Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE American LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Change to Increase Certain Annual Fees Set Forth in Section 141 of the NYSE American Company Guide, 79024-79026 [2022-27910]
Download as PDF
79024
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 246 / Friday, December 23, 2022 / Notices
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–96530; File No. SR–
NYSEAMER–2022–56]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
American LLC; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Change to Increase Certain Annual
Fees Set Forth in Section 141 of the
NYSE American Company Guide
December 19, 2022.
Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
notice is hereby given that, on December
13, 2022, 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
Section 141 of the NYSE American
Company Guide (the ‘‘Company Guide’)
to amend its annual fees charged to
issuers of listed equity securities. 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.
TKELLEY on DSK125TN23PROD with NOTICE
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.
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend its
annual fees charged to issuers of listed
equity securities as set forth in Section
141 of the Company Guide. The
proposed changes will take effect from
the beginning of the calendar year
commencing on January 1, 2023.
The Exchange currently charges an
annual fee of $50,000 to issuers with 50
million or fewer shares outstanding and
an annual fee of $70,000 to issuers with
more than 50 million shares
outstanding. The Exchange proposes to
increase the annual fee for issuers with
50 million or fewer shares outstanding
to $55,0000 [sic], and to increase the
annual fee for issuers with more than 50
million shares outstanding to $75,000.
The proposed increase in the annual
fee rates reflects increases in the costs
the Exchange incurs in providing
services to listed companies on an
ongoing basis, as well as increases in the
costs of conducting its related regulatory
activities. As described below, the
Exchange proposes to make the
aforementioned fee increases to better
reflect the Exchange’s costs related to
listing equity securities and the
corresponding value of such listing to
companies.
The revised annual fees will be
applied in the same manner to all
issuers with listed securities in the
affected categories and the Exchange
believes that the changes will not
disproportionately affect any specific
category of issuers.
The Exchange also proposes to
remove from Section 141 text referring
to fee rates that are no longer applied as
this reference is no longer relevant.
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
1 15
4 15
2 15
5 15
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:36 Dec 22, 2022
U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
6 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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PO 00000
Frm 00112
Fmt 4703
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 Section 141 to increase
the annual fees for listed equity
securities as set forth above because of
the increased costs incurred by the
Exchange since it established the
current rates.
The Proposed Changes Are Reasonable
The Exchange believes that the
proposed changes to its annual fee
schedule are reasonable. In that regard,
the Exchange notes that its general costs
to support its listed companies have
increased, including due to price
inflation. The Exchange also continues
to expand and improve the services it
provides to listed companies.
Specifically, the Exchange has (among
other things) increased expenditure on
listed companies and the value of an
NYSE American listing by: making
improvements to NYSE Connect, an
online service that provides listed
companies with access to in-depth
information to better understand the
trading of their securities; and
launching the NYSE Institute, whose
focus includes providing thought
leadership and advocacy on behalf of
listed companies. The Exchange notes
that companies listed on both the New
York Stock Exchange and NYSE
American all benefit from the foregoing
services.
The Exchange operates in a highly
competitive marketplace for the listing
of the various categories of securities
affected by the proposed annual fee
adjustments. 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,7 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.’’ 8
7 Release No. 34–51808 (June 9, 2005); 70 FR
37496 (June 29, 2005).
8 See Regulation NMS, 70 FR at 37499.
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
23DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 246 / Friday, December 23, 2022 / Notices
The Exchange believes that the evershifting 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 adoption of an increase to the
annual fees for various categories of
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 Exchange proposes to make the
aforementioned fee increases in Section
141 to better reflect the value of such
listing to issuers.
TKELLEY on DSK125TN23PROD with NOTICE
The Proposal Is An Equitable Allocation
of Fees
The Exchange believes its proposal
equitably allocates its fees among its
market participants.
The Exchange believes that the
proposed amendments to the annual
fees for equity securities are equitable
because they do not change the existing
framework for such fees, but simply
increase the amount of certain of the
fees to reflect increased operating costs.
Similarly, as the fee structure remains
effectively unchanged apart from
increases in the rates paid by all issuers,
the changes to annual fees for equity
securities neither target nor will they
have a disparate impact on any
particular category of issuer of equity
securities.
The Proposal Is Not Unfairly
Discriminatory
The Exchange believes that the
proposal is not unfairly discriminatory.
The proposed fee changes are not
unfairly discriminatory among issuers of
operating company equity securities
because the same fee schedule will
apply to all such issuers. The Exchange
does not propose to increase the
minimum annual fees charged for any of
the various classes of derivative
securities products, closed end funds,
bonds, or warrants for which annual
fees are also set forth in Section 141.
The Exchange believes that this is not
unfairly discriminatory to the issuers of
operating company equity securities as
the benefits the issuers of these other
classes of securities receive in
connection with their listings are
consistent with the current fee levels
VerDate Sep<11>2014
21:35 Dec 22, 2022
Jkt 259001
paid by those issuers. This is because
those types of listings do not generally
benefit to the same extent from services
provided by the Exchange as do issuers
of operating company equity securities.
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.
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, and because
issuers may change their chosen listing
venue, the Exchange does not believe its
proposed fee change can impose any
burden on intermarket competition.
PO 00000
Frm 00113
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
79025
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 has become
effective upon filing pursuant to section
19(b)(3)(A) 9 of the Act and paragraph (f)
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.
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–2022–56 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–2022–56. 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
9 15
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
23DEN1
79026
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 246 / Friday, December 23, 2022 / Notices
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–NYSEAMER–2022–56 and
should be submitted on or before
January 13, 2023.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.10
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022–27910 Filed 12–22–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–96534; File No. SR–
NASDAQ–2022–074]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
Proposed Rule Change To Extend the
Implementation Date of Nasdaq’s PostTrade Risk Management Product to Q2
2023
December 19, 2022.
TKELLEY on DSK125TN23PROD with NOTICE
Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on December
8, 2022, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
(‘‘Nasdaq’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed
rule change as described in Items I and
II below, which Items have been
prepared by the Exchange. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to extend the
implementation date of its Post-Trade
Risk Management product to Q2 2023.
10 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:36 Dec 22, 2022
Jkt 259001
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on the Exchange’s website at
https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/
rulebook/nasdaq/rules, at the principal
office of the Exchange, and at the
Commission’s Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for
the proposed rule change and discussed
any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of these
statements may be examined at the
places specified in Item IV below. The
Exchange has prepared summaries, set
forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
the most significant aspects of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
Nasdaq is filing this proposal to
extend the implementation date of its
Post-Trade Risk Management tool to Q2
2023.
Nasdaq proposed to enhance its
connectivity, surveillance and risk
management services by launching three
re-platformed products: (i) WorkX, (ii)
Real-Time Stats and (iii) Post-Trade Risk
Management. These changes were filed
by Nasdaq on April 20, 2021 and
published in the Federal Register on
May 7, 2021.3
Nasdaq initially proposed that WorkX
and Real-Time Stats would launch on
April 12, 2021 and Post-Trade Risk
Management would launch no later than
Q3 2021.4 Due to re-prioritization in the
Nasdaq product pipeline, on September
14, 2021, Nasdaq proposed to delay the
implementation date of Post-Trade Risk
Management until Q1 2022.5 On March
31, 2022, Nasdaq proposed to delay the
implementation date from Q1 2022 to
Q2 2022.6 On June 30, 2022, Nasdaq
proposed an additional delay until Q4
2022.7 Due to continued reprioritization, Nasdaq is further
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 91744
(May 3, 2021), 86 FR 24685 (May 7, 2021)
(NASDAQ–2021–025) (‘‘Proposal’’).
4 See Proposal supra n. 3 at 24685.
5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 93125
(September 24, 2021), 86 FR 54255 (September 30,
2021).
6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 94704
(April 12, 2022), 87 FR 22958 (April 18, 2022) (SR–
NASDAQ–2022–029).
7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 95216
(July 7, 2022), 87 FR 41774 (July 13, 2022) (SR–
NASDAQ–2022–038).
PO 00000
Frm 00114
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
delaying the implementation of PostTrade Risk Management until Q2 2023.8
The Exchange will announce the new
implementation date in an Equity
Trader Alert at least ten days in advance
of implementing the Post-Trade Risk
Management product.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that its
proposal is consistent with section 6(b)
of the Act,9 in general, and furthers the
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,10
in particular, in that it is designed 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 purpose of this proposal is to
modify the timing of the planned
implementation for the Post-Trade Risk
Management product and to inform the
SEC and market participants of that
change. The introduction of the PostTrade Risk Management product was
proposed in a rule filing that was
submitted to the SEC, and the Exchange
is not proposing with this filing, any
changes other than to modify the
implementation date for the Post-Trade
Risk Management product. Nasdaq is
delaying the implementation date in
order to complete testing in line with
Nasdaq’s re-prioritized product
pipeline.
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 not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act. As explained
above, the purpose of this proposal is to
modify the timing of the planned
implementation for the Post-Trade Risk
Management product and to inform the
SEC and market participants of that
change. The existing Nasdaq Risk
Management product will continue to
be available, and the implementation
delay will impact all market
participants equally. The Exchange does
not expect the date change to place any
burden on competition and clearing
brokers will continue to have use of
Nasdaq Risk Management service to
monitor correspondent activity against
limit settings and manage credit risk
exposure.
8 As a result of the delay, the Exchange is
designating Equity 7, Section 116–A, the Post-Trade
Risk Management Rule, to be operative in Q2 2023.
9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
23DEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 246 (Friday, December 23, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79024-79026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27910]
[[Page 79024]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-96530; File No. SR-NYSEAMER-2022-56]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE American LLC; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Change to Increase
Certain Annual Fees Set Forth in Section 141 of the NYSE American
Company Guide
December 19, 2022.
Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby given
that, on December 13, 2022, 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 Section 141 of the NYSE American
Company Guide (the ``Company Guide') to amend its annual fees charged
to issuers of listed equity securities. 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
The Exchange proposes to amend its annual fees charged to issuers
of listed equity securities as set forth in Section 141 of the Company
Guide. The proposed changes will take effect from the beginning of the
calendar year commencing on January 1, 2023.
The Exchange currently charges an annual fee of $50,000 to issuers
with 50 million or fewer shares outstanding and an annual fee of
$70,000 to issuers with more than 50 million shares outstanding. The
Exchange proposes to increase the annual fee for issuers with 50
million or fewer shares outstanding to $55,0000 [sic], and to increase
the annual fee for issuers with more than 50 million shares outstanding
to $75,000.
The proposed increase in the annual fee rates reflects increases in
the costs the Exchange incurs in providing services to listed companies
on an ongoing basis, as well as increases in the costs of conducting
its related regulatory activities. As described below, the Exchange
proposes to make the aforementioned fee increases to better reflect the
Exchange's costs related to listing equity securities and the
corresponding value of such listing to companies.
The revised annual fees will be applied in the same manner to all
issuers with listed securities in the affected categories and the
Exchange believes that the changes will not disproportionately affect
any specific category of issuers.
The Exchange also proposes to remove from Section 141 text
referring to fee rates that are no longer applied as this reference is
no longer relevant.
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 Exchange believes that it is not unfairly discriminatory and
represents an equitable allocation of reasonable fees to amend Section
141 to increase the annual fees for listed equity securities as set
forth above because of the increased costs incurred by the Exchange
since it established the current rates.
The Proposed Changes Are Reasonable
The Exchange believes that the proposed changes to its annual fee
schedule are reasonable. In that regard, the Exchange notes that its
general costs to support its listed companies have increased, including
due to price inflation. The Exchange also continues to expand and
improve the services it provides to listed companies. Specifically, the
Exchange has (among other things) increased expenditure on listed
companies and the value of an NYSE American listing by: making
improvements to NYSE Connect, an online service that provides listed
companies with access to in-depth information to better understand the
trading of their securities; and launching the NYSE Institute, whose
focus includes providing thought leadership and advocacy on behalf of
listed companies. The Exchange notes that companies listed on both the
New York Stock Exchange and NYSE American all benefit from the
foregoing services.
The Exchange operates in a highly competitive marketplace for the
listing of the various categories of securities affected by the
proposed annual fee adjustments. 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,\7\ 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.'' \8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ Release No. 34-51808 (June 9, 2005); 70 FR 37496 (June 29,
2005).
\8\ See Regulation NMS, 70 FR at 37499.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 79025]]
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 adoption of an increase to
the annual fees for various categories of 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 Exchange proposes to make the aforementioned fee increases in
Section 141 to better reflect the value of such listing to issuers.
The Proposal Is An Equitable Allocation of Fees
The Exchange believes its proposal equitably allocates its fees
among its market participants.
The Exchange believes that the proposed amendments to the annual
fees for equity securities are equitable because they do not change the
existing framework for such fees, but simply increase the amount of
certain of the fees to reflect increased operating costs. Similarly, as
the fee structure remains effectively unchanged apart from increases in
the rates paid by all issuers, the changes to annual fees for equity
securities neither target nor will they have a disparate impact on any
particular category of issuer of equity securities.
The Proposal Is Not Unfairly Discriminatory
The Exchange believes that the proposal is not unfairly
discriminatory. The proposed fee changes are not unfairly
discriminatory among issuers of operating company equity securities
because the same fee schedule will apply to all such issuers. The
Exchange does not propose to increase the minimum annual fees charged
for any of the various classes of derivative securities products,
closed end funds, bonds, or warrants for which annual fees are also set
forth in Section 141. The Exchange believes that this is not unfairly
discriminatory to the issuers of operating company equity securities as
the benefits the issuers of these other classes of securities receive
in connection with their listings are consistent with the current fee
levels paid by those issuers. This is because those types of listings
do not generally benefit to the same extent from services provided by
the Exchange as do issuers of operating company equity securities.
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.
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, and because issuers may change their chosen
listing venue, the Exchange does not believe its proposed fee change
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 has become effective upon filing pursuant
to section 19(b)(3)(A) \9\ of the Act and paragraph (f) 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.
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\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
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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-2022-56 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-2022-56. 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
[[Page 79026]]
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-NYSEAMER-2022-56 and should
be submitted on or before January 13, 2023.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
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\10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-27910 Filed 12-22-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P