| Page Range | 37695-37698 | |
| FR Document | 2015-16089 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 1, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 37695-37698] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-16089] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-75301; File No. SR-NYSEMKT-2015-44] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Amending the Members' Schedule as Defined in the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of NYSE Amex Options LLC Dated as of May 14, 2014 in Order to Reflect Changes to the Capital Structure of the Company June 25, 2015. 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 June 17, 2015, NYSE MKT LLC (the ``Exchange'' or ``NYSE MKT'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 15 U.S.C.78s(b)(1). \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a. \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend the Members' Schedule (as defined in the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of NYSE Amex Options LLC (the ``Company'') dated as of May 14, 2014 (the ``LLC Agreement'')) in order to reflect changes to the capital structure of the Company based on two transactions (such amendment, the ``Proposed Rule Change''). The first transaction involved the issuance of Annual Incentive Shares (as defined in the Members Agreement (as defined below)) to the Founding Firms (as defined below) consistent with the formula set forth in Section 2.1 of that certain Amended and Restated Members Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2014, by and among the Company, NYSE MKT, NYSE Holdings LLC (formerly known as NYSE Euronext) (``NYSE Holdings''), NYSE Market (DE), Inc. (formerly known as NYSE Market, Inc.) (``NYSE Market (DE)''), Banc of America Strategic Investments Corporation (``BAML''), Barclays Electronic Commerce Holdings Inc. (``Barclays''), Citadel Securities LLC (``Citadel''), Citigroup Financial Strategies, Inc. (``Citigroup''), Goldman, [[Page 37696]] Sachs & Co. (``Goldman Sachs''), Datek Online Management Corp. (``TD Ameritrade'') and UBS Americas Inc. (``UBS'') (collectively, excluding the Company, NYSE MKT, NYSE Holdings and NYSE Market (DE), the ``Founding Firms'') (the ``Members Agreement''). The second transaction will involve the transfer of Interests (as defined in the LLC Agreement) by the Founding Firms to NYSE Market (DE), an affiliate of the Exchange, as soon as reasonably practicable following June 15, 2015 pursuant to Article XI of the LLC Agreement and Section 3.1 of the Members Agreement. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room. II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant parts of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose The Exchange proposes to amend the Members' Schedule as set forth herein. The amendment reflects changes to the capital structure of the Company due to (i) the issuance of Annual Incentive Shares to the Founding Firms pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Members Agreement and (ii) the transfer of Interests by the Founding Firms to NYSE Market (DE) pursuant to Article XI of the LLC Agreement and Section 3.1 of the Members Agreement. Issuance of Annual Incentive Shares Pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Members Agreement, each year until this year (unless extended by the board of directors of the Company), the Company must issue a number of Class B Common Interests (as defined in the LLC Agreement) equal to thirty percent (30%) of the then- outstanding Class B Common Interests as Annual Incentive Shares. These Annual Incentive Shares are allocated among the Members (as defined in the LLC Agreement) holding Class B Common Interests (such Members, the ``Class B Members'') based on each Class B Member's contribution to the volume of the Exchange relative to such Class B Member's Individual Target (as defined in the Members Agreement). The Annual Incentive Shares may change the relative economic and voting rights among the Class B Members but have no effect on the relative economic and voting rights as between Members holding Class A Common Interests (as defined in the LLC Agreement) and Class B Members. Effective February 28, 2015, the Company issued 10.5456 Annual Incentive Shares in the aggregate to the Founding Firms (the ``Issuance of Annual Incentive Shares''). Five of the Founding Firms did not achieve their Individual Targets, which reduced the five Founding Firms' economic and voting interests in the Company relative to the other Founding Firms. In addition, because only two Founding Firms exceeded their Individual Targets, 1.0309 unallocated Reallocation Shares (as defined in the Members Agreement) were included in an Unearned Class B Shares Pool (as defined in the Members Agreement). In accordance with Section 2.2 of the Members Agreement, the board of directors of the Company allocated such Class B Shares between those two Founding Firms that exceeded their Individual Targets, effective February 28, 2015. The Exchange proposes to amend the Members' Schedule as set forth in Exhibit 5A attached hereto \4\ (marked against the Members' Schedule in effect prior to such issuance) to reflect the issuance of Annual Incentive Shares, including the allocation of the Reallocation Shares included in the Unearned Class B Shares Pool. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ The Commission notes that Exhibit 5A is attached to the filing, not to this Notice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Founding Firm Transfer Pursuant to Article XI of the LLC Agreement and Section 3.1 of the Members Agreement, a Member may transfer Interests to a third party or to another Member in accordance with the conditions and limitations set forth therein. The Exchange is filing this Proposed Rule Change, in part, to provide notice that the Founding Firms collectively intend to transfer an aggregate equity interest [sic] 16.0000% in the Company to NYSE Market (DE), an affiliate of the Exchange (the ``Founding Firm Transfer''). Upon consummation of the Founding Firm Transfer and the acquisition by NYSE Market (DE) of the Class B Common Interests transferred by the Founding Firms, such Class B Common Interests will automatically convert into an appropriate number of Class A Common Interests. Immediately following the Founding Firm Transfer, NYSE MKT will own an equity interest of 47.2000% in the Company, NYSE Market (DE) will own an equity interest of 52.8000%, and the Founding Firms, collectively, will no longer have an equity interest in the Company. The Exchange proposes, upon consummation of the Founding Firm Transfer, to amend the Members' Schedule as set forth in Exhibit 5B attached hereto \5\ (marked against the Members' Schedule following the Issuance of Annual Incentive Shares) to reflect the Founding Firm Transfer. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ The Commission notes that Exhibit 5B is attached to the filing, not to this Notice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Statutory Basis The Proposed Rule Change is consistent with Section 6(b) \6\ of the Act,\7\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(1) \8\ of the Act, which requires a national securities exchange to be so organized and have the capacity to carry out the purposes of the Act and to comply, and to enforce compliance by its members and persons associated with its members, with the provisions of the Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and the rules of the Exchange. The Proposed Rule Change does not modify the Company's trading or compliance rules and preserves the existing mechanisms for ensuring the Exchange's and the Company's compliance with the Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and the rules of the Exchange. The Proposed Rule Change also retains NYSE MKT's regulatory control over the Company and the provisions specifically designed to ensure the independence of its self-regulatory function and to ensure that any regulatory determinations by NYSE MKT, as the Company's SRO, are controlling with respect to the actions and decisions of the Company. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78. \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additionally, the Proposed Rule Change continues to require the Company, its Members and its directors to comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and to engage in conduct that fosters and does not interfere with the Exchange's or the Company's ability to carry out its [[Page 37697]] respective responsibilities under the Act. The Proposed Rule Change is also consistent with, and furthers the objectives of, Section 6(b)(5) \9\ of the Act, in that it preserves all of NYSE MKT's existing rules and mechanisms to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition The Exchange does not believe that the Proposed Rule Change will have any impact on competition. The Proposed Rule Change solely relates to changes in the equity interests among the Members of the Company pursuant to provisions of the LLC Agreement and Members Agreement that have been previously filed and approved by the Commission. In addition, neither the Issuance of Annual Incentive Shares nor the Founding Firm Transfer implicates the Commission's policies with respect to permissible ownership. Furthermore, because the Proposed Rule Change does not affect the availability or pricing of any goods or services, the Proposed Rule Change will not affect competition either between the Exchange and others that provide the same goods and services as the Exchange or among market participants. C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the Proposed Rule Change. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \10\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\11\ Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b- 4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii). \11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the Exchange's intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \12\ normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),\13\ the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange stated that an immediate operative date is necessary to permit the efficient consummation of both the Issuance of Annual Incentive Shares and the Founding Firm Transfer. According to the Exchange, accomplishing the Founding Firm Transfer requires that the Members have certainty as to the amount of Common Interests owned by each, which in turn requires timely consummation of the Issuance of Annual Incentive Shares. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because such waiver would allow the Company to consummate the Issuance of Annual Incentive Shares and the Founding Firm Transfer in an efficient and predictable manner. Accordingly, the Commission hereby grants the Exchange's request and designates the proposal operative upon filing.\14\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \12\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). \13\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii). \14\ 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). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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) \15\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 CommentsUse the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or Send an email to [email protected]. Please include File Number SR-NYSEMKT-2015-44 on the subject line. Paper Comments Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEMKT-2015-44. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such 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 publicly available. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEMKT-2015-44 and should be submitted on or before July 22, 2015. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). [[Page 37698]] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\16\ Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015-16089 Filed 6-30-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 37695 |