Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 2 to Proposed Rule Change in Connection With the Proposed Transaction Involving CHX Holdings, Inc. and North America Casin Holdings, Inc., 55141-55145 [2017-25030]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 222 / Monday, November 20, 2017 / Notices
in furtherance of the purposes of the
Act.
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–
LCH SA–2017–008 on the subject line.
nshattuck on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES
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–LCH SA–2017–008. 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 LCH SA and on LCH SA’s Web
site at https://www.lch.com/assetclasses/cdsclear.
All comments received will be posted
without change. Persons submitting
comments are cautioned that we do not
redact or edit personal identifying
information from comment submissions.
You should submit only information
that you wish to make available
publicly. All submissions should refer
to File Number SR–LCH SA–2017–008
and should be submitted on or before
December 11, 2017.
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15:15 Nov 17, 2017
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For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.11
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–25040 Filed 11–17–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–82077; File No. SR–CHX–
2016–20]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice
of Filing of Amendment No. 2 to
Proposed Rule Change in Connection
With the Proposed Transaction
Involving CHX Holdings, Inc. and North
America Casin Holdings, Inc.
November 14, 2017.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Exchange Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4
thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that
on November 6, 2017, the Chicago Stock
Exchange, Inc. (‘‘CHX’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’)
filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’)
Amendment No. 2 to the proposed rule
change as described in Item I below,
which Item has been prepared by the
Exchange and is reproduced below
verbatim.
The proposed rule change was
designed to effect an acquisition of CHX
Holdings, Inc. by North America Casin
Holdings, Inc., which would be owned
by a consortium of investors (‘‘upstream
investors’’). On August 9, 2017, the
Division of Trading and Markets, for the
Commission pursuant to delegated
authority,3 approved the proposed rule
change, as modified by Amendment No.
1.4 Pursuant to Commission Rule of
Practice 431,5 the Commission is
reviewing the delegated action, and the
approval order is stayed.6 On August 18,
2017, the Commission issued a
scheduling order, pursuant to
Commission Rule of Practice 431,
providing until September 17, 2017 for
any party or other person to file any
11 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 17 CFR 200.30 3(a)(12).
4 See Exchange Act Release No. 81366, 82 FR
38734 (August 15, 2017).
5 17 CFR 201.431.
6 See Letter from Secretary of the Commission to
Albert (A.J.) Kim, VP and Associate General
Counsel, Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc., dated
August 9, 2017 (providing notice of Commission
review of delegated action and stay of order),
available at https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro/chx/
2017/34-81366-letter-from-secretary.pdf.
1 15
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Frm 00064
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
55141
additional statements.7 On October 2,
2017, during the Commission’s review
of the delegated action, CHX informed
the Commission that three of the
upstream investors were withdrawing
from the investor group. CHX
subsequently filed Amendment No. 2 to
the proposed rule change to update its
proposal to reflect this change in the
investor group. Because of this change
and a number of other changes to the
proposed transaction, as described
below, including, among other things, a
change to the North America Casin
Holdings, Inc. Certificate of
Incorporation that provides for an 85%
super-majority vote requirement for
certain corporate actions, revised put
agreements for Raptor Holdco LLC and
Saliba Ventures Holdings, LLC, and a
new put agreement for Penserra
Securities, LLC, the Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change,
as amended, from interested persons.
I. Amendment No. 2 to SR–CHX–2016–
20
The Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. is
filing this Partial Amendment no. 2 to
SR–CHX–2016–20, a proposed rule
change related to a proposed transaction
(‘‘Proposed Transaction’’) involving,
among others, the Exchange’s direct
parent company, CHX Holdings, Inc.
(‘‘CHX Holdings’’), and North America
Casin Holdings, Inc. (‘‘NA Casin
Holdings’’), which was originally filed
on December 2, 2016 (‘‘Initial Filing’’)
and modified by Partial Amendment
No. 1 on August 7, 2017. The proposed
rule change was published for comment
in the Federal Register on December 12,
2016.8 The U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission then received
seven comment letters,9 including two
response letters from the Exchange.10
On January 12, 2017, the Commission
instituted proceedings to determine
whether to approve or disapprove the
proposed rule change,11 pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange
7 See Exchange Act Release No. 81435, 82 FR
40187 (August 24, 2017).
8 See Exchange Act Release No. 79474 (December
6, 2016), 81 FR 89543 (December 12, 2016) (SR–
CHX–2016–20) (‘‘Notice’’).
9 All comment letters on the Initial Filing may be
found at https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-chx2016-20/chx201620.shtml.
10 See Letter to Brent J. Fields, Secretary,
Commission, from John K. Kerin, President and
CEO, CHX (January 5, 2017) (‘‘First CHX Letter’’);
see also Letter to Brent J. Fields, Secretary,
Commission, from Albert J. Kim, Vice President and
Associate General Counsel, CHX (January 6, 2017)
(‘‘Second CHX Letter’’).
11 See Exchange Act Release No. 79781 (January
12, 2017), 82 FR 6669 (January 19, 2017).
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Act’’).12 On June 6, 2017, the
Commission designated a longer period
for Commission action on the
proceedings,13 pursuant to Section
19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act.14 During
the proceedings, the Commission
received 25 comment letters,15
including two response letters from the
Exchange.16 On August 7, 2017, the
Exchange filed Partial Amendment No.
1 to the Initial Filing.17 On August 9,
2017, the Commission approved,
pursuant to delegated authority by
Commission staff, the Initial Filing, as
modified by Partial Amendment No.
1.18 On the same day, the Commission
stayed the Approval Order and
instituted a review of the delegated
action.19 On August 18, 2017, the
Commission issued an order scheduling
filing of statements on its review of the
delegated action.20 After the
Commission stayed the Approval Order,
the Commission received 43 comment
letters,21 including two response letters
from the Exchange.22
The Exchange now submits this
Partial Amendment No. 2 to amend the
Initial Filing, as modified by Partial
Amendment No. 1, as described below.
Updated NACH Capitalization Table
In the Initial Filing,23 as modified by
Partial Amendment No. 1,24 the
Exchange stated that upon the Closing 25
of the Proposed Transaction, CHX
Holdings will become a wholly-owned
direct subsidiary of NA Casin Holdings,
12 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
Exchange Act Release No. 80864 (June 6,
2017), 82 FR 26966 (June 12, 2017).
14 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
15 See supra note 9.
16 See Letter to Brent J. Fields, Secretary,
Commission, from John K. Kerin, President and
CEO, CHX (March 6, 2017) (‘‘Third CHX Letter’’);
see also Letter to Brent J. Fields, Secretary,
Commission, from Albert J. Kim, Vice President and
Associate General Counsel, CHX (August 8, 2017)
(‘‘Fourth CHX Letter’’).
17 See Exchange Act Release No. 81366 (August
9, 2017), 82 FR 38734 (August 15, 2017) (‘‘Approval
Order’’); see also generally Fourth CHX Letter,
supra note 16.
18 See generally Approval Order, supra note 17.
19 See Letter to Albert J. Kim, Vice President and
Associate General Counsel, CHX, from Brent J.
Fields, Secretary, Commission (August 9, 2017).
20 See Exchange Act Release No. 81435 (August
18, 2017), 82 FR 40187 (August 24, 2017).
21 See supra note 9.
22 See Letter to Brent J. Fields, Secretary,
Commission, from John K. Kerin, President and
CEO, CHX (August 25, 2017) (‘‘Fifth CHX Letter’’);
see also Letter to Brent J. Fields, Secretary,
Commission, from James G. Ongena, Executive Vice
President and General Counsel, CHX (October 1,
2017) (‘‘Sixth CHX Letter’’).
23 See Notice, supra note 8, at 89544–89545.
24 See Approval Order, supra note 17, at n. 10.
25 Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms
used in this rule filing are defined as set forth
herein, the Initial Filing or Partial Amendment No.
1.
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13 See
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which will, in turn, be owned by the
following Indirect Upstream Owners in
the following percentages:
• Non-U.S. Indirect Upstream
Owners:
• NA Casin Group, a corporation whollyowned by Chongqing Casin—20%
• Chongqing Jintian Industrial Co., Ltd.
(‘‘Chongqing Jintian’’)—15%
• Chongqing Longshang Decoration Co., Ltd.
(‘‘Chongqing Longshang’’)—14.50%.
Indirect upstream owners
Five Members of the CHX
Holdings management 28 ..
Penserra ...............................
NA Casin
holdings
ownership
percentages
8.32
2.18
The Exchange submits that the
modified NACH capitalization table
complies with the proposed Ownership
• U.S. Indirect Upstream Owners:
and Voting Limitation.29 Specifically,
no Indirect Upstream Owner and its
• Castle YAC Enterprises, LLC (‘‘Castle
Related Persons will exceed the
YAC’’)—19%
• Raptor Holdco LLC (‘‘Raptor’’)—11.75%
proposed 40% Concentration
• Saliba Ventures Holdings, LLC (‘‘Saliba’’)— Limitation. Moreover, no Indirect
11.75%
Upstream Owner and its Related
• Xian Tong Enterprises, Inc. (‘‘Xian
Persons will be permitted to vote in
Tong’’)—6.94%
excess of the proposed 20% Voting
• Equity Incentive Shares to five members of
Limitation.
the CHX Holdings management team—
The Exchange notes that the modified
0.88%
NACH capitalization table provides that
• Penserra Securities, LLC (‘Penserra’)—
71% of the voting shares of NA Casin
0.18%.
Holdings will be owned by U.S. citizens
Furthermore, the Exchange also stated and, due to the proposed Voting
26
the following:
Limitations,30 no less than 80% of the
voting power of NA Casin Holdings will
• The only Related Persons 27 among the
Indirect Upstream Owners are Castle YAC
be held by U.S. citizens. In addition,
and NA Casin Group.
none of the Indirect Upstream Owners
• There are no other Related Persons
directly, or indirectly through one or
among the Indirect Upstream Owners.
more intermediaries, controls, or is
• None of the Indirect Upstream Owners
controlled by, or is under common
directly, or indirectly through one or more
control with, a governmental entity or
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by,
any political subdivision thereof.
or is under common control with, a
Attached to the Partial Amendment
governmental entity or any political
No. 1 were Investor Certificates and
subdivision thereof.
Investor Statements for all of the then
Since the Approval Order was stayed
current Indirect Upstream Owners.31 In
on August 9, 2017, three of the
the event the Commission were to lift
prospective Indirect Upstream Owners
the stay of the Approval Order or
(i.e., Chongqing Jintian, Chongqing
otherwise permit the Closing of the
Longshang and Xian Tong) have
Proposed Transaction, the Exchange
withdrawn from the NACH investor
will provide the Commission, prior to
group. Consequently, NA Casin
the Closing of the Proposed Transaction,
Holdings reorganized the NACH
updated Investor Certificates and
capitalization table to reallocate the
shares formerly attributed to Chongqing Investor Statements that will reflect
Jintian, Chongqing Longshang and Xian changes to the proposed NACH investor
group described herein.
Tong among the remaining Indirect
Upstream Owners. As such, upon the
Other Amendments
Closing, all of the outstanding and
This Partial Amendment No. 2 also
issued shares of NA Casin Holdings will
effects the following changes:
be held by the following Indirect
• Amends the proposed NA Casin
Upstream Owners (by Related Persons)
Certificate to:
in the following percentages:
Indirect upstream owners
NA Casin
holdings
ownership
percentages
NA Casin Group (29%) and
Castle YAC (11%) .............
Raptor ...................................
Saliba ....................................
26 See
40
25
24.5
Notice, supra note 8, at 89545.
Jay Lu, the sole member of Castle YAC, is
associated with an affiliate of Chongqing Casin and
is also the son of Mr. Shengju Lu, the Chairman of
Chongqing Casin.
27 Mr.
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• require a super-majority vote requirement
for certain corporate actions, as described
under Article IX;
• reflect a recent name change of the
registered agent from ‘‘National Corporate
Research’’ to ‘‘Cogency Global, Inc.’’ under
Article II; and
28 Prior to the Closing, the five members of the
CHX Holdings management will enter into a voting
agreement which will require that, among other
things, the five members vote as a block, thereby
rendering the members Related Persons.
29 See Notice, supra note 8, at 89552–89554.
30 See id.
31 See generally Fourth CHX Letter, supra note 16.
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• modify the term expiration years of the
three classes of directors under Section (6)
of Article V given that the next annual
meeting of the stockholders will be held in
2018.
• Amends the Raptor and Saliba Put
Agreements to reflect the increased
ownership levels for Raptor and Saliba
described above and other changes that
would not render the parties to the
agreements Related Persons.32
• Provide a new put agreement for
Penserra (new Exhibit 5L), which is
substantively similar to the Raptor and Saliba
Put Agreements.
• Other non-substantive amendments.
nshattuck on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES
As such, the Exchange amends the
Initial Filing, as modified by Partial
Amendment No. 1, as follows:
1. Amend pages 3 through 5 of the
Initial Filing (pages 64 and 65 of the
Exhibit 1):
Replace the second paragraph on page
3 that carries over to pages 4 and 5
(second paragraph on page 64 that
carries over to page 65 of the Exhibit 1)
with the following text, while retaining
footnotes 5 through 9:
The text of the proposed Third Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
CHX Holdings (‘‘CHX Holdings Certificate’’)
is attached as Exhibit 5A.5 The text of the
proposed amended Bylaws of CHX Holdings
(‘‘CHX Holdings Bylaws’’) 6 is attached as
Exhibit 5B.7 The text of the proposed
Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation for CHX (‘‘CHX Certificate’’) is
attached as Exhibit 5C.8 The text of the
proposed amended Bylaws of the CHX
(‘‘CHX Bylaws’’) is attached as Exhibit 5D.9
The text of the proposed amendments to the
Rules of the CHX (‘‘CHX Rules’’) is attached
as Exhibit 5E. The text of the proposed
Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of NA Casin Holdings (‘‘NA
Casin Holdings Certificate’’) is attached as
Exhibit 5F. The text of the proposed
Amended and Restated Bylaws of NA Casin
Holdings (‘‘NA Casin Holdings Bylaws’’) is
attached as Exhibit 5G. The text of a
resolution of the Board of Directors of CHX
Holdings dated November 22, 2016 to waive
certain ownership and voting limitations to
permit the Transaction (‘‘Resolutions’’) is
attached as Exhibit 5H. The text of the
Stockholders’ Agreement of NA Casin
Holdings (‘‘NACH Stockholders’
Agreement’’) is herein attached as Exhibit 5I.
The text of the Second Amended and
Restated Put Agreement by and among North
America Casin Group, Inc. (‘‘NA Casin
Group’’), NA Casin Holdings, and Saliba
Ventures Holdings, LLC (‘‘Saliba’’) (‘‘Saliba
Put Agreement’’) is herein attached as Exhibit
5J. The text of the Second Amended and
Restated Put Agreement by and among NA
Casin Group, NA Casin Holdings, and Raptor
Holdco LLC (‘‘Raptor’’) (‘‘Raptor Put
Agreement’’) is herein attached as Exhibit 5K.
The text of the Put Agreement by and among
NA Casin Group, NA Casin Holdings, and
Penserra Securities, LLC (‘‘Penserra’’)
32 See
Notice, supra note 8, at 89545.
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(‘‘Penserra Put Agreement’’) is herein
attached as Exhibit 5L.
2. Amend page 7 of the Initial Filing
(pages 67 and 68 of the Exhibit 1):
Replace the first sentence of the first
paragraph on page 7 (first sentence of
the third full paragraph on page 67 that
carries over to page 68 of the Exhibit 1)
with the following text, while retaining
footnote 13:
Pursuant to the terms of a Merger
Agreement dated February 4, 2016, as
amended on February 3, 2017 and August 29,
2017 (‘‘Merger Agreement’’), by and among
NA Casin Holdings, Merger Sub, Chongqing
Casin Enterprise Group Co., LTD.
(‘‘Chongqing Casin’’), a limited company
organized under the laws of the People’s
Republic of China (‘‘PRC’’), Richard G. Pane
solely in his capacity as the Stockholders
Representative thereunder, and CHX
Holdings, Merger Sub will merge into CHX
Holdings,13 which will then become a
wholly-owned direct subsidiary of NA Casin
Holdings.
3. Amend pages 8 through 10 of the
Initial Filing (pages 69 through 71 of the
Exhibit 1):
Replace all text starting with the first
bullet on page 8 through the first
paragraph on page 10 (first bullet on
page 69 through the first paragraph that
begins on page 70 that carries over the
page 71 of the Exhibit 1) with the
following text, while retaining footnotes
16 through 20:
• Non-U.S. Indirect Upstream Owners:
• NA Casin Group, a corporation
incorporated under the laws of the State of
Delaware and wholly-owned by Chongqing
Casin—29%
• U.S. Indirect Upstream Owners:
• Raptor, a limited liability company
organized under the laws of the State of
Delaware—25%
• Saliba, a limited liability company
organized under the laws of the State of
Illinois—24.5%
• Castle YAC Enterprises, LLC (‘‘Castle
YAC’’), a limited liability company
organized under the laws of the State of
New York, the sole member of which is Mr.
Jay Lu, a U.S. citizen and Vice President
of NA Casin Group—11%
• Five members of the CHX Holdings
management (‘‘CHX Holdings
Management’’), all U.S. citizens—
collectively 8.32%, with no one person
attributed more than 5%
• Penserra, a corporation incorporated under
the laws of the State of Illinois—2.18%
The Exchange submits the following
regarding the Indirect Upstream
Owners: 16
• The only Related Persons 17 among
the Indirect Upstream Owners are as
follows:
• Castle YAC and NA Casin Group.18
• The five members of CHX Holdings
Management due to a voting agreement
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55143
requiring the members to vote as a block,
which will be executed prior to the
Closing.
• There are no other Related Persons
among the Indirect Upstream Owners.
• None of the Indirect Upstream Owners
directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by,
or is under common control with, a
governmental entity or any political
subdivision thereof.
As Related Persons, NA Casin Group and
Castle YAC would own a combined 40%
voting interest in NA Casin Holdings, which
is within the proposed 40% Concentration
Limitation of NA Casin Holdings and CHX
Holdings described below.19 Also, the CHX
Holdings Management would own a
combined 8.32% voting interest in NA Casin
Holdings, which is within the proposed
Concentration Limitations described below.
However, NA Casin Group and Castle YAC
will not be permitted to exercise their
collective voting interest in excess of the
proposed 20% Voting Limitations of NA
Casin Holdings and CHX Holdings described
below.20 Also, for so long as the voting
agreement among the members of the CHX
Management Team is in effect, the CHX
Holdings Management would be considered
Related Persons and would not be permitted
to exercise their collective voting interest in
excess of the proposed 20% Voting
Limitations.
4. Amend pages 11 and 12 of the
Initial Filing (pages 72 and 73 of the
Exhibit 1):
Replace the first paragraph that begins
on page 11 that carries over to page 12
(the first paragraph that begins on page
72 that carries over to page 73 of the
Exhibit 1) with the following text, while
retaining footnotes 24 and 25:
The Exchange further notes that execution
of the Saliba Put Agreement, the Raptor Put
Agreement or the Penserra Put Agreement
would not result in any Indirect Upstream
Owners becoming Related Persons for the
purposes of compliance with the proposed
Ownership and Voting Limitations.
Specifically, the Saliba Put Agreement grants
Saliba a put option (‘‘Saliba Put Option’’)
that, if exercised by Saliba, would compel
NA Casin Holdings (and not another Indirect
Upstream Owner) to purchase, or arrange for
an unspecified third-party to purchase, a
specified amount of Saliba’s equity interest
in NA Casin Holdings. Similarly, the Raptor
Put Agreement grants Raptor a put option
(‘‘Raptor Put Option’’) that, if exercised by
Raptor, would compel NA Casin Holdings
(and not another Indirect Upstream Owner)
to purchase, or arrange for an unspecified
third-party to purchase, a specified amount
of Raptor’s equity interest in NA Casin
Holdings. Also, the Penserra Put Agreement
grants Penserra a put option (‘‘Penserra Put
Option’’) that, if exercised by Penserra,
would compel NA Casin Holdings (and not
another Indirect Upstream Owner) to
purchase, or arrange for an unspecified thirdparty to purchase, a specified amount of
Penserra’s equity interest in NA Casin
Holdings. Accordingly, the Exchange submits
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that execution of the Saliba Put Agreement,
the Raptor Put Agreement or the Penserra Put
Agreement would not result in the parties to
each of the agreements becoming Related
Persons for the purposes of compliance with
the proposed Ownership and Voting
Limitations.24 The Exchange also notes that
the exercise of the put options under the
Saliba Put Agreement, the Raptor Put
Agreement or the Penserra Put Agreement
would be subject to, among other things,
compliance with the proposed Ownership
and Voting Limitations.25
Also, replace all text under footnote 25 on
page 12 (page 73 of the Exhibit 1) with the
following:
See Section 3(c) of the Saliba Put
Agreement; see also Section 3(c) of the
Raptor Put Agreement.; see also Section 3(c)
of the Penserra Put Agreement.
nshattuck on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES
5. Amend page 24 of the Initial Filing
(page 86 of the Exhibit 1):
Within the first paragraph following
the bullet, in the sentence immediately
following footnote 74 (first sentence on
page 86 of the Exhibit 1), replace the
number ‘‘13’’ with the number ‘‘10.’’
6. Amend page 31 of the Initial Filing
(page 92 of the Exhibit 1):
Within the first full sentence (second
sentence within the first paragraph
beginning on page 92 of the Exhibit 1),
replace the number ‘‘13’’ with the
number ‘‘10.’’
7. Amend page 45 of the Initial Filing
(page 107 of the Exhibit 1):
Under footnote 102, replace reference
to ‘‘NA Casin Bylaws’’ with ‘‘NA Casin
Holdings Bylaws.’’
8. Amend page 52 of the Initial Filing
(page 114 of the Exhibit 1):
Immediate above the subtitle
‘‘Statutory Basis,’’ insert the following
new text:
Super-Majority Vote Requirement
Sections (2)–(3) of Article VIII of the
proposed NA Casin Holdings Certificate
provides for a super-majority vote
requirement for certain corporate actions.
Specifically, Section (2) provides that in
addition to any affirmative vote required by
applicable law or this Certificate of
Incorporation: (a) Any merger or
consolidation of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary with any or any other corporation
or other entity; (b) any sale, lease, exchange,
mortgage, pledge, transfer or other
disposition (in one transaction or a series of
transactions) to or with any other corporation
or other entity, of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary; (c) the issuance or transfer by the
Corporation or any Subsidiary (in one
transaction or a series of transactions) of any
securities of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary that would result in: (i) Any an
individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, limited liability company,
governmental or regulatory body,
unincorporated organization, trust,
association or other entity (each a ‘‘Person’’)
owning a majority of the shares of Common
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15:15 Nov 17, 2017
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Stock of the Corporation, or (ii) any Person
other than a Subsidiary or the Corporation,
owning a majority of the shares of voting
stock of any Subsidiary; (d) the adoption of
any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of the Corporation that is not the
result of a transaction contemplated by
Sections 2(a), 2(b) or 2(c) of this Article VIII;
(e) any reclassification of securities
(including any reverse stock split),
recapitalization of the Corporation or any
merger or consolidation of the Corporation
with any of its Subsidiaries or any other
transaction which has the effect, directly or
indirectly, of increasing the proportionate
share of the outstanding shares of any class
of equity or convertible securities of the
Corporation or any Subsidiary which are
directly or indirectly owned by any Person
with the result that such Person becomes the
holder of a majority of the shares of Common
Stock of the Corporation; or (f) any
agreement, contract or other arrangement
providing for any one or more of the actions
specified in the foregoing (a) to (e); shall
require, except as otherwise prohibited by
applicable law, the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least 85% of the then
outstanding voting shares entitled to be cast
on such matter. Moreover, such affirmative
vote shall be required notwithstanding the
fact that no vote may be required, or that a
lesser percentage may be permitted, by
applicable law. Section (3) provides that as
used in this Article VIII, ‘‘Subsidiary’’ means
any corporation or other Person of which
securities or other ownership interests having
ordinary voting power to elect a majority of
the board of directors or other persons
performing similar functions are at any time
directly or indirectly owned by the
Corporation.
The proposed super-majority vote
requirement is designed to ensure that any
significant change to the assets or ownership
of NA Casin Holdings or subsidiaries,
including the Exchange, be agreed upon by
a super-majority of the Indirect Upstream
Owners. As a result, this will serve to protect
the investments of the Indirect Upstream
Owners, as well as to ensure that the
Exchange’s ownership and assets remain
reliable and stable, which further enables the
Exchange to meet its self-regulatory
obligations. The Exchange notes that the
super-majority vote requirement would apply
to all NACH stockholders equally and, as
such, no one stockholder’s voting power
would be enhanced or diminished relative to
the other stockholders by the requirement.
9. Amend page 53 of the Initial Filing
(page 116 of the Exhibit 1):
Replace the last sentence within the
first full paragraph (first full sentence on
page 116 of the Exhibit 1) with the
following text, while retaining footnote
108:
Specifically, the Exchange submits that the
CHX Rules, the relevant governing
documents of CHX and its upstream
affiliates, CHX Holdings and NA Casin
Holdings, the NACH Stockholders’
Agreement, the Saliba Put Agreement, the
Raptor Put Agreement and the Penserra Put
Agreement, as proposed to be adopted or
PO 00000
Frm 00067
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
amended, to permit the Transaction, are
consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,108 in
general and 6(b)(5), in particular.
10. Amend page 55 of the Initial
Filing (page 118 of the Exhibit 1):
Immediately after the first full
paragraph (immediately after the first
paragraph on page 118 that carries over
from page 117 of the Exhibit 1), insert
the following text:
Moreover, the proposed super-majority
vote requirement under Section (2) of Article
IX of the proposed NA Casin Holdings
Certificate is designed to ensure that any
significant change to the assets or ownership
of NA Casin Holdings or subsidiaries,
including the Exchange, be agreed upon by
a super-majority of the Indirect Upstream
Owners. This will serve to ensure that the
Exchange’s ownership and assets remain
reliable and stable, which further enables the
Exchange to meet its self-regulatory
obligations under Section 6 of the Act.
11. Amend page 57 of the Initial
Filing (page 120 of the Exhibit 1):
Replace the first sentence of the first
paragraph that begins on page 57 (the
first sentence of the first full paragraph
on page 120 of the Exhibit 1) with the
following text:
In addition, the proposed NACH
Stockholders’ Agreement, Saliba Put
Agreement, Raptor Put Agreement and
Penserra Put Agreement includes provisions
that provide reasonable financial protections
to the Indirect Upstream Owners so as to
facilitate consummation of the Transaction
without violating the proposed Ownership
and Voting Limitations.
12. Amend page 62 of the Initial
Filing:
Immediately below the text ‘‘Exhibit
5K: Text of Proposed Raptor Put
Agreement,’’ insert the following:
Exhibit 5L: Text of Proposed Penserra Put
Agreement
II. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change, as amended, is consistent with
the Exchange 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–
CHX–2016–20 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.
E:\FR\FM\20NON1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 222 / Monday, November 20, 2017 / Notices
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–CHX–2016–20. 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 such
filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
offices of the Exchange. All comments
received will be posted without change.
Persons submitting comments are
cautioned that we do not redact or edit
personal identifying information from
comment submissions. You should
submit only information that you wish
to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File
Number SR–CHX–2016–20, and should
be submitted on or before December 5,
2017. Any person who wishes to file a
rebuttal to any other person’s
submission must file that rebuttal by
December 15, 2017.
By the Commission.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–25030 Filed 11–17–17; 8:45 am]
nshattuck on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–82075; File No. SR–BX–
2017–050]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq
BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change To Amend the
Exchange’s Transaction Fees at Rule
7018 To Change the Amounts of
Certain Credits for Entering Orders
That Access Liquidity in the
Exchange’s Equities System
November 14, 2017.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on November
1, 2017, Nasdaq BX, Inc. (‘‘BX’’ or
‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or
‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I, II, and
III, below, which Items have been
prepared by the Exchange. 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 the
Exchange’s transaction fees at Rule 7018
to change the amounts of certain credits
for entering orders that access liquidity
in the Exchange’s Equities System.
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on the Exchange’s Web site
at https://nasdaqbx.cchwallstreet.
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
Exchange 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 these
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 aspects of such
statements.
1 15
2 17
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:15 Nov 17, 2017
Jkt 244001
PO 00000
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
Frm 00068
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
55145
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The purposes of the proposed rule
changes are to amend the Exchange’s
transaction fees at Rule 7018 to: (1)
increase from $0.0016 to $0.0017 its per
share executed credit for orders that
access liquidity (excluding orders with
Midpoint pegging and excluding orders
that receive price improvement and
execute against an order with a Nondisplayed price) entered by members
that accesses liquidity equal to or
exceeding 0.10% of total Consolidated
Volume during a month; and (2) reduce
its credit for entering an order that
accesses liquidity in the Exchange’s
Equities System for ‘‘all other orders,’’
i.e., orders that do not qualify for other
available credits for removing liquidity.
The Exchange operates on the ‘‘takermaker’’ model, whereby it pays credits
to members that take liquidity and
charges fees to members that provide
liquidity. Currently, the Exchange offers
five different credits for orders that
access liquidity on the Exchange. First,
the Exchange pays a credit of $0.0016
per share executed for an order that
accesses liquidity (excluding orders
with Midpoint pegging and excluding
orders that receive price improvement
and execute against an order with a
Non-displayed price) entered by a
member that accesses liquidity equal to
or exceeding 0.10% of total
Consolidated Volume during a month.
Second, the Exchange pays a credit of
$0.0015 per share executed to an order
that accesses liquidity (excluding orders
with Midpoint pegging and excluding
orders that receive price improvement
and execute against an order with a
Non-displayed price) entered by a
member that accesses liquidity equal to
or exceeding 0.05% of total
Consolidated Volume during [sic]
month. Third, the Exchange pays a
credit of $0.0000 per share executed for
an order that receives price
improvement and executes against an
order with a Non-displayed price.
Fourth, the Exchange pays a credit of
$0.0000 per share executed for an order
with Midpoint pegging that removes
liquidity. Finally, the Exchange pays a
credit of $0.0003 per share executed for
‘‘all other orders.’’
The Exchange now proposes to
increase from $0.0016 to $0.0017 its (per
share executed) credit for orders that
access liquidity (excluding orders with
Midpoint pegging and excluding orders
that receive price improvement and
execute against an order with a Non-
E:\FR\FM\20NON1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55141-55145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25030]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-82077; File No. SR-CHX-2016-20]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.;
Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 2 to Proposed Rule Change in
Connection With the Proposed Transaction Involving CHX Holdings, Inc.
and North America Casin Holdings, Inc.
November 14, 2017.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Exchange Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby
given that on November 6, 2017, the Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.
(``CHX'' or ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') Amendment No. 2 to the proposed
rule change as described in Item I below, which Item has been prepared
by the Exchange and is reproduced below verbatim.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proposed rule change was designed to effect an acquisition of
CHX Holdings, Inc. by North America Casin Holdings, Inc., which would
be owned by a consortium of investors (``upstream investors''). On
August 9, 2017, the Division of Trading and Markets, for the Commission
pursuant to delegated authority,\3\ approved the proposed rule change,
as modified by Amendment No. 1.\4\ Pursuant to Commission Rule of
Practice 431,\5\ the Commission is reviewing the delegated action, and
the approval order is stayed.\6\ On August 18, 2017, the Commission
issued a scheduling order, pursuant to Commission Rule of Practice 431,
providing until September 17, 2017 for any party or other person to
file any additional statements.\7\ On October 2, 2017, during the
Commission's review of the delegated action, CHX informed the
Commission that three of the upstream investors were withdrawing from
the investor group. CHX subsequently filed Amendment No. 2 to the
proposed rule change to update its proposal to reflect this change in
the investor group. Because of this change and a number of other
changes to the proposed transaction, as described below, including,
among other things, a change to the North America Casin Holdings, Inc.
Certificate of Incorporation that provides for an 85% super-majority
vote requirement for certain corporate actions, revised put agreements
for Raptor Holdco LLC and Saliba Ventures Holdings, LLC, and a new put
agreement for Penserra Securities, LLC, the Commission is publishing
this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as
amended, from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ 17 CFR 200.30 3(a)(12).
\4\ See Exchange Act Release No. 81366, 82 FR 38734 (August 15,
2017).
\5\ 17 CFR 201.431.
\6\ See Letter from Secretary of the Commission to Albert (A.J.)
Kim, VP and Associate General Counsel, Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.,
dated August 9, 2017 (providing notice of Commission review of
delegated action and stay of order), available at https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro/chx/2017/34-81366-letter-from-secretary.pdf.
\7\ See Exchange Act Release No. 81435, 82 FR 40187 (August 24,
2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Amendment No. 2 to SR-CHX-2016-20
The Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. is filing this Partial Amendment
no. 2 to SR-CHX-2016-20, a proposed rule change related to a proposed
transaction (``Proposed Transaction'') involving, among others, the
Exchange's direct parent company, CHX Holdings, Inc. (``CHX
Holdings''), and North America Casin Holdings, Inc. (``NA Casin
Holdings''), which was originally filed on December 2, 2016 (``Initial
Filing'') and modified by Partial Amendment No. 1 on August 7, 2017.
The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal
Register on December 12, 2016.\8\ The U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission then received seven comment letters,\9\ including two
response letters from the Exchange.\10\ On January 12, 2017, the
Commission instituted proceedings to determine whether to approve or
disapprove the proposed rule change,\11\ pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange
[[Page 55142]]
Act'').\12\ On June 6, 2017, the Commission designated a longer period
for Commission action on the proceedings,\13\ pursuant to Section
19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act.\14\ During the proceedings, the
Commission received 25 comment letters,\15\ including two response
letters from the Exchange.\16\ On August 7, 2017, the Exchange filed
Partial Amendment No. 1 to the Initial Filing.\17\ On August 9, 2017,
the Commission approved, pursuant to delegated authority by Commission
staff, the Initial Filing, as modified by Partial Amendment No. 1.\18\
On the same day, the Commission stayed the Approval Order and
instituted a review of the delegated action.\19\ On August 18, 2017,
the Commission issued an order scheduling filing of statements on its
review of the delegated action.\20\ After the Commission stayed the
Approval Order, the Commission received 43 comment letters,\21\
including two response letters from the Exchange.\22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ See Exchange Act Release No. 79474 (December 6, 2016), 81 FR
89543 (December 12, 2016) (SR-CHX-2016-20) (``Notice'').
\9\ All comment letters on the Initial Filing may be found at
https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-chx-2016-20/chx201620.shtml.
\10\ See Letter to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission, from
John K. Kerin, President and CEO, CHX (January 5, 2017) (``First CHX
Letter''); see also Letter to Brent J. Fields, Secretary,
Commission, from Albert J. Kim, Vice President and Associate General
Counsel, CHX (January 6, 2017) (``Second CHX Letter'').
\11\ See Exchange Act Release No. 79781 (January 12, 2017), 82
FR 6669 (January 19, 2017).
\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
\13\ See Exchange Act Release No. 80864 (June 6, 2017), 82 FR
26966 (June 12, 2017).
\14\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
\15\ See supra note 9.
\16\ See Letter to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission, from
John K. Kerin, President and CEO, CHX (March 6, 2017) (``Third CHX
Letter''); see also Letter to Brent J. Fields, Secretary,
Commission, from Albert J. Kim, Vice President and Associate General
Counsel, CHX (August 8, 2017) (``Fourth CHX Letter'').
\17\ See Exchange Act Release No. 81366 (August 9, 2017), 82 FR
38734 (August 15, 2017) (``Approval Order''); see also generally
Fourth CHX Letter, supra note 16.
\18\ See generally Approval Order, supra note 17.
\19\ See Letter to Albert J. Kim, Vice President and Associate
General Counsel, CHX, from Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission
(August 9, 2017).
\20\ See Exchange Act Release No. 81435 (August 18, 2017), 82 FR
40187 (August 24, 2017).
\21\ See supra note 9.
\22\ See Letter to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission, from
John K. Kerin, President and CEO, CHX (August 25, 2017) (``Fifth CHX
Letter''); see also Letter to Brent J. Fields, Secretary,
Commission, from James G. Ongena, Executive Vice President and
General Counsel, CHX (October 1, 2017) (``Sixth CHX Letter'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange now submits this Partial Amendment No. 2 to amend the
Initial Filing, as modified by Partial Amendment No. 1, as described
below.
Updated NACH Capitalization Table
In the Initial Filing,\23\ as modified by Partial Amendment No.
1,\24\ the Exchange stated that upon the Closing \25\ of the Proposed
Transaction, CHX Holdings will become a wholly-owned direct subsidiary
of NA Casin Holdings, which will, in turn, be owned by the following
Indirect Upstream Owners in the following percentages:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\23\ See Notice, supra note 8, at 89544-89545.
\24\ See Approval Order, supra note 17, at n. 10.
\25\ Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms used in this
rule filing are defined as set forth herein, the Initial Filing or
Partial Amendment No. 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-U.S. Indirect Upstream Owners:
NA Casin Group, a corporation wholly-owned by Chongqing
Casin--20%
Chongqing Jintian Industrial Co., Ltd. (``Chongqing
Jintian'')--15%
Chongqing Longshang Decoration Co., Ltd. (``Chongqing
Longshang'')--14.50%.
U.S. Indirect Upstream Owners:
Castle YAC Enterprises, LLC (``Castle YAC'')--19%
Raptor Holdco LLC (``Raptor'')--11.75%
Saliba Ventures Holdings, LLC (``Saliba'')--11.75%
Xian Tong Enterprises, Inc. (``Xian Tong'')--6.94%
Equity Incentive Shares to five members of the CHX Holdings
management team--0.88%
Penserra Securities, LLC (`Penserra')--0.18%.
Furthermore, the Exchange also stated the following: \26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\26\ See Notice, supra note 8, at 89545.
The only Related Persons \27\ among the Indirect
Upstream Owners are Castle YAC and NA Casin Group.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\27\ Mr. Jay Lu, the sole member of Castle YAC, is associated
with an affiliate of Chongqing Casin and is also the son of Mr.
Shengju Lu, the Chairman of Chongqing Casin.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are no other Related Persons among the Indirect
Upstream Owners.
None of the Indirect Upstream Owners directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is
controlled by, or is under common control with, a governmental
entity or any political subdivision thereof.
Since the Approval Order was stayed on August 9, 2017, three of the
prospective Indirect Upstream Owners (i.e., Chongqing Jintian,
Chongqing Longshang and Xian Tong) have withdrawn from the NACH
investor group. Consequently, NA Casin Holdings reorganized the NACH
capitalization table to reallocate the shares formerly attributed to
Chongqing Jintian, Chongqing Longshang and Xian Tong among the
remaining Indirect Upstream Owners. As such, upon the Closing, all of
the outstanding and issued shares of NA Casin Holdings will be held by
the following Indirect Upstream Owners (by Related Persons) in the
following percentages:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NA Casin
holdings
Indirect upstream owners ownership
percentages
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NA Casin Group (29%) and Castle YAC (11%)............... 40
Raptor.................................................. 25
Saliba.................................................. 24.5
Five Members of the CHX Holdings management \28\........ 8.32
Penserra................................................ 2.18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange submits that the modified NACH capitalization table
complies with the proposed Ownership and Voting Limitation.\29\
Specifically, no Indirect Upstream Owner and its Related Persons will
exceed the proposed 40% Concentration Limitation. Moreover, no Indirect
Upstream Owner and its Related Persons will be permitted to vote in
excess of the proposed 20% Voting Limitation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\28\ Prior to the Closing, the five members of the CHX Holdings
management will enter into a voting agreement which will require
that, among other things, the five members vote as a block, thereby
rendering the members Related Persons.
\29\ See Notice, supra note 8, at 89552-89554.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange notes that the modified NACH capitalization table
provides that 71% of the voting shares of NA Casin Holdings will be
owned by U.S. citizens and, due to the proposed Voting Limitations,\30\
no less than 80% of the voting power of NA Casin Holdings will be held
by U.S. citizens. In addition, none of the Indirect Upstream Owners
directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls,
or is controlled by, or is under common control with, a governmental
entity or any political subdivision thereof.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\30\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attached to the Partial Amendment No. 1 were Investor Certificates
and Investor Statements for all of the then current Indirect Upstream
Owners.\31\ In the event the Commission were to lift the stay of the
Approval Order or otherwise permit the Closing of the Proposed
Transaction, the Exchange will provide the Commission, prior to the
Closing of the Proposed Transaction, updated Investor Certificates and
Investor Statements that will reflect changes to the proposed NACH
investor group described herein.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\31\ See generally Fourth CHX Letter, supra note 16.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Amendments
This Partial Amendment No. 2 also effects the following changes:
Amends the proposed NA Casin Certificate to:
require a super-majority vote requirement for certain
corporate actions, as described under Article IX;
reflect a recent name change of the registered agent from
``National Corporate Research'' to ``Cogency Global, Inc.'' under
Article II; and
[[Page 55143]]
modify the term expiration years of the three classes of
directors under Section (6) of Article V given that the next annual
meeting of the stockholders will be held in 2018.
Amends the Raptor and Saliba Put Agreements to reflect
the increased ownership levels for Raptor and Saliba described above
and other changes that would not render the parties to the
agreements Related Persons.\32\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\32\ See Notice, supra note 8, at 89545.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Provide a new put agreement for Penserra (new Exhibit
5L), which is substantively similar to the Raptor and Saliba Put
Agreements.
Other non-substantive amendments.
As such, the Exchange amends the Initial Filing, as modified by
Partial Amendment No. 1, as follows:
1. Amend pages 3 through 5 of the Initial Filing (pages 64 and 65
of the Exhibit 1):
Replace the second paragraph on page 3 that carries over to pages 4
and 5 (second paragraph on page 64 that carries over to page 65 of the
Exhibit 1) with the following text, while retaining footnotes 5 through
9:
The text of the proposed Third Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation of CHX Holdings (``CHX Holdings Certificate'') is
attached as Exhibit 5A.\5\ The text of the proposed amended Bylaws
of CHX Holdings (``CHX Holdings Bylaws'') \6\ is attached as Exhibit
5B.\7\ The text of the proposed Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation for CHX (``CHX Certificate'') is attached as Exhibit
5C.\8\ The text of the proposed amended Bylaws of the CHX (``CHX
Bylaws'') is attached as Exhibit 5D.\9\ The text of the proposed
amendments to the Rules of the CHX (``CHX Rules'') is attached as
Exhibit 5E. The text of the proposed Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of NA Casin Holdings (``NA Casin
Holdings Certificate'') is attached as Exhibit 5F. The text of the
proposed Amended and Restated Bylaws of NA Casin Holdings (``NA
Casin Holdings Bylaws'') is attached as Exhibit 5G. The text of a
resolution of the Board of Directors of CHX Holdings dated November
22, 2016 to waive certain ownership and voting limitations to permit
the Transaction (``Resolutions'') is attached as Exhibit 5H. The
text of the Stockholders' Agreement of NA Casin Holdings (``NACH
Stockholders' Agreement'') is herein attached as Exhibit 5I. The
text of the Second Amended and Restated Put Agreement by and among
North America Casin Group, Inc. (``NA Casin Group''), NA Casin
Holdings, and Saliba Ventures Holdings, LLC (``Saliba'') (``Saliba
Put Agreement'') is herein attached as Exhibit 5J. The text of the
Second Amended and Restated Put Agreement by and among NA Casin
Group, NA Casin Holdings, and Raptor Holdco LLC (``Raptor'')
(``Raptor Put Agreement'') is herein attached as Exhibit 5K. The
text of the Put Agreement by and among NA Casin Group, NA Casin
Holdings, and Penserra Securities, LLC (``Penserra'') (``Penserra
Put Agreement'') is herein attached as Exhibit 5L.
2. Amend page 7 of the Initial Filing (pages 67 and 68 of the
Exhibit 1):
Replace the first sentence of the first paragraph on page 7 (first
sentence of the third full paragraph on page 67 that carries over to
page 68 of the Exhibit 1) with the following text, while retaining
footnote 13:
Pursuant to the terms of a Merger Agreement dated February 4,
2016, as amended on February 3, 2017 and August 29, 2017 (``Merger
Agreement''), by and among NA Casin Holdings, Merger Sub, Chongqing
Casin Enterprise Group Co., LTD. (``Chongqing Casin''), a limited
company organized under the laws of the People's Republic of China
(``PRC''), Richard G. Pane solely in his capacity as the
Stockholders Representative thereunder, and CHX Holdings, Merger Sub
will merge into CHX Holdings,\13\ which will then become a wholly-
owned direct subsidiary of NA Casin Holdings.
3. Amend pages 8 through 10 of the Initial Filing (pages 69 through
71 of the Exhibit 1):
Replace all text starting with the first bullet on page 8 through
the first paragraph on page 10 (first bullet on page 69 through the
first paragraph that begins on page 70 that carries over the page 71 of
the Exhibit 1) with the following text, while retaining footnotes 16
through 20:
Non-U.S. Indirect Upstream Owners:
NA Casin Group, a corporation incorporated under the
laws of the State of Delaware and wholly-owned by Chongqing Casin--
29%
U.S. Indirect Upstream Owners:
Raptor, a limited liability company organized under the
laws of the State of Delaware--25%
Saliba, a limited liability company organized under the
laws of the State of Illinois--24.5%
Castle YAC Enterprises, LLC (``Castle YAC''), a limited
liability company organized under the laws of the State of New York,
the sole member of which is Mr. Jay Lu, a U.S. citizen and Vice
President of NA Casin Group--11%
Five members of the CHX Holdings management (``CHX Holdings
Management''), all U.S. citizens--collectively 8.32%, with no one
person attributed more than 5%
Penserra, a corporation incorporated under the laws of the
State of Illinois--2.18%
The Exchange submits the following regarding the Indirect Upstream
Owners: \16\
The only Related Persons \17\ among the Indirect Upstream
Owners are as follows:
Castle YAC and NA Casin Group.18
The five members of CHX Holdings Management due to a voting
agreement requiring the members to vote as a block, which will be
executed prior to the Closing.
There are no other Related Persons among the Indirect
Upstream Owners.
None of the Indirect Upstream Owners directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is
controlled by, or is under common control with, a governmental
entity or any political subdivision thereof.
As Related Persons, NA Casin Group and Castle YAC would own a
combined 40% voting interest in NA Casin Holdings, which is within
the proposed 40% Concentration Limitation of NA Casin Holdings and
CHX Holdings described below.\19\ Also, the CHX Holdings Management
would own a combined 8.32% voting interest in NA Casin Holdings,
which is within the proposed Concentration Limitations described
below. However, NA Casin Group and Castle YAC will not be permitted
to exercise their collective voting interest in excess of the
proposed 20% Voting Limitations of NA Casin Holdings and CHX
Holdings described below.\20\ Also, for so long as the voting
agreement among the members of the CHX Management Team is in effect,
the CHX Holdings Management would be considered Related Persons and
would not be permitted to exercise their collective voting interest
in excess of the proposed 20% Voting Limitations.
4. Amend pages 11 and 12 of the Initial Filing (pages 72 and 73 of
the Exhibit 1):
Replace the first paragraph that begins on page 11 that carries
over to page 12 (the first paragraph that begins on page 72 that
carries over to page 73 of the Exhibit 1) with the following text,
while retaining footnotes 24 and 25:
The Exchange further notes that execution of the Saliba Put
Agreement, the Raptor Put Agreement or the Penserra Put Agreement
would not result in any Indirect Upstream Owners becoming Related
Persons for the purposes of compliance with the proposed Ownership
and Voting Limitations. Specifically, the Saliba Put Agreement
grants Saliba a put option (``Saliba Put Option'') that, if
exercised by Saliba, would compel NA Casin Holdings (and not another
Indirect Upstream Owner) to purchase, or arrange for an unspecified
third-party to purchase, a specified amount of Saliba's equity
interest in NA Casin Holdings. Similarly, the Raptor Put Agreement
grants Raptor a put option (``Raptor Put Option'') that, if
exercised by Raptor, would compel NA Casin Holdings (and not another
Indirect Upstream Owner) to purchase, or arrange for an unspecified
third-party to purchase, a specified amount of Raptor's equity
interest in NA Casin Holdings. Also, the Penserra Put Agreement
grants Penserra a put option (``Penserra Put Option'') that, if
exercised by Penserra, would compel NA Casin Holdings (and not
another Indirect Upstream Owner) to purchase, or arrange for an
unspecified third-party to purchase, a specified amount of
Penserra's equity interest in NA Casin Holdings. Accordingly, the
Exchange submits
[[Page 55144]]
that execution of the Saliba Put Agreement, the Raptor Put Agreement
or the Penserra Put Agreement would not result in the parties to
each of the agreements becoming Related Persons for the purposes of
compliance with the proposed Ownership and Voting Limitations.\24\
The Exchange also notes that the exercise of the put options under
the Saliba Put Agreement, the Raptor Put Agreement or the Penserra
Put Agreement would be subject to, among other things, compliance
with the proposed Ownership and Voting Limitations.\25\
Also, replace all text under footnote 25 on page 12 (page 73 of
the Exhibit 1) with the following:
See Section 3(c) of the Saliba Put Agreement; see also Section
3(c) of the Raptor Put Agreement.; see also Section 3(c) of the
Penserra Put Agreement.
5. Amend page 24 of the Initial Filing (page 86 of the Exhibit 1):
Within the first paragraph following the bullet, in the sentence
immediately following footnote 74 (first sentence on page 86 of the
Exhibit 1), replace the number ``13'' with the number ``10.''
6. Amend page 31 of the Initial Filing (page 92 of the Exhibit 1):
Within the first full sentence (second sentence within the first
paragraph beginning on page 92 of the Exhibit 1), replace the number
``13'' with the number ``10.''
7. Amend page 45 of the Initial Filing (page 107 of the Exhibit 1):
Under footnote 102, replace reference to ``NA Casin Bylaws'' with
``NA Casin Holdings Bylaws.''
8. Amend page 52 of the Initial Filing (page 114 of the Exhibit 1):
Immediate above the subtitle ``Statutory Basis,'' insert the
following new text:
Super-Majority Vote Requirement
Sections (2)-(3) of Article VIII of the proposed NA Casin
Holdings Certificate provides for a super-majority vote requirement
for certain corporate actions. Specifically, Section (2) provides
that in addition to any affirmative vote required by applicable law
or this Certificate of Incorporation: (a) Any merger or
consolidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary with any or any
other corporation or other entity; (b) any sale, lease, exchange,
mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction
or a series of transactions) to or with any other corporation or
other entity, of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Corporation or any Subsidiary; (c) the issuance or transfer by the
Corporation or any Subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of
transactions) of any securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary
that would result in: (i) Any an individual, corporation,
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, governmental
or regulatory body, unincorporated organization, trust, association
or other entity (each a ``Person'') owning a majority of the shares
of Common Stock of the Corporation, or (ii) any Person other than a
Subsidiary or the Corporation, owning a majority of the shares of
voting stock of any Subsidiary; (d) the adoption of any plan or
proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation that
is not the result of a transaction contemplated by Sections 2(a),
2(b) or 2(c) of this Article VIII; (e) any reclassification of
securities (including any reverse stock split), recapitalization of
the Corporation or any merger or consolidation of the Corporation
with any of its Subsidiaries or any other transaction which has the
effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate
share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity or
convertible securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary which
are directly or indirectly owned by any Person with the result that
such Person becomes the holder of a majority of the shares of Common
Stock of the Corporation; or (f) any agreement, contract or other
arrangement providing for any one or more of the actions specified
in the foregoing (a) to (e); shall require, except as otherwise
prohibited by applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of
at least 85% of the then outstanding voting shares entitled to be
cast on such matter. Moreover, such affirmative vote shall be
required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or
that a lesser percentage may be permitted, by applicable law.
Section (3) provides that as used in this Article VIII,
``Subsidiary'' means any corporation or other Person of which
securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power
to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons
performing similar functions are at any time directly or indirectly
owned by the Corporation.
The proposed super-majority vote requirement is designed to
ensure that any significant change to the assets or ownership of NA
Casin Holdings or subsidiaries, including the Exchange, be agreed
upon by a super-majority of the Indirect Upstream Owners. As a
result, this will serve to protect the investments of the Indirect
Upstream Owners, as well as to ensure that the Exchange's ownership
and assets remain reliable and stable, which further enables the
Exchange to meet its self-regulatory obligations. The Exchange notes
that the super-majority vote requirement would apply to all NACH
stockholders equally and, as such, no one stockholder's voting power
would be enhanced or diminished relative to the other stockholders
by the requirement.
9. Amend page 53 of the Initial Filing (page 116 of the Exhibit 1):
Replace the last sentence within the first full paragraph (first
full sentence on page 116 of the Exhibit 1) with the following text,
while retaining footnote 108:
Specifically, the Exchange submits that the CHX Rules, the
relevant governing documents of CHX and its upstream affiliates, CHX
Holdings and NA Casin Holdings, the NACH Stockholders' Agreement,
the Saliba Put Agreement, the Raptor Put Agreement and the Penserra
Put Agreement, as proposed to be adopted or amended, to permit the
Transaction, are consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,\108\ in
general and 6(b)(5), in particular.
10. Amend page 55 of the Initial Filing (page 118 of the Exhibit
1):
Immediately after the first full paragraph (immediately after the
first paragraph on page 118 that carries over from page 117 of the
Exhibit 1), insert the following text:
Moreover, the proposed super-majority vote requirement under
Section (2) of Article IX of the proposed NA Casin Holdings
Certificate is designed to ensure that any significant change to the
assets or ownership of NA Casin Holdings or subsidiaries, including
the Exchange, be agreed upon by a super-majority of the Indirect
Upstream Owners. This will serve to ensure that the Exchange's
ownership and assets remain reliable and stable, which further
enables the Exchange to meet its self-regulatory obligations under
Section 6 of the Act.
11. Amend page 57 of the Initial Filing (page 120 of the Exhibit
1):
Replace the first sentence of the first paragraph that begins on
page 57 (the first sentence of the first full paragraph on page 120 of
the Exhibit 1) with the following text:
In addition, the proposed NACH Stockholders' Agreement, Saliba
Put Agreement, Raptor Put Agreement and Penserra Put Agreement
includes provisions that provide reasonable financial protections to
the Indirect Upstream Owners so as to facilitate consummation of the
Transaction without violating the proposed Ownership and Voting
Limitations.
12. Amend page 62 of the Initial Filing:
Immediately below the text ``Exhibit 5K: Text of Proposed Raptor
Put Agreement,'' insert the following:
Exhibit 5L: Text of Proposed Penserra Put Agreement
II. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change, as amended, is consistent with the Exchange 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-CHX-2016-20 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.
[[Page 55145]]
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CHX-2016-20. 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 such filing also will be available
for inspection and copying at the principal offices of the Exchange.
All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting
comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal
identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit
only information that you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File Number SR-CHX-2016-20, and should be
submitted on or before December 5, 2017. Any person who wishes to file
a rebuttal to any other person's submission must file that rebuttal by
December 15, 2017.
By the Commission.
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-25030 Filed 11-17-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P