Self-Regulatory Organizations; MIAX PEARL, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Exchange Rule 2300, Supervision, and Exchange Rule 2301, Supervisory Control System, 14659-14661 [2021-05444]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 17, 2021 / 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 foregoing rule change is effective
upon filing pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) 17 of the Act and
subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b–4 18
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) 19 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:
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD 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–
NYSE–2021–16 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–NYSE–2021–16. 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/
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
19 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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–2021–16, and
should be submitted on or before April
7, 2021.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.20
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–05451 Filed 3–16–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–91303; File No. SR–
PEARL–2021–04]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; MIAX
PEARL, LLC; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed
Rule Change To Amend Exchange
Rule 2300, Supervision, and Exchange
Rule 2301, Supervisory Control System
March 11, 2021.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section
19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4
thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that
on February 25, 2021, MIAX PEARL,
LLC (‘‘MIAX PEARL’’ or the
‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) a proposed rule change
as described in Items I, II, and III below,
which Items have been prepared by the
17 15
20 17
18 17
1 15
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CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
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14659
Exchange. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange is filing a proposed rule
change to amend Exchange Rules 2300
and 2301 to incorporate the provisions
of Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority Rules 3110 and 3120
regarding supervision and supervisory
controls.
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on the Exchange’s website at
https://www.miaxoptions.com/rulefilings/pearl at MIAX PEARL’s principal
office, and at the Commission’s Public
Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for
the proposed rule change and discussed
any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of these
statements may be examined at the
places specified in Item IV below. The
Exchange has prepared summaries, set
forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
the most significant aspects of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The purpose of the proposed rule
change is to amend Exchange Rules
2300 and 2301 to incorporate the
provisions of Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’)
Rules 3110 and 3120 regarding
supervision and supervisory controls.3
Exchange Rule 2300, Supervision
The Exchange proposes to amend
Exchange Rule 2300 to incorporate the
provisions of FINRA Rule 3110.
Exchange Rule 2300 would be identical
to the FINRA Rule with the only
differences being replacing references to
‘‘FINRA’’ with the ‘‘Exchange’’ and to
replacing references to the following
FINRA Rules with the applicable
Exchange Rule:
• FINRA Rule 3110 would be replaced
with Exchange Rule 2300
3 The proposed rule change is based on Investors
Exchange, Inc. (‘‘IEX’’) Rules 5.110 and 5.120.
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 17, 2021 / Notices
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
• FINRA Rule 3210 would be replaced
with Exchange Rule 2305
• FINRA Rule 2210(b)(1) would be
replaced with Exchange Rule 2104
Like FINRA Rule 3110, Exchange Rule
2300 would require a firm to establish
and maintain a system to supervise the
activities of its associated persons that
is reasonably designed to achieve
compliance with the applicable
securities laws and regulations and
Exchange rules.
Exchange Rule 2300 would detail
requirements for a firm to have
reasonably designed written supervisory
procedures (‘‘WSPs’’) to supervise the
activities of its associated persons and
the types of businesses in which it
engages. Among other things, a firm’s
WSPs must address supervision of
supervisory personnel and provide for
the review of a firm’s investment
banking and securities business,
correspondence and internal
communications, and customer
complaints. WSPs should describe:
• The specific individual(s)
responsible for each review,
• the supervisory activities such
persons will perform,
• the frequency of the review, and
• the manner of documentation.
The rule further sets forth
requirements to designate and register
branch offices and offices of supervisory
jurisdiction (OSJs), conduct internal
inspections and review transactions for
insider trading.
Firms must also adopt procedures that
include a means of customer
confirmation for certain transactions
such as transmittal of customer funds,
changes in address, and changes in
investment objectives.
Exchange Rule 2301, Supervisory
Control System
The Exchange proposes to amend
Exchange Rule 2301 to incorporate the
provisions of FINRA Rule 3120.
Exchange Rule 2301 would be identical
to FINRA Rule 3120 with the only
differences being replacing references to
‘‘FINRA’’ with the ‘‘Exchange’’.
Like FINRA Rule 3120, Exchange Rule
2301 would require a firm to have a
system of supervisory control policies
and procedures (‘‘SCPs’’) that tests and
verifies a firm’s supervisory procedures.
It is essential for a firm to recognize that
FINRA Rule 3120’s requirement to have
specific SCPs differs from the
requirement for WSPs. A firm not only
needs to maintain WSPs, but the firm
also must have SCPs to test and verify,
at least annually, that its WSPs are
reasonably designed with respect to the
firm’s and its associated persons’
activities to achieve compliance with
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17:47 Mar 16, 2021
Jkt 253001
applicable securities laws and
regulations and Exchange Rules, and to
create additional or amend WSPs as
identified by such testing and
verification. Risk-based methodologies
and sampling may be used to determine
the scope of testing. The testing ensures
that a firm’s supervisory procedures are
reviewed and amended regularly in
light of changing business and
regulatory environments.
Pursuant to Exchange Rule 2301, like
FINRA Rule 3120, a firm must designate
principal(s) to be responsible for
establishing, maintaining and enforcing
a firm’s SCPs. The designated
principal(s) also must prepare, at least
annually, a report detailing the firm’s
supervisory control system and submit
it to senior management (Rule 2301
Report). The Rule 2301 Report must
include a summary of the test results
and significant identified exceptions,
and any additional or amended
supervisory procedures created in
response to the test results.
If a firm has reported $200 million or
more in gross revenue on its FOCUS
report in the prior calendar year, like
FINRA Rule 3120, Exchange Rule 2301
would require that the firm’s annual
report include specified additional
content, to the extent applicable to the
firm’s business.
2. Statutory Basis
The proposed rule change is
consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,4
in general, and furthers the objectives of
Section 6(b)(5),5 in particular, because it
is designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to
promote just and equitable principles of
trade, 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
proposed rule change would remove
impediments to and promote just and
equitable principles of trade because it
would memorialize within the
Exchange’s rules supervisory
requirements identical to those set forth
in FINRA Rules 3110 and 3120. Doing
so would explicitly set forth Member’s
supervisory requirements within the
Exchange Rules without setting forth
additional supervisory requirements or
undue burden on Members. The
Exchange notes the proposed rule
change would also align the Exchange’s
supervisory rules with those of IEX.6
4 15
U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
6 IEX Rules 5.110 and 5.120.
5 15
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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 not designed to
have a competitive impact because it is
not intended to attract additional
business to the Exchange. It is simply
intended to incorporate the provisions
of Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority Rules 3110 and 3120
regarding supervision and supervisory
controls within Exchange Rules 2300
and 2301.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
Written comments were neither
solicited nor received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the foregoing 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 for 30 days after the date of
the filing, or such shorter time as the
Commission may designate, it has
become effective pursuant to 19(b)(3)(A)
of the Act 7 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 8
thereunder.
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
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.
7 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
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.
8 17
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 17, 2021 / Notices
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–
PEARL–2021–04 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
• 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–PEARL–2021–04. 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–PEARL–2021–04 and
should be submitted on or before April
7, 2021. For the Commission, by the
Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.9
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–05444 Filed 3–16–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
9 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–91299; File No. SR–Phlx–
2021–03]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq
PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing of
Amendment No. 1 and Order Granting
Accelerated Approval of a Proposed
Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment No. 1, To Modify Phlx
Options 8, Section 26, ‘‘Trading Halts,
Business Continuity and Disaster
Recovery’’
March 11, 2021.
I. Introduction
On January 7, 2021, 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 modify Phlx Options 8,
Section 26 (Trading Halts, Business
Continuity and Disaster Recovery) to
make available an audio and video
communication program to serve as a
‘‘virtual trading crowd’’ in the event the
physical trading floor becomes
unavailable, the back-up trading floor
becomes inoperable or the Exchange
otherwise determines not to operate its
back-up trading floor. The proposed rule
change was published in the Federal
Register on January 14, 2021.3 On
February 26, 2021, pursuant to Section
19(b(2) of the Act,4 the Commission
designated a longer period within which
to either approve the proposed rule
change, disapprove the proposed rule
change, or institute proceedings to
determine whether to disapprove the
proposed rule change.5 On March 2,
2021, the Exchange filed Amendment
No. 1 to the proposed rule change,
which replaced and superseded the
proposed rule change.6 This order
approves the proposed rule change, as
modified by Amendment No. 1.
14661
II. Description of the Proposed Rule
Change, as Modified by Amendment
No. 1
Options 8, Section 26(g)(1) currently
provides that if the physical location
designated as the ‘‘Trading Floor’’
becomes unavailable, Phlx will enact its
Business Continuity Plan (‘‘BCP’’) and
designate the Philadelphia Navy Yard as
its ‘‘Back-Up Trading Floor.’’ Further, in
the event that the Back-Up Trading
Floor becomes inoperable, the Exchange
will only operate its electronic market
and will not operate a Trading Floor.7
The Exchange will operate only its
electronic market until the Exchange’s
Trading Floor facility is operational.8
Open outcry trading will not be
available in the interim.9
On March 17, 2019, Phlx closed the
Trading Floor as a result of precautions
taken with respect to COVID–19 and
operated in an all-electronic
configuration during that time.10 Due to
the uncertainty related to the ongoing
pandemic, which includes the
possibility of having to close the
Trading Floor again, the Exchange now
has proposed to adopt Options 8,
Section 26(g)(3) to permit open outcry
trading to take place in an audio and
video communication program to serve
as a ‘‘virtual trading crowd’’ if the
Trading Floor becomes unavailable, the
Back-Up Trading Floor becomes
inoperable or the Exchange otherwise
determines not to operate its Back-Up
Trading Floor.11 The Exchange
represents that if it were to determine to
use the virtual trading crowd in a more
permanent manner for reasons other
than business continuity purposes, the
Exchange would submit a separate rule
filing to the Commission.12
In the program, the Exchange would
create virtual trading crowds, in each of
which the Exchange would determine
which options class(es) will be available
for trading.13 Phlx members would
access a virtual trading crowds via
‘‘zones.’’ 14 Similar to the Trading Floor,
7 See
Phlx Options 8, Section 26(g)(2).
8 Id.
1 15
9 Id.
2 17
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 90880
(January 8, 2021), 86 FR 3217 (‘‘Notice’’).
4 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 91220,
86 FR 12733 (March 4, 2021). The Commission
designated April 14, 2021, as the date by which it
should approve, disapprove, or institute
proceedings to determine whether to disapprove the
proposed rule change.
6 In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange made
technical corrections and revisions to the proposed
rule text for readability and consistency.
Amendment No. 1 is available on the Commission’s
website at: https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-phlx2021-03/srphlx202103-8436948-229661.pdf.
10 See
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Notice, supra note 3, 86 FR at 3218.
also proposes to update Options 8, Section
26(g)(1) and (2) to specify the availability of the
virtual trading crowd in the event the Trading Floor
and/or Back-Up Trading floor is unavailable, or the
Exchange otherwise determines not to operate its
Back-Up Trading Floor. See proposed Options 8,
Section 26(g)(1) and (2).
12 See Notice, supra note 3, 86 FR at 3218, n.8.
13 The Exchange states that this is similar to the
Exchange’s authority with respect to open outcry
trading on the Trading Floor. See id., 86 FR at 3218.
14 See proposed Options 8, Section 26(g)(3)(B)(3).
A ‘‘zone’’ is a virtual room representing a virtual
trading crowd. See Notice, supra note 3, 86 FR at
3218, n.11.
11 Phlx
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14659-14661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05444]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-91303; File No. SR-PEARL-2021-04]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; MIAX PEARL, LLC; Notice of Filing
and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Exchange
Rule 2300, Supervision, and Exchange Rule 2301, Supervisory Control
System
March 11, 2021.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice
is hereby given that on February 25, 2021, MIAX PEARL, LLC (``MIAX
PEARL'' or the ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (``Commission'') a proposed rule change as described in
Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the
Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments
on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange is filing a proposed rule change to amend Exchange
Rules 2300 and 2301 to incorporate the provisions of Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority Rules 3110 and 3120 regarding supervision and
supervisory controls.
The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's
website at https://www.miaxoptions.com/rule-filings/pearl at MIAX
PEARL's principal office, and at the Commission's Public Reference
Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The purpose of the proposed rule change is to amend Exchange Rules
2300 and 2301 to incorporate the provisions of Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc. (``FINRA'') Rules 3110 and 3120 regarding
supervision and supervisory controls.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The proposed rule change is based on Investors Exchange,
Inc. (``IEX'') Rules 5.110 and 5.120.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exchange Rule 2300, Supervision
The Exchange proposes to amend Exchange Rule 2300 to incorporate
the provisions of FINRA Rule 3110. Exchange Rule 2300 would be
identical to the FINRA Rule with the only differences being replacing
references to ``FINRA'' with the ``Exchange'' and to replacing
references to the following FINRA Rules with the applicable Exchange
Rule:
FINRA Rule 3110 would be replaced with Exchange Rule 2300
[[Page 14660]]
FINRA Rule 3210 would be replaced with Exchange Rule 2305
FINRA Rule 2210(b)(1) would be replaced with Exchange Rule
2104
Like FINRA Rule 3110, Exchange Rule 2300 would require a firm to
establish and maintain a system to supervise the activities of its
associated persons that is reasonably designed to achieve compliance
with the applicable securities laws and regulations and Exchange rules.
Exchange Rule 2300 would detail requirements for a firm to have
reasonably designed written supervisory procedures (``WSPs'') to
supervise the activities of its associated persons and the types of
businesses in which it engages. Among other things, a firm's WSPs must
address supervision of supervisory personnel and provide for the review
of a firm's investment banking and securities business, correspondence
and internal communications, and customer complaints. WSPs should
describe:
The specific individual(s) responsible for each review,
the supervisory activities such persons will perform,
the frequency of the review, and
the manner of documentation.
The rule further sets forth requirements to designate and register
branch offices and offices of supervisory jurisdiction (OSJs), conduct
internal inspections and review transactions for insider trading.
Firms must also adopt procedures that include a means of customer
confirmation for certain transactions such as transmittal of customer
funds, changes in address, and changes in investment objectives.
Exchange Rule 2301, Supervisory Control System
The Exchange proposes to amend Exchange Rule 2301 to incorporate
the provisions of FINRA Rule 3120. Exchange Rule 2301 would be
identical to FINRA Rule 3120 with the only differences being replacing
references to ``FINRA'' with the ``Exchange''.
Like FINRA Rule 3120, Exchange Rule 2301 would require a firm to
have a system of supervisory control policies and procedures (``SCPs'')
that tests and verifies a firm's supervisory procedures. It is
essential for a firm to recognize that FINRA Rule 3120's requirement to
have specific SCPs differs from the requirement for WSPs. A firm not
only needs to maintain WSPs, but the firm also must have SCPs to test
and verify, at least annually, that its WSPs are reasonably designed
with respect to the firm's and its associated persons' activities to
achieve compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations and
Exchange Rules, and to create additional or amend WSPs as identified by
such testing and verification. Risk-based methodologies and sampling
may be used to determine the scope of testing. The testing ensures that
a firm's supervisory procedures are reviewed and amended regularly in
light of changing business and regulatory environments.
Pursuant to Exchange Rule 2301, like FINRA Rule 3120, a firm must
designate principal(s) to be responsible for establishing, maintaining
and enforcing a firm's SCPs. The designated principal(s) also must
prepare, at least annually, a report detailing the firm's supervisory
control system and submit it to senior management (Rule 2301 Report).
The Rule 2301 Report must include a summary of the test results and
significant identified exceptions, and any additional or amended
supervisory procedures created in response to the test results.
If a firm has reported $200 million or more in gross revenue on its
FOCUS report in the prior calendar year, like FINRA Rule 3120, Exchange
Rule 2301 would require that the firm's annual report include specified
additional content, to the extent applicable to the firm's business.
2. Statutory Basis
The proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the
Act,\4\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5),\5\
in particular, because it is designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, 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 proposed
rule change would remove impediments to and promote just and equitable
principles of trade because it would memorialize within the Exchange's
rules supervisory requirements identical to those set forth in FINRA
Rules 3110 and 3120. Doing so would explicitly set forth Member's
supervisory requirements within the Exchange Rules without setting
forth additional supervisory requirements or undue burden on Members.
The Exchange notes the proposed rule change would also align the
Exchange's supervisory rules with those of IEX.\6\
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\4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
\6\ IEX Rules 5.110 and 5.120.
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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
not designed to have a competitive impact because it is not intended to
attract additional business to the Exchange. It is simply intended to
incorporate the provisions of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
Rules 3110 and 3120 regarding supervision and supervisory controls
within Exchange Rules 2300 and 2301.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
Written comments were neither solicited nor received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the foregoing 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 for 30 days after the date of the filing, or such
shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective
pursuant to 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \7\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \8\
thereunder.
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\7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\8\ 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 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 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.
[[Page 14661]]
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-PEARL-2021-04 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-PEARL-2021-04. 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-PEARL-2021-04 and
should be submitted on or before April 7, 2021. For the Commission, by
the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.\9\
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\9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-05444 Filed 3-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P