Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE American LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Amending Its Annual Listing Fees for Equity Securities, 64377-64379 [2019-25210]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 225 / Thursday, November 21, 2019 / Notices
public interest, and therefore hereby
waives the 30-day operative delay and
designates the proposal operative upon
filing.16
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of the 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
to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or
disapproved.
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 No.
SR–CboeBZX–2019–095, and should be
submitted on or before December 12,
2019.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.17
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
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–
CboeBZX–2019–095 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 No.
SR–CboeBZX–2019–095. 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
16 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day
operative delay, the Commission has considered the
proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition,
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:41 Nov 20, 2019
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[FR Doc. 2019–25208 Filed 11–20–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–87555; File No. SR–
NYSEAMER–2019–49]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
American LLC; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed
Rule Change Amending Its Annual
Listing Fees for Equity Securities
November 15, 2019.
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
November 4, 2019, NYSE American LLC
(‘‘NYSE American’’ 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 its
annual listing fees for equity securities.
The proposed change is available on the
Exchange’s website at www.nyse.com, at
the principal office of the Exchange, and
17 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12), (59).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
PO 00000
Frm 00117
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
64377
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 its
annual listing fees for equities set forth
in Section 141 of the NYSE American
Company Guide (the ‘‘Company Guide’’)
with effect from the beginning of the
calendar year commencing on January 1,
2020. These amendments only reflect
changes in the amounts charged on an
annual basis for listed securities and do
not reflect any change in the services
provided to the issuer in connection
with such listing.
Currently, the annual fee schedule in
relation to any listed issue of equity
securities is as follows: $45,000 for
issues of 50 million shares or fewer;
$60,000 for issues of more than 50
million shares and not more than 75
million shares; and $70,000 for issues
with in excess of 75 million shares
outstanding. The Exchange proposes to
increase the annual fee for issues of 50
million shares or fewer from $45,000 to
$50,000. In addition, it proposes to
charge $70,000 for all issues with more
than 50 million shares outstanding (i.e.,
an increase of $10,000 for issues with
more than 50 million shares and not
more than 75 million shares outstanding
and no increase with respect to any
issue with more than 75 million shares
outstanding).
The Exchange proposes to make the
aforementioned fee increases in Section
141 to reflect increases in the cost of
servicing listings and conducting the
required associated regulatory oversight.
The revised fees will be applied in the
same manner to all issuers and the
changes will not disproportionately
affect any specific category of issuers.
The Exchange believes that it is
appropriate to adopt a two-tier annual
E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM
21NON1
64378
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 225 / Thursday, November 21, 2019 / Notices
listing fee schedule rather than the
current three-tier approach is equitable
[sic] because the Exchange has observed
that the costs associated with servicing
the listings of issuers in the two current
higher tiers are generally very similar
and the proposed merging of those tiers
therefore better aligns the fee structure
with the costs associated with listing
those issuers.
The Exchange also proposes to
remove from Section 141 several
references to fee provisions that are no
longer relevant, as those fee rates are no
longer applicable.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b) of the Act,4 in general, and
furthers the objectives of Section
6(b)(4) 5 of the Act, in particular, in that
it is designed to provide for the
equitable allocation of reasonable dues,
fees, and other charges. The Exchange
also believes that the proposed rule
change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5)
of the Act,6 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 Proposed Change Is Reasonable
The Exchange operates in a highly
competitive marketplace for the listing
of equity securities. The Commission
has repeatedly expressed its preference
for competition over regulatory
intervention in determining prices,
products, and services in the securities
markets. Specifically, in Regulation
NMS, the Commission highlighted the
importance of market forces in
determining prices and SRO revenues
and, also, recognized that current
regulation of the market system ‘‘has
been remarkably successful in
promoting market competition in its
broader forms that are most important to
investors and listed companies.’’ 7
The Exchange believes that the evershifting market share among the
exchanges with respect to new listings
and the transfer of existing listings
4 15
U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
6 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
7 See Regulation NMS, 70 FR at 37499.
5 15
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:41 Nov 20, 2019
Jkt 250001
between competitor exchanges
demonstrates that issuers can choose
different listing markets in response to
fee changes. Accordingly, competitive
forces constrain exchange listing fees.
Stated otherwise, changes to exchange
listing fees can have a direct effect on
the ability of an exchange to compete for
new listings and retain existing listings.
Given this competitive environment,
the small increase to the annual fees for
equity securities represents a reasonable
attempt to address the Exchange’s
increased costs in servicing these
listings while continuing to attract and
retain listings.
The Proposal Is an Equitable Allocation
of Fees
The Exchange believes its proposal
equitably allocates its fees among its
market participants. Adopting a two-tier
annual listing fee schedule rather than
the current three-tier approach is
equitable because the Exchange has
observed that the costs associated with
servicing the listings of issuers in the
two current higher tiers are generally
very similar and the proposed merging
of those tiers therefore better aligns the
fee structure with the costs associated
with listing those issuers.
The Proposal Is Not Unfairly
Discriminatory
The Exchange believes that the
proposal is not unfairly discriminatory
because the same fee schedule will
apply to all listed issuers. Further, the
Exchange operates in a competitive
environment and its fees are constrained
by competition in the marketplace.
Other venues currently list all of the
categories of securities covered by the
proposed fees and if a company believes
that the Exchange’s fees are
unreasonable it can decide either not to
list its securities or to list them on an
alternative venue.
Finally, the Exchange believes that it
is subject to significant competitive
forces, as described below in the
Exchange’s statement regarding the
burden on competition.
The proposed removal of text relating
to fees that are no longer applicable is
ministerial in nature and has no
substantive effect.
For the foregoing reasons, the
Exchange believes that the proposal is
consistent with the Act.
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
PO 00000
Frm 00118
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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.
Intramarket Competition
The proposed amended fees will be
charged to all listed issuers on the same
basis. The Exchange does not believe
that the proposed amended fees will
have any meaningful effect on the
competition among issuers listed on the
Exchange.
Intermarket Competition
The Exchange operates in a highly
competitive market in which issuers can
readily choose to list new securities on
other exchanges and transfer listings to
other exchanges if they deem fee levels
at those other venues to be more
favorable. Because competitors are free
to modify their own fees in response,
and because issuers may change their
chosen listing venue, the Exchange does
not believe its proposed fee changes can
impose any burden on intermarket
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) 8 of the Act and
subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b–4 9
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
8 15
9 17
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM
21NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 225 / Thursday, November 21, 2019 / Notices
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) 10 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–
NYSEAMER–2019–49 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–NYSEAMER–2019–49. 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;
the Commission does not edit personal
identifying information from
10 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:41 Nov 20, 2019
submissions. You should submit only
information that you wish to make
available publicly. All submissions
should refer to File Number SR–
NYSEAMER–2019–49 and should be
submitted on or before December 12,
2019.
and (C) below, of the most significant
aspects of these statements.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.11
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
ICC proposes to revise its Treasury
Policy. Specifically, ICC proposes
clarification updates related to its use of
a committed repurchase (‘‘repo’’)
facility, acceptable forms of United
States (‘‘US’’) Treasury collateral, and
its collateral valuation process. ICC
believes that such revisions will
facilitate the prompt and accurate
clearance and settlement of securities
transactions and derivative agreements,
contracts, and transactions for which it
is responsible. ICC proposes to make
such changes effective following
Commission approval of the proposed
rule change. The proposed revisions are
described in detail as follows.
ICC proposes amendments to the
‘Funds Management’ section with
respect to its use of a committed repo
facility. Namely, ICC proposes to clarify
that the committed repo facility can be
used to generate temporary liquidity
through the sale and agreement to
repurchase securities pledged by ICC
Clearing Participants (‘‘CPs’’) to satisfy
their Initial Margin (‘‘IM’’) and Guaranty
Fund (‘‘GF’’) requirements. ICC
proposes to include that, when
applicable, the facility can be used to
rehypothecate sovereign debt from
overnight repo investments in the event
of a counterparty default. ICC also
proposes to note that the facility can be
used to sell, with the agreement to
repurchase, sovereign debt securities
that are held by ICC pursuant to direct
investments in such securities.
ICC proposes to update the ‘Custodial
Assets’ section regarding acceptable
forms of US Treasury collateral and
ICC’s collateral valuation process.
Under the Treasury Policy, acceptable
forms of non-cash collateral for IM and
GF are limited to US Treasury
securities. ICC proposes to specify that
Floating Rate Notes and STRIPS are not
acceptable forms of US Treasury
collateral for IM and GF. ICC also
proposes to add language stating that,
with respect to its collateral valuation
process, Euros that are used to cover a
US Dollar denominated product
requirement will be subject to a haircut.
[FR Doc. 2019–25210 Filed 11–20–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–87549; File No. SR–ICC–
2019–012]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; ICE
Clear Credit LLC; Notice of Filing of
Proposed Rule Change Relating to
ICC’s Treasury Operations Policies
and Procedures
November 15, 2019.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1) and Rule 19b–4, 17 CFR
240.19b–4, notice is hereby given that
on November 1, 2019, ICE Clear Credit
LLC (‘‘ICC’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission the proposed
rule change as described in Items I, II,
and III below, which Items have been
prepared primarily by ICC. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons.
I. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
Terms of Substance of the Proposed
Rule Change
The principal purpose of the
proposed rule change is to revise the
ICC Treasury Operations Policies and
Procedures (‘‘Treasury Policy’’). These
revisions do not require any changes to
the ICC Clearing Rules (the ‘‘Rules’’).
II. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the
Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, ICC
included statements concerning the
purpose of and basis for the proposed
rule change, security-based swap
submission, or advance notice and
discussed any comments it received on
the proposed rule change, securitybased swap submission, or advance
notice. The text of these statements may
be examined at the places specified in
Item IV below. ICC has prepared
summaries, set forth in sections (A), (B),
11 17
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64379
PO 00000
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
Frm 00119
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(A) Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the
Proposed Rule Change
(a) Purpose
(b) Statutory Basis
Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act 1
requires, among other things, that the
rules of a clearing agency be designed to
1 15
U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).
E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 225 (Thursday, November 21, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64377-64379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25210]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-87555; File No. SR-NYSEAMER-2019-49]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE American LLC; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Amending
Its Annual Listing Fees for Equity Securities
November 15, 2019.
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 November 4, 2019, NYSE American LLC (``NYSE American''
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 its annual listing fees for equity
securities. The proposed 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
The Exchange proposes to amend its annual listing fees for equities
set forth in Section 141 of the NYSE American Company Guide (the
``Company Guide'') with effect from the beginning of the calendar year
commencing on January 1, 2020. These amendments only reflect changes in
the amounts charged on an annual basis for listed securities and do not
reflect any change in the services provided to the issuer in connection
with such listing.
Currently, the annual fee schedule in relation to any listed issue
of equity securities is as follows: $45,000 for issues of 50 million
shares or fewer; $60,000 for issues of more than 50 million shares and
not more than 75 million shares; and $70,000 for issues with in excess
of 75 million shares outstanding. The Exchange proposes to increase the
annual fee for issues of 50 million shares or fewer from $45,000 to
$50,000. In addition, it proposes to charge $70,000 for all issues with
more than 50 million shares outstanding (i.e., an increase of $10,000
for issues with more than 50 million shares and not more than 75
million shares outstanding and no increase with respect to any issue
with more than 75 million shares outstanding).
The Exchange proposes to make the aforementioned fee increases in
Section 141 to reflect increases in the cost of servicing listings and
conducting the required associated regulatory oversight. The revised
fees will be applied in the same manner to all issuers and the changes
will not disproportionately affect any specific category of issuers.
The Exchange believes that it is appropriate to adopt a two-tier annual
[[Page 64378]]
listing fee schedule rather than the current three-tier approach is
equitable [sic] because the Exchange has observed that the costs
associated with servicing the listings of issuers in the two current
higher tiers are generally very similar and the proposed merging of
those tiers therefore better aligns the fee structure with the costs
associated with listing those issuers.
The Exchange also proposes to remove from Section 141 several
references to fee provisions that are no longer relevant, as those fee
rates are no longer applicable.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\4\ in general, and furthers the
objectives of Section 6(b)(4) \5\ of the Act, in particular, in that it
is designed to provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues,
fees, and other charges. The Exchange also believes that the proposed
rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\6\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
\6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Proposed Change Is Reasonable
The Exchange operates in a highly competitive marketplace for the
listing of equity securities. The Commission has repeatedly expressed
its preference for competition over regulatory intervention in
determining prices, products, and services in the securities markets.
Specifically, in Regulation NMS, the Commission highlighted the
importance of market forces in determining prices and SRO revenues and,
also, recognized that current regulation of the market system ``has
been remarkably successful in promoting market competition in its
broader forms that are most important to investors and listed
companies.'' \7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ See Regulation NMS, 70 FR at 37499.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange believes that the ever-shifting market share among the
exchanges with respect to new listings and the transfer of existing
listings between competitor exchanges demonstrates that issuers can
choose different listing markets in response to fee changes.
Accordingly, competitive forces constrain exchange listing fees. Stated
otherwise, changes to exchange listing fees can have a direct effect on
the ability of an exchange to compete for new listings and retain
existing listings.
Given this competitive environment, the small increase to the
annual fees for equity securities represents a reasonable attempt to
address the Exchange's increased costs in servicing these listings
while continuing to attract and retain listings.
The Proposal Is an Equitable Allocation of Fees
The Exchange believes its proposal equitably allocates its fees
among its market participants. Adopting a two-tier annual listing fee
schedule rather than the current three-tier approach is equitable
because the Exchange has observed that the costs associated with
servicing the listings of issuers in the two current higher tiers are
generally very similar and the proposed merging of those tiers
therefore better aligns the fee structure with the costs associated
with listing those issuers.
The Proposal Is Not Unfairly Discriminatory
The Exchange believes that the proposal is not unfairly
discriminatory because the same fee schedule will apply to all listed
issuers. Further, the Exchange operates in a competitive environment
and its fees are constrained by competition in the marketplace. Other
venues currently list all of the categories of securities covered by
the proposed fees and if a company believes that the Exchange's fees
are unreasonable it can decide either not to list its securities or to
list them on an alternative venue.
Finally, the Exchange believes that it is subject to significant
competitive forces, as described below in the Exchange's statement
regarding the burden on competition.
The proposed removal of text relating to fees that are no longer
applicable is ministerial in nature and has no substantive effect.
For the foregoing reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposal
is consistent with the Act.
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.
Intramarket Competition
The proposed amended fees will be charged to all listed issuers on
the same basis. The Exchange does not believe that the proposed amended
fees will have any meaningful effect on the competition among issuers
listed on the Exchange.
Intermarket Competition
The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which
issuers can readily choose to list new securities on other exchanges
and transfer listings to other exchanges if they deem fee levels at
those other venues to be more favorable. Because competitors are free
to modify their own fees in response, and because issuers may change
their chosen listing venue, the Exchange does not believe its proposed
fee changes can impose any burden on intermarket 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) \8\ of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-
4 \9\ thereunder, because it establishes a due, fee, or other charge
imposed by the Exchange.
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\8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\9\ 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
[[Page 64379]]
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) \10\ of the Act to
determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or
disapproved.
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\10\ 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 [email protected]. Please include
File Number SR-NYSEAMER-2019-49 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-NYSEAMER-2019-49. 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; the Commission does not edit
personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit
only information that you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEAMER-2019-49 and should
be submitted on or before December 12, 2019.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
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\11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-25210 Filed 11-20-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P