Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending Section 907.00 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual To Adjust the Timing of Entitlements to Complimentary Products and Services for Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, 62937-62939 [2016-21914]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 177 / Tuesday, September 13, 2016 / Notices
10 CFR part 52 license (e.g., an early site
permit) or NRC regulatory approval
(e.g., a design certification rule) with
specified issue finality provisions. The
NRC does not, at this time, intend to
impose the positions represented in
Revision 3 of RG 1.54 on combined
license applicants in a manner that is
inconsistent with any issue finality
provisions. If, in the future, the NRC
seeks to impose a position in Revision
3 of RG 1.54 in a manner that does not
provide issue finality as described in the
applicable issue finality provision, then
the NRC must address the criteria for
avoiding issue finality as described in
the applicable issue finality provision.
Proposed Revision 3 of RG 1.54
updates the ASTM International
standards the NRC staff has approved
for use when qualifying and testing
protective coatings and linings used in
nuclear power plants.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day
of September, 2016.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Thomas H. Boyce,
Chief, Regulatory Guidance and Generic
Issues Branch, Division of Engineering, Office
of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 2016–21956 Filed 9–12–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY POLICY
2016 National Nanotechnology
Initiative Strategic Plan; Notice of
Availability and Request for Public
Comment
Notice of Availability and
Request for Public Comment.
ACTION:
The National Nanotechnology
Coordination Office (NNCO), on behalf
of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering,
and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee
of the Committee on Technology;
National Science and Technology
Council (NSTC); announces the
availability of the draft 2016 National
Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)
Strategic Plan for public comment. The
draft plan is posted at www.nano.gov/
2016strategy. Comments of
approximately one page or less in length
are requested.
DATES: Comments must be received by
September 23, 2016.
ADDRESSES: The draft 2016 NNI
Strategic Plan is available on the NNI
Web site, www.nano.gov/2016strategy.
The public is encouraged to submit
comments electronically through
www.nano.gov/2016strategy, or via
email to 2016NNIStrategy@
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:27 Sep 12, 2016
Jkt 238001
nnco.nano.gov. Please reference page
and line numbers in your response, as
appropriate. For individuals who do not
have access to the internet, comments
may be submitted in writing to: Stacey
Standridge, ATTN: NNI Strategic Plan
Comments, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Stafford
II, Suite 405, Arlington, VA 22230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stacey Standridge, National
Nanotechnology Coordination Office,
703–292–8103, sstandridge@
nnco.nano.gov.
The NNI
is a U.S. Government R&D program
involving 20 departments and
independent agencies, 11 of which have
budgets for nanotechnology R&D,
working together toward the common
vision of a future in which the ability to
understand and control matter at the
nanoscale level leads to a revolution in
technology and industry that benefits
society. The combined, coordinated
efforts of these agencies have
accelerated discovery, development,
and deployment of nanotechnology
towards agency missions and the
broader national interest.
The NNI Strategic Plan describes the
NNI vision and goals and the strategies
by which these goals are to be achieved.
The plan includes a description of the
NNI investment strategy and the
program component areas called for by
the 21st Century Research and
Development Act of 2003, and it also
identifies specific objectives toward
collectively achieving the NNI vision.
This plan updates and replaces the NNI
Strategic Plan of February 2014.
The NNI Strategic Plan provides the
framework that underpins the
nanotechnology-related activities of the
NNI agencies. Its aim is to ensure that
advancements in nanotechnology and
its applications continue in this vital
R&D enterprise, while potential
concerns about current and future
applications are also addressed. The
purpose of the Strategic Plan is to
catalyze achievements in support of the
goals and vision of the NNI by providing
guidance for agency leaders, program
managers, and the research community
regarding the planning and
implementation of Federal
nanotechnology R&D investments and
activities.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Ted Wackler,
Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant Director.
[FR Doc. 2016–21796 Filed 9–12–16; 8:45 am]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–78782; File No. SR–NYSE–
2016–58]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New
York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of
Filing of Proposed Rule Change
Amending Section 907.00 of the NYSE
Listed Company Manual To Adjust the
Timing of Entitlements to
Complimentary Products and Services
for Special Purpose Acquisition
Companies
September 7, 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
26, 2016, New York Stock Exchange
LLC (‘‘NYSE’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the
proposed rule change as described in
Items I, II, and III below, which Items
have been prepared by the 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 907.00 of the NYSE Listed
Company Manual (the ‘‘Manual’’) to
adjust the service entitlements of special
purpose acquisition companies
(‘‘SPACs’’) under that rule. 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.
1 15
U.S.C.78s(b)(1).
U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
2 15
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 177 / Tuesday, September 13, 2016 / Notices
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend
Section 907.00 of the Manual 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 102.01 or 103.00 of the Manual
for the first time, regardless of whether
such U.S. or non-U.S. company
conducts an offering and (ii) 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 eligible for
services as a Tier A or Tier B company
as follows:
• Tier A: For Eligible New Listings
with a global market value of $400
million or more, calculated as of the
date of listing on the Exchange, the
Exchange offers market surveillance,
market analytics, Web-hosting, Webcasting, corporate governance tools, and
news distribution products and services
for a period of 24 calendar months from
the date of listing.
• Tier B: For Eligible New Listings
with a global market value of less than
$400 million, calculated as of the date
of listing on the Exchange, the Exchange
offers Web-hosting, market analytics,
Web-casting, corporate governance
tools, and news distribution products
and services for a period of 24 calendar
months from the date of listing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
however, if an Eligible New Listing
begins to use a particular product or
service provided for under Section
907.00 within 30 days of its initial
listing date, the complimentary period
will begin on the date of first use.4
A SPAC is a special purpose company
formed for the purpose of effecting a
merger, capital stock exchange, asset
4 The Exchange does not propose to make any
changes in this filing to the values of the various
services set forth above as provided to eligible listed
companies as specified in Section 907.00.
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15:27 Sep 12, 2016
Jkt 238001
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 the
requirements of Section 102.06 and
102.01A of the Manual.5 Section 102.06
of the Manual provides that the
Exchange will consider on a case-bycase basis the appropriateness for listing
of SPACs that conduct an initial public
offering of which at least 90% of the
proceeds, together with the proceeds of
any other concurrent sales of the SPAC’s
equity securities, will be held in a trust
account controlled by an independent
custodian (the ‘‘Trust Account’’) until
consummation of a business
combination in the form of a merger,
capital stock exchange, asset
acquisition, stock purchase,
reorganization, or similar business
combination with one or more operating
businesses or assets with a fair market
value equal to at least 80% of the net
assets held in trust (net of amounts
disbursed to management for working
capital purposes and excluding the
amount of any deferred underwriting
discount held in trust) (a ‘‘Business
Combination’’ or the ‘‘Business
Combination Condition’’). Under
Section 102.06, the SPAC must be
liquidated if no Business Combination
has been consummated within a
specified time period not to exceed
three years. The Exchange will promptly
commence delisting procedures with
respect to any SPAC that fails to
consummate its Business Combination
within (i) the time period specified by
its constitutive documents or by
contract or (ii) three years, whichever is
shorter.
The Exchange now proposes to amend
Section 907.00 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 907.00
that if a SPAC that has met the Business
Combination Condition begins using a
particular service within 30 days after
the date of meeting 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,6 in general, and
furthers the objectives of Sections
6(b)(4) 7 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) 8 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
6 15
5 Section
102.06 refers to SPACs as ‘‘acquisition
companies’’ or ‘‘ACs.’’
PO 00000
Frm 00085
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U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
8 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
7 15
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 177 / Tuesday, September 13, 2016 / Notices
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
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.
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
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 amendment to
Section 907.00 will increase
competition by enabling the Exchange
to more effectively compete for listings.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:27 Sep 12, 2016
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C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments were 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–
NYSE–2016–58 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–2016–58. 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
Frm 00086
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–NYSE–
2016–58 and should be submitted on or
before October 4, 2016.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.9
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016–21914 Filed 9–12–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
IV. Solicitation of Comments
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–78780; File No. SR–
NYSEMKT–2016–87]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change To Amend Rule 903 and
Rule 900.2NY(50)
September 7, 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
September 6, 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 and II below, which Items have
been prepared by the self-regulatory
organization. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend
Rule 903 and Rule 900.2NY(50). The
proposed rule change is available on the
Exchange’s Web site at www.nyse.com,
at the principal office of the Exchange,
9 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
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 13, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62937-62939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-21914]
=======================================================================
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-78782; File No. SR-NYSE-2016-58]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC;
Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending Section 907.00 of the
NYSE Listed Company Manual To Adjust the Timing of Entitlements to
Complimentary Products and Services for Special Purpose Acquisition
Companies
September 7, 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 26, 2016, New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE''
or the ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I,
II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-
regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C.78s(b)(1).
\2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
\3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend Section 907.00 of the NYSE Listed
Company Manual (the ``Manual'') to adjust the service entitlements of
special purpose acquisition companies (``SPACs'') under that rule. 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.
[[Page 62938]]
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 907.00 of the Manual 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 102.01 or 103.00 of the
Manual for the first time, regardless of whether such U.S. or non-U.S.
company conducts an offering and (ii) 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 eligible for services as a Tier A or Tier
B company as follows:
Tier A: For Eligible New Listings with a global market
value of $400 million or more, calculated as of the date of listing on
the Exchange, the Exchange offers market surveillance, market
analytics, Web-hosting, Web-casting, corporate governance tools, and
news distribution products and services for a period of 24 calendar
months from the date of listing.
Tier B: For Eligible New Listings with a global market
value of less than $400 million, calculated as of the date of listing
on the Exchange, the Exchange offers Web-hosting, market analytics,
Web-casting, corporate governance tools, and news distribution products
and services for a period of 24 calendar months from the date of
listing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, if an Eligible New Listing
begins to use a particular product or service provided for under
Section 907.00 within 30 days of its initial listing date, the
complimentary period will begin on the date of first use.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The Exchange does not propose to make any changes in this
filing to the values of the various services set forth above as
provided to eligible listed companies as specified in Section
907.00.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 the requirements of Section 102.06 and 102.01A of the
Manual.\5\ Section 102.06 of the Manual provides that the Exchange will
consider on a case-by-case basis the appropriateness for listing of
SPACs that conduct an initial public offering of which at least 90% of
the proceeds, together with the proceeds of any other concurrent sales
of the SPAC's equity securities, will be held in a trust account
controlled by an independent custodian (the ``Trust Account'') until
consummation of a business combination in the form of a merger, capital
stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or
similar business combination with one or more operating businesses or
assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets
held in trust (net of amounts disbursed to management for working
capital purposes and excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting
discount held in trust) (a ``Business Combination'' or the ``Business
Combination Condition''). Under Section 102.06, the SPAC must be
liquidated if no Business Combination has been consummated within a
specified time period not to exceed three years. The Exchange will
promptly commence delisting procedures with respect to any SPAC that
fails to consummate its Business Combination within (i) the time period
specified by its constitutive documents or by contract or (ii) three
years, whichever is shorter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ Section 102.06 refers to SPACs as ``acquisition companies''
or ``ACs.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange now proposes to amend Section 907.00 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 907.00 that if a SPAC that has met the
Business Combination Condition begins using a particular service within
30 days after the date of meeting 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,\6\ in general, and furthers the
objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) \7\ 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) \8\ of the Act
in that it is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
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\6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
\8\ 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
[[Page 62939]]
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 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 amendment to Section
907.00 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-NYSE-2016-58 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-2016-58. 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-NYSE-2016-58 and should be
submitted on or before October 4, 2016.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\9\
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\9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-21914 Filed 9-12-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P