Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Amending Section 902.02 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual To Modify the Investment Management Entity Group Fee Discount, 66822-66824 [2018-28006]
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66822
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 247 / Thursday, December 27, 2018 / Notices
under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 13 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:
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
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–2018–80 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–2018–80. 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 website (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 website 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–2018–80 and
13 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:14 Dec 26, 2018
Jkt 247001
should be submitted on or before
January 17, 2019.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.14
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018–27988 Filed 12–26–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–84854; File No. SR–NYSE–
2018–61]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New
York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
Proposed Rule Change Amending
Section 902.02 of the NYSE Listed
Company Manual To Modify the
Investment Management Entity Group
Fee Discount
December 19, 2018.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
notice is hereby given that, on December
7, 2018, New York Stock Exchange LLC
(‘‘NYSE’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the
proposed rule change as described in
Items I, II, and III below, which Items
have been prepared by the selfregulatory organization. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend
Section 902.02 of the NYSE Listed
Company Manual (the ‘‘Manual’’) to
modify the Investment Management
Entity Group Fee Discount. The
proposed rule change is available on the
Exchange’s website 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
14 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
PO 00000
Frm 00152
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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
Section 902.02 of the Manual
provides for a fee discount applicable
only to an Investment Management
Entity 4 and its Eligible Portfolio
Companies 5 (the ‘‘Investment
Management Entity Group Fee
Discount’’). The Investment
Management Entity Group Fee Discount
is subject to a maximum aggregate
discount of $500,000 in any given year
(the ‘‘Maximum Discount’’) distributed
among the Investment Management
Entity and each of its Eligible Portfolio
Companies in proportion to their
respective eligible fee obligations in
such year.6 In addition to benefiting
from the Investment Management Entity
Group Fee Discount, the Investment
Management Entity and each of the
Eligible Portfolio Companies continue to
have fees capped by the applicable
company’s individual Total Maximum
Fee of $500,000.
Currently, the Investment
Management Entity Group Fee Discount
is as follows:
• A 30% discount on all eligible fees
of an Investment Management Entity
and each of its Eligible Portfolio
Companies in any year in which the
Investment Management Entity has two
Eligible Portfolio Companies, subject to
the Maximum Discount.
• a 50% discount on all eligible fees
of an Investment Management Entity
and each of its Eligible Portfolio
Companies in any year in which the
Investment Management Entity has
three or more Eligible Portfolio
Companies, subject to the Maximum
Discount.
4 An Investment Management Entity is a listed
company that manages private investment vehicles
not registered under the Investment Company Act.
5 An ‘‘Eligible Portfolio Company’’ of an
Investment Management Entity is a company in
which the Investment Management Entity has
owned at least 20% of the common stock on a
continuous basis since prior to that company’s
initial listing.
6 The current rule provides that, for years prior to
calendar 2019, the Investment Management Entity
Group Fee Discount is based on both annual and
listing fees paid in the applicable year and, for
calendar 2019 and subsequent years, the discount
is based only on annual fees.
E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM
27DEN1
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 247 / Thursday, December 27, 2018 / Notices
The Exchange proposes to modify the
Investment Management Entity Group
Fee Discount effective January 1, 2019.
For calendar 2019 and all calendar years
thereafter, the Investment Management
Entity Group Fee Discount will be a
50% discount on all annual fees of an
Investment Management Entity and
each of its Eligible Portfolio Companies
in any year in which the Investment
Management Entity has one or more
Eligible Portfolio Companies, subject to
the Maximum Discount.
The Exchange established the
Investment Management Entity Group
Fee Discount 7 because, in the
Exchange’s experience, an Investment
Management Entity puts high-quality
and experienced management teams in
place at its portfolio companies prior to
listing and the Investment Management
Entity continues to provide significant
support to those companies after listing.
Consequently, those companies require
lower levels of support from the NYSE’s
business and Regulation groups to assist
them in navigating the initial and
continued listing process and the
Exchange devotes significantly smaller
staff resources to those companies on
average than to the typical newly-listed
company that is not controlled prior to
listing by an Investment Management
Entity. The Exchange believed that it
was reasonable to share some of the cost
savings derived from its relationship
with an Investment Management Entity
with the Investment Management Entity
and its listed portfolio companies.
The Exchange now believes that it is
appropriate to adjust the discount by
providing it where there is a single
listed portfolio company and to provide
the discount at a fixed 50% level (rather
than the current 30% and 50% tiers
based on the number of Eligible
Portfolio Companies), because the
Exchange has observed that the
reduction in work load and expense it
experiences due to the relationship of
an Eligible Portfolio Company to the
Investment Management Entity are
proportionally the same with respect to
each Eligible Portfolio Company
regardless of how many other Eligible
Portfolio Companies there may be.
Accordingly, the Exchange believes it is
reasonable to provide a single tier
discount without regard to the number
of Eligible Portfolio Companies an
Investment Management Entity may
have. The Exchange also notes that the
proposed amendment is substantially
similar to a fee discount provided by
NASDAQ 8 and therefore will enable the
Exchange to better compete for the
listing of eligible companies.
The Exchange does not expect the
reduction in revenues associated with
the proposed fee change to be
substantial or to have any effect on its
ability to appropriately fund its
regulatory program.
have the option to list their securities on
these alternative venues based on the
fees charged and the value provided by
each listing. Because issuers have a
choice to list their securities on a
different national securities exchange,
the Exchange does not believe that the
proposed fee changes impose a burden
on competition.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b) of the Act,9 in general, and
furthers the objectives of Section
6(b)(4) 10 of the Act, in particular, in that
it is designed to provide for the
equitable allocation of reasonable dues,
fees, and other charges. The Exchange
also believes that the proposed rule
change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5)
of the Act,11 in that it is designed 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 and is not designed to
permit unfair discrimination between
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
The Exchange believes that it is not
unfairly discriminatory and represents
an equitable allocation of reasonable
fees to amend the Investment
Management Entity Group Discount as
set forth in this proposal, as the
amended discount provision better
reflects the benefits the Exchange
derives from the relationship between
and Investment Management Entity and
its Eligible Portfolio Companies, as
described in more detail above.
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.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will impose
any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act. The
proposed rule change is designed to
ensure that the fees charged by the
Exchange accurately reflect the services
provided and benefits realized by listed
companies. The market for listing
services is extremely competitive. Each
listing exchange has a different fee
schedule that applies to issuers seeking
to list securities on its exchange. Issuers
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79582
(December 16, 2016), 81 FR 93976 (December 22,
2016) (SR–NYSE–2016–70).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:14 Dec 26, 2018
Jkt 247001
Note 14 infra. [sic]
U.S.C. 78f(b).
10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
11 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change is effective
upon filing pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) 12 of the Act and
subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b–4 13
thereunder, because it establishes a due,
fee, or other charge imposed by the
Exchange.
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) 14 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–
NYSE–2018–61 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.
8 See
7 See
66823
9 15
PO 00000
Frm 00153
Fmt 4703
12 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
14 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
13 17
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM
27DEN1
66824
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 247 / Thursday, December 27, 2018 / Notices
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSE–2018–61. 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 website (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 website 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–NYSE–2018–61 and should
be submitted on or before January 17,
2019.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.15
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018–28006 Filed 12–26–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
[Release No. 34–84857; File No. SR–
NYSEARCA–2018–97]
The Exchange proposes amendments
to delete references to the term ‘‘allied
person’’ from Exchange rules. The
proposed rule change is intended to
harmonize Exchange rules with the
rules of the Exchange’s affiliates and the
Financial Regulatory Authority, Inc.
(‘‘FINRA’’) and thus promote
consistency within the securities
industry. The proposed rule change is
available on the Exchange’s website at
www.nyse.com, at the principal office of
the Exchange, and at the Commission’s
Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
self-regulatory organization included
statements concerning the purpose of,
and basis for, the proposed rule change
and discussed any comments it received
on the proposed rule change. The text
of those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below.
The Exchange has prepared summaries,
set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
of the most significant parts of such
statements.
1. Purpose
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change of Amendments to Delete
References to the Term ‘‘Allied Person’’
From Exchange Rules
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
December 19, 2018.
‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19bd–4 thereunder,3
notice is hereby given that, on December
18, 2018, 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, II, and III below, which Items
have been prepared by the selfregulatory organization. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons.
The Exchange proposes to amend its
rules to delete the term ‘‘allied person’’
from its rules. The ‘‘allied person’’
designation is a regulatory category
based on a person’s control of an OTP
Firm or ETP Holder.4 The Exchange’s
affiliate New York Stock Exchange LLC
(the ‘‘NYSE’’) no longer has allied
2 15
U.S.C. 78a.
CFR 240.19b–4.
4 See current Rule 1.1(b), defining Allied Person.
15 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
1 15 U.S.C.78s(b)(1).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:14 Dec 26, 2018
3 17
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PO 00000
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members.5 More recently, another
affiliate of the Exchange, NYSE
American LLC (‘‘NYSE American’’),
deleted the term ‘‘allied member’’ from
its rules.6 FINRA has also deleted the
term from its Incorporated NYSE Rules.7
In order to harmonize with the rules of
the NYSE, NYSE American and FINRA,
the Exchange accordingly proposes to
delete reference to ‘‘allied person’’ from
the following Exchange rules: Rule
1.1(c), Rule 1.1(qq), Rule 1.1(aaa), Rule
2.14, Rule 2.21, Rule 2.23, Commentary
.01, Rule 2.24, Commentary .01, Rule
3.2, Rule 4.2–O(a), Rule 4.2–O(b), Rule
4.2–O(e), Rule 4.2–O(g), Rule 4.2–O(h),
Rule 4.16–O(b), Rule 4.16–O(c), Rule
4.16–O(d), Rule 6.2–O, Rule 9.1–O(c),
Rule 9.2–O(c), Commentary .01, Rule
9.3–O(b), Rule 9.6–O(a), Rule 4.3–E(a),
Rule 4.3–E(b), Rule 4.3–E(e), Rule 4.3–
E(h), Rule 4.3–E(i), Rule 4.15–E(b), Rule
4.15–E(c), Rule 4.15–E(d), Rule 7.3–E,
Rule 9.1–E(c), Rule 9.2–E(c),
Commentary .01, Rule 9.3–E(b) and Rule
9.6–E(a). The Exchange also proposes to
delete Rule 1.1(b), which defines the
term allied person, in its entirety.
2. Statutory Basis
The proposed rule change is
consistent with Section 6(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’),8 in general, and furthers the
objectives of Section 6(b)(5),9 in
particular, because it 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 facilitating
transactions in securities, to remove
impediments to, and perfect the
mechanism of, a free and open market
and a national market system and, in
general, to protect investors and the
public interest.
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change will harmonize its
rules with NYSE, NYSE American and
FINRA rules, thus assisting ETP
Holders, OTP Holders and OTP Firms in
complying with those rules and thereby
enhancing regulatory efficiency. In
addition, the Exchange believes that
providing greater harmonization
between the Exchange and NYSE, NYSE
American and FINRA rules would result
5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58549
(September 15, 2008), 73 FR 54444 (September 19,
2008) (SR–NYSE–2008–80) (Notice).
6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 84724
(December 6, 2018), 83 FR 63960 (December 12,
2018) (SR–NYSEAmer–2018–54) (Notice).
7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58533
(September 12, 2008), 73 FR 54652 (September 22,
2008) (SR–FINRA–2008–036) (Order).
8 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM
27DEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 247 (Thursday, December 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66822-66824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-28006]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-84854; File No. SR-NYSE-2018-61]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC;
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change
Amending Section 902.02 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual To Modify the
Investment Management Entity Group Fee Discount
December 19, 2018.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby
given that, on December 7, 2018, New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE''
or the ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I,
II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-
regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
\3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend Section 902.02 of the NYSE Listed
Company Manual (the ``Manual'') to modify the Investment Management
Entity Group Fee Discount. The proposed rule change is available on the
Exchange's website 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
Section 902.02 of the Manual provides for a fee discount applicable
only to an Investment Management Entity \4\ and its Eligible Portfolio
Companies \5\ (the ``Investment Management Entity Group Fee
Discount''). The Investment Management Entity Group Fee Discount is
subject to a maximum aggregate discount of $500,000 in any given year
(the ``Maximum Discount'') distributed among the Investment Management
Entity and each of its Eligible Portfolio Companies in proportion to
their respective eligible fee obligations in such year.\6\ In addition
to benefiting from the Investment Management Entity Group Fee Discount,
the Investment Management Entity and each of the Eligible Portfolio
Companies continue to have fees capped by the applicable company's
individual Total Maximum Fee of $500,000.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ An Investment Management Entity is a listed company that
manages private investment vehicles not registered under the
Investment Company Act.
\5\ An ``Eligible Portfolio Company'' of an Investment
Management Entity is a company in which the Investment Management
Entity has owned at least 20% of the common stock on a continuous
basis since prior to that company's initial listing.
\6\ The current rule provides that, for years prior to calendar
2019, the Investment Management Entity Group Fee Discount is based
on both annual and listing fees paid in the applicable year and, for
calendar 2019 and subsequent years, the discount is based only on
annual fees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Currently, the Investment Management Entity Group Fee Discount is
as follows:
A 30% discount on all eligible fees of an Investment
Management Entity and each of its Eligible Portfolio Companies in any
year in which the Investment Management Entity has two Eligible
Portfolio Companies, subject to the Maximum Discount.
a 50% discount on all eligible fees of an Investment
Management Entity and each of its Eligible Portfolio Companies in any
year in which the Investment Management Entity has three or more
Eligible Portfolio Companies, subject to the Maximum Discount.
[[Page 66823]]
The Exchange proposes to modify the Investment Management Entity
Group Fee Discount effective January 1, 2019. For calendar 2019 and all
calendar years thereafter, the Investment Management Entity Group Fee
Discount will be a 50% discount on all annual fees of an Investment
Management Entity and each of its Eligible Portfolio Companies in any
year in which the Investment Management Entity has one or more Eligible
Portfolio Companies, subject to the Maximum Discount.
The Exchange established the Investment Management Entity Group Fee
Discount \7\ because, in the Exchange's experience, an Investment
Management Entity puts high-quality and experienced management teams in
place at its portfolio companies prior to listing and the Investment
Management Entity continues to provide significant support to those
companies after listing. Consequently, those companies require lower
levels of support from the NYSE's business and Regulation groups to
assist them in navigating the initial and continued listing process and
the Exchange devotes significantly smaller staff resources to those
companies on average than to the typical newly-listed company that is
not controlled prior to listing by an Investment Management Entity. The
Exchange believed that it was reasonable to share some of the cost
savings derived from its relationship with an Investment Management
Entity with the Investment Management Entity and its listed portfolio
companies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79582 (December 16,
2016), 81 FR 93976 (December 22, 2016) (SR-NYSE-2016-70).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange now believes that it is appropriate to adjust the
discount by providing it where there is a single listed portfolio
company and to provide the discount at a fixed 50% level (rather than
the current 30% and 50% tiers based on the number of Eligible Portfolio
Companies), because the Exchange has observed that the reduction in
work load and expense it experiences due to the relationship of an
Eligible Portfolio Company to the Investment Management Entity are
proportionally the same with respect to each Eligible Portfolio Company
regardless of how many other Eligible Portfolio Companies there may be.
Accordingly, the Exchange believes it is reasonable to provide a single
tier discount without regard to the number of Eligible Portfolio
Companies an Investment Management Entity may have. The Exchange also
notes that the proposed amendment is substantially similar to a fee
discount provided by NASDAQ \8\ and therefore will enable the Exchange
to better compete for the listing of eligible companies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ See Note 14 infra. [sic]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange does not expect the reduction in revenues associated
with the proposed fee change to be substantial or to have any effect on
its ability to appropriately fund its regulatory program.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\9\ in general, and furthers the
objectives of Section 6(b)(4) \10\ of the Act, in particular, in that
it is designed to provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable
dues, fees, and other charges. The Exchange also believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\11\
in that it is designed 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 and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
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\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
\11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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The Exchange believes that it is not unfairly discriminatory and
represents an equitable allocation of reasonable fees to amend the
Investment Management Entity Group Discount as set forth in this
proposal, as the amended discount provision better reflects the
benefits the Exchange derives from the relationship between and
Investment Management Entity and its Eligible Portfolio Companies, as
described in more detail above.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed rule change is
designed to ensure that the fees charged by the Exchange accurately
reflect the services provided and benefits realized by listed
companies. The market for listing services is extremely competitive.
Each listing exchange has a different fee schedule that applies to
issuers seeking to list securities on its exchange. Issuers have the
option to list their securities on these alternative venues based on
the fees charged and the value provided by each listing. Because
issuers have a choice to list their securities on a different national
securities exchange, the Exchange does not believe that the proposed
fee changes impose a burden on competition.
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 foregoing rule change is effective upon filing pursuant to
Section 19(b)(3)(A) \12\ of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule
19b-4 \13\ thereunder, because it establishes a due, fee, or other
charge imposed by the Exchange.
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\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\13\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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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) \14\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
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\14\ 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-NYSE-2018-61 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.
[[Page 66824]]
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2018-61. 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 website (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 website 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-NYSE-2018-61 and should be submitted on
or before January 17, 2019.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\15\
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\15\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-28006 Filed 12-26-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P