Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending Section 146 of the NYSE MKT Company Guide To Adjust the Entitlement to Services of Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, 56720-56722 [2016-19894]
Download as PDF
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
56720
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 162 / Monday, August 22, 2016 / Notices
to its filing. This letter was from the ICI,
in which it argued that the Exchange
should interpret its existing rules as
providing for the following:
• Investment companies should only
have to pay interim report fees once per
year rather than each time a report is
delivered to shareholders;
• the Preference Management Fee
should be charged only on a one-time
basis in relation to any specific account;
• brokers should not be permitted to
collect any fees whatsoever from
investment companies in relation to
fund shares held in managed accounts;
• brokers should not be allowed to
receive any portion of the regulated fees
collected by intermediaries conducting
distributions on their behalf;
• the current rule should be
interpreted as applying the Notice and
Access fees to electronic deliveries
under proposed Rule 30e–3; and
• the Notice and Access Fees should
not be payable in relation to any
account that does not actually receive a
Notice and Access delivery under
proposed Rule 30e–3.
The Exchange does not agree that
there is any justification in the text of
Rule 451 for regarding any of these
positions as accurate interpretations of
Rule 451 in its current form. The
purpose of the current proposal is solely
to amend Rule 451 to facilitate the SEC’s
potential finalization of proposed Rule
30e–3. Accordingly, and consistent with
certain of ICI’s recommendations, the
Exchange is proposing changes to its
rules to apply the Notice and Access
fees with respect to the distribution of
investment company shareholder
reports pursuant to any ‘‘notice and
access’’ rules adopted by the SEC in
relation to such distributions. In
addition, and also as recommended by
the ICI in its letter, the Exchange’s
proposal would provide that the Notice
and Access fee would only apply to
accounts that actually receive Notice
and Access deliveries under proposed
Rule 30e–3 and not to accounts with
respect to which investment companies
are charged a Preference Management
fee. The Exchange does not believe that
the other, more substantial changes to
the application of Rule 451 suggested by
the ICI are necessary to implementation
of Rule 30e–3 if the SEC were to finalize
its proposal and, thus the Exchange
believes those proposals should be
given separate consideration.
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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:13 Aug 19, 2016
Jkt 238001
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–
NYSE–2016–55 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSE–2016–55. 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
PO 00000
Frm 00144
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
available publicly. All submissions
should refer to File Number SR–NYSE–
2016–55 and should be submitted on or
before September 12, 2016.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.15
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016–19897 Filed 8–19–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–78586; File No. SR–
NYSEMKT–2016–62]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
MKT LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed
Rule Change Amending Section 146 of
the NYSE MKT Company Guide To
Adjust the Entitlement to Services of
Special Purpose Acquisition
Companies
August 16, 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 August
2, 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
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
Section 146 of the NYSE MKT Company
Guide (the ‘‘Company Guide’’) to adjust
the entitlement to services of special
purpose acquisition companies. 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,
15 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
E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 162 / Monday, August 22, 2016 / Notices
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
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend
Section 146 of the Company Guide to
adjust the service entitlements of special
purpose acquisition companies
(‘‘SPACs’’) under that rule.
The Exchange offers complimentary
products and services for a period of 24
calendar months from the date of initial
listing to a category of listed companies
defined as Eligible New Listings.
Eligible New Listings include: (i) any
U.S. company that lists common stock
on the Exchange for the first time and
any non-U.S. company that lists an
equity security on the Exchange under
Section 101 or 110 of the Company
Guide for the first time, regardless of
whether such U.S. or non-U.S. company
conducts an offering, (ii) any U.S. or
non-U.S. company that transfers its
listing of common stock or equity
securities, respectively, to the Exchange
from another national securities
exchange or (iii) any U.S. or non-U.S.
company emerging from a bankruptcy,
spinoff (where a company lists new
shares in the absence of a public
offering), and carve-out (where a
company carves out a business line or
division, which then conducts a
separate initial public offering).
Eligible New Listings are entitled to
receive Web-hosting products and
services (with a commercial value of
approximately $16,000 annually), webcasting services (with a commercial
value of approximately $6,500
annually), whistleblower hotline
services (with a commercial value of
approximately $4,000 annually), news
distribution products and services (with
a commercial value of approximately
$20,000 annually) and corporate
governance tools (with a commercial
value of approximately $15,000
annually) for a period of 24 calendar
months from the date of initial listing on
the Exchange. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, however, if an Eligible New
Listing begins to use a particular
product or service provided for under
Section 146 within 30 days of its initial
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:13 Aug 19, 2016
Jkt 238001
listing date, the complimentary period
will begin on the date of first use.
A SPAC is a special purpose company
formed for the purpose of effecting a
merger, capital stock exchange, asset
acquisition, stock purchase,
reorganization or similar business
combination with one or more operating
businesses or assets. To qualify for
initial listing a SPAC must meet one of
the quantitative standards in Section
101 or 102 and also the SPAC-specific
requirements of Section 119. At least
90% of the gross proceeds from the
SPAC’s initial public offering and any
concurrent sale by the company of
equity securities must be deposited in a
trust account maintained by an
independent trustee, an escrow account
maintained by an ‘‘insured depository
institution’’, as that term is defined in
Section 3(c)(2) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act, or in a separate bank
account established by a registered
broker or dealer (collectively, a ‘‘deposit
account’’). Under Section 119(b), within
36 months of the effectiveness of a
SPAC’s initial public offering
registration statement, or such shorter
period that the company specifies in its
registration statement, the company
must complete one or more business
combinations having an aggregate fair
market value of at least 80% of the value
of the deposit account (excluding any
deferred underwriter’s fees and taxes
payable on the income earned on the
deposit account) at the time of the
agreement to enter into the initial
combination (the ‘‘Business
Combination Condition’’).
The Exchange now proposes to amend
Section 146 to exclude newly-listed
SPACs from the definition of Eligible
New Listings. In lieu of receiving these
services at the time of initial listing, the
proposed amended rule would treat a
SPAC that remains listed after meeting
the Business Combination Condition as
an Eligible New Listing and would
provide the services to which that status
would entitle it for 24 months from the
date of meeting the Business
Combination Condition.
The Exchange believes this approach
is appropriate in light of the special
characteristics of a SPAC. SPACs raise
money on a one-time basis and typically
trade at a price that is very close to their
liquidation value. As such, SPAC
managements are typically not focused
on their stock price and investor
relations to the same degree as operating
companies are. As the services provided
to Eligible New Listings are targeted in
large part on those market-driven
concerns of newly-listed operating
companies, they are less useful to
SPACs. A SPAC that has met the
PO 00000
Frm 00145
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
56721
Business Combination Condition, on the
other hand, is similarly situated to a
newly-formed publicly-traded operating
company and the Exchange believes that
the services provided to Eligible New
Listings will be as relevant and
attractive to a SPAC that has met the
Business Combination Condition as to
the newly-listed operating companies
that are generally eligible for those
services.
The Exchange believes that
companies will often require a period of
time after meeting the Business
Combination Condition to complete the
contracting and training process with
vendors providing the complimentary
products and services. Therefore, many
companies may not be able to begin
using the suite of products offered to
them immediately on becoming eligible.
To address this issue, the Exchange
proposes to specify in Section 146 that
if a SPAC that has met the Business
Combination Condition begins using a
particular service within 30 days after
the date of it met [sic] the Business
Combination Condition, the
complimentary period begins on such
date of first use. In all other instances,
the complimentary period will begin on
the date the SPAC meets the Business
Combination Condition.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b) of the Act, 4 in general, and
furthers the objectives of Sections
6(b)(4) 5 of the Act, in particular, in that
it is designed to provide for the
equitable allocation of reasonable dues,
fees, and other charges among its
members and issuers and other persons
using its facilities. The Exchange also
believes that the proposed rule change
is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) 6 of the
Act in that it is not designed to permit
unfair discrimination between
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
The Exchange believes that it is
reasonable to offer complimentary
products and services to attract and
retain listings and respond to
competitive pressures. As SPACs are
unlikely to utilize the services available
to them currently at the time of initial
listing but would likely find those
services useful if they remain listed after
they meet the Business Combination
Condition, the Exchange believes it is
reasonable to shift the time when SPACs
are eligible for the services available to
Eligible New Listings to the period
4 15
U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
6 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
5 15
E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM
22AUN1
56722
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 162 / Monday, August 22, 2016 / Notices
immediately after meeting the Business
Combination Condition.
The Exchange believes that it is not
unfairly discriminatory to provide
SPACs with the applicable services only
if and when they meet the Business
Combination Condition. The Exchange
recognizes that not all SPACs will meet
the Business Combination Condition
and that some listed SPACs will
therefore never become eligible for the
services that would be provided to an
otherwise similarly qualified operating
company. However, given the specific
characteristics of the SPAC structure,
these services are generally not of any
particular value to a SPAC prior to
meeting the Business Combination
Condition and the Exchange therefore
believes that those SPACs that never
qualify for the services will not suffer
any meaningful detriment as a
consequence.
Allowing SPACs up to 30 days after
meeting the Business Combination
Condition to start using the
complimentary products and services is
a reflection of the Exchange’s
experience that it can take companies a
period of time to review and complete
necessary contracts and training for
services following their becoming
eligible for those services. Allowing this
modest 30 day period, if the company
needs it, helps ensure that the company
will have the benefit of the full period
permitted under the rule to actually use
the services, thus giving companies the
full intended benefit.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
17:13 Aug 19, 2016
Jkt 238001
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.
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–2016–62 on the subject line.
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSEMKT–2016–62. 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
PO 00000
Frm 00146
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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–2016–62 and should be
submitted on or before September 12,
2016.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.7
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016–19894 Filed 8–19–16; 8:45 am]
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Paper Comments
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 Act. In many
cases, SPACs will consider transferring
to a new listing venue at the time they
meet the Business Combination
Condition. The proposed rule change
enables the Exchange to compete for the
retention of these companies by offering
them a package of complimentary
products and services that assist their
transition to being a publicly listed
operating company for the first time. All
similarly situated companies are eligible
for the same package of services.
Therefore, the proposed creation of
Section 146 of the Company Guide will
increase competition by enabling the
Exchange to more effectively compete
for listings.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No.
32219; 812–14632]
Davis Fundamental ETF Trust, et al.;
Notice of Application
August 16, 2016.
Agency: Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’).
Action: Notice of an application for an
order under section 6(c) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
‘‘Act’’) for an exemption from sections
2(a)(32), 5(a)(1), 22(d), and 22(e) of the
Act and rule 22c–1 under the Act, under
sections 6(c) and 17(b) of the Act for an
exemption from sections 17(a)(1) and
17(a)(2) of the Act, and under section
12(d)(1)(J) for an exemption from
sections 12(d)(1)(A) and 12(d)(1)(B) of
the Act. The requested order would
permit (a) actively-managed series of
certain open-end management
investment companies (‘‘Funds’’) to
issue shares redeemable in large
aggregations only (‘‘Creation Units’’); (b)
secondary market transactions in Fund
shares to occur at negotiated market
prices rather than at net asset value
(‘‘NAV’’); (c) certain Funds to pay
redemption proceeds, under certain
circumstances, more than seven days
after the tender of shares for
redemption; (d) certain affiliated
persons of a Fund to deposit securities
7 17
E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
22AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 162 (Monday, August 22, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56720-56722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19894]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-78586; File No. SR-NYSEMKT-2016-62]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing of
Proposed Rule Change Amending Section 146 of the NYSE MKT Company Guide
To Adjust the Entitlement to Services of Special Purpose Acquisition
Companies
August 16, 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 August 2, 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend Section 146 of the NYSE MKT Company
Guide (the ``Company Guide'') to adjust the entitlement to services of
special purpose acquisition companies. 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,
[[Page 56721]]
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 Section 146 of the Company Guide to
adjust the service entitlements of special purpose acquisition
companies (``SPACs'') under that rule.
The Exchange offers complimentary products and services for a
period of 24 calendar months from the date of initial listing to a
category of listed companies defined as Eligible New Listings. Eligible
New Listings include: (i) any U.S. company that lists common stock on
the Exchange for the first time and any non-U.S. company that lists an
equity security on the Exchange under Section 101 or 110 of the Company
Guide for the first time, regardless of whether such U.S. or non-U.S.
company conducts an offering, (ii) any U.S. or non-U.S. company that
transfers its listing of common stock or equity securities,
respectively, to the Exchange from another national securities exchange
or (iii) any U.S. or non-U.S. company emerging from a bankruptcy,
spinoff (where a company lists new shares in the absence of a public
offering), and carve-out (where a company carves out a business line or
division, which then conducts a separate initial public offering).
Eligible New Listings are entitled to receive Web-hosting products
and services (with a commercial value of approximately $16,000
annually), web-casting services (with a commercial value of
approximately $6,500 annually), whistleblower hotline services (with a
commercial value of approximately $4,000 annually), news distribution
products and services (with a commercial value of approximately $20,000
annually) and corporate governance tools (with a commercial value of
approximately $15,000 annually) for a period of 24 calendar months from
the date of initial listing on the Exchange. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, however, if an Eligible New Listing begins to use a
particular product or service provided for under Section 146 within 30
days of its initial listing date, the complimentary period will begin
on the date of first use.
A SPAC is a special purpose company formed for the purpose of
effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock
purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or
more operating businesses or assets. To qualify for initial listing a
SPAC must meet one of the quantitative standards in Section 101 or 102
and also the SPAC-specific requirements of Section 119. At least 90% of
the gross proceeds from the SPAC's initial public offering and any
concurrent sale by the company of equity securities must be deposited
in a trust account maintained by an independent trustee, an escrow
account maintained by an ``insured depository institution'', as that
term is defined in Section 3(c)(2) of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act, or in a separate bank account established by a registered broker
or dealer (collectively, a ``deposit account''). Under Section 119(b),
within 36 months of the effectiveness of a SPAC's initial public
offering registration statement, or such shorter period that the
company specifies in its registration statement, the company must
complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair
market value of at least 80% of the value of the deposit account
(excluding any deferred underwriter's fees and taxes payable on the
income earned on the deposit account) at the time of the agreement to
enter into the initial combination (the ``Business Combination
Condition'').
The Exchange now proposes to amend Section 146 to exclude newly-
listed SPACs from the definition of Eligible New Listings. In lieu of
receiving these services at the time of initial listing, the proposed
amended rule would treat a SPAC that remains listed after meeting the
Business Combination Condition as an Eligible New Listing and would
provide the services to which that status would entitle it for 24
months from the date of meeting the Business Combination Condition.
The Exchange believes this approach is appropriate in light of the
special characteristics of a SPAC. SPACs raise money on a one-time
basis and typically trade at a price that is very close to their
liquidation value. As such, SPAC managements are typically not focused
on their stock price and investor relations to the same degree as
operating companies are. As the services provided to Eligible New
Listings are targeted in large part on those market-driven concerns of
newly-listed operating companies, they are less useful to SPACs. A SPAC
that has met the Business Combination Condition, on the other hand, is
similarly situated to a newly-formed publicly-traded operating company
and the Exchange believes that the services provided to Eligible New
Listings will be as relevant and attractive to a SPAC that has met the
Business Combination Condition as to the newly-listed operating
companies that are generally eligible for those services.
The Exchange believes that companies will often require a period of
time after meeting the Business Combination Condition to complete the
contracting and training process with vendors providing the
complimentary products and services. Therefore, many companies may not
be able to begin using the suite of products offered to them
immediately on becoming eligible. To address this issue, the Exchange
proposes to specify in Section 146 that if a SPAC that has met the
Business Combination Condition begins using a particular service within
30 days after the date of it met [sic] the Business Combination
Condition, the complimentary period begins on such date of first use.
In all other instances, the complimentary period will begin on the date
the SPAC meets the Business Combination Condition.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b) of the Act, \4\ in general, and furthers the
objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) \5\ of the Act, in particular, in that
it is designed to provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable
dues, fees, and other charges among its members and issuers and other
persons using its facilities. The Exchange also believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) \6\ of the Act
in that it is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
\6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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The Exchange believes that it is reasonable to offer complimentary
products and services to attract and retain listings and respond to
competitive pressures. As SPACs are unlikely to utilize the services
available to them currently at the time of initial listing but would
likely find those services useful if they remain listed after they meet
the Business Combination Condition, the Exchange believes it is
reasonable to shift the time when SPACs are eligible for the services
available to Eligible New Listings to the period
[[Page 56722]]
immediately after meeting the Business Combination Condition.
The Exchange believes that it is not unfairly discriminatory to
provide SPACs with the applicable services only if and when they meet
the Business Combination Condition. The Exchange recognizes that not
all SPACs will meet the Business Combination Condition and that some
listed SPACs will therefore never become eligible for the services that
would be provided to an otherwise similarly qualified operating
company. However, given the specific characteristics of the SPAC
structure, these services are generally not of any particular value to
a SPAC prior to meeting the Business Combination Condition and the
Exchange therefore believes that those SPACs that never qualify for the
services will not suffer any meaningful detriment as a consequence.
Allowing SPACs up to 30 days after meeting the Business Combination
Condition to start using the complimentary products and services is a
reflection of the Exchange's experience that it can take companies a
period of time to review and complete necessary contracts and training
for services following their becoming eligible for those services.
Allowing this modest 30 day period, if the company needs it, helps
ensure that the company will have the benefit of the full period
permitted under the rule to actually use the services, thus giving
companies the full intended benefit.
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 Act. In many cases, SPACs will
consider transferring to a new listing venue at the time they meet the
Business Combination Condition. The proposed rule change enables the
Exchange to compete for the retention of these companies by offering
them a package of complimentary products and services that assist their
transition to being a publicly listed operating company for the first
time. All similarly situated companies are eligible for the same
package of services. Therefore, the proposed creation of Section 146 of
the Company Guide will increase competition by enabling the Exchange to
more effectively compete for listings.
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-2016-62 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEMKT-2016-62. 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-NYSEMKT-2016-62 and should
be submitted on or before September 12, 2016.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\7\
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\7\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-19894 Filed 8-19-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P