Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Governing Documents of Its Intermediate Parent Companies Intercontinental Exchange Holdings, Inc., NYSE Holdings LLC and NYSE Group, Inc. To Make Them More Consistent With the Governing Documents of Their Ultimate Parent Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., 55453-55459 [2017-25140]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 21, 2017 / Notices
The Exchange deems the Shares to be
equity securities, thus rendering trading
in the Shares subject to the Exchange’s
existing rules governing the trading of
equity securities. In support of this
proposal, the Exchange represents that:
(1) Other than Commentary .01(e), the
Fund’s portfolio will meet all other
requirements of NYSE Arca Rule 8.600–
E.
(2) The aggregate gross notional value
of the Fund’s investments in OTC
derivatives may exceed 20% of Fund
assets, calculated based on the aggregate
gross notional value of such OTC
derivatives.
(3) A minimum of 100,000 Shares of
the Fund will be outstanding at the
commencement of trading on the
Exchange.
(4) Trading in the Shares will be
subject to the existing trading
surveillances administered by the
Exchange, as well as cross-market
surveillances administered by the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
(‘‘FINRA’’) on behalf of the Exchange,
and these procedures are adequate to
properly monitor Exchange trading of
the Shares in all trading sessions and to
deter and detect violations of Exchange
rules and applicable federal securities
laws.
(5) The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf
of the Exchange, or both, will
communicate as needed regarding
trading in the Shares, exchange-listed
equity securities, certain futures, and
certain exchange-traded options with
other markets and other entities that are
members of the Intermarket
Surveillance Group (‘‘ISG’’), and the
Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the
Exchange, or both, may obtain trading
information regarding trading in such
securities and financial instruments
from such markets and other entities. In
addition, the Exchange may obtain
information regarding trading in such
securities and financial instruments
from markets and other entities that are
members of ISG or with which the
Exchange has in place a comprehensive
surveillance sharing agreement. FINRA,
on behalf of the Exchange, is able to
access, as needed, trade information for
certain fixed income securities held by
the Fund reported to FINRA’s Trade
Reporting and Compliance Engine.
(6) Prior to the commencement of
trading, the Exchange will inform its
Equity Trading Permit Holders in an
Information Bulletin of the special
characteristics and risks associated with
trading the Shares. Specifically, the
Information Bulletin will discuss: (a)
The procedures for purchases and
redemptions of Shares in creation units
(and that Shares are not individually
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redeemable); (b) NYSE Arca Rule 9.2–
E(a), which imposes a duty of due
diligence on its Equity Trading Permit
Holders to learn the essential facts
relating to every customer prior to
trading the Shares; (c) the risks involved
in trading the Shares during the Early
and Late Trading Sessions when an
updated PIV will not be calculated or
publicly disseminated; (d) how
information regarding the PIV and the
Disclosed Portfolio is disseminated; (e)
the requirement that Equity Trading
Permit Holders deliver a prospectus to
investors purchasing newly issued
Shares prior to or concurrently with the
confirmation of a transaction; and (f)
trading information. In addition, the
Information Bulletin will discuss any
exemptive, no-action, and interpretive
relief granted by the Commission from
any rules under the Act.
(7) The Exchange has appropriate
rules to facilitate transactions in the
Shares during all trading sessions.
(8) For initial and continued listing,
the Fund will be in compliance with
Rule 10A–3 under the Act.25
(9) The Fund’s investments, including
derivatives, will be consistent with the
Fund’s investment objective and will
not be used to enhance leverage. That is,
while the Fund will be permitted to
borrow as permitted under the 1940 Act,
the Fund’s (and the Subsidiary’s)
investments will not be used to seek
performance that is the multiple or
inverse multiple (e.g., 2Xs and 3Xs) of
the Fund’s primary broad-based
securities benchmark index (as defined
in Form N–1A).
The Exchange represents that all
statements and representations made in
the filing regarding (1) the description of
the portfolio; (2) limitations on portfolio
holdings or reference assets; or (3) the
applicability of Exchange listing rules
specified in the rule filing constitute
continued listing requirements for
listing the Shares on the Exchange. In
addition, the issuer has represented to
the Exchange that it will advise the
Exchange of any failure by the Fund to
comply with the continued listing
requirements and, pursuant to its
obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of the
Act, the Exchange will monitor 26 for
25 See
17 CFR 240.10A–3.
Commission notes that certain proposals
for the listing and trading of exchange-traded
products include a representation that the exchange
will ‘‘surveil’’ for compliance with the continued
listing requirements. See, e.g., Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 77499 (April 1, 2016), 81 FR 20428,
20432 (April 7, 2016) (SR–BATS–2016–04). In the
context of this representation, it is the
Commission’s view that ‘‘monitor’’ and ‘‘surveil’’
both mean ongoing oversight of compliance with
the continued listing requirements. Therefore, the
Commission does not view ‘‘monitor’’ as a more or
26 The
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55453
compliance with the continued listing
requirements. If the Fund is not in
compliance with the applicable listing
requirements, the Exchange will
commence delisting procedures under
NYSE Arca Rule 5.5–E(m).
This approval order is based on all of
the Exchange’s statements and
representations, including those set
forth above and in Amendment Nos. 1
and 2.
For the foregoing reasons, the
Commission finds that the proposed
rule change, as modified by Amendment
Nos. 1 and 2, is consistent with Section
6(b)(5) of the Act 27 and Section
11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act 28 and the
rules and regulations thereunder
applicable to a national securities
exchange.
IV. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,29 that the
proposed rule change (SR–NYSEArca–
2017–86), as modified by Amendment
Nos. 1 and 2, be, and it hereby is,
approved on an accelerated basis.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.30
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–25136 Filed 11–20–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–82083; File No. SR–
NYSEARCA–2017–125]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change To Amend the Governing
Documents of Its Intermediate Parent
Companies Intercontinental Exchange
Holdings, Inc., NYSE Holdings LLC and
NYSE Group, Inc. To Make Them More
Consistent With the Governing
Documents of Their Ultimate Parent
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
November 15, 2017.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’ or ‘‘Exchange Act’’) 2 and Rule
19b–4 thereunder,3 notice is hereby
less stringent obligation than ‘‘surveil’’ with respect
to the continued listing requirements.
27 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
28 15 U.S.C. 78k–1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
29 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
30 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
1 15 U.S.C.78s(b)(1).
2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 21, 2017 / Notices
given that on November 3, 2017, NYSE
Arca, Inc. (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE
Arca’’) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the
‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared
by the self-regulatory organization. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend the
governing documents of its intermediate
parent companies Intercontinental
Exchange Holdings, Inc. (‘‘ICE
Holdings’’), NYSE Holdings LLC
(‘‘NYSE Holdings’’), and NYSE Group,
Inc. (‘‘NYSE Group’’) to make them
more consistent with the governing
documents of their ultimate parent
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (‘‘ICE’’),
including by (a) streamlining references
to ICE subsidiaries that either are or
control national securities exchanges
and deleting references to other ICE
subsidiaries; and (b) amending the
provisions regarding limitations on
claims, voting and ownership
concentration limitations, and
confidential information. In addition,
the Exchange proposes to make a nonsubstantive change to the ICE certificate
of incorporation. 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
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In its filing with the Commission, the
self-regulatory organization included
statements concerning the purpose of,
and basis for, the proposed rule change
and discussed any comments it received
on the proposed rule change. The text
of those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below.
The Exchange has prepared summaries,
set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
of the most significant parts of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend the
governing documents of its intermediate
parent companies ICE Holdings, NYSE
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Holdings, and NYSE Group (together,
the ‘‘Intermediate Holding Companies’’)
to make them more consistent with the
ICE governing documents, including by
(a) streamlining references to ICE
subsidiaries that either are or control
national securities exchanges and
deleting references to other ICE
subsidiaries; and (b) amending the
provisions regarding limitations on
claims, voting and ownership
concentration limitations, and
confidential information. In addition,
the Exchange proposes to make a nonsubstantive change to the ICE certificate
of incorporation.
More specifically, the Exchange
proposes to amend the following
documents (collectively, the ‘‘Governing
Documents’’):
• Eighth Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of ICE
Holdings (‘‘ICE Holdings Certificate’’)
and Fifth Amended and Restated
Bylaws of ICE Holdings (‘‘ICE Holdings
Bylaws’’);
• Eighth Amended and Restated
Limited Liability Company Agreement
of NYSE Holdings (‘‘NYSE Holdings
Operating Agreement’’); and
• Fifth Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of NYSE
Group (‘‘NYSE Group Certificate’’) and
Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of
NYSE Group (‘‘NYSE Group Bylaws’’).
As discussed below, the proposed
changes to the Governing Documents
would make the relevant provisions
more consistent with the Fourth
Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of ICE (‘‘ICE Certificate’’)
and Eighth Amended and Restated
Bylaws of ICE (‘‘ICE Bylaws’’).4
ICE, the ultimate parent of the
Exchange, owns 100% of the equity
interest in ICE Holdings, which in turn
owns 100% of the equity interest in
NYSE Holdings. NYSE Holdings owns
100% of the equity interest of NYSE
Group, which in turn directly owns
100% of the equity interest of the
Exchange and its national securities
exchange affiliates, the New York Stock
Exchange LLC (‘‘NYSE’’), NYSE
American LLC (‘‘NYSE American’’) and
NYSE National, Inc. (‘‘NYSE
National’’).5
4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80752
(May 24, 2017), 82 FR 25018 (May 31, 2017) (SR–
NYSE–2017–13; SR–NYSEArca–2017–29; SR–
NYSEMKT–2017–17; SR–NYSENAT–2017–01). ICE
is a publicly traded company listed on the NYSE.
5 The Exchange’s affiliates NYSE, NYSE
American (previously NYSE MKT LLC), and NYSE
National have each submitted substantially the
same proposed rule change to propose the changes
described herein. See SR–NYSE–2017–57, SR–
NYSEAmer–2017–29, and SR–NYSENAT–2017–05.
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In addition, the Exchange proposes to
make a nonsubstantive change to the
ICE Certificate.
Definition of Exchange
With the exception of the NYSE
Group Bylaws, the Governing
Documents define ‘‘U.S. Regulated
Subsidiary’’ and ‘‘U.S. Regulated
Subsidiaries’’ and, in the case of the
NYSE Group Certificate, ‘‘Regulated
Subsidiary’’ and ‘‘Regulated
Subsidiaries’’ to mean, individually or
collectively, the four national securities
exchanges owned by ICE (the NYSE,
NYSE American, NYSE Arca, and NYSE
National), NYSE Arca, LLC, and NYSE
Arca Equities, Inc. (‘‘NYSE Arca
Equities’’), or their successors, in each
case to the extent that such entities
continue to be controlled, directly or
indirectly, by the relevant Intermediate
Holding Company. The NYSE Group
Bylaws list the relevant entities rather
than use a defined term.
Unlike the Governing Documents, the
ICE Certificate and ICE Bylaws use the
defined term ‘‘Exchange’’ or
‘‘Exchanges’’ instead of ‘‘U.S. Regulated
Subsidiary’’ or ‘‘U.S. Regulated
Subsidiaries.’’ 6 ‘‘Exchange’’ is defined
as a national securities exchange
registered under Section 6 of the
Exchange Act 7 that is directly or
indirectly controlled by ICE.8 The
Exchange proposes to amend the
Governing Documents to be consistent
with the ICE Certificate and ICE Bylaws
by using the terms ‘‘Exchange’’ instead
of ‘‘U.S. Regulated Subsidiary’’ or
‘‘Regulated Subsidiary.’’ Similarly, the
Exchange proposes to use ‘‘Exchange’’
or ‘‘Exchanges,’’ as applicable, in place
of ‘‘U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries’’ or
‘‘Regulated Subsidiaries,’’ and to use
‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘Exchanges,’’ as
applicable, instead of lists of specific
entities.
As a result of the proposed change,
the Governing Documents would no
longer include references to NYSE Arca,
LLC or NYSE Arca Equities. The
Exchange believes omitting references to
NYSE Arca, LLC, a subsidiary of NYSE
Group, is appropriate because the
Exchange Act definition of ‘‘exchange’’
states that ‘‘exchange’’ ‘‘includes the
market place and the market facilities
maintained by such exchange.’’ 9 NYSE
Arca, as the national securities
exchange, has the regulatory and selfregulatory responsibility for the NYSE
Arca options and equities markets. The
6 See
82 FR 25018, supra note 4, at 25019–25020.
U.S.C. 78f.
8 See ICE Certificate, Art. V Sec. A(3)(a), and ICE
Bylaws, Art. III, Sec. 3.15.
9 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(1).
7 15
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references to NYSE Arca Equities are
obsolete, as it has been merged out of
existence.10
The Exchange accordingly proposes
the following changes:
• In the ICE Holdings Certificate, the
definitions of ‘‘U.S. Regulated
Subsidiary’’ and ‘‘U.S. Regulated
Subsidiaries’’ in Article V, Section A.10
would be deleted, and the definition of
‘‘Exchange’’ added to Article V, Section
A(1).11 In the ICE Holdings Bylaws, the
definitions of ‘‘U.S. Regulated
Subsidiary’’ and ‘‘U.S. Regulated
Subsidiaries’’ in Article III, Section 3.15
would be deleted, and in the NYSE
Group Certificate, the definitions of
‘‘Regulated Subsidiary’’ and ‘‘Regulated
Subsidiaries’’ in Article IV, Section
4(b)(1)(A) would be deleted, and the
definition of ‘‘Exchange’’ added in the
deleted definitions’ place.
• In Article 1, Section 1.1 of the
NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement,
the definitions of ‘‘New York Stock
Exchange,’’ ‘‘NYSE Arca,’’ ‘‘NYSE Arca
Equities,’’ ‘‘NYSE MKT,’’ ‘‘NYSE
National,’’ ‘‘U.S. Regulated Subsidiary,’’
and ‘‘U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries’’
would be deleted and the definition of
‘‘Exchange’’ added.
• In the NYSE Group Certificate,
Article IV, Section 4(b)(1)(A)(w), the
text ‘‘of the Regulated Subsidiaries, in
each case to the extent that such entities
continue to be controlled, directly or
indirectly, by the Corporation,’’ would
be replaced with ‘‘Exchange,’’ and ‘‘the
Regulated Subsidiaries’’ would be
replaced with ‘‘each Exchange.’’
• In the NYSE Group Bylaws, the list
of national securities exchanges, NYSE
Arca, LLC, NYSE Arca Equities and
their successors in Article VII, Section
7.9(b) would be replaced with the
definition of ‘‘Exchange.’’
Throughout the Governing
Documents, ‘‘U.S. Regulated
Subsidiary,’’ ‘‘U.S. Regulated
Subsidiary’s,’’ ‘‘U.S. Regulated
Subsidiaries,’’ ‘‘Regulated Subsidiary,’’
‘‘Regulated Subsidiary’s,’’ and
‘‘Regulated Subsidiaries’’ would be
replaced with ‘‘Exchange,’’
‘‘Exchange’s,’’ or ‘‘Exchanges,’’ as
applicable. Similarly, lists of any or all
of the ICE national securities exchanges,
NYSE Arca Equities, NYSE Arca, LLC,
their successors, facilities, or the boards
of directors of successors, would be
10 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81419
(August 17, 2017), 82 FR 40044 (August 23, 2017)
(SR–NYSEArca–2017–40).
11 The definition of ‘‘Exchange’’ would replace
‘‘any U.S. Regulated Subsidiary (as defined below)’’
in Art. V, Sec. A(1).
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replaced with ‘‘Exchange’’ or
‘‘Exchanges,’’ as applicable.12
When making such replacements, the
Exchange would utilize a comma or the
terms ‘‘any,’’ ‘‘each,’’ ‘‘an,’’ or ‘‘one or
more’’ and delete the terms ‘‘the’’ or ‘‘of
the’’ as necessary to integrate the term
into the text. Finally, references to
‘‘their’’ would be amended to ‘‘its’’ as
required by the context.13
Definition of Intermediate Holding
Companies
The ICE Holdings and NYSE Holdings
Governing Documents reference NYSE
Holdings and NYSE Group by name.14
The ICE Certificate and ICE Bylaws use
the defined term ‘‘Intermediate Holding
Companies’’ instead, defining an
‘‘Intermediate Holding Company’’ as
‘‘any entity controlled by the
Corporation that is not itself an
Exchange but that directly or indirectly
controls an Exchange.’’ 15 The Exchange
proposes to amend the Governing
Documents to be consistent with the ICE
Certificate and ICE Bylaws by using the
term ‘‘Intermediate Holding
Companies’’ instead of specific names.
The Exchange accordingly proposes
the following changes to the ICE
Holdings Certificate, Article V, Section
A(3)(a); ICE Holdings Bylaws, Article III,
Section 3.14(a)(2); and NYSE Holdings
Operating Agreement:
• In these ICE Holdings Governing
Document provisions, the initial
references to NYSE Holdings or NYSE
Group, including the text ‘‘(if and to the
extent that NYSE Group continues to
exist as a separate entity),’’ would be
replaced with the definition of
‘‘Intermediate Holding Company.’’ 16
The additional references to NYSE
Holdings or NYSE Group would be
replaced with the terms ‘‘Intermediate
12 For example, in Article XII, clause (b) of the
NYSE Group Certificate, ‘‘the boards of directors of
New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Arca, NYSE Arca
Equities, NYSE MKT and NYSE National or the
boards of directors of their successors’’ would be
amended to ‘‘the boards of directors of each
Exchange.’’
13 For example, in Article III, Section 3.14(b) of
the ICE Holdings Bylaws and Article III, Section
3.12(c) of the NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement,
‘‘their regulatory authority’’ would be amended to
‘‘its regulatory authority.’’
14 The NYSE Group Governing Documents do not
make such references because there are no
Intermediate Holding Companies between NYSE
Group and the Exchange or its national securities
exchange affiliates.
15 See ICE Certificate, Art. V, Sec. A.3(a); ICE
Bylaws, Art. III, Sec. 3.14(a)(2); and 82 FR 25018,
supra note 4, at 25019. The Intermediate Holding
Companies between ICE and the Exchange are ICE
Holdings, NYSE Holdings, and NYSE Group.
16 In the ICE Holdings Certificate, the word
‘‘respective’’ also would be deleted.
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55455
Holding Company’’ and ‘‘Intermediate
Holding Companies,’’ as applicable.
• In the NYSE Holdings Operating
Agreement, Article 1, Section 1.1, the
definition of ‘‘NYSE Group’’ would be
deleted and the definition of
‘‘Intermediate Holding Company’’
added, and in Article III, Section
3.12(b)(2) and Article IX, Section
9.1(a)(3)(A) and (b)(3)(A), references to
‘‘NYSE Group (if and to the extent that
NYSE Group continues to exist as a
separate entity)’’ would be replaced
with ‘‘Intermediate Holding
Companies’’ or ‘‘Intermediate Holding
Company,’’ as applicable.
Considerations of the Board
The ICE Holdings Bylaws, NYSE
Holdings Agreement, and NYSE Group
Certificate have provisions setting forth
considerations directors must take into
account in discharging their
responsibilities.17 Each such provision
limits claims against directors, officers
and employees as well as the relevant
Intermediate Holding Company. The
Exchange proposes to amend such
provisions to substantially conform
them to the analogous provision in the
ICE Bylaws, as well as the governing
documents of other holding companies
of national securities exchanges, which
are substantially similar.18
The Exchange accordingly proposes
the following changes to the ICE
Holdings Bylaws, Article III, Section
3.14(c); NYSE Group Certificate, Article
V, Section 8; and NYSE Holdings
Operating Agreement, Section 3.12(d):
• The ICE Holdings Bylaws and
NYSE Group Certificate provisions
would be expanded in scope to apply to
any ‘‘past or present stockholder,
employee, beneficiary, agent, customer,
creditor, community or regulatory
authority or member thereof or other
person or entity,’’ and to protect agents
as well as directors, officers and
employees. To implement the change,
the Exchange proposes to amend the
final sentences of the ICE Holdings
Bylaws and NYSE Group Certificate
provisions as follows (deletions
[bracketed], additions italicized):
No past or present stockholder, employee,
[former employee,] beneficiary, agent,
customer, creditor, community or regulatory
authority or member thereof or other person
17 See ICE Holdings Bylaws, Art. III, Sec. 3.14;
NYSE Holdings Agreement, Art. III, Sec. 3.12; and
NYSE Group Certificate Art. V, Sec. 8.
18 See ICE Bylaws, Art. III, Sec. 3.14(c); Amended
and Restated Bylaws of Bats Global Markets
Holdings, Inc., Art. VII, Sec. 7.2; Amended and
Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of
BOX Holdings Group LLC, Art. 4, Sec. 4.12; Bylaws
of IEX Group, Inc., Art. VII, Sec. 34; and Amended
and Restated Bylaws of Miami International
Holdings, Inc., Art. VII, Sec. 1.
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or entity shall have any rights against any
director, officer, [or] employee or agent of the
Corporation or the Corporation under this
Section. . . .
• The NYSE Holdings Operating
Agreement provision would be
expanded in scope to apply to any ‘‘past
or present Manager, employee,
beneficiary, agent, customer, creditor,
community or regulatory authority or
member thereof or other person or
entity,’’ and to protect agents as well as
Managers, officers and employees. To
implement the change, the Exchange
proposes to amend the final sentence of
the provision as follows (deletions
[bracketed], additions italicized):
No past or present Manager, employee,
[former employee,] beneficiary, agent,
customer, creditor, community or regulatory
authority or member thereof or other person
or entity shall have any rights against any
Manager, officer, [or] employee or agent of
the Company or the Company under Section
3.12.
Limitations on Voting and Ownership
The ICE Holdings Certificate, NYSE
Holdings Operating Agreement, and
NYSE Group Certificate have provisions
that establish voting and ownership
concentration limitations on owners of
their respective common stock above
certain thresholds, which apply for so
long as the relevant Intermediate
Holding Company owns any U.S.
Regulated Subsidiary (the ‘‘Limitation
Provisions’’).19 Such provisions
authorize the relevant entity’s Board of
Directors to grant exceptions to the
voting and ownership concentration
limitations if the Board of Directors
makes certain determinations.
The ICE Certificate has a similar
voting and ownership concentration
limitation provision.20 The Exchange
proposes to amend the Limitations
Provisions to make them more
consistent with the provision in the ICE
Certificate.
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Definition of Member
Currently, the Limitation Provisions
include lengthy provisions listing the
different categories of members and
permit holders of each of the NYSE,
NYSE American, NYSE Arca, and NYSE
National.21 Consistent with the ICE
Certificate,22 the Exchange proposes to
19 See ICE Holdings Certificate, Art. V, Sec. A and
B; NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement, Art. IX,
Sec. 9.1(a) and (b); and NYSE Group Certificate, Art.
IV, Sec. 4(b)(1) and (2).
20 See ICE Certificate, Art. V, Sec. A and B, and
82 FR 25018, supra note 4, at 25020.
21 See ICE Holdings Certificate, Art. V, Sec.
A(3)(c); NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement, Art.
IX, Sec. 9.1(a)(3)(c); and NYSE Group Certificate,
Art. IV, Sec. 4(b)(1)(A)(y).
22 See ICE Certificate, Art. V, Sec. A(3)(c) and (8).
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replace such provisions with the
defined term ‘‘Member,’’ or, in the case
of the NYSE Holdings Operating
Agreement, ‘‘Exchange Member,’’
defined to mean a person that is a
‘‘member’’ of an exchange within the
meaning of Section 3(a)(3)(A) of the
Exchange Act.23
The Exchange believes that using
‘‘Member’’ or ‘‘Exchange Member’’ in
place of the lists of categories of
members and permit holders presently
in the Governing Documents would
simplify the Limitation Provisions,
avoiding exchange-by-exchange
descriptions of categories of members
and permit holders without substantive
change. Each of the categories listed—an
ETP Holder, OTP Holder or OTP Firm
of NYSE Arca, a ‘‘member’’ or ‘‘member
organization’’ of the NYSE or NYSE
American, or an ETP Holder of NYSE
National—is a ‘‘member’’ of an
exchange within the meaning of Section
3(a)(3)(A) of the Exchange Act.24
The Exchange believes that the use of
‘‘Member’’ and the changes to remove
the descriptions of categories of
members and permit holders would be
appropriate because it would align the
Limitation Provisions more closely with
the ICE Certificate, as well as voting and
ownership concentration limits in the
certificates of incorporation of other
companies that own one or more
national securities exchanges, which
use a similar description of
membership.25 The Exchange
accordingly proposes the following
changes:
• The definition of ‘‘Member’’ would
be added to the ICE Holdings Certificate,
Article V.A.8, and NYSE Group
Certificate, Article IV, Section 4(b)(1)(F).
Articles V.A.8 through 10 of the ICE
Holdings Certificate would be
renumbered accordingly.
• In the NYSE Holdings Operating
Agreement, Article I, Section 1.1, the
definition of ‘‘Exchange Member’’
would be added and the definitions of
‘‘MKT Member,’’ ‘‘NYSE Arca ETP
Holder,’’ ‘‘NYSE Member,’’ ‘‘NYSE
National ETP Holder,’’ ‘‘OTP Firm,’’ and
‘‘OTP Holder’’ would be deleted.
• In the NYSE Group Certificate,
Article IV, Section 4(b)(2)(C)(iv), ‘‘an
23 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(3)(A). NYSE Holdings uses
‘‘Exchange Member’’ because, as a limited liability
company, it has a Member, which is ICE Holdings.
24 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(3)(A). Former NYSE Arca
Equities ETP Holders are now ETP Holders of NYSE
Arca. See 82 FR 40044, supra note 10, at 40044.
25 See Second Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation of CBOE Holdings, Inc. (‘‘CBOE
Certificate’’), Art. Sixth, Sec. (a)(ii)(C) and (b)(ii)(D)
(‘‘Trading Permit Holder’’); Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of Miami International
Holdings, Inc., Article Ninth (a)(ii) (‘‘Exchange
Member’’).
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NYSE Arca ETP Holder or an OTP
Holder or OTP Firm’’ would be replaced
with ‘‘a Member of any Exchange.’’ 26
Approval Requirements for Exceeding
Voting and Concentration Limits
The Exchange proposes that, in the
case of a person seeking approval to
exercise voting rights in excess of 20%
of the outstanding votes, the amended
Limitation Provisions require that
neither such person nor any of its
related persons be a Member of an
Exchange, instead of referring to the
various categories of Exchange
membership. Accordingly, the Exchange
proposes to make the following changes
to ICE Holdings Certificate, Article
V.A.3.c; NYSE Holdings Operating
Agreement, Article IX, Section
9.1(a)(3)(C); and the NYSE Group
Certificate, Article IV, Section
4(b)(1)(A)(y):
• In the provisions of the ICE
Holdings and NYSE Holdings Governing
Documents, the text ‘‘NYSE Arca, Inc.
(‘NYSE Arca’) or NYSE Arca Equities,
Inc. (‘NYSE Arca Equities’) or any
facility of NYSE Arca’’ would be
replaced with ‘‘one or more Exchanges.’’
In addition, ‘‘and’’ would be added
between clauses (i) and (ii).
• In the provision of the NYSE Group
Certificate, ‘‘the NYSE Arca or NYSE
Arca Equities or any facility of NYSE
Arca’’ would be replaced with ‘‘one or
more Exchanges.’’ In addition, ‘‘and’’
would be added between clauses (1) and
(2).
• In all three provisions, the text ‘‘a
Member (as defined below) of any
Exchange’’ would replace the text from
‘‘an ETP Holder (as defined in the NYSE
Arca Equities rules’’ through the end of
the paragraph, with the exception that
the NYSE Holdings text does not
include ‘‘(as defined below).’’
In addition, the Exchange proposes
the following changes to the ICE
Holdings Certificate, Article V.A.3.d;
NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement,
Article IX, Section 9.1(a)(3)(D); and the
NYSE Group Certificate, Article IV,
Section 4(b)(1)(A)(z):
• In all three provisions, the text
‘‘NYSE Arca or NYSE Arca Equities or
any facility of NYSE Arca’’ would be
replaced with ‘‘one or more Exchanges,’’
with the exception that the NYSE Group
text has the word ‘‘the’’ at its start. The
text ‘‘a Member of any Exchange’’ would
replace the text from ‘‘an NYSE Arca
ETP Holder’’ through the end of the
paragraph.
• In the provisions of the ICE
Holdings and NYSE Holdings Governing
Documents, the word ‘‘and’’ would be
26 See
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ICE Certificate, Art. V, Sec. B(3)(d).
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added between (i) and (ii). In the
provision of the NYSE Group
Certificate, the word ‘‘and’’ would be
added between clauses (1) and (2).
The Exchange proposes that the
conditions relating to a person seeking
approval to exceed the ownership
concentration limitation be similarly
amended. The Exchange accordingly
proposes the following changes to the
ICE Holdings Certificate, Article
V.B.3.d; NYSE Holdings Operating
Agreement, Article IX, Section
9.1(b)(3)(D); and the NYSE Group
Certificate, Article IV, Section
4(b)(2)(C)(iv):
• The word ‘‘and’’ would be added
immediately before the provisions.
• The text ‘‘NYSE Arca or NYSE Arca
Equities or any facility of NYSE Arca’’
would be replaced with ‘‘any
Exchange,’’ with the exception that the
NYSE Group text has the word ‘‘the’’ at
its start.
• The text from ‘‘an NYSE Arca ETP
Holder’’ through the end of the next
three subparagraphs would be deleted
and replaced with ‘‘a Member of any
Exchange.’’
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
Definition of Related Persons
Currently, the Limitation Provisions
include lengthy definitions of ‘‘Related
Persons.’’ The Exchange proposes to
amend such definitions to eliminate the
exchange-by-exchange description. Use
of ‘‘Member’’ would permit a
simplification, without substantive
change, of the portion of the definition
of the term ‘‘Related Persons’’ relating to
members and trading permit holders.
The revised definitions would be the
same as the definition in the ICE
Certificate, subject to differences in
numbering and, in the NYSE Holdings
Operating Agreement, certain terms.27
The Exchange accordingly proposes
the following changes to the definitions
of ‘‘Related Persons’’ in the ICE
Holdings Certificate, current Article
V.A(9); NYSE Holdings Operating
Agreement, Article I, Section 1.1; and
NYSE Group Certificate, Article IV,
Section 4(b)(1)(E):
• In the fourth subparagraph, the text
‘‘ ‘member organization’ (as defined in
the rules of New York Stock Exchange,
as such rules may be in effect from time
to time), any ‘member’ (as defined in the
rules of New York Stock Exchange, as
such rules may be in effect from time to
time)’’ would be replaced with
‘‘Member, any Person.’’
• In the fifth subparagraph, the text
‘‘an OTP Firm, any OTP Holder that is
27 See ICE Certificate, Art. V, Sec. A(10). NYSE
Holdings uses ‘‘Interests of the Company’’ rather
than ‘‘shares of stock of the Corporation.’’
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Jkt 244001
associated with such Person’’ would be
replaced with ‘‘a natural person and is
a Member, any broker or dealer that is
also a Member with which such Person
is associated.’’
• In the ICE Holdings Certificate and
NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement,
‘‘and’’ would be added between the
seventh and eighth subparagraphs. In
the NYSE Group Certificate, ‘‘and’’
would be added between the eighth and
ninth subparagraphs.
• In the ICE Holdings Certificate and
NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement,
subparagraphs nine through 12 would
be deleted. In the NYSE Group
Certificate, subparagraphs six and ten
through 12 would be deleted, and the
provisions renumbered accordingly.
Confidential Information
The Exchange proposes to amend the
confidential information provisions in
the ICE Holdings Bylaws, NYSE
Holdings Operating Agreement, and
NYSE Group Certificate. The proposed
amendments would make such
Governing Documents more consistent
with the confidential information
provision in the ICE Bylaws.28
Accordingly, in the ICE Holdings
Bylaws, Article VIII, Section 8.3(b);
NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement,
Article XII, Section 12.3; and NYSE
Group Certificate, Article X, the text
‘‘U.S. Regulated Subsidiary or any other
U.S. Regulated Subsidiary over which
such U.S. Regulated Subsidiary has
regulatory authority or oversight’’ would
be replaced with ‘‘Exchange.’’ 29
The proposed change would remove
the provisions that allow any U.S.
Regulated Subsidiary to inspect and
copy the books and records of another
U.S. Regulated Subsidiary over which
the first has regulatory authority or
oversight. As a result, the confidential
information provisions would no longer
provide that NYSE Arca may inspect the
books and records of NYSE Arca, LLC
or NYSE Arca Equities. However, the
proposed change would have no
substantive effect, because pursuant to
NYSE Arca Rule 3.12 30 NYSE Arca
would retain its authority over the
books and records of NYSE Arca, LLC,
and NYSE Arca Equities no longer
exists. The NYSE, NYSE American,
28 See ICE Bylaws, Art. VIII. See also 82 FR
25018, supra note 4, at 25020.
29 The text of the NYSE Group Certificate uses
‘‘Regulated Subsidiary’’ instead of ‘‘U.S. Regulated
Subsidiary.’’
30 NYSE Arca Rule 3.12 provides, among other
things, that the books and records of NYSE Arca,
LLC are deemed to be the books and records of
NYSE Arca for purposes of and subject to oversight
pursuant to the Exchange Act and subject to
inspection and copying by NYSE Arca. See ICE
Bylaws, Art. VIII, Sec. 8.3.
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Fmt 4703
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55457
NYSE Arca and NYSE National do not
have regulatory authority or oversight
over each other.
The Exchange proposes the following
additional changes to the provisions:
• In the ICE Holdings Bylaws, Article
VIII, Sections 8.1 and 8.2, and NYSE
Holdings Operating Agreement, Article
XII, Sections 12.1 and 12.2, ‘‘U.S.
Subsidiaries’ Confidential Information’’
would be amended to ‘‘Exchange
Confidential Information.’’
• In the NYSE Holdings Operating
Agreement, Article 1, Section 1.1, the
definition of ‘‘U.S. Subsidiaries’
Confidential Information’’ would be
deleted and the definition of ‘‘Exchange
Confidential Information’’ added.
Additional Proposed Changes to the
Governing Documents
In addition to the above, the Exchange
proposes that Article II of the ICE
Holdings Certificate be updated to
include the name and building of its
registered office in the State of
Delaware. In addition, conforming
changes would be made to the title,
recitals, date and signature line, as
applicable, of the Governing
Documents.
ICE Certificate
The Exchange proposes to make a
non-substantive amendment to Article
V, Section A(3)(a) of the ICE Certificate.
Due to an oversight, the text of the ICE
Certificate approved by the ICE
shareholders at the ICE annual meeting
omitted the word ‘‘respective’’ from
Article V, Section A(3)(a).31 To conform
the ICE Certificate filed with the
Commission to the text approved by the
shareholders, the Exchange proposes to
delete the word ‘‘respective’’ from
clause (i) of the provision, which would
read as follows (proposed deletion in
bracket):
will not impair the ability of any national
securities exchange registered under Section
6 of the Exchange Act that is directly or
indirectly controlled by the Corporation
(each such national securities exchange so
controlled, an ‘‘Exchange’’), any entity
controlled by the Corporation that is not
itself an Exchange but that directly or
indirectly controls an Exchange (each such
controlling entity, an ‘‘Intermediate Holding
Company’’) or the Corporation to discharge
their [respective] responsibilities under the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder. . . .
The Exchange does not propose to
make any other changes to the ICE
Certificate.
31 See Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. Notice of
2017 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, at page
A–5, available at https://ir.theice.com/∼/media/
Files/I/Ice-IR/quarterly-results/2016/proxystatement-2016.pdf.
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2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b) of the Exchange Act 32 in
general, and with Section 6(b)(1) 33 in
particular, in that it enables the
Exchange to be so organized as to have
the capacity to be able to carry out the
purposes of the Exchange Act and to
comply, and to enforce compliance by
its exchange members and persons
associated with its exchange members,
with the provisions of the Exchange Act,
the rules and regulations thereunder,
and the rules of the Exchange.
In particular, the Exchange believes
that the proposed amendments to
replace references to the U.S. Regulated
Subsidiaries and to the NYSE, NYSE
American, NYSE Arca, NYSE Arca, LLC
and NYSE Arca Equities with references
to an ‘‘Exchange’’ or the ‘‘Exchanges,’’
as appropriate, would contribute to the
orderly operation of the Exchange by
adding clarity and transparency to the
Exchange’s rules by eliminating
references in the Governing Documents
to entities that are not national
securities exchanges. The Exchange Act
definition of ‘‘exchange’’ states that
‘‘exchange’’ ‘‘includes the market place
and the market facilities maintained by
such exchange.’’ 34 Accordingly, all
market places and market facilities
maintained by an Exchange would fall
within the definition of Exchange and
therefore would fall within the scope of
the Governing Documents. The
Exchange notes that the proposed
change would align the Governing
Documents voting and ownership
concentration limits in the certificates of
incorporation of other companies that
own one or more national securities
exchanges, which do not include
references to subsidiaries other than
national securities exchanges.35 In
addition, it would contribute to the
orderly operation of the Exchange by
adding clarity and transparency to the
Exchange’s rules by eliminating obsolete
references to NYSE Arca Equities,
which has been merged out of existence.
As a result of the proposed use of
‘‘Exchanges’’ instead of ‘‘U.S. Regulated
Subsidiaries,’’ the confidential
information provisions of the Governing
Documents would no longer provide
that any U.S. Regulated Subsidiary is
authorized to inspect the books and
32 15
U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(1).
34 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(1).
35 See CBOE Certificate, Art. Fifth, Sec. (a)(v), and
Art. Sixth, Sec. (a)(ii)(A) (‘‘Regulated Securities
Exchange Subsidiaries’’); and Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Bats Global
Markets Holdings, Inc., Art. Fifth, Sec. (2)
(‘‘Exchange Subsidiaries’’).
33 15
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18:56 Nov 20, 2017
Jkt 244001
records of another U.S. Regulated
Subsidiary over which the first has
regulatory authority or oversight,
including that NYSE Arca may inspect
the books and records of NYSE Arca,
LLC or NYSE Arca Equities. The
proposed change would add further
clarity and transparency to the
Exchange’s rules without having a
substantive effect, as, pursuant to NYSE
Arca Rule 3.12, NYSE Arca would retain
its authority over the books and records
of NYSE Arca, LLC, NYSE Arca Equities
no longer exists and the NYSE, NYSE
American, NYSE Arca and NYSE
National do not have regulatory
authority or oversight over each other.
The Exchange believes that the
proposed use in the Governing
Documents of the defined term
‘‘Intermediate Holding Company’’ in
place of lists of intermediate holding
companies would contribute to the
orderly operation of the Exchange by
adding clarity and transparency to the
Exchange’s rules by eliminating
references to entities that are not
national securities exchanges without
making a substantive change.
Similarly, the Exchange believes that
the proposed use of the defined term
‘‘Member’’ in place of lists of categories
of members and permit holders in the
Limitation Provisions would simplify
the provisions without substantive
change, avoiding exchange-by-exchange
descriptions of categories of members
and permit holders, as each of the
categories currently listed is a
‘‘member’’ of an exchange within the
meaning of Section 3(a)(3)(A) of the
Exchange Act.36 Such use of ‘‘Member,’’
along with the simplification of the
definition of ‘‘Related Persons’’ in the
Limitation Provisions, would add clarity
and transparency to the Exchange’s
rules as well as align the Limitation
Provisions with the ICE Certificate
voting and ownership concentration
limits and with the voting and
ownership concentration limits in the
certificates of incorporation of other
companies that own one or more
national securities exchanges, which
use a similar description of
membership.37
For similar reasons, the Exchange also
believes that this filing furthers the
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the
Exchange Act 38 because the proposed
rule change would be consistent with
and would create a governance and
regulatory structure that is designed to
36 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(3)(A). Former NYSE Arca
Equities ETP Holders are now ETP Holders of NYSE
Arca. See 82 FR 40044, supra note 10, at 40044.
37 See note 25, supra.
38 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts and practices, to promote just and
equitable principles of trade, to foster
cooperation and coordination with
persons engaged in regulating, clearing,
settling, processing information with
respect to, and facilitating transactions
in securities, to remove impediments to,
and perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market and a national market
system and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest.
Specifically, the proposed
amendments (1) replacing references to
the U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries,
Regulated Subsidiaries, and to the
NYSE, NYSE American, NYSE Arca,
NYSE Arca, LLC and NYSE Arca
Equities with references to an
‘‘Exchange’’ or the ‘‘Exchanges,’’ as
appropriate; (2) using ‘‘Intermediate
Holding Company’’ in place of lists of
intermediate holding companies; (3)
using ‘‘Member’’ in place of the lists of
categories of members and permit
holders in the Limitation Provisions; (4)
simplifying the definition of ‘‘Related
Persons’’ in the Limitation Provisions;
(5) removing the ability of a U.S.
Regulated Subsidiary to inspect the
books and records of other U.S.
Regulated Subsidiaries; and (6) making
conforming changes to the Governing
Documents, would remove impediments
to and perfect the mechanism of a free
and open market by simplifying and
streamlining the Exchange’s rules and
removing obsolete references, thereby
ensuring that persons subject to the
Exchange’s jurisdiction, regulators, and
the investing public can more easily
navigate and understand the Governing
Documents.
The Exchange believes that the
proposed amendments to the Governing
Document provisions limiting claims
against directors, officers and
employees, as well as the relevant
Intermediate Holding Company, would
remove impediments to, and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market
and a national market system and, in
general, protect investors and the public
interest because the proposed changes
would conform the provision to the
analogous statement in the ICE
Certificate, as well as in the governing
documents of other holding companies
of national securities exchanges, which
are substantially similar.39
Finally, the Exchange believes that its
proposed non-substantive amendment
to Article V, Section A(3)(a) of the ICE
Certificate would remove impediments
to, and perfect the mechanism of a free
and open market and a national market
system and, in general, to protect
39 See
E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM
note 18, supra.
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 21, 2017 / Notices
investors and the public interest
because it would ensure that the ICE
Certificate filed with the Commission
conforms to the text approved by the
ICE shareholders at the ICE annual
meeting.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will impose
any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Exchange Act.
The proposed rule change is not
designed to address any competitive
issue but rather update and streamline
the Intermediate Holding Company
governing documents to make them
more consistent with the governing
documents of ICE, their ultimate parent,
including by (a) streamlining references
to ICE subsidiaries that either are or
control national securities exchanges
and deleting references to other ICE
subsidiaries; and (b) amending the
provisions regarding limitations on
claims, voting and ownership
concentration limitations, and
confidential information.
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change will serve to
promote clarity and consistency,
thereby reducing burdens on the
marketplace and facilitating investor
protection. The proposed rule change
would result in no concentration or
other changes of ownership of
exchanges.
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
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
The Exchange has filed the proposed
rule change pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 40 and Rule
19b4(f)–(6) thereunder.41 Because the
proposed rule change does not: (i)
Significantly affect the protection of
investors or the public interest; (ii)
impose any significant burden on
competition; and (iii) become operative
prior to 30 days from the date on which
it was filed, or such shorter time as the
Commission may designate, if
consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest, the
proposed rule change has become
40 15
41 17
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
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effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)
of the Act and Rule 19b–4(f)(6)
thereunder.42
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of such proposed rule change, the
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend such rule change if
it appears to the Commission that such
action is necessary or appropriate in the
public interest, for the protection of
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
the purposes of the Act. If the
Commission takes such action, the
Commission shall institute proceedings
under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 43 of the Act to
determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or
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–
NYSEARCA–2017–125 on the subject
line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSEARCA–2017–125.
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
55459
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.
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–NYSEARCA–2017–125 and
should be submitted on or before
December 12, 2017.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.44
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–25140 Filed 11–20–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–82085; File No. SR–Phlx–
2017–74]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq
PHLX LLC; Notice of Designation of a
Longer Period for Commission Action
on Proposed Rule Change To
Introduce the Intellicator Analytic Tool
November 15, 2017.
On September 20, 2017, Nasdaq PHLX
LLC (‘‘Phlx’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant
to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule
19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule
change to introduce the Intellicator
Analytic Tool. The proposed rule
change was published for comment in
the Federal Register on October 4,
2017.3 The Commission has received
one comment on the proposed rule
change.4
44 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81754
(Sept. 28, 2017), 82 FR 46319 (Oct. 4, 2017).
4 See Letter from Ellen Greene, Managing
Director, Financial Services Operations, Securities
Industry and Financial Markets Association, to
Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission, dated
November 8, 2017, available at https://
1 15
42 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b–
4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give
the Commission written notice of its intent to file
the proposed rule change at least five business days
prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule
change, or such shorter time as designated by the
Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this
requirement.
43 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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Continued
21NON1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55453-55459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25140]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-82083; File No. SR-NYSEARCA-2017-125]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the
Governing Documents of Its Intermediate Parent Companies
Intercontinental Exchange Holdings, Inc., NYSE Holdings LLC and NYSE
Group, Inc. To Make Them More Consistent With the Governing Documents
of Their Ultimate Parent Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
November 15, 2017.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the ``Act'' or ``Exchange Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4
thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby
[[Page 55454]]
given that on November 3, 2017, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or
``NYSE Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 the governing documents of its
intermediate parent companies Intercontinental Exchange Holdings, Inc.
(``ICE Holdings''), NYSE Holdings LLC (``NYSE Holdings''), and NYSE
Group, Inc. (``NYSE Group'') to make them more consistent with the
governing documents of their ultimate parent Intercontinental Exchange,
Inc. (``ICE''), including by (a) streamlining references to ICE
subsidiaries that either are or control national securities exchanges
and deleting references to other ICE subsidiaries; and (b) amending the
provisions regarding limitations on claims, voting and ownership
concentration limitations, and confidential information. In addition,
the Exchange proposes to make a non-substantive change to the ICE
certificate of incorporation. The proposed rule change is available on
the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the
Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most
significant parts of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend the governing documents of its
intermediate parent companies ICE Holdings, NYSE Holdings, and NYSE
Group (together, the ``Intermediate Holding Companies'') to make them
more consistent with the ICE governing documents, including by (a)
streamlining references to ICE subsidiaries that either are or control
national securities exchanges and deleting references to other ICE
subsidiaries; and (b) amending the provisions regarding limitations on
claims, voting and ownership concentration limitations, and
confidential information. In addition, the Exchange proposes to make a
non-substantive change to the ICE certificate of incorporation.
More specifically, the Exchange proposes to amend the following
documents (collectively, the ``Governing Documents''):
Eighth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
of ICE Holdings (``ICE Holdings Certificate'') and Fifth Amended and
Restated Bylaws of ICE Holdings (``ICE Holdings Bylaws'');
Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company
Agreement of NYSE Holdings (``NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement''); and
Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
NYSE Group (``NYSE Group Certificate'') and Third Amended and Restated
Bylaws of NYSE Group (``NYSE Group Bylaws'').
As discussed below, the proposed changes to the Governing Documents
would make the relevant provisions more consistent with the Fourth
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of ICE (``ICE
Certificate'') and Eighth Amended and Restated Bylaws of ICE (``ICE
Bylaws'').\4\
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\4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80752 (May 24,
2017), 82 FR 25018 (May 31, 2017) (SR-NYSE-2017-13; SR-NYSEArca-
2017-29; SR-NYSEMKT-2017-17; SR-NYSENAT-2017-01). ICE is a publicly
traded company listed on the NYSE.
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ICE, the ultimate parent of the Exchange, owns 100% of the equity
interest in ICE Holdings, which in turn owns 100% of the equity
interest in NYSE Holdings. NYSE Holdings owns 100% of the equity
interest of NYSE Group, which in turn directly owns 100% of the equity
interest of the Exchange and its national securities exchange
affiliates, the New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE''), NYSE American
LLC (``NYSE American'') and NYSE National, Inc. (``NYSE National'').\5\
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\5\ The Exchange's affiliates NYSE, NYSE American (previously
NYSE MKT LLC), and NYSE National have each submitted substantially
the same proposed rule change to propose the changes described
herein. See SR-NYSE-2017-57, SR-NYSEAmer-2017-29, and SR-NYSENAT-
2017-05.
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In addition, the Exchange proposes to make a nonsubstantive change
to the ICE Certificate.
Definition of Exchange
With the exception of the NYSE Group Bylaws, the Governing
Documents define ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiary'' and ``U.S. Regulated
Subsidiaries'' and, in the case of the NYSE Group Certificate,
``Regulated Subsidiary'' and ``Regulated Subsidiaries'' to mean,
individually or collectively, the four national securities exchanges
owned by ICE (the NYSE, NYSE American, NYSE Arca, and NYSE National),
NYSE Arca, LLC, and NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. (``NYSE Arca Equities''),
or their successors, in each case to the extent that such entities
continue to be controlled, directly or indirectly, by the relevant
Intermediate Holding Company. The NYSE Group Bylaws list the relevant
entities rather than use a defined term.
Unlike the Governing Documents, the ICE Certificate and ICE Bylaws
use the defined term ``Exchange'' or ``Exchanges'' instead of ``U.S.
Regulated Subsidiary'' or ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries.'' \6\
``Exchange'' is defined as a national securities exchange registered
under Section 6 of the Exchange Act \7\ that is directly or indirectly
controlled by ICE.\8\ The Exchange proposes to amend the Governing
Documents to be consistent with the ICE Certificate and ICE Bylaws by
using the terms ``Exchange'' instead of ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiary''
or ``Regulated Subsidiary.'' Similarly, the Exchange proposes to use
``Exchange'' or ``Exchanges,'' as applicable, in place of ``U.S.
Regulated Subsidiaries'' or ``Regulated Subsidiaries,'' and to use
``Exchange'' or ``Exchanges,'' as applicable, instead of lists of
specific entities.
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\6\ See 82 FR 25018, supra note 4, at 25019-25020.
\7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
\8\ See ICE Certificate, Art. V Sec. A(3)(a), and ICE Bylaws,
Art. III, Sec. 3.15.
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As a result of the proposed change, the Governing Documents would
no longer include references to NYSE Arca, LLC or NYSE Arca Equities.
The Exchange believes omitting references to NYSE Arca, LLC, a
subsidiary of NYSE Group, is appropriate because the Exchange Act
definition of ``exchange'' states that ``exchange'' ``includes the
market place and the market facilities maintained by such exchange.''
\9\ NYSE Arca, as the national securities exchange, has the regulatory
and self-regulatory responsibility for the NYSE Arca options and
equities markets. The
[[Page 55455]]
references to NYSE Arca Equities are obsolete, as it has been merged
out of existence.\10\
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\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(1).
\10\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81419 (August 17,
2017), 82 FR 40044 (August 23, 2017) (SR-NYSEArca-2017-40).
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The Exchange accordingly proposes the following changes:
In the ICE Holdings Certificate, the definitions of ``U.S.
Regulated Subsidiary'' and ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries'' in Article
V, Section A.10 would be deleted, and the definition of ``Exchange''
added to Article V, Section A(1).\11\ In the ICE Holdings Bylaws, the
definitions of ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiary'' and ``U.S. Regulated
Subsidiaries'' in Article III, Section 3.15 would be deleted, and in
the NYSE Group Certificate, the definitions of ``Regulated Subsidiary''
and ``Regulated Subsidiaries'' in Article IV, Section 4(b)(1)(A) would
be deleted, and the definition of ``Exchange'' added in the deleted
definitions' place.
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\11\ The definition of ``Exchange'' would replace ``any U.S.
Regulated Subsidiary (as defined below)'' in Art. V, Sec. A(1).
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In Article 1, Section 1.1 of the NYSE Holdings Operating
Agreement, the definitions of ``New York Stock Exchange,'' ``NYSE
Arca,'' ``NYSE Arca Equities,'' ``NYSE MKT,'' ``NYSE National,'' ``U.S.
Regulated Subsidiary,'' and ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries'' would be
deleted and the definition of ``Exchange'' added.
In the NYSE Group Certificate, Article IV, Section
4(b)(1)(A)(w), the text ``of the Regulated Subsidiaries, in each case
to the extent that such entities continue to be controlled, directly or
indirectly, by the Corporation,'' would be replaced with ``Exchange,''
and ``the Regulated Subsidiaries'' would be replaced with ``each
Exchange.''
In the NYSE Group Bylaws, the list of national securities
exchanges, NYSE Arca, LLC, NYSE Arca Equities and their successors in
Article VII, Section 7.9(b) would be replaced with the definition of
``Exchange.''
Throughout the Governing Documents, ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiary,''
``U.S. Regulated Subsidiary's,'' ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries,''
``Regulated Subsidiary,'' ``Regulated Subsidiary's,'' and ``Regulated
Subsidiaries'' would be replaced with ``Exchange,'' ``Exchange's,'' or
``Exchanges,'' as applicable. Similarly, lists of any or all of the ICE
national securities exchanges, NYSE Arca Equities, NYSE Arca, LLC,
their successors, facilities, or the boards of directors of successors,
would be replaced with ``Exchange'' or ``Exchanges,'' as
applicable.\12\
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\12\ For example, in Article XII, clause (b) of the NYSE Group
Certificate, ``the boards of directors of New York Stock Exchange,
NYSE Arca, NYSE Arca Equities, NYSE MKT and NYSE National or the
boards of directors of their successors'' would be amended to ``the
boards of directors of each Exchange.''
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When making such replacements, the Exchange would utilize a comma
or the terms ``any,'' ``each,'' ``an,'' or ``one or more'' and delete
the terms ``the'' or ``of the'' as necessary to integrate the term into
the text. Finally, references to ``their'' would be amended to ``its''
as required by the context.\13\
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\13\ For example, in Article III, Section 3.14(b) of the ICE
Holdings Bylaws and Article III, Section 3.12(c) of the NYSE
Holdings Operating Agreement, ``their regulatory authority'' would
be amended to ``its regulatory authority.''
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Definition of Intermediate Holding Companies
The ICE Holdings and NYSE Holdings Governing Documents reference
NYSE Holdings and NYSE Group by name.\14\ The ICE Certificate and ICE
Bylaws use the defined term ``Intermediate Holding Companies'' instead,
defining an ``Intermediate Holding Company'' as ``any entity controlled
by the Corporation that is not itself an Exchange but that directly or
indirectly controls an Exchange.'' \15\ The Exchange proposes to amend
the Governing Documents to be consistent with the ICE Certificate and
ICE Bylaws by using the term ``Intermediate Holding Companies'' instead
of specific names.
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\14\ The NYSE Group Governing Documents do not make such
references because there are no Intermediate Holding Companies
between NYSE Group and the Exchange or its national securities
exchange affiliates.
\15\ See ICE Certificate, Art. V, Sec. A.3(a); ICE Bylaws, Art.
III, Sec. 3.14(a)(2); and 82 FR 25018, supra note 4, at 25019. The
Intermediate Holding Companies between ICE and the Exchange are ICE
Holdings, NYSE Holdings, and NYSE Group.
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The Exchange accordingly proposes the following changes to the ICE
Holdings Certificate, Article V, Section A(3)(a); ICE Holdings Bylaws,
Article III, Section 3.14(a)(2); and NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement:
In these ICE Holdings Governing Document provisions, the
initial references to NYSE Holdings or NYSE Group, including the text
``(if and to the extent that NYSE Group continues to exist as a
separate entity),'' would be replaced with the definition of
``Intermediate Holding Company.'' \16\ The additional references to
NYSE Holdings or NYSE Group would be replaced with the terms
``Intermediate Holding Company'' and ``Intermediate Holding
Companies,'' as applicable.
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\16\ In the ICE Holdings Certificate, the word ``respective''
also would be deleted.
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In the NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement, Article 1,
Section 1.1, the definition of ``NYSE Group'' would be deleted and the
definition of ``Intermediate Holding Company'' added, and in Article
III, Section 3.12(b)(2) and Article IX, Section 9.1(a)(3)(A) and
(b)(3)(A), references to ``NYSE Group (if and to the extent that NYSE
Group continues to exist as a separate entity)'' would be replaced with
``Intermediate Holding Companies'' or ``Intermediate Holding Company,''
as applicable.
Considerations of the Board
The ICE Holdings Bylaws, NYSE Holdings Agreement, and NYSE Group
Certificate have provisions setting forth considerations directors must
take into account in discharging their responsibilities.\17\ Each such
provision limits claims against directors, officers and employees as
well as the relevant Intermediate Holding Company. The Exchange
proposes to amend such provisions to substantially conform them to the
analogous provision in the ICE Bylaws, as well as the governing
documents of other holding companies of national securities exchanges,
which are substantially similar.\18\
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\17\ See ICE Holdings Bylaws, Art. III, Sec. 3.14; NYSE Holdings
Agreement, Art. III, Sec. 3.12; and NYSE Group Certificate Art. V,
Sec. 8.
\18\ See ICE Bylaws, Art. III, Sec. 3.14(c); Amended and
Restated Bylaws of Bats Global Markets Holdings, Inc., Art. VII,
Sec. 7.2; Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement
of BOX Holdings Group LLC, Art. 4, Sec. 4.12; Bylaws of IEX Group,
Inc., Art. VII, Sec. 34; and Amended and Restated Bylaws of Miami
International Holdings, Inc., Art. VII, Sec. 1.
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The Exchange accordingly proposes the following changes to the ICE
Holdings Bylaws, Article III, Section 3.14(c); NYSE Group Certificate,
Article V, Section 8; and NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement, Section
3.12(d):
The ICE Holdings Bylaws and NYSE Group Certificate
provisions would be expanded in scope to apply to any ``past or present
stockholder, employee, beneficiary, agent, customer, creditor,
community or regulatory authority or member thereof or other person or
entity,'' and to protect agents as well as directors, officers and
employees. To implement the change, the Exchange proposes to amend the
final sentences of the ICE Holdings Bylaws and NYSE Group Certificate
provisions as follows (deletions [bracketed], additions italicized):
No past or present stockholder, employee, [former employee,]
beneficiary, agent, customer, creditor, community or regulatory
authority or member thereof or other person
[[Page 55456]]
or entity shall have any rights against any director, officer, [or]
employee or agent of the Corporation or the Corporation under this
Section. . . .
The NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement provision would be
expanded in scope to apply to any ``past or present Manager, employee,
beneficiary, agent, customer, creditor, community or regulatory
authority or member thereof or other person or entity,'' and to protect
agents as well as Managers, officers and employees. To implement the
change, the Exchange proposes to amend the final sentence of the
provision as follows (deletions [bracketed], additions italicized):
No past or present Manager, employee, [former employee,]
beneficiary, agent, customer, creditor, community or regulatory
authority or member thereof or other person or entity shall have any
rights against any Manager, officer, [or] employee or agent of the
Company or the Company under Section 3.12.
Limitations on Voting and Ownership
The ICE Holdings Certificate, NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement,
and NYSE Group Certificate have provisions that establish voting and
ownership concentration limitations on owners of their respective
common stock above certain thresholds, which apply for so long as the
relevant Intermediate Holding Company owns any U.S. Regulated
Subsidiary (the ``Limitation Provisions'').\19\ Such provisions
authorize the relevant entity's Board of Directors to grant exceptions
to the voting and ownership concentration limitations if the Board of
Directors makes certain determinations.
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\19\ See ICE Holdings Certificate, Art. V, Sec. A and B; NYSE
Holdings Operating Agreement, Art. IX, Sec. 9.1(a) and (b); and NYSE
Group Certificate, Art. IV, Sec. 4(b)(1) and (2).
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The ICE Certificate has a similar voting and ownership
concentration limitation provision.\20\ The Exchange proposes to amend
the Limitations Provisions to make them more consistent with the
provision in the ICE Certificate.
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\20\ See ICE Certificate, Art. V, Sec. A and B, and 82 FR 25018,
supra note 4, at 25020.
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Definition of Member
Currently, the Limitation Provisions include lengthy provisions
listing the different categories of members and permit holders of each
of the NYSE, NYSE American, NYSE Arca, and NYSE National.\21\
Consistent with the ICE Certificate,\22\ the Exchange proposes to
replace such provisions with the defined term ``Member,'' or, in the
case of the NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement, ``Exchange Member,''
defined to mean a person that is a ``member'' of an exchange within the
meaning of Section 3(a)(3)(A) of the Exchange Act.\23\
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\21\ See ICE Holdings Certificate, Art. V, Sec. A(3)(c); NYSE
Holdings Operating Agreement, Art. IX, Sec. 9.1(a)(3)(c); and NYSE
Group Certificate, Art. IV, Sec. 4(b)(1)(A)(y).
\22\ See ICE Certificate, Art. V, Sec. A(3)(c) and (8).
\23\ 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(3)(A). NYSE Holdings uses ``Exchange
Member'' because, as a limited liability company, it has a Member,
which is ICE Holdings.
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The Exchange believes that using ``Member'' or ``Exchange Member''
in place of the lists of categories of members and permit holders
presently in the Governing Documents would simplify the Limitation
Provisions, avoiding exchange-by-exchange descriptions of categories of
members and permit holders without substantive change. Each of the
categories listed--an ETP Holder, OTP Holder or OTP Firm of NYSE Arca,
a ``member'' or ``member organization'' of the NYSE or NYSE American,
or an ETP Holder of NYSE National--is a ``member'' of an exchange
within the meaning of Section 3(a)(3)(A) of the Exchange Act.\24\
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\24\ 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(3)(A). Former NYSE Arca Equities ETP
Holders are now ETP Holders of NYSE Arca. See 82 FR 40044, supra
note 10, at 40044.
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The Exchange believes that the use of ``Member'' and the changes to
remove the descriptions of categories of members and permit holders
would be appropriate because it would align the Limitation Provisions
more closely with the ICE Certificate, as well as voting and ownership
concentration limits in the certificates of incorporation of other
companies that own one or more national securities exchanges, which use
a similar description of membership.\25\ The Exchange accordingly
proposes the following changes:
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\25\ See Second Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of CBOE Holdings, Inc. (``CBOE Certificate''), Art.
Sixth, Sec. (a)(ii)(C) and (b)(ii)(D) (``Trading Permit Holder'');
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Miami
International Holdings, Inc., Article Ninth (a)(ii) (``Exchange
Member'').
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The definition of ``Member'' would be added to the ICE
Holdings Certificate, Article V.A.8, and NYSE Group Certificate,
Article IV, Section 4(b)(1)(F). Articles V.A.8 through 10 of the ICE
Holdings Certificate would be renumbered accordingly.
In the NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement, Article I,
Section 1.1, the definition of ``Exchange Member'' would be added and
the definitions of ``MKT Member,'' ``NYSE Arca ETP Holder,'' ``NYSE
Member,'' ``NYSE National ETP Holder,'' ``OTP Firm,'' and ``OTP
Holder'' would be deleted.
In the NYSE Group Certificate, Article IV, Section
4(b)(2)(C)(iv), ``an NYSE Arca ETP Holder or an OTP Holder or OTP
Firm'' would be replaced with ``a Member of any Exchange.'' \26\
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\26\ See ICE Certificate, Art. V, Sec. B(3)(d).
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Approval Requirements for Exceeding Voting and Concentration Limits
The Exchange proposes that, in the case of a person seeking
approval to exercise voting rights in excess of 20% of the outstanding
votes, the amended Limitation Provisions require that neither such
person nor any of its related persons be a Member of an Exchange,
instead of referring to the various categories of Exchange membership.
Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to make the following changes to ICE
Holdings Certificate, Article V.A.3.c; NYSE Holdings Operating
Agreement, Article IX, Section 9.1(a)(3)(C); and the NYSE Group
Certificate, Article IV, Section 4(b)(1)(A)(y):
In the provisions of the ICE Holdings and NYSE Holdings
Governing Documents, the text ``NYSE Arca, Inc. (`NYSE Arca') or NYSE
Arca Equities, Inc. (`NYSE Arca Equities') or any facility of NYSE
Arca'' would be replaced with ``one or more Exchanges.'' In addition,
``and'' would be added between clauses (i) and (ii).
In the provision of the NYSE Group Certificate, ``the NYSE
Arca or NYSE Arca Equities or any facility of NYSE Arca'' would be
replaced with ``one or more Exchanges.'' In addition, ``and'' would be
added between clauses (1) and (2).
In all three provisions, the text ``a Member (as defined
below) of any Exchange'' would replace the text from ``an ETP Holder
(as defined in the NYSE Arca Equities rules'' through the end of the
paragraph, with the exception that the NYSE Holdings text does not
include ``(as defined below).''
In addition, the Exchange proposes the following changes to the ICE
Holdings Certificate, Article V.A.3.d; NYSE Holdings Operating
Agreement, Article IX, Section 9.1(a)(3)(D); and the NYSE Group
Certificate, Article IV, Section 4(b)(1)(A)(z):
In all three provisions, the text ``NYSE Arca or NYSE Arca
Equities or any facility of NYSE Arca'' would be replaced with ``one or
more Exchanges,'' with the exception that the NYSE Group text has the
word ``the'' at its start. The text ``a Member of any Exchange'' would
replace the text from ``an NYSE Arca ETP Holder'' through the end of
the paragraph.
In the provisions of the ICE Holdings and NYSE Holdings
Governing Documents, the word ``and'' would be
[[Page 55457]]
added between (i) and (ii). In the provision of the NYSE Group
Certificate, the word ``and'' would be added between clauses (1) and
(2).
The Exchange proposes that the conditions relating to a person
seeking approval to exceed the ownership concentration limitation be
similarly amended. The Exchange accordingly proposes the following
changes to the ICE Holdings Certificate, Article V.B.3.d; NYSE Holdings
Operating Agreement, Article IX, Section 9.1(b)(3)(D); and the NYSE
Group Certificate, Article IV, Section 4(b)(2)(C)(iv):
The word ``and'' would be added immediately before the
provisions.
The text ``NYSE Arca or NYSE Arca Equities or any facility
of NYSE Arca'' would be replaced with ``any Exchange,'' with the
exception that the NYSE Group text has the word ``the'' at its start.
The text from ``an NYSE Arca ETP Holder'' through the end
of the next three subparagraphs would be deleted and replaced with ``a
Member of any Exchange.''
Definition of Related Persons
Currently, the Limitation Provisions include lengthy definitions of
``Related Persons.'' The Exchange proposes to amend such definitions to
eliminate the exchange-by-exchange description. Use of ``Member'' would
permit a simplification, without substantive change, of the portion of
the definition of the term ``Related Persons'' relating to members and
trading permit holders. The revised definitions would be the same as
the definition in the ICE Certificate, subject to differences in
numbering and, in the NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement, certain
terms.\27\
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\27\ See ICE Certificate, Art. V, Sec. A(10). NYSE Holdings uses
``Interests of the Company'' rather than ``shares of stock of the
Corporation.''
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The Exchange accordingly proposes the following changes to the
definitions of ``Related Persons'' in the ICE Holdings Certificate,
current Article V.A(9); NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement, Article I,
Section 1.1; and NYSE Group Certificate, Article IV, Section
4(b)(1)(E):
In the fourth subparagraph, the text `` `member
organization' (as defined in the rules of New York Stock Exchange, as
such rules may be in effect from time to time), any `member' (as
defined in the rules of New York Stock Exchange, as such rules may be
in effect from time to time)'' would be replaced with ``Member, any
Person.''
In the fifth subparagraph, the text ``an OTP Firm, any OTP
Holder that is associated with such Person'' would be replaced with ``a
natural person and is a Member, any broker or dealer that is also a
Member with which such Person is associated.''
In the ICE Holdings Certificate and NYSE Holdings
Operating Agreement, ``and'' would be added between the seventh and
eighth subparagraphs. In the NYSE Group Certificate, ``and'' would be
added between the eighth and ninth subparagraphs.
In the ICE Holdings Certificate and NYSE Holdings
Operating Agreement, subparagraphs nine through 12 would be deleted. In
the NYSE Group Certificate, subparagraphs six and ten through 12 would
be deleted, and the provisions renumbered accordingly.
Confidential Information
The Exchange proposes to amend the confidential information
provisions in the ICE Holdings Bylaws, NYSE Holdings Operating
Agreement, and NYSE Group Certificate. The proposed amendments would
make such Governing Documents more consistent with the confidential
information provision in the ICE Bylaws.\28\
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\28\ See ICE Bylaws, Art. VIII. See also 82 FR 25018, supra note
4, at 25020.
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Accordingly, in the ICE Holdings Bylaws, Article VIII, Section
8.3(b); NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement, Article XII, Section 12.3;
and NYSE Group Certificate, Article X, the text ``U.S. Regulated
Subsidiary or any other U.S. Regulated Subsidiary over which such U.S.
Regulated Subsidiary has regulatory authority or oversight'' would be
replaced with ``Exchange.'' \29\
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\29\ The text of the NYSE Group Certificate uses ``Regulated
Subsidiary'' instead of ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiary.''
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The proposed change would remove the provisions that allow any U.S.
Regulated Subsidiary to inspect and copy the books and records of
another U.S. Regulated Subsidiary over which the first has regulatory
authority or oversight. As a result, the confidential information
provisions would no longer provide that NYSE Arca may inspect the books
and records of NYSE Arca, LLC or NYSE Arca Equities. However, the
proposed change would have no substantive effect, because pursuant to
NYSE Arca Rule 3.12 \30\ NYSE Arca would retain its authority over the
books and records of NYSE Arca, LLC, and NYSE Arca Equities no longer
exists. The NYSE, NYSE American, NYSE Arca and NYSE National do not
have regulatory authority or oversight over each other.
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\30\ NYSE Arca Rule 3.12 provides, among other things, that the
books and records of NYSE Arca, LLC are deemed to be the books and
records of NYSE Arca for purposes of and subject to oversight
pursuant to the Exchange Act and subject to inspection and copying
by NYSE Arca. See ICE Bylaws, Art. VIII, Sec. 8.3.
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The Exchange proposes the following additional changes to the
provisions:
In the ICE Holdings Bylaws, Article VIII, Sections 8.1 and
8.2, and NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement, Article XII, Sections 12.1
and 12.2, ``U.S. Subsidiaries' Confidential Information'' would be
amended to ``Exchange Confidential Information.''
In the NYSE Holdings Operating Agreement, Article 1,
Section 1.1, the definition of ``U.S. Subsidiaries' Confidential
Information'' would be deleted and the definition of ``Exchange
Confidential Information'' added.
Additional Proposed Changes to the Governing Documents
In addition to the above, the Exchange proposes that Article II of
the ICE Holdings Certificate be updated to include the name and
building of its registered office in the State of Delaware. In
addition, conforming changes would be made to the title, recitals, date
and signature line, as applicable, of the Governing Documents.
ICE Certificate
The Exchange proposes to make a non-substantive amendment to
Article V, Section A(3)(a) of the ICE Certificate. Due to an oversight,
the text of the ICE Certificate approved by the ICE shareholders at the
ICE annual meeting omitted the word ``respective'' from Article V,
Section A(3)(a).\31\ To conform the ICE Certificate filed with the
Commission to the text approved by the shareholders, the Exchange
proposes to delete the word ``respective'' from clause (i) of the
provision, which would read as follows (proposed deletion in bracket):
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\31\ See Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. Notice of 2017 Annual
Meeting and Proxy Statement, at page A-5, available at https://
ir.theice.com/~/media/Files/I/Ice-IR/quarterly-results/2016/proxy-
statement-2016.pdf.
will not impair the ability of any national securities exchange
registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act that is directly or
indirectly controlled by the Corporation (each such national
securities exchange so controlled, an ``Exchange''), any entity
controlled by the Corporation that is not itself an Exchange but
that directly or indirectly controls an Exchange (each such
controlling entity, an ``Intermediate Holding Company'') or the
Corporation to discharge their [respective] responsibilities under
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the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. . . .
The Exchange does not propose to make any other changes to the ICE
Certificate.
[[Page 55458]]
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b) of the Exchange Act \32\ in general, and with Section
6(b)(1) \33\ in particular, in that it enables the Exchange to be so
organized as to have the capacity to be able to carry out the purposes
of the Exchange Act and to comply, and to enforce compliance by its
exchange members and persons associated with its exchange members, with
the provisions of the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations
thereunder, and the rules of the Exchange.
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\32\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\33\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1).
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In particular, the Exchange believes that the proposed amendments
to replace references to the U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries and to the
NYSE, NYSE American, NYSE Arca, NYSE Arca, LLC and NYSE Arca Equities
with references to an ``Exchange'' or the ``Exchanges,'' as
appropriate, would contribute to the orderly operation of the Exchange
by adding clarity and transparency to the Exchange's rules by
eliminating references in the Governing Documents to entities that are
not national securities exchanges. The Exchange Act definition of
``exchange'' states that ``exchange'' ``includes the market place and
the market facilities maintained by such exchange.'' \34\ Accordingly,
all market places and market facilities maintained by an Exchange would
fall within the definition of Exchange and therefore would fall within
the scope of the Governing Documents. The Exchange notes that the
proposed change would align the Governing Documents voting and
ownership concentration limits in the certificates of incorporation of
other companies that own one or more national securities exchanges,
which do not include references to subsidiaries other than national
securities exchanges.\35\ In addition, it would contribute to the
orderly operation of the Exchange by adding clarity and transparency to
the Exchange's rules by eliminating obsolete references to NYSE Arca
Equities, which has been merged out of existence.
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\34\ 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(1).
\35\ See CBOE Certificate, Art. Fifth, Sec. (a)(v), and Art.
Sixth, Sec. (a)(ii)(A) (``Regulated Securities Exchange
Subsidiaries''); and Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of Bats Global Markets Holdings, Inc., Art. Fifth,
Sec. (2) (``Exchange Subsidiaries'').
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As a result of the proposed use of ``Exchanges'' instead of ``U.S.
Regulated Subsidiaries,'' the confidential information provisions of
the Governing Documents would no longer provide that any U.S. Regulated
Subsidiary is authorized to inspect the books and records of another
U.S. Regulated Subsidiary over which the first has regulatory authority
or oversight, including that NYSE Arca may inspect the books and
records of NYSE Arca, LLC or NYSE Arca Equities. The proposed change
would add further clarity and transparency to the Exchange's rules
without having a substantive effect, as, pursuant to NYSE Arca Rule
3.12, NYSE Arca would retain its authority over the books and records
of NYSE Arca, LLC, NYSE Arca Equities no longer exists and the NYSE,
NYSE American, NYSE Arca and NYSE National do not have regulatory
authority or oversight over each other.
The Exchange believes that the proposed use in the Governing
Documents of the defined term ``Intermediate Holding Company'' in place
of lists of intermediate holding companies would contribute to the
orderly operation of the Exchange by adding clarity and transparency to
the Exchange's rules by eliminating references to entities that are not
national securities exchanges without making a substantive change.
Similarly, the Exchange believes that the proposed use of the
defined term ``Member'' in place of lists of categories of members and
permit holders in the Limitation Provisions would simplify the
provisions without substantive change, avoiding exchange-by-exchange
descriptions of categories of members and permit holders, as each of
the categories currently listed is a ``member'' of an exchange within
the meaning of Section 3(a)(3)(A) of the Exchange Act.\36\ Such use of
``Member,'' along with the simplification of the definition of
``Related Persons'' in the Limitation Provisions, would add clarity and
transparency to the Exchange's rules as well as align the Limitation
Provisions with the ICE Certificate voting and ownership concentration
limits and with the voting and ownership concentration limits in the
certificates of incorporation of other companies that own one or more
national securities exchanges, which use a similar description of
membership.\37\
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\36\ 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(3)(A). Former NYSE Arca Equities ETP
Holders are now ETP Holders of NYSE Arca. See 82 FR 40044, supra
note 10, at 40044.
\37\ See note 25, supra.
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For similar reasons, the Exchange also believes that this filing
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act \38\
because the proposed rule change would be consistent with and would
create a governance and regulatory structure that is designed to
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just
and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and
coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling,
processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions
in securities, to remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of a
free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to
protect investors and the public interest.
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\38\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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Specifically, the proposed amendments (1) replacing references to
the U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries, Regulated Subsidiaries, and to the
NYSE, NYSE American, NYSE Arca, NYSE Arca, LLC and NYSE Arca Equities
with references to an ``Exchange'' or the ``Exchanges,'' as
appropriate; (2) using ``Intermediate Holding Company'' in place of
lists of intermediate holding companies; (3) using ``Member'' in place
of the lists of categories of members and permit holders in the
Limitation Provisions; (4) simplifying the definition of ``Related
Persons'' in the Limitation Provisions; (5) removing the ability of a
U.S. Regulated Subsidiary to inspect the books and records of other
U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries; and (6) making conforming changes to the
Governing Documents, would remove impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market by simplifying and streamlining the
Exchange's rules and removing obsolete references, thereby ensuring
that persons subject to the Exchange's jurisdiction, regulators, and
the investing public can more easily navigate and understand the
Governing Documents.
The Exchange believes that the proposed amendments to the Governing
Document provisions limiting claims against directors, officers and
employees, as well as the relevant Intermediate Holding Company, would
remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of a free and open
market and a national market system and, in general, protect investors
and the public interest because the proposed changes would conform the
provision to the analogous statement in the ICE Certificate, as well as
in the governing documents of other holding companies of national
securities exchanges, which are substantially similar.\39\
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\39\ See note 18, supra.
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Finally, the Exchange believes that its proposed non-substantive
amendment to Article V, Section A(3)(a) of the ICE Certificate would
remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of a free and open
market and a national market system and, in general, to protect
[[Page 55459]]
investors and the public interest because it would ensure that the ICE
Certificate filed with the Commission conforms to the text approved by
the ICE shareholders at the ICE annual meeting.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purposes of the Exchange Act. The proposed rule
change is not designed to address any competitive issue but rather
update and streamline the Intermediate Holding Company governing
documents to make them more consistent with the governing documents of
ICE, their ultimate parent, including by (a) streamlining references to
ICE subsidiaries that either are or control national securities
exchanges and deleting references to other ICE subsidiaries; and (b)
amending the provisions regarding limitations on claims, voting and
ownership concentration limitations, and confidential information.
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will serve to
promote clarity and consistency, thereby reducing burdens on the
marketplace and facilitating investor protection. The proposed rule
change would result in no concentration or other changes of ownership
of exchanges.
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
The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \40\ and Rule 19b4(f)-(6) thereunder.\41\
Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the
protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to
30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as
the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\42\
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\40\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
\41\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
\42\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at
least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission.
The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
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At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \43\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
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\43\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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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-NYSEARCA-2017-125 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEARCA-2017-125. 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. 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-NYSEARCA-2017-125 and should
be submitted on or before December 12, 2017.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\44\
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\44\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-25140 Filed 11-20-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P