ICE NGC plays no role.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\7\ See Article III, Section 3.02 of the NYSE Arca Bylaws and
NYSE Arca Rule 3.2(b)(2). Similarly, the board of directors of The
NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., the sole member of the Nasdaq Stock Market
LLC, plays no role in nominating or determining the eligibility of
Member Representative Directors. See By-Laws of the Nasdaq Stock
Market LLC, Art. II, Sec. 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to revise Section 2.03(a)(iii)-
(v) of the Operating Agreement to amend the process for electing Non-
Affiliated Directors. As proposed, the process would be as follows.
First, as is currently the case, the DCRC would recommend a candidate,
whose name would be announced to the Member Organizations, and the
Member Organizations could propose alternate candidates by petition.
Second, if there were no petition candidates, the DCRC would nominate
the candidate it had previously recommended. If there were petition
candidates, the Exchange would make the eligibility determination of
petition candidates, all eligible candidates would be submitted to the
Member Organizations for a vote, and the DCRC would nominate the
candidate receiving the highest number of votes. Finally, NYSE Group
would be obligated to elect the DCRC-nominated candidate as a Non-
Affiliated Director.
The Exchange would make a conforming change to Section 2.03(h)(i)
to state that the DCRC ``will be responsible for nominating Non-
Affiliate Director Candidates.'' Currently, the provision states that
the DCRC ``will be responsible for recommending Non-Affiliated Director
Candidates to the ICE NGC.''
Elimination of a Category of DCRC Membership
As noted above, the Operating Agreement requires that the DCRC
include representatives from each of four categories of Exchange
members. The Exchange proposes to amend Section 2.03(h)(i) of the
Operating Agreement to eliminate from the DCRC representatives of the
fourth category, which relates to individuals who are ``associated with
a Member Organization and spend a majority of their time on the trading
floor of the [Exchange] and have as a substantial part of their
business the execution of transactions on the trading floor of the
[Exchange] for their own account or the account of their Member
Organization, but are not registered as a specialist.''\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\8\ Representatives from the following three categories would
continue to be included on the DCRC: (1) Member organizations that
engage in a business involving substantial direct contact with
securities customers (commonly referred to as ``upstairs firms''),
(2) specialists, and (3) floor brokers. The Exchange proposes to add
DMMs to category (2), as discussed below. See note 15, infra, and
accompanying text.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

This fourth category describes a class of proprietary traders known
as Registered Equity Market Makers (``REMM'') on the former American
Stock Exchange LLC, a predecessor of the Exchange. REMMs were floor
traders who engaged in on-floor proprietary trading, subject to certain
requirements intended to have these members effectively function like
market makers, pursuant to the exemption for market makers in Section
11(a)(1)(A) of the Exchange Act.\9\ The rules relating to this category
of proprietary floor trader were eliminated shortly after the American
Stock Exchange LLC was acquired by the NYSE.\10\ In addition, NYSE MKT
Rule 114, which governed REMMs, was deleted as obsolete in 2012.\11\ As
a result, there are no Exchange members or member organizations that
fall under the fourth category specified in Section 2.03(h)(i) of the
Operating Agreement, and so the Exchange proposes to delete references
to it as obsolete. The changes would make Section 2.03(h)(i) more
consistent with the categories of members of the Committee for Review
in Section 2.03(h)(iii).\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\9\ See 17 CFR 240.11a1-5; Division of Market Regulation, United
States Securities and Exchange Commission, Market 2000: An
Examination of Current Equity Market Developments (January 1994)
(``Market 2000''), at A V-7, available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/marketreg/market2000.pdf. This class of proprietary
traders were known as Registered Competitive Market Makers
(``RCMM'') on the NYSE.
\10\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58705 (October 1,
2008), 73 FR 58995, 58996 (October 8, 2008) (SR-Amex-2008-63). The
NYSE eliminated RCMMs shortly thereafter. See Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 60356 (July 21, 2009), 74 FR 37281 (July 28, 2009)
(SR-NYSE-2009-08).
\11\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68306 (November 28,
2012), 77 FR 71846 (December 4, 2012) (SR-NYSEMKT-2012-68).
\12\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77008 (February 1,
2016), 81 FR 6311 (February 5, 2016) (SR-NYSEMKT-2015-106).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

References to Designated Market Makers
In 2008, the Exchange adopted rules, based on NYSE rules, that
transformed specialists in the Exchange's equity market into DMMs.\13\
As a result, market makers on the NYSE MKT equity market are called
DMMs and on the NYSE Amex Options LLC (``NYSE Amex Options'') options
market are called ``specialists.''\14\ However, several provisions of
the Operating Agreement were not updated, and refer only to
specialists. Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to amend Sections 2.02
and 2.03(h)(i) to add references to DMMs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\13\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 58705 (Oct. 1,
2008), 73 FR 58995 (Oct. 8. 2008) (SR-Amex-2008-63) (approval order)
and 59022 (Nov. 26, 2008), 73 FR 73683 (Dec. 3, 2008) (SR-NYSEALTR-
2008-10) (amending equity rules to conform to NYSE New Market Model
Pilot rules). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58845
(October 24, 2008), 73 FR 64379, 64381 (October 29, 2008) (SR-NYSE-
2008-46) (approving rule change to create NYSE New Market Model
Pilot).
\14\ The Exchange operates a marketplace for trading options
through NYSE Amex Options, a facility of the Exchange. See Rule 2--
Equities (i) & (j) (defining DMM) and Rule 927NY (defining
specialist).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 2.02 of the Operating Agreement provides that the Board has
general supervision over Member Organizations and over approved persons
in connection with their conduct with or affecting Member
Organizations. Section 2.02 further provides that the Board ``may
disapprove of any member acting as a specialist or odd lot dealer''.
The Exchange proposes to add ``designated market maker (as defined in
Rule 2 of the Company Rules) (`DMM')'' after ``specialist'' in Section
2.02.
Section 2.03(h)(i) sets out the categories of individuals that
shall be represented on the DCRC. The Exchange proposes to add ``or
DMM'' to the references to ``specialist'' in categories (ii) and (iii),
so that they reference both types of market makers. The changes would
be consistent with the categories of members of the Committee for
Review in Section 2.03(h)(iii), which refers to both DMMs and
specialists.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\15\ See note 12, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, the Exchange proposes to make technical and conforming
changes to the recitals and signature page of the Operating Agreement.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b) of the Exchange Act \16\ in general, and with Section
6(b)(1) \17\ in particular, in that it enables the Exchange to be so
organized as to have

[[Page 21638]]

the capacity to be able to carry out the purposes of the Exchange Act
and to comply, and to enforce compliance by its exchange members and
persons associated with its exchange members, with the provisions of
the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and the rules
of the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\16\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The proposed change would remove the requirement that the ICE NGC
nominate the candidates for Non-Affiliated Directors and have the DCRC
nominate the candidates for Non-Affiliated Director directly. This
proposed change would remove an unnecessary step in the process of
nominating candidates for Non-Affiliated Directors and increase
efficiency. In addition, the proposed change would remove the
requirement that the ICE NGC make the determination whether persons
endorsed to be petition candidates are eligible to be Non-Affiliated
Directors, and have the Exchange make such determination instead. By
not requiring action from the ICE NGC, the possibility of any resulting
delay in the process is removed. For these reasons, the Exchange
believes that the proposed rule change would contribute to the orderly
operation of the Exchange and would enable the Exchange to be so
organized as to have the capacity to carry out the purposes of the
Exchange Act and comply and enforce compliance with the provisions of
the Exchange Act by its members and persons associated with its
members. The Exchange therefore believes that approval of the proposed
is consistent with Section 6(b)(1) of the Act.
The Exchange believes that amending the Operating Agreement to
remove the requirement that the DCRC include representatives from the
fourth category of members would remove a reference to an obsolete
category, thereby reducing potential confusion that may result from
retaining obsolete references in the Exchange's Operating Agreement.
The Exchange believes that eliminating such obsolete references would
not be inconsistent with the public interest and the protection of
investors because investors will not be harmed and in fact would
benefit from increased transparency, thereby reducing potential
confusion. Removing such obsolete references will also further the goal
of transparency and add clarity to the Exchange's rules.
The Exchange believes that adding references to DMMs enables the
Exchange to be so organized as to have the capacity to be able to carry
out the purposes of the Exchange Act and to comply, and to enforce
compliance by its exchange members and persons associated with its
exchange members, with the provisions of the Exchange Act, the rules
and regulations thereunder, and the rules of the Exchange. The proposed
addition of a reference to DMMs in Section 2.02 will clarify that the
Board has general supervision over all Member Organizations, including
the ability to disapprove of any member acting as a DMM, as well as a
specialist or odd lot dealer. The proposed addition of references to
DMMs in Section 2.03(h)(i) further the goals of Section 6(b)(3) of
ensuring fair representation of an exchange's members in the selection
of its directors and administration of its affairs by including both
types of market makers in the categories of individuals that shall be
represented on the DCRC.
The Exchange also believes that this filing furthers the objectives
of Section 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act \18\ because the proposed rule
change would be consistent with and facilitate a governance and
regulatory structure that is designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with
persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing
information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in
securities, 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\18\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Exchange believes that having the DCRC nominate the candidates
for Non-Affiliated Director would remove impediments to and perfect a
national market system because the proposed rule change would remove an
unnecessary step in the process for nominating candidates for Non-
Affiliated Directors and would remove the ICE NGC from making the
determination whether persons endorsed to be petition candidates are
eligible to be Non-Affiliated Directors. By not requiring action from
the ICE NGC, the possibility of any resulting delay in the process is
removed. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is
therefore consistent with and facilitates a governance and regulatory
structure that furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) 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 that is not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purposes of the Exchange Act. The proposed rule
change is not intended to address competitive issues but rather is
concerned solely with the administration and functioning of the
Exchange and its board of directors.

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

Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the
Federal Register or up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may designate
if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its
reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory
organization consents, the Commission will:
(A) By order approve or disapprove the proposed rule change, or
(B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:

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-NYSEMKT-2016-26 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEMKT-2016-26. 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

[[Page 21639]]

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-NYSEMKT-2016-26, and should be submitted on or before
May 3, 2016.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\19\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-08300 Filed 4-11-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

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