81_FR_51398 81 FR 51249 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending the Ninth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Exchange

81 FR 51249 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending the Ninth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Exchange

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 149 (August 3, 2016)

Page Range51249-51251
FR Document2016-18318

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 149 (Wednesday, August 3, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51249-51251]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18318]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-78436; File No. SR-NYSE-2016-51]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; 
Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending the Ninth Amended and 
Restated Operating Agreement of the Exchange

July 28, 2016.
    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 July 22, 2016, New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE'' or 
the ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, 
II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-
regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to 
solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend the Ninth Amended and Restated 
Operating Agreement of the Exchange (``Operating Agreement'') to change 
the process for nominating non-affiliated directors and remove an 
obsolete reference. 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 the 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to amend the Operating Agreement to change 
the process for nominating non-affiliated directors and replace an 
obsolete reference to NYSE Market (DE), Inc. (``NYSE Market (DE)'').
Process for Nominating Non-Affiliated Directors
    Pursuant to the Operating Agreement, at least 20% of the Board of 
Directors of the Exchange (``Board'') is made up of ``Non-Affiliated 
Directors'' (commonly referred to as ``fair representation 
directors'').\4\ Pursuant to Section 2.03(a) of the Operating 
Agreement, the nominating and governance committee (``NGC'') of the 
board of directors of ICE, the indirect parent of the Exchange, 
nominates the candidates for Non-Affiliated Directors, who are then 
elected by NYSE Group, as the sole member of the Exchange. The Exchange 
proposes to amend Section 2.03(a) to have the Director Candidate 
Recommendation Committee (``DCRC'') of the Exchange assume the role 
currently played by the ICE NGC, and to make a conforming change to 
Section 2.03(h)(i).
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    \4\ Pursuant to Section 2.03(a) of the Operating Agreement, Non-
Affiliated Directors are persons who are not members of the board of 
directors of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (``ICE'') but qualify 
as independent. A person may not be a Non-Affiliated Director unless 
he or she is free of any statutory disqualification, as defined in 
Section 3(a)(39) of the Exchange Act. The Exchange's independence 
requirements are set forth in the Company Director Independence 
Policy of the Exchange. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
67564 (August 1, 2012), 77 FR 47161 (August 7, 2012) (SR-NYSE-2012-
17) (approving, among other things, the Exchange's Company Director 
Independence Policy).
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    In addition, if the Member Organizations endorse a petition 
candidate for Non-Affiliated Director, pursuant to Section 2.03(a)(iv) 
the ICE NGC makes the determination of whether the person is 
eligible.\5\ The Exchange proposes to amend Section 2.03(a)(iv) to have 
the Exchange make such determination instead of the ICE NGC.
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    \5\ Pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Operating Agreement, 
``Member Organizations'' refers to members, allied members and 
member organizations of the Exchange.
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    Currently, the nomination by the ICE NGC is the final step in the 
process for electing a Non-Affiliated Director. First, the DCRC 
recommends a candidate, whose name then is announced to the Exchange's 
Member Organizations. The Member Organizations may propose alternate 
candidates by petition. If there are no petition candidates, the DCRC 
recommends its candidate(s) to the ICE NGC. If petition candidates are 
proposed, the ICE NGC makes the determination of whether the candidates 
are eligible, and then all of the eligible candidates are submitted to 
the Member Organizations for a vote. The DCRC recommends to the ICE NGC 
the candidate receiving the highest number of votes. The ICE NGC is 
obligated to designate the DCRC-recommended candidate(s) as the 
nominee, and NYSE Group is obligated to elect such candidate(s) as a 
Non-Affiliated Director.
    The Exchange believes obligating the ICE NGC to nominate the 
candidate(s) for Non-Affiliated Directors based on the DCRC's 
unalterable recommendation is neither necessary nor meaningful. 
Pursuant to Section 2.03(a)(iii), the ICE NGC is obligated to designate 
whomever the DCRC recommends or, if there is a petition candidate, 
whomever emerges from the petition process. The ICE NGC does not have 
any discretion. Removing this unnecessary step would make the NYSE 
process more efficient.
    The Exchange believes that having the Exchange determine whether 
persons endorsed to be petition candidates are eligible also would be 
more efficient, as it would not require action from the ICE NGC, 
thereby removing the possibility of any delay in the process. The 
proposed change would be consistent with the petition processes of the 
Exchange's affiliate, NYSE MKT LLC (``NYSE MKT''), and the Nasdaq Stock 
Market LLC. In both cases the exchange determines the eligibility of 
proposed nominees.\6\
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    \6\ See Article II, Section 2.03(a) of the Ninth Amended and 
Restated Operating Agreement of NYSE MKT LLC; Securities Exchange 
Act Release No. 77901 (May 25, 2016), 81 FR 35092 (June 1, 2016) 
(SR-NYSEMKT-2016-26) (``NYSE MKT 2016 Release'') and By-Laws of the 
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, Art. II, Sec. 1(b) (``The Company may 
require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it 
may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed 
nominee to serve as a Member Representative Director.'').
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    The Exchange believes that the proposed changes will make its 
process more consistent with the process by which its affiliates, NYSE 
MKT and NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca''), designate their fair 
representation

[[Page 51250]]

directors, in which the ICE NGC plays no role.\7\
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    \7\ See Article II, Section 2.03(a) of the Ninth Amended and 
Restated Operating Agreement of NYSE MKT LLC; NYSE MKT 2016 Release, 
supra note 6; and Article III, Section 3.02 of the NYSE Arca Bylaws 
and NYSE Arca Rule 3.2(b)(2). Similarly, the board of directors of 
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., the sole member of the Nasdaq Stock 
Market LLC, plays no role in nominating or determining the 
eligibility of Member Representative Directors. See By-Laws of the 
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, Art. II, Sec. 1.
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    Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to revise Section 2.03(a)(iii)-
(v) of the Operating Agreement to amend the process for electing Non-
Affiliated Directors. As proposed, the process would be as follows. 
First, as is currently the case, the DCRC would recommend a candidate, 
whose name would be announced to the Member Organizations, and the 
Member Organizations could propose alternate candidates by petition. 
Second, if there were no petition candidates, the DCRC would nominate 
the candidate(s) it had previously recommended. If there were petition 
candidates, the Exchange would make the eligibility determination of 
petition candidates, all eligible candidates would be submitted to the 
Member Organizations for a vote, and the DCRC would nominate the 
candidate receiving the highest number of votes. Finally, NYSE Group 
would be obligated to elect the DCRC-nominated candidate as a Non-
Affiliated Director.
    The Exchange would make a conforming change to Section 2.03(h)(i) 
to state that the DCRC ``will be responsible for nominating Non-
Affiliated Director Candidates.'' Currently, the provision states that 
the DCRC ``will be responsible for recommending Non-Affiliated Director 
Candidates to the ICE NGC.''
Reference to NYSE Market (DE), Inc.
    Section 2.02 of the Operating Agreement sets forth the Board's 
general supervision over Member Organizations and approved persons in 
connection with their conduct with or affecting Member Organizations. 
It provides that the Board ``shall have supervision relating to the 
collection, dissemination and use of quotations and of reports of 
prices on NYSE Market (DE), Inc.'' The Exchange proposes to amend 
Section 2.02 to replace the reference to NYSE Market (DE) with a 
reference to ``the exchange operated by the Company.'' \8\
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    \8\ See Article II, Section 2.02 of the proposed Tenth Amended 
and Restated Operating Agreement of New York Stock Exchange LLC. 
References to the ``Company'' in the Operating Agreement are to the 
Exchange.
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    Following the merger of New York Stock Exchange, Inc. with 
Archipelago Holdings, Inc., the Exchange and its subsidiaries NYSE 
Market (DE) and NYSE Regulation, Inc. entered into a Delegation 
Agreement, pursuant to which the Exchange delegated its market 
functions to NYSE Market (DE) and its regulatory functions to NYSE 
Regulation, Inc.\9\
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    \9\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 75991 (September 28, 
2015), 80 FR 59837 (October 2, 2015) (SR-NYSE-2015-27), at 59839.
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    The Delegation Agreement terminated in April 2016. Accordingly, 
NYSE Market (DE) no longer is delegated the Exchange's market 
functions, making the reference to NYSE Market (DE) in Section 2.02 
obsolete. The Exchange therefore proposes to update the reference to 
NYSE Market (DE) with a reference to ``the exchange operated by the 
Company.''
    The proposed change would be consistent with Article II, Section 
2.02 of the operating agreement of the Exchange's affiliate NYSE MKT, 
which states that its board of directors ``shall have supervision 
relating to the collection, dissemination and use of quotations and of 
reports of prices on the exchange operated by the Company.'' \10\
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    \10\ Article II, Section 2.02 of the Ninth Amended and Restated 
Operating Agreement of NYSE MKT LLC.
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    Finally, the Exchange proposes to make technical and conforming 
changes to the recitals and signature page of the Operating Agreement.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Exchange Act \11\ in general, and with Section 
6(b)(1) \12\ in particular, in that it enables the Exchange to be so 
organized as to have the capacity to be able to carry out the purposes 
of the Exchange Act and to comply, and to enforce compliance by its 
exchange members and persons associated with its exchange members, with 
the provisions of the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations 
thereunder, and the rules of the Exchange.
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    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1).
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    The proposed change would remove the requirement that the ICE NGC 
nominate the candidates for Non-Affiliated Directors and have the DCRC 
nominate the candidates for Non-Affiliated Director directly. This 
proposed change would remove an unnecessary step in the process of 
nominating candidates for Non-Affiliated Directors and increase 
efficiency. In addition, the proposed change would remove the 
requirement that the ICE NGC make the determination whether persons 
endorsed to be petition candidates are eligible to be Non-Affiliated 
Directors, and have the Exchange make such determination instead. By 
not requiring action from the ICE NGC, the possibility of any resulting 
delay in the process is removed. For these reasons, the Exchange 
believes that the proposed rule change would contribute to the orderly 
operation of the Exchange and would enable the Exchange to be so 
organized as to have the capacity to carry out the purposes of the 
Exchange Act and comply and enforce compliance with the provisions of 
the Exchange Act by its members and persons associated with its 
members. The Exchange therefore believes that approval of the proposed 
is consistent with Section 6(b)(1) of the Act.
    The Exchange believes that amending Section 2.02 of the Operating 
Agreement to replace the reference to NYSE Market (DE) with a reference 
to ``the exchange operated by the Company'' would remove an obsolete 
reference to an entity that is no longer delegated the Exchange's 
market functions, thereby reducing potential confusion that may result 
from retaining obsolete references in the Exchange's Operating 
Agreement. The proposed replacement will clarify that the Board has 
supervision relating to the collection, dissemination and use of 
quotations and of reports of prices on the Exchange. The Exchange 
believes that replacing such obsolete reference would not be 
inconsistent with the public interest and the protection of investors 
because investors will not be harmed and in fact would benefit from 
increased transparency, thereby reducing potential confusion. Removing 
such obsolete reference will also further the goal of transparency and 
add clarity to the Exchange's rules.
    The Exchange also believes that this filing furthers the objectives 
of Section 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act \13\ because the proposed rule 
change would be consistent with and facilitate a governance and 
regulatory structure that is designed to prevent fraudulent and 
manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable 
principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with 
persons engaged in 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.
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    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    The Exchange believes that having the DCRC nominate the candidates 
for Non-

[[Page 51251]]

Affiliated Director would remove impediments to and perfect a national 
market system because the proposed rule change would remove an 
unnecessary step in the process for nominating candidates for Non-
Affiliated Directors and would remove the ICE NGC from making the 
determination whether persons endorsed to be petition candidates are 
eligible to be Non-Affiliated Directors. By not requiring action from 
the ICE NGC, the possibility of any resulting delay in the process is 
removed. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is 
therefore consistent with and facilitates a governance and regulatory 
structure that furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of 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 Exchange Act. The proposed rule 
change is not intended to address competitive issues but rather is 
concerned solely with the administration and functioning of the 
Exchange and its Board.

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

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may designate 
if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its 
reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory 
organization consents, the Commission will:
(A) By order approve or disapprove the proposed rule change, or
(B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change 
should be 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 (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSE-2016-51 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-NYSE-2016-51. 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 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-NYSE-2016-51 and should be 
submitted on or before August 24, 2016.
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    \14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\14\
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-18318 Filed 8-2-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 3, 2016 / Notices                                                  51249

                                                    disapprove the proposed rule change                     on the proposed rule change. The text                   such determination instead of the ICE
                                                    (File Number SR–NYSEMKT–2016–58).                       of those statements may be examined at                  NGC.
                                                      For the Commission, by the Division of                the places specified in Item IV below.                     Currently, the nomination by the ICE
                                                    Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated              The Exchange has prepared summaries,                    NGC is the final step in the process for
                                                    authority.6                                             set forth in sections A, B, and C below,                electing a Non-Affiliated Director. First,
                                                    Robert W. Errett,                                       of the most significant parts of such                   the DCRC recommends a candidate,
                                                    Deputy Secretary.                                       statements.                                             whose name then is announced to the
                                                    [FR Doc. 2016–18314 Filed 8–2–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                                    Exchange’s Member Organizations. The
                                                                                                            A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Member Organizations may propose
                                                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                  Statement of the Purpose of, and the                    alternate candidates by petition. If there
                                                                                                            Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  are no petition candidates, the DCRC
                                                                                                            Change                                                  recommends its candidate(s) to the ICE
                                                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                    COMMISSION                                              1. Purpose                                              NGC. If petition candidates are
                                                                                                                                                                    proposed, the ICE NGC makes the
                                                    [Release No. 34–78436; File No. SR–NYSE–                   The Exchange proposes to amend the                   determination of whether the candidates
                                                    2016–51]                                                Operating Agreement to change the                       are eligible, and then all of the eligible
                                                                                                            process for nominating non-affiliated                   candidates are submitted to the Member
                                                    Self-Regulatory Organizations; New                      directors and replace an obsolete                       Organizations for a vote. The DCRC
                                                    York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of                      reference to NYSE Market (DE), Inc.                     recommends to the ICE NGC the
                                                    Filing of Proposed Rule Change                          (‘‘NYSE Market (DE)’’).                                 candidate receiving the highest number
                                                    Amending the Ninth Amended and                                                                                  of votes. The ICE NGC is obligated to
                                                    Restated Operating Agreement of the                     Process for Nominating Non-Affiliated
                                                                                                            Directors                                               designate the DCRC-recommended
                                                    Exchange                                                                                                        candidate(s) as the nominee, and NYSE
                                                    July 28, 2016.
                                                                                                               Pursuant to the Operating Agreement,                 Group is obligated to elect such
                                                       Pursuant to Section        19(b)(1) 1
                                                                                      of the                at least 20% of the Board of Directors of               candidate(s) as a Non-Affiliated
                                                    Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the                    the Exchange (‘‘Board’’) is made up of                  Director.
                                                    ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3                  ‘‘Non-Affiliated Directors’’ (commonly                     The Exchange believes obligating the
                                                    notice is hereby given that, on July 22,                referred to as ‘‘fair representation                    ICE NGC to nominate the candidate(s)
                                                    2016, New York Stock Exchange LLC                       directors’’).4 Pursuant to Section 2.03(a)              for Non-Affiliated Directors based on
                                                    (‘‘NYSE’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with               of the Operating Agreement, the                         the DCRC’s unalterable recommendation
                                                    the Securities and Exchange                             nominating and governance committee                     is neither necessary nor meaningful.
                                                    Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the                     (‘‘NGC’’) of the board of directors of ICE,             Pursuant to Section 2.03(a)(iii), the ICE
                                                    proposed rule change as described in                    the indirect parent of the Exchange,                    NGC is obligated to designate whomever
                                                    Items I, II, and III below, which Items                 nominates the candidates for Non-                       the DCRC recommends or, if there is a
                                                    have been prepared by the self-                         Affiliated Directors, who are then                      petition candidate, whomever emerges
                                                    regulatory organization. The                            elected by NYSE Group, as the sole                      from the petition process. The ICE NGC
                                                    Commission is publishing this notice to                 member of the Exchange. The Exchange                    does not have any discretion. Removing
                                                    solicit comments on the proposed rule                   proposes to amend Section 2.03(a) to                    this unnecessary step would make the
                                                    change from interested persons.                         have the Director Candidate                             NYSE process more efficient.
                                                                                                            Recommendation Committee (‘‘DCRC’’)                        The Exchange believes that having the
                                                    I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       of the Exchange assume the role                         Exchange determine whether persons
                                                    Statement of the Terms of Substance of                  currently played by the ICE NGC, and to                 endorsed to be petition candidates are
                                                    the Proposed Rule Change                                make a conforming change to Section                     eligible also would be more efficient, as
                                                       The Exchange proposes to amend the                   2.03(h)(i).                                             it would not require action from the ICE
                                                    Ninth Amended and Restated Operating                       In addition, if the Member                           NGC, thereby removing the possibility
                                                    Agreement of the Exchange (‘‘Operating                  Organizations endorse a petition                        of any delay in the process. The
                                                    Agreement’’) to change the process for                  candidate for Non-Affiliated Director,                  proposed change would be consistent
                                                    nominating non-affiliated directors and                 pursuant to Section 2.03(a)(iv) the ICE                 with the petition processes of the
                                                    remove an obsolete reference. The                       NGC makes the determination of                          Exchange’s affiliate, NYSE MKT LLC
                                                    proposed rule change is available on the                whether the person is eligible.5 The                    (‘‘NYSE MKT’’), and the Nasdaq Stock
                                                    Exchange’s Web site at www.nyse.com,                    Exchange proposes to amend Section                      Market LLC. In both cases the exchange
                                                    at the principal office of the Exchange,                2.03(a)(iv) to have the Exchange make                   determines the eligibility of proposed
                                                    and at the Commission’s Public                                                                                  nominees.6
                                                                                                                                                                       The Exchange believes that the
                                                    Reference Room.                                           4 Pursuant to Section 2.03(a) of the Operating

                                                                                                            Agreement, Non-Affiliated Directors are persons         proposed changes will make its process
                                                    II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      who are not members of the board of directors of        more consistent with the process by
                                                    Statement of the Purpose of, and                        Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (‘‘ICE’’) but qualify   which its affiliates, NYSE MKT and
                                                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  as independent. A person may not be a Non-
                                                                                                            Affiliated Director unless he or she is free of any
                                                                                                                                                                    NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE Arca’’),
                                                    Change                                                  statutory disqualification, as defined in Section       designate their fair representation
                                                       In its filing with the Commission, the               3(a)(39) of the Exchange Act. The Exchange’s
                                                                                                            independence requirements are set forth in the
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                                                                                                                                                                      6 See Article II, Section 2.03(a) of the Ninth
                                                    self-regulatory organization included                   Company Director Independence Policy of the             Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of
                                                    statements concerning the purpose of,                   Exchange. See Securities Exchange Act Release No.       NYSE MKT LLC; Securities Exchange Act Release
                                                    and basis for, the proposed rule change                 67564 (August 1, 2012), 77 FR 47161 (August 7,          No. 77901 (May 25, 2016), 81 FR 35092 (June 1,
                                                    and discussed any comments it received                  2012) (SR–NYSE–2012–17) (approving, among               2016) (SR–NYSEMKT–2016–26) (‘‘NYSE MKT 2016
                                                                                                            other things, the Exchange’s Company Director           Release’’) and By-Laws of the Nasdaq Stock Market
                                                                                                            Independence Policy).                                   LLC, Art. II, Sec. 1(b) (‘‘The Company may require
                                                      6 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(31).                               5 Pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Operating           any proposed nominee to furnish such other
                                                      1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                Agreement, ‘‘Member Organizations’’ refers to           information as it may reasonably require to
                                                      2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
                                                                                                            members, allied members and member                      determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee
                                                      3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                   organizations of the Exchange.                          to serve as a Member Representative Director.’’).



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                                                    51250                      Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 3, 2016 / Notices

                                                    directors, in which the ICE NGC plays                   subsidiaries NYSE Market (DE) and                     endorsed to be petition candidates are
                                                    no role.7                                               NYSE Regulation, Inc. entered into a                  eligible to be Non-Affiliated Directors,
                                                       Accordingly, the Exchange proposes                   Delegation Agreement, pursuant to                     and have the Exchange make such
                                                    to revise Section 2.03(a)(iii)–(v) of the               which the Exchange delegated its                      determination instead. By not requiring
                                                    Operating Agreement to amend the                        market functions to NYSE Market (DE)                  action from the ICE NGC, the possibility
                                                    process for electing Non-Affiliated                     and its regulatory functions to NYSE                  of any resulting delay in the process is
                                                    Directors. As proposed, the process                     Regulation, Inc.9                                     removed. For these reasons, the
                                                    would be as follows. First, as is                         The Delegation Agreement terminated                 Exchange believes that the proposed
                                                    currently the case, the DCRC would                      in April 2016. Accordingly, NYSE                      rule change would contribute to the
                                                    recommend a candidate, whose name                       Market (DE) no longer is delegated the                orderly operation of the Exchange and
                                                    would be announced to the Member                        Exchange’s market functions, making                   would enable the Exchange to be so
                                                    Organizations, and the Member                           the reference to NYSE Market (DE) in                  organized as to have the capacity to
                                                    Organizations could propose alternate                   Section 2.02 obsolete. The Exchange                   carry out the purposes of the Exchange
                                                    candidates by petition. Second, if there                therefore proposes to update the                      Act and comply and enforce compliance
                                                    were no petition candidates, the DCRC                   reference to NYSE Market (DE) with a                  with the provisions of the Exchange Act
                                                    would nominate the candidate(s) it had                  reference to ‘‘the exchange operated by               by its members and persons associated
                                                    previously recommended. If there were                   the Company.’’                                        with its members. The Exchange
                                                    petition candidates, the Exchange                         The proposed change would be                        therefore believes that approval of the
                                                    would make the eligibility                              consistent with Article II, Section 2.02              proposed is consistent with Section
                                                    determination of petition candidates, all               of the operating agreement of the                     6(b)(1) of the Act.
                                                    eligible candidates would be submitted                  Exchange’s affiliate NYSE MKT, which                     The Exchange believes that amending
                                                    to the Member Organizations for a vote,                 states that its board of directors ‘‘shall            Section 2.02 of the Operating Agreement
                                                    and the DCRC would nominate the                         have supervision relating to the                      to replace the reference to NYSE Market
                                                    candidate receiving the highest number                  collection, dissemination and use of                  (DE) with a reference to ‘‘the exchange
                                                    of votes. Finally, NYSE Group would be                  quotations and of reports of prices on                operated by the Company’’ would
                                                    obligated to elect the DCRC-nominated                   the exchange operated by the                          remove an obsolete reference to an
                                                    candidate as a Non-Affiliated Director.                 Company.’’ 10                                         entity that is no longer delegated the
                                                       The Exchange would make a                              Finally, the Exchange proposes to                   Exchange’s market functions, thereby
                                                    conforming change to Section 2.03(h)(i)                 make technical and conforming changes                 reducing potential confusion that may
                                                    to state that the DCRC ‘‘will be                        to the recitals and signature page of the             result from retaining obsolete references
                                                    responsible for nominating Non-                         Operating Agreement.                                  in the Exchange’s Operating Agreement.
                                                    Affiliated Director Candidates.’’                                                                             The proposed replacement will clarify
                                                    Currently, the provision states that the                2. Statutory Basis
                                                                                                                                                                  that the Board has supervision relating
                                                    DCRC ‘‘will be responsible for                             The Exchange believes that the                     to the collection, dissemination and use
                                                    recommending Non-Affiliated Director                    proposed rule change is consistent with               of quotations and of reports of prices on
                                                    Candidates to the ICE NGC.’’                            Section 6(b) of the Exchange Act 11 in                the Exchange. The Exchange believes
                                                                                                            general, and with Section 6(b)(1) 12 in               that replacing such obsolete reference
                                                    Reference to NYSE Market (DE), Inc.                     particular, in that it enables the                    would not be inconsistent with the
                                                      Section 2.02 of the Operating                         Exchange to be so organized as to have                public interest and the protection of
                                                    Agreement sets forth the Board’s general                the capacity to be able to carry out the              investors because investors will not be
                                                    supervision over Member Organizations                   purposes of the Exchange Act and to                   harmed and in fact would benefit from
                                                    and approved persons in connection                      comply, and to enforce compliance by                  increased transparency, thereby
                                                    with their conduct with or affecting                    its exchange members and persons                      reducing potential confusion. Removing
                                                    Member Organizations. It provides that                  associated with its exchange members,                 such obsolete reference will also further
                                                    the Board ‘‘shall have supervision                      with the provisions of the Exchange Act,              the goal of transparency and add clarity
                                                    relating to the collection, dissemination               the rules and regulations thereunder,                 to the Exchange’s rules.
                                                    and use of quotations and of reports of                 and the rules of the Exchange.                           The Exchange also believes that this
                                                    prices on NYSE Market (DE), Inc.’’ The                     The proposed change would remove                   filing furthers the objectives of Section
                                                    Exchange proposes to amend Section                      the requirement that the ICE NGC                      6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act 13 because
                                                    2.02 to replace the reference to NYSE                   nominate the candidates for Non-                      the proposed rule change would be
                                                    Market (DE) with a reference to ‘‘the                   Affiliated Directors and have the DCRC                consistent with and facilitate a
                                                    exchange operated by the Company.’’ 8                   nominate the candidates for Non-                      governance and regulatory structure that
                                                      Following the merger of New York                      Affiliated Director directly. This                    is designed to prevent fraudulent and
                                                    Stock Exchange, Inc. with Archipelago                   proposed change would remove an                       manipulative acts and practices, to
                                                    Holdings, Inc., the Exchange and its                    unnecessary step in the process of                    promote just and equitable principles of
                                                                                                            nominating candidates for Non-                        trade, to foster cooperation and
                                                       7 See Article II, Section 2.03(a) of the Ninth
                                                                                                            Affiliated Directors and increase                     coordination with persons engaged in
                                                    Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of
                                                    NYSE MKT LLC; NYSE MKT 2016 Release, supra              efficiency. In addition, the proposed                 regulating, clearing, settling, processing
                                                    note 6; and Article III, Section 3.02 of the NYSE       change would remove the requirement                   information with respect to, and
                                                    Arca Bylaws and NYSE Arca Rule 3.2(b)(2).               that the ICE NGC make the                             facilitating transactions in securities, to
                                                    Similarly, the board of directors of The NASDAQ
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                                                                                                            determination whether persons                         remove impediments to, and perfect the
                                                    OMX Group, Inc., the sole member of the Nasdaq
                                                    Stock Market LLC, plays no role in nominating or
                                                                                                                                                                  mechanism of a free and open market
                                                    determining the eligibility of Member
                                                                                                              9 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 75991     and a national market system and, in
                                                    Representative Directors. See By-Laws of the            (September 28, 2015), 80 FR 59837 (October 2,         general, to protect investors and the
                                                    Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, Art. II, Sec. 1.               2015) (SR–NYSE–2015–27), at 59839.
                                                                                                              10 Article II, Section 2.02 of the Ninth Amended
                                                                                                                                                                  public interest.
                                                       8 See Article II, Section 2.02 of the proposed
                                                                                                            and Restated Operating Agreement of NYSE MKT             The Exchange believes that having the
                                                    Tenth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement
                                                    of New York Stock Exchange LLC. References to the       LLC.                                                  DCRC nominate the candidates for Non-
                                                                                                              11 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
                                                    ‘‘Company’’ in the Operating Agreement are to the
                                                    Exchange.                                                 12 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1).                               13 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).



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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 3, 2016 / Notices                                                      51251

                                                    Affiliated Director would remove                        Electronic Comments                                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                    impediments to and perfect a national                                                                          COMMISSION
                                                    market system because the proposed                        • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                                                                            comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                      [Release No. 34–78437; File No. SR–
                                                    rule change would remove an                                                                                    NASDAQ–2016–056]
                                                    unnecessary step in the process for                     rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                    nominating candidates for Non-                            • Send an email to rule-comments@                    Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
                                                    Affiliated Directors and would remove                   sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of
                                                    the ICE NGC from making the                             NYSE–2016–51 on the subject line.                      Filing of Amendment No. 3 and Order
                                                    determination whether persons                                                                                  Granting Accelerated Approval of a
                                                    endorsed to be petition candidates are                  Paper Comments
                                                                                                                                                                   Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by
                                                    eligible to be Non-Affiliated Directors.
                                                                                                              • Send paper comments in triplicate                  Amendment No. 3, To List and Trade
                                                    By not requiring action from the ICE                                                                           Shares of the PowerShares Variable
                                                                                                            to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities
                                                    NGC, the possibility of any resulting                                                                          Rate Investment Grade Portfolio, a
                                                    delay in the process is removed. The                    and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
                                                                                                            NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.                        Series of the PowerShares Actively
                                                    Exchange believes that the proposed                                                                            Managed Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
                                                    rule change is therefore consistent with                All submissions should refer to File
                                                    and facilitates a governance and                        Number SR–NYSE–2016–51. This file                      July 28, 2016.
                                                    regulatory structure that furthers the                  number should be included on the                       I. Introduction
                                                    objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.               subject line if email is used. To help the                On April 13, 2016, The NASDAQ
                                                    B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Commission process and review your                     Stock Market LLC (‘‘Exchange’’ or
                                                    Statement on Burden on Competition                      comments more efficiently, please use                  ‘‘Nasdaq’’) filed with the Securities and
                                                                                                            only one method. The Commission will                   Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’),
                                                      The Exchange does not believe that                    post all comments on the Commission’s                  pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                    the proposed rule change will impose                    Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’
                                                    any burden on competition that is not                   rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                        or ‘‘Exchange Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4
                                                    necessary or appropriate in furtherance                 submission, all subsequent                             thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to
                                                    of the purposes of the Exchange Act.                    amendments, all written statements                     list and trade shares (‘‘Shares’’) of the
                                                    The proposed rule change is not
                                                                                                            with respect to the proposed rule                      PowerShares Variable Rate Investment
                                                    intended to address competitive issues
                                                                                                            change that are filed with the                         Grade Portfolio (‘‘Fund’’), a series of the
                                                    but rather is concerned solely with the
                                                                                                            Commission, and all written                            PowerShares Actively Managed
                                                    administration and functioning of the
                                                                                                            communications relating to the                         Exchange-Traded Fund Trust (‘‘Trust’’)
                                                    Exchange and its Board.
                                                                                                            proposed rule change between the                       under Nasdaq Rule 5735. The proposed
                                                    C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Commission and any person, other than                  rule change was published for comment
                                                    Statement on Comments on the                            those that may be withheld from the                    in the Federal Register on May 2, 2016.3
                                                    Proposed Rule Change Received From                      public in accordance with the                          On May 5, 2016, the Exchange filed
                                                    Members, Participants, or Others                        provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                    Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule
                                                                                                            available for Web site viewing and                     change. On June 14, 2016, pursuant to
                                                      No written comments were solicited                                                                           Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,4 the
                                                    or received with respect to the proposed                printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                                                                            Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                      Commission designated a longer period
                                                    rule change.                                                                                                   within which to approve the proposed
                                                                                                            Washington, DC 20549 on official
                                                    III. Date of Effectiveness of the                       business days between the hours of                     rule change, disapprove the proposed
                                                    Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                                                                            rule change, or institute proceedings to
                                                                                                            10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
                                                    Commission Action                                                                                              determine whether to disapprove the
                                                                                                            filing also will be available for
                                                                                                                                                                   proposed rule change.5 On June 29,
                                                      Within 45 days of the date of                         inspection and copying at the principal                2016, the Exchange filed Amendment
                                                    publication of this notice in the Federal               office of the Exchange. All comments                   No. 2 to the proposed rule change.6 On
                                                    Register or up to 90 days (i) as the                    received will be posted without change;                July 15, 2016, the Exchange filed
                                                    Commission may designate if it finds                    the Commission does not edit personal                  Amendment No. 3 to the proposed rule
                                                    such longer period to be appropriate                    identifying information from                           change.7 The Commission received no
                                                    and publishes its reasons for so finding                submissions. You should submit only
                                                    or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory                 information that you wish to make                        1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                    organization consents, the Commission                   available publicly. All submissions                      2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                    will:                                                   should refer to File Number SR–NYSE–                     3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77715

                                                                                                                                                                   (April 26, 2016), 81 FR 26285 (‘‘Notice’’).
                                                    (A) By order approve or disapprove the                  2016–51 and should be submitted on or                    4 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
                                                      proposed rule change, or                              before August 24, 2016.                                  5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78063,

                                                    (B) institute proceedings to determine                    For the Commission, by the Division of               81 FR 39972 (June 20, 2016). The Commission
                                                                                                                                                                   designated July 29, 2016, as the date by which it
                                                      whether the proposed rule change                      Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated             should approve, disapprove, or institute
                                                      should be disapproved.                                authority.14                                           proceedings to determine whether to disapprove the
                                                                                                            Robert W. Errett,                                      proposed rule change.
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                                                    IV. Solicitation of Comments                                                                                     6 On July 15, 2016, the Exchange withdrew
                                                                                                            Deputy Secretary.                                      Amendment No. 2.
                                                      Interested persons are invited to                     [FR Doc. 2016–18318 Filed 8–2–16; 8:45 am]               7 In Amendment No. 3, which amended and
                                                    submit written data, views, and                         BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                 replaced the original filing as modified by
                                                    arguments concerning the foregoing,                                                                            Amendment No. 1, the Exchange: (a) Clarified the
                                                    including whether the proposed rule                                                                            scope of mortgage-backed securities (‘‘MBS’’) that
                                                                                                                                                                   could be held by the Fund; (b) clarified that the
                                                    change is consistent with the Act.                                                                             Fund will not invest (i) in commercial loans, (ii) in
                                                    Comments may be submitted by any of                                                                            leveraged, inverse, or inverse leveraged exchange-
                                                    the following methods:                                    14 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                                                                    Continued




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Document Created: 2016-08-02 23:44:00
Document Modified: 2016-08-02 23:44:00
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation81 FR 51249 

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