81_FR_96326 81 FR 96076 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Conform to Proposed Amendments to Securities Exchange Act Rule 15c6-1(a) To Shorten the Standard Settlement Cycle From Three Business Days After the Trade Date (“T+3”) to Two Business Days After the Trade Date (“T+2”)

81 FR 96076 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Conform to Proposed Amendments to Securities Exchange Act Rule 15c6-1(a) To Shorten the Standard Settlement Cycle From Three Business Days After the Trade Date (“T+3”) to Two Business Days After the Trade Date (“T+2”)

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 250 (December 29, 2016)

Page Range96076-96080
FR Document2016-31474

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 96076-96080]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31474]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-79659; File No. SR-NYSE-2016-87]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; 
Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Conform to Proposed 
Amendments to Securities Exchange Act Rule 15c6-1(a) To Shorten the 
Standard Settlement Cycle From Three Business Days After the Trade Date 
(``T+3'') to Two Business Days After the Trade Date (``T+2'')

December 22, 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 December 15, 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 
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.
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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 new Rules 14T, Dealings and SettlementsT 
(Rules 45--299C), 64T, 235T, 236T, 282.65T and 257T, and new Section 
703.02T (part 2) of the Listed Company Manual to conform to proposed 
amendments to Securities Exchange Act Rule 15c6-1(a) to shorten the 
standard settlement cycle from three business days after the trade date 
(``T+3'') to two business days after the trade date (``T+2''). 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.

[[Page 96077]]

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 adopt the following new rules to conform 
to proposed amendments to Securities Exchange Act Rule 15c6-1(a) \4\ to 
shorten the standard settlement cycle from T+3 to T+2:
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    \4\ See 17 CFR 240.15c6-1(a); see also notes 8-9, infra.
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     Rule 14T (Non-Regular Way Settlement Instructions);
     Dealings and SettlementsT (Rules 45-299C);
     Rule 64T (Bonds, Rights and 100-Share-Unit Stocks);
     Rule 235T (Ex-Dividend, Ex-Rights);
     Rule 236T (Ex-Warrants);
     Rule 257T (Deliveries After ``Ex'' Date);
     Rule 282.65T (Failure to Deliver and Liability Notice 
Procedures); and
     Section 703.02T (part 2) of the Listed Company Manual 
(Stock Split/Stock Rights/Stock Dividend Listing Process).
    The proposed new rules would have the same numbering as the current 
rules, but with the modifier ``T'' appended to the rule number. For 
example, Rule 14, governing non-regular way settlement instructions for 
orders, would remain unchanged and continue to apply to non-regular way 
settlements on the Exchange. Proposed Rule 14T would reflect that a 
regular way settlement would be two days and not the current three 
days. As discussed below, because the Exchange would not implement the 
proposed rules until after the final implementation of T+2, the 
Exchange proposes to retain the current versions of each rule on its 
books and not delete it until after the proposed rules are approved. 
The Exchange also proposes to file separate proposed rule changes to 
establish the operative date of the proposed rules and to delete the 
current version of each rule.
Background
    In 1993, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the ``SEC'' or 
``Commission'') adopted Rule 15c6-1(a) \5\ under the Act, which 
established three business days after trade date instead of five 
business days (``T+5''), as the standard trade settlement cycle for 
most securities transactions. The rule became effective in June 
1995.\6\ In November 1994, the Exchange amended its rules to be 
consistent with the T+3 settlement cycle for securities 
transactions.\7\
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    \5\ 17 CFR 240.15c6-1(a).
    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 33023 (October 6, 
1993), 58 FR 52891 (order adopting Rule 15c6-1) and 34952 (November 
9, 1994), 59 FR 59137 (order changing the effective date from June 
1, 1995, to June 7, 1995).
    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 35110 (December 16, 
1994), 59 FR 0 (December 23, 1994) (SR-NYSE-94-40) (Notice) and 
35506 (March 17, 1995), 60 FR 15618 (March 24, 1995) (SR-NYSE-94-40) 
(Approval Order).
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    On September 28, 2016, the SEC proposed amendments to Rule 15c6-
1(a) to shorten the standard settlement cycle from T+3 to T+2 on the 
basis that the shorter settlement cycle would reduce the risks that 
arise from the value and number of unsettled securities transactions 
prior to completion of settlement, including credit, market and 
liquidity risk faced by U.S. market participants.\8\ The proposed rule 
amendment was published for comment in the Federal Register on October 
5, 2016.\9\ In light of this action by the SEC, the Exchange proposes 
new rules to reflect ``regular way'' settlement as occurring on 
T+2.\10\
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    \8\ See SEC Press Release 2016-200: ``SEC Proposes Rule 
Amendment to Expedite Process for Settling Securities Transactions'' 
(September 28, 2016).
    \9\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78962 (September 28, 
2016), 81 FR 69240 (October 5, 2016) (File No. S7-22-16) (``SEC 
Proposing Release'').
    \10\ Earlier this year the MSRB also filed a rule change to 
reflect ``regular way'' settlement as occurring on T+2. See 
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 77744 (April 29, 2016), 81 FR 
26851 (May 4, 2016) (SR-MSRB-2016-04) (approving proposed amendments 
to MSRB Rules G-12 and G-15 to define regular-way settlement for 
municipal securities transactions as occurring on a two-day 
settlement cycle and technical conforming amendments).
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Proposed Rule Change
    The Exchange proposes the following new rules identified with the 
modifier ``T'' in order to reflect a T+2 settlement cycle. Except for 
changes reflecting the shortened settlement period, the proposed rules 
are the same as their current counterparts.
Rule 14
     Current Rule 14(a)(i) defines non-regular way settlement 
instructions as instructions that allow for settlement other than 
regular way, that is, ``settlement on the third business day following 
trade date for securities other than U.S. Government Securities''. The 
Exchange proposes a new Rule 14T that replaces ``third'' business day 
with ``second.''
     Current Dealings and Settlements (Rules 45-299C) defines 
regular way as ``due on the third business day following the day of the 
contract.'' The Exchange proposes a new version that changes ``third'' 
business day to ``second'';
     Current Rule 64(a) defines ``regular way'' as ``for 
delivery on the third business day following the day of the contract.'' 
The Exchange proposes a new Rule 64T(a) that changes ``third'' business 
day to ``second.'' Current Rule 64(a)(ii) provides that on the second 
and third business days preceding the final day for subscription, bids 
and offers in rights to subscribe shall be made only ``next day.'' To 
conform with the move to a T+2 settlement cycle, proposed Rule 
64T(a)(ii) would not contain a clause referring to the third business 
day preceding the final day for subscription because the third business 
day preceding the final day for subscription in a T+2 settlement cycle 
would simply be a regular way settlement. Finally, current Rule 64(c) 
requires ``seller's option'' trades, defined as trades for delivery 
between two and 60 business days, to be reported to the tape only in 
calendar day. Proposed Rule 64T(c) would define ``seller's option'' 
trades as trades for delivery between three and 60 business days to 
reflect the shortened settlement period. Further, the final sentence of 
current Rule 64 provides that the settlement date of a ``seller's 
option'' transaction printed as calendar days cannot coincide with the 
normal three business day ``regular way'' settlement. In proposed Rule 
64T, the Exchange would change the reference to ``regular way'' 
settlements to two business day.\11\
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    \11\ The Exchange also proposes to make a non-substantive change 
and remove the bold from the ``(a)'' in proposed Rule 64T(a).
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     Current Rule 235 provides that transactions in stocks, 
except those made for ``cash'' as prescribed in Rule 14, shall be ex-
dividend or ex-rights on the second business day preceding the record 
date fixed by the corporation or the date of the closing of transfer 
books. The Exchange proposes to adopt proposed Rule 235T that would 
delete the word ``second'' so the reference

[[Page 96078]]

would be to the ``business day'' preceding the record date. The current 
Rule further provides that if the record date or closing of transfer 
books occurs upon a day other than a business day, Rule 235 shall apply 
for the third preceding business day. The Exchange proposes to change 
``third preceding business day'' to ``second preceding business day'' 
in proposed Rule 235T;
     Current Rule 236 prescribes that ex-warrant trading will 
begin on the second business day preceding the date of expiration of 
the warrants, except that when expiration occurs on a non-business day, 
in which case it will begin on the third business day preceding date of 
expiration. The Exchange proposes to adopt proposed Rule 236T and 
change the warrant period to the business day preceding expiration of 
the warrants instead of the second business day. Under the proposed 
Rule, when warrant expiration occurs on other than a business day, the 
ex-warrant period will begin on the second business day preceding the 
expiration date instead of on the third business day;
     Current Rule 257 prescribes the time frame for delivery of 
dividends or rights for securities sold before the ``ex'' date but 
delivered after the record date. The current time frame is within three 
days after the record date. Consistent with the T+2 initiative, 
proposed Rule 257T would shorten the time frame to two days;
     Subdivision (1)(A) of Supplementary Material .65 to 
current Rule 282 sets forth the fail-to-deliver and liability notice 
procedures where a securities contract is for warrants, rights, 
convertible securities or other securities which have been called for 
redemption; are due to expire by their terms; are the subject of a 
tender or exchange offer; or are subject to other expiring events such 
as a record date for the underlying security and the last day on which 
the securities must be delivered or surrendered is the settlement date 
of the contract or later.
    Under current Rule 282.65(1)(A), the receiving member organization 
delivers a liability notice to the delivering member organization as an 
alternative to the close-out procedures set forth in the Rule. The 
liability notice sets a cutoff date for the delivery or surrender of 
the securities and provides notice to the delivering member 
organization of the liability attendant to its failure to deliver or 
surrender the securities in time. If the delivering member organization 
delivers or surrenders the securities in response to the liability 
notice, it has met its delivery obligation. If the delivering member 
organization fails to deliver or surrender the securities on the 
expiration date, it will be liable for any damages that may accrue 
thereby.
    Current Rule 282.65(1)(A) further provides that when the parties to 
a contract are both participants in a Qualified Clearing Agency that 
has an automated service for notifying a failing party of the liability 
that will be attendant to a failure to deliver, the transmission of the 
liability notice must be accomplished through such automated 
notification service. When the parties to a contract are not both 
participants in a Qualified Clearing Agency \12\ that has an automated 
service for notifying a failing party of the liability that will be 
attendant to a failure to deliver, such notice must be issued using 
written or comparable electronic media having immediate receipt 
capabilities no later than one business day prior to the latest time 
and the date of the offer or other event in order to obtain the 
protection provided by this Rule.\13\
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    \12\ Rule 180 governs failure to deliver and provides in part 
that ``[w]hen the parties to a contract are both participants in a 
registered clearing agency which has an automated service for 
notifying a failing party of the liability that will be attendant to 
a failure to deliver and that contract was to be settled through the 
facilities of said registered clearing agency, the transmission of 
the liability notification must be accomplished through use of said 
automated notification service.'' Rule 180 does not address the 
transmission of the liability notification for parties to a contract 
that are not both participants in a registered clearing agency, 
which is governed by Rule 282.65.
    \13\ The one-day time frame also appears in comparable 
provisions of other SROs. See, e.g., FINRA Rule 11810(j)(1)(A); NSCC 
Rules & Procedures, Procedure X (Execution of Buy-Ins) (Effective 
August 10, 2016); and Nasdaq Rule IM-11810 (Buying-in).
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    Given the proposed shortened settlement cycle, and in order to 
address concerns that the requirement for the delivering member 
organization to deliver a liability notice to the receiving member no 
later than one business day prior to the latest time and the date of 
the offer or other event in order to obtain the protection provided by 
the Rule may no longer be appropriate in a T+2 environment,\14\ the 
Exchange proposes to amend Rule 282.65(1)(A) in situations where both 
parties to a contract are not participants of a registered clearing 
agency with an automated notification service by extending the time 
frame for delivery of the liability notice. Rule 282.65(1)(A) would 
accordingly be amended to provide that in such cases, the receiving 
member organization must send the liability notice to the delivering 
member organization as soon as practicable but not later than two hours 
prior to the cutoff time set forth in the instructions on a specific 
offer or other event to obtain the protection provided by the Rule. The 
proposed change would be the only change to the text of current 
Supplementary Material .65.
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    \14\ See, e.g., Letter from Thomas F. Price, Managing Director, 
Operations, Technology & BCP, Securities Industry and Financial 
Markets Association, to Marcia E. Asquith, Corporate Secretary, 
FINRA, dated April 4, 2016 (``SIFMA'') (April 4, 2016), noting in 
connection with FINRA Rule 11810(j), the comparable provision to 
Rule 282.65(1)(A), that the ``industry has identified a number of 
situations where one-day notice may no longer be appropriate in a 
T+2 environment, including (1) where the delivery obligation is 
transferred to another party as a result of continuous net 
settlement, (2) settlements outside of National Securities Clearing 
Corporation (the ``NSCC'') and (3) settlements where the third party 
is not a[n NYSE] member.''
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     Current Section 703.02 (part 2) of the Listed Company 
Manual (Stock Split/Stock Rights/Stock Dividend Listing Process) 
provides that a distribution of less than 25% of a company's common 
stock is traded ``ex'' (without the distribution) on and after the 
second business day prior to the record date based on the Exchange's 
three-day delivery rule, pursuant to which contracts made on the 
Exchange for the purchase and sale of securities are settled by 
delivery on the third business day after the contract is made, unless 
other terms of settlement specify otherwise. Given the change to a two 
day delivery rule, the Exchange's proposed Section 703.02 would change 
the first sentence if the rule to reflect that a distribution of less 
than 25% of a company's common stock is traded ``ex'' on and after the 
business day prior to the record date. The second sentence in the 
proposed Rule would refer to the Exchange's two-day delivery rule 
pursuant to which contracts made on the Exchange for the purchase and 
sale of securities are settled by delivery on the second business day 
after the contract is made.
Operative Date Preambles
    As noted above, because the Exchange would not implement the 
proposed rules until after the final implementation of T+2, the 
Exchange proposes to retain the current versions of each rule on its 
books and not delete them until after the proposed rules are approved. 
The Exchange also proposes to file separate proposed rule changes as 
necessary to establish the operative date of the proposed rules and to 
delete the current version of each rule.
    To reduce the potential for confusion regarding which version of a 
given rule governs, the Exchange proposes to add a preamble to each 
current rule providing that: (1) the rule will remain operative until 
the Exchange files separate proposed rule changes as necessary to 
establish the operative date

[[Page 96079]]

of the revised rule, to delete the current rule and proposed preamble, 
and to remove the preamble text from the revised rule; and (2) in 
addition to filing the necessary proposed rule changes, the Exchange 
will announce via Information Memo the operative date of the deletion 
of the current rule and implementation of the proposed rule designated 
with a T.
    The Exchange also proposes to add a preamble to each proposed rule 
that would provide that: (1) The Exchange will file a separate rule 
change to establish the operative date of the proposed rule, delete the 
current version and the proposed preamble, and remove the preamble text 
from the revised rule; and (2) until such time, the current version of 
the rule will remain operative and that, in addition to filing the 
necessary proposed rule changes, the Exchange will announce via 
Information Memo the implementation of the proposed rule and the 
operative date of the deletion of the current rule.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\15\ in general, and furthers the 
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\16\ in particular, because it 
is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, 
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 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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    \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    In particular, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change 
supports the industry-led initiative to shorten the settlement cycle to 
two business days. Moreover, the proposed rule change is consistent 
with the SEC's proposed amendment to SEA Rule 15c6-1(a) to require 
standard settlement no later than T+2. The Exchange believes that the 
proposed rule change will provide the regulatory certainty to 
facilitate the industry-led move to a T+2 settlement cycle. Further, 
the Exchange believes that, by shortening the time period for 
settlement of most securities transactions, the proposed rule change 
would protect investors and the public interest by reducing the number 
of unsettled trades in the clearance and settlement system at any given 
time, thereby reducing the risk inherent in settling securities 
transactions to clearing corporations, their members and public 
investors. The Exchange also believes that adding a preamble to each 
current rule and to each proposed rule clarifying the operative dates 
of the respective versions would remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system by 
adding clarity and transparency to the Exchange's rules, reducing 
potential confusion, and making the Exchange's rules easier to 
navigate.

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 change is not 
designed to address any competitive issue but rather facilitate the 
industry's transition to a T+2 regular-way settlement cycle. The 
Exchange also believes that the proposed rule change will serve to 
promote clarity and consistency, thereby reducing burdens on the 
marketplace and facilitating investor protection. Moreover, the 
proposed rule changes are consistent with the SEC's proposed amendment 
to SEA Rule 15c6-1(a) to require standard settlement no later than T+2. 
Accordingly, the Exchange believes that the proposed changes do not 
impose any burdens on the industry in addition to those necessary to 
implement amendments to SEA Rule 15c6-1(a) as described and enumerated 
in the SEC Proposing Release.\17\
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    \17\ See note 9, supra.
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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 such longer period 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-2016-87 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-2016-87. 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-2016-87, and should be 
submitted on or before January 19, 2017.


[[Page 96080]]


    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\18\
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    \18\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-31474 Filed 12-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                    96076                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Notices

                                                    C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 24 of the Act to                be submitted on or before January 19,
                                                    Statement on Comments on the                            determine whether the proposed rule                       2017.
                                                    Proposed Rule Change Received From                      change should be approved or                                For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                    Members, Participants, or Others                        disapproved.                                              Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                      Written comments were neither                                                                                   authority.25
                                                                                                            IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                    solicited nor received.                                                                                           Robert W. Errett,
                                                                                                              Interested persons are invited to                       Deputy Secretary.
                                                    III. Date of Effectiveness of the                       submit written data, views and
                                                                                                                                                                      [FR Doc. 2016–31492 Filed 12–28–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                     arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                                                                                                                                      BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                    Commission Action                                       including whether the proposed rule
                                                       The Exchange has designated this rule                change is consistent with the Act.
                                                    filing as non-controversial under                       Comments may be submitted by any of                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                    Section 19(b)(3)(A) 19 of the Act and                   the following methods:                                    COMMISSION
                                                    Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 20 thereunder. Because                 Electronic Comments
                                                    the proposed rule change does not: (i)                                                                            [Release No. 34–79659; File No. SR–NYSE–
                                                    Significantly affect the protection of                    • Use the Commission’s Internet                         2016–87]
                                                    investors or the public interest; (ii)                  comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                                                                            rules/sro.shtml); or                                      Self-Regulatory Organizations; New
                                                    impose any significant burden on
                                                    competition; and (iii) become operative                   • Send an email to rule-comments@                       York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of
                                                                                                            sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                   Filing of Proposed Rule Change To
                                                    for 30 days from the date on which it
                                                                                                            IEX–2016–22 on the subject line.                          Conform to Proposed Amendments to
                                                    was filed, or such shorter time as the
                                                                                                                                                                      Securities Exchange Act Rule 15c6–
                                                    Commission may designate, it has                        Paper Comments                                            1(a) To Shorten the Standard
                                                    become effective pursuant to Section
                                                    19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b–                       • Send paper comments in triplicate                    Settlement Cycle From Three Business
                                                                                                            to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities                 Days After the Trade Date (‘‘T+3’’) to
                                                    4(f)(6) thereunder.
                                                                                                            and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                     Two Business Days After the Trade
                                                       A proposed rule change filed under
                                                                                                            NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.                           Date (‘‘T+2’’)
                                                    Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 21 normally does not
                                                    become operative prior to 30 days after                 All submissions should refer to File                      December 22, 2016.
                                                    the date of the filing. However, pursuant               Number SR–IEX–2016–22. This file                             Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
                                                    to Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii),22 the                         number should be included in the                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
                                                    Commission may designate a shorter                      subject line if email is used. To help the                ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
                                                    time if such action is consistent with the              Commission process and review your                        notice is hereby given that, on December
                                                    protection of investors and the public                  comments more efficiently, please use                     15, 2016, New York Stock Exchange
                                                    interest. The Exchange has asked the                    only one method. The Commission will                      LLC (‘‘NYSE’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed
                                                    Commission to waive the 30-day                          post all comments on the Commission’s                     with the Securities and Exchange
                                                    operative delay as the proposed                         Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                    Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the
                                                    implementation of the two-year                          rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                           proposed rule change as described in
                                                    retention of jurisdiction is consistent                 submission, all subsequent                                Items I and II below, which Items have
                                                    with the rules of other SROs and will                   amendments, all written statements                        been prepared by the self-regulatory
                                                    enable the Exchange to immediately                      with respect to the proposed rule                         organization. The Commission is
                                                    retain jurisdiction over a register                     change that are filed with the                            publishing this notice to solicit
                                                    representative who may have been                        Commission, and all written                               comments on the proposed rule change
                                                    engaged in unlawful activity. Based on                  communications relating to the                            from interested persons.
                                                    the foregoing, the Commission believes                  proposed rule change between the
                                                    that it is consistent with the protection               Commission and any person, other than                     I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    of investors and the public interest to                 those that may be withheld from the                       Statement of the Terms of Substance of
                                                    waive the 30-day operative date so that                 public in accordance with the                             the Proposed Rule Change
                                                    the proposal may take effect upon                       provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                          The Exchange proposes new Rules
                                                    filing.23                                               available for Web site viewing and                        14T, Dealings and SettlementsT (Rules
                                                       At any time within 60 days of the                    printing in the Commission’s Public                       45—299C), 64T, 235T, 236T, 282.65T
                                                    filing of the proposed rule change, the                 Reference Section, 100 F Street NE.,                      and 257T, and new Section 703.02T
                                                    Commission summarily may                                Washington, DC 20549, on official                         (part 2) of the Listed Company Manual
                                                    temporarily suspend such rule change if                 business days between the hours of                        to conform to proposed amendments to
                                                    it appears to the Commission that such                  10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                    Securities Exchange Act Rule 15c6–1(a)
                                                    action is necessary or appropriate in the               filing will also be available for                         to shorten the standard settlement cycle
                                                    public interest, for the protection of                  inspection and copying at the IEX’s                       from three business days after the trade
                                                    investors, or otherwise in furtherance of               principal office and on its Internet Web                  date (‘‘T+3’’) to two business days after
                                                    the purposes of the Act. If the                         site at www.iextrading.com. All                           the trade date (‘‘T+2’’). The proposed
                                                    Commission takes such action, the                       comments received will be posted                          rule change is available on the
                                                                                                            without change; the Commission does
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                                                    Commission shall institute proceedings                                                                            Exchange’s Web site at www.nyse.com,
                                                                                                            not edit personal identifying                             at the principal office of the Exchange,
                                                      19 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                            information from submissions. You                         and at the Commission’s Public
                                                      20 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).                            should submit only information that                       Reference Room.
                                                      21 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
                                                                                                            you wish to make available publicly. All
                                                      22 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).
                                                                                                            submissions should refer to File                            25 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                      23 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day
                                                                                                            Number SR–IEX–2016–22 and should                            1 15 U.S.C.78s(b)(1).
                                                    operative delay, the Commission has considered the
                                                                                                                                                                        2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
                                                    proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition,
                                                    and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).              24 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).                              3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.




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                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Notices                                                 96077

                                                    II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                        of the proposed rules and to delete the               Rule 14
                                                    Statement of the Purpose of, and                          current version of each rule.                            • Current Rule 14(a)(i) defines non-
                                                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                                                                          regular way settlement instructions as
                                                    Change                                                    Background
                                                                                                                                                                    instructions that allow for settlement
                                                      In its filing with the Commission, the                     In 1993, the Securities and Exchange               other than regular way, that is,
                                                    self-regulatory organization included                     Commission (the ‘‘SEC’’ or                            ‘‘settlement on the third business day
                                                    statements concerning the purpose of,                     ‘‘Commission’’) adopted Rule 15c6–                    following trade date for securities other
                                                    and basis for, the proposed rule change                   1(a) 5 under the Act, which established               than U.S. Government Securities’’. The
                                                    and discussed any comments it received                    three business days after trade date                  Exchange proposes a new Rule 14T that
                                                    on the proposed rule change. The text                     instead of five business days (‘‘T+5’’), as           replaces ‘‘third’’ business day with
                                                    of those statements may be examined at                    the standard trade settlement cycle for               ‘‘second.’’
                                                    the places specified in Item IV below.                    most securities transactions. The rule                   • Current Dealings and Settlements
                                                    The Exchange has prepared summaries,                      became effective in June 1995.6 In                    (Rules 45–299C) defines regular way as
                                                    set forth in sections A, B, and C below,                  November 1994, the Exchange amended                   ‘‘due on the third business day
                                                    of the most significant parts of such                     its rules to be consistent with the T+3               following the day of the contract.’’ The
                                                    statements.                                               settlement cycle for securities                       Exchange proposes a new version that
                                                                                                              transactions.7                                        changes ‘‘third’’ business day to
                                                    A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                                                                               ‘‘second’’;
                                                    Statement of the Purpose of, and the                         On September 28, 2016, the SEC                        • Current Rule 64(a) defines ‘‘regular
                                                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                    proposed amendments to Rule 15c6–                     way’’ as ‘‘for delivery on the third
                                                    Change                                                    1(a) to shorten the standard settlement               business day following the day of the
                                                                                                              cycle from T+3 to T+2 on the basis that               contract.’’ The Exchange proposes a new
                                                    1. Purpose                                                the shorter settlement cycle would                    Rule 64T(a) that changes ‘‘third’’
                                                      The Exchange proposes to adopt the                      reduce the risks that arise from the                  business day to ‘‘second.’’ Current Rule
                                                    following new rules to conform to                         value and number of unsettled                         64(a)(ii) provides that on the second and
                                                    proposed amendments to Securities                         securities transactions prior to                      third business days preceding the final
                                                    Exchange Act Rule 15c6–1(a) 4 to                          completion of settlement, including                   day for subscription, bids and offers in
                                                    shorten the standard settlement cycle                     credit, market and liquidity risk faced               rights to subscribe shall be made only
                                                    from T+3 to T+2:                                          by U.S. market participants.8 The                     ‘‘next day.’’ To conform with the move
                                                       • Rule 14T (Non-Regular Way                            proposed rule amendment was                           to a T+2 settlement cycle, proposed
                                                    Settlement Instructions);                                 published for comment in the Federal                  Rule 64T(a)(ii) would not contain a
                                                       • Dealings and SettlementsT (Rules                     Register on October 5, 2016.9 In light of             clause referring to the third business
                                                    45–299C);                                                 this action by the SEC, the Exchange                  day preceding the final day for
                                                       • Rule 64T (Bonds, Rights and 100-                     proposes new rules to reflect ‘‘regular               subscription because the third business
                                                    Share-Unit Stocks);                                       way’’ settlement as occurring on T+2.10               day preceding the final day for
                                                       • Rule 235T (Ex-Dividend, Ex-Rights);                                                                        subscription in a T+2 settlement cycle
                                                       • Rule 236T (Ex-Warrants);                             Proposed Rule Change
                                                                                                                                                                    would simply be a regular way
                                                       • Rule 257T (Deliveries After ‘‘Ex’’                                                                         settlement. Finally, current Rule 64(c)
                                                                                                                 The Exchange proposes the following
                                                    Date);                                                                                                          requires ‘‘seller’s option’’ trades,
                                                                                                              new rules identified with the modifier
                                                       • Rule 282.65T (Failure to Deliver                                                                           defined as trades for delivery between
                                                                                                              ‘‘T’’ in order to reflect a T+2 settlement
                                                    and Liability Notice Procedures); and                                                                           two and 60 business days, to be reported
                                                                                                              cycle. Except for changes reflecting the
                                                       • Section 703.02T (part 2) of the                                                                            to the tape only in calendar day.
                                                                                                              shortened settlement period, the
                                                    Listed Company Manual (Stock Split/                                                                             Proposed Rule 64T(c) would define
                                                                                                              proposed rules are the same as their
                                                    Stock Rights/Stock Dividend Listing                                                                             ‘‘seller’s option’’ trades as trades for
                                                                                                              current counterparts.
                                                    Process).                                                                                                       delivery between three and 60 business
                                                       The proposed new rules would have                                                                            days to reflect the shortened settlement
                                                                                                                5 17  CFR 240.15c6–1(a).
                                                    the same numbering as the current                           6 See                                               period. Further, the final sentence of
                                                                                                                       Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 33023
                                                    rules, but with the modifier ‘‘T’’                        (October 6, 1993), 58 FR 52891 (order adopting Rule   current Rule 64 provides that the
                                                    appended to the rule number. For                          15c6–1) and 34952 (November 9, 1994), 59 FR           settlement date of a ‘‘seller’s option’’
                                                    example, Rule 14, governing non-regular                   59137 (order changing the effective date from June    transaction printed as calendar days
                                                    way settlement instructions for orders,                   1, 1995, to June 7, 1995).
                                                                                                                 7 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 35110   cannot coincide with the normal three
                                                    would remain unchanged and continue                       (December 16, 1994), 59 FR 0 (December 23, 1994)      business day ‘‘regular way’’ settlement.
                                                    to apply to non-regular way settlements                   (SR–NYSE–94–40) (Notice) and 35506 (March 17,         In proposed Rule 64T, the Exchange
                                                    on the Exchange. Proposed Rule 14T                        1995), 60 FR 15618 (March 24, 1995) (SR–NYSE–         would change the reference to ‘‘regular
                                                    would reflect that a regular way                          94–40) (Approval Order).
                                                                                                                 8 See SEC Press Release 2016–200: ‘‘SEC Proposes
                                                                                                                                                                    way’’ settlements to two business day.11
                                                    settlement would be two days and not
                                                                                                              Rule Amendment to Expedite Process for Settling          • Current Rule 235 provides that
                                                    the current three days. As discussed                      Securities Transactions’’ (September 28, 2016).       transactions in stocks, except those
                                                    below, because the Exchange would not                        9 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78962    made for ‘‘cash’’ as prescribed in Rule
                                                    implement the proposed rules until after                  (September 28, 2016), 81 FR 69240 (October 5,         14, shall be ex-dividend or ex-rights on
                                                    the final implementation of T+2, the                      2016) (File No. S7–22–16) (‘‘SEC Proposing
                                                                                                              Release’’).
                                                                                                                                                                    the second business day preceding the
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                                                    Exchange proposes to retain the current                      10 Earlier this year the MSRB also filed a rule    record date fixed by the corporation or
                                                    versions of each rule on its books and                    change to reflect ‘‘regular way’’ settlement as       the date of the closing of transfer books.
                                                    not delete it until after the proposed                    occurring on T+2. See Securities Exchange Act         The Exchange proposes to adopt
                                                    rules are approved. The Exchange also                     Release Nos. 77744 (April 29, 2016), 81 FR 26851      proposed Rule 235T that would delete
                                                    proposes to file separate proposed rule                   (May 4, 2016) (SR–MSRB–2016–04) (approving
                                                                                                              proposed amendments to MSRB Rules G–12 and G–         the word ‘‘second’’ so the reference
                                                    changes to establish the operative date                   15 to define regular-way settlement for municipal
                                                                                                              securities transactions as occurring on a two-day        11 The Exchange also proposes to make a non-
                                                      4 See   17 CFR 240.15c6–1(a); see also notes 8–9,       settlement cycle and technical conforming             substantive change and remove the bold from the
                                                    infra.                                                    amendments).                                          ‘‘(a)’’ in proposed Rule 64T(a).



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                                                    96078                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Notices

                                                    would be to the ‘‘business day’’                        securities on the expiration date, it will                  contract are not participants of a
                                                    preceding the record date. The current                  be liable for any damages that may                          registered clearing agency with an
                                                    Rule further provides that if the record                accrue thereby.                                             automated notification service by
                                                    date or closing of transfer books occurs                   Current Rule 282.65(1)(A) further                        extending the time frame for delivery of
                                                    upon a day other than a business day,                   provides that when the parties to a                         the liability notice. Rule 282.65(1)(A)
                                                    Rule 235 shall apply for the third                      contract are both participants in a                         would accordingly be amended to
                                                    preceding business day. The Exchange                    Qualified Clearing Agency that has an                       provide that in such cases, the receiving
                                                    proposes to change ‘‘third preceding                    automated service for notifying a failing                   member organization must send the
                                                    business day’’ to ‘‘second preceding                    party of the liability that will be                         liability notice to the delivering member
                                                    business day’’ in proposed Rule 235T;                   attendant to a failure to deliver, the                      organization as soon as practicable but
                                                       • Current Rule 236 prescribes that ex-               transmission of the liability notice must                   not later than two hours prior to the
                                                    warrant trading will begin on the second                be accomplished through such                                cutoff time set forth in the instructions
                                                    business day preceding the date of                      automated notification service. When                        on a specific offer or other event to
                                                    expiration of the warrants, except that                 the parties to a contract are not both                      obtain the protection provided by the
                                                    when expiration occurs on a non-                        participants in a Qualified Clearing                        Rule. The proposed change would be
                                                    business day, in which case it will begin               Agency 12 that has an automated service                     the only change to the text of current
                                                    on the third business day preceding date                for notifying a failing party of the                        Supplementary Material .65.
                                                    of expiration. The Exchange proposes to                 liability that will be attendant to a                          • Current Section 703.02 (part 2) of
                                                    adopt proposed Rule 236T and change                     failure to deliver, such notice must be                     the Listed Company Manual (Stock
                                                    the warrant period to the business day                  issued using written or comparable                          Split/Stock Rights/Stock Dividend
                                                    preceding expiration of the warrants                    electronic media having immediate                           Listing Process) provides that a
                                                    instead of the second business day.                     receipt capabilities no later than one                      distribution of less than 25% of a
                                                    Under the proposed Rule, when warrant                   business day prior to the latest time and                   company’s common stock is traded ‘‘ex’’
                                                    expiration occurs on other than a                       the date of the offer or other event in                     (without the distribution) on and after
                                                    business day, the ex-warrant period will                order to obtain the protection provided                     the second business day prior to the
                                                    begin on the second business day                        by this Rule.13                                             record date based on the Exchange’s
                                                    preceding the expiration date instead of                   Given the proposed shortened                             three-day delivery rule, pursuant to
                                                    on the third business day;                              settlement cycle, and in order to address                   which contracts made on the Exchange
                                                       • Current Rule 257 prescribes the                    concerns that the requirement for the                       for the purchase and sale of securities
                                                    time frame for delivery of dividends or                 delivering member organization to                           are settled by delivery on the third
                                                    rights for securities sold before the ‘‘ex’’            deliver a liability notice to the receiving                 business day after the contract is made,
                                                    date but delivered after the record date.               member no later than one business day                       unless other terms of settlement specify
                                                    The current time frame is within three                  prior to the latest time and the date of                    otherwise. Given the change to a two
                                                    days after the record date. Consistent                  the offer or other event in order to                        day delivery rule, the Exchange’s
                                                    with the T+2 initiative, proposed Rule                  obtain the protection provided by the                       proposed Section 703.02 would change
                                                    257T would shorten the time frame to                    Rule may no longer be appropriate in a                      the first sentence if the rule to reflect
                                                    two days;                                               T+2 environment,14 the Exchange                             that a distribution of less than 25% of
                                                       • Subdivision (1)(A) of                              proposes to amend Rule 282.65(1)(A) in                      a company’s common stock is traded
                                                    Supplementary Material .65 to current                   situations where both parties to a                          ‘‘ex’’ on and after the business day prior
                                                    Rule 282 sets forth the fail-to-deliver                                                                             to the record date. The second sentence
                                                    and liability notice procedures where a                    12 Rule 180 governs failure to deliver and
                                                                                                                                                                        in the proposed Rule would refer to the
                                                    securities contract is for warrants,                    provides in part that ‘‘[w]hen the parties to a             Exchange’s two-day delivery rule
                                                                                                            contract are both participants in a registered
                                                    rights, convertible securities or other                 clearing agency which has an automated service for          pursuant to which contracts made on
                                                    securities which have been called for                   notifying a failing party of the liability that will be     the Exchange for the purchase and sale
                                                    redemption; are due to expire by their                  attendant to a failure to deliver and that contract         of securities are settled by delivery on
                                                    terms; are the subject of a tender or                   was to be settled through the facilities of said
                                                                                                            registered clearing agency, the transmission of the
                                                                                                                                                                        the second business day after the
                                                    exchange offer; or are subject to other                 liability notification must be accomplished through         contract is made.
                                                    expiring events such as a record date for               use of said automated notification service.’’ Rule
                                                    the underlying security and the last day                180 does not address the transmission of the                Operative Date Preambles
                                                    on which the securities must be                         liability notification for parties to a contract that are     As noted above, because the Exchange
                                                                                                            not both participants in a registered clearing
                                                    delivered or surrendered is the                         agency, which is governed by Rule 282.65.                   would not implement the proposed
                                                    settlement date of the contract or later.                  13 The one-day time frame also appears in                rules until after the final
                                                       Under current Rule 282.65(1)(A), the                 comparable provisions of other SROs. See, e.g.,             implementation of T+2, the Exchange
                                                    receiving member organization delivers                  FINRA Rule 11810(j)(1)(A); NSCC Rules &                     proposes to retain the current versions
                                                    a liability notice to the delivering                    Procedures, Procedure X (Execution of Buy-Ins)
                                                                                                            (Effective August 10, 2016); and Nasdaq Rule IM–
                                                                                                                                                                        of each rule on its books and not delete
                                                    member organization as an alternative to                11810 (Buying-in).                                          them until after the proposed rules are
                                                    the close-out procedures set forth in the                  14 See, e.g., Letter from Thomas F. Price,               approved. The Exchange also proposes
                                                    Rule. The liability notice sets a cutoff                Managing Director, Operations, Technology & BCP,            to file separate proposed rule changes as
                                                    date for the delivery or surrender of the               Securities Industry and Financial Markets
                                                                                                            Association, to Marcia E. Asquith, Corporate
                                                                                                                                                                        necessary to establish the operative date
                                                    securities and provides notice to the                   Secretary, FINRA, dated April 4, 2016 (‘‘SIFMA’’)           of the proposed rules and to delete the
                                                    delivering member organization of the                                                                               current version of each rule.
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                                                                                                            (April 4, 2016), noting in connection with FINRA
                                                    liability attendant to its failure to                   Rule 11810(j), the comparable provision to Rule               To reduce the potential for confusion
                                                    deliver or surrender the securities in                  282.65(1)(A), that the ‘‘industry has identified a          regarding which version of a given rule
                                                                                                            number of situations where one-day notice may no
                                                    time. If the delivering member                          longer be appropriate in a T+2 environment,                 governs, the Exchange proposes to add
                                                    organization delivers or surrenders the                 including (1) where the delivery obligation is              a preamble to each current rule
                                                    securities in response to the liability                 transferred to another party as a result of                 providing that: (1) the rule will remain
                                                                                                            continuous net settlement, (2) settlements outside
                                                    notice, it has met its delivery obligation.             of National Securities Clearing Corporation (the
                                                                                                                                                                        operative until the Exchange files
                                                    If the delivering member organization                   ‘‘NSCC’’) and (3) settlements where the third party         separate proposed rule changes as
                                                    fails to deliver or surrender the                       is not a[n NYSE] member.’’                                  necessary to establish the operative date


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                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Notices                                           96079

                                                    of the revised rule, to delete the current                 settling securities transactions to                      (B) institute proceedings to determine
                                                    rule and proposed preamble, and to                         clearing corporations, their members                   whether the proposed rule change
                                                    remove the preamble text from the                          and public investors. The Exchange also                should be disapproved.
                                                    revised rule; and (2) in addition to filing                believes that adding a preamble to each
                                                    the necessary proposed rule changes,                       current rule and to each proposed rule                 IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                    the Exchange will announce via                             clarifying the operative dates of the                    Interested persons are invited to
                                                    Information Memo the operative date of                     respective versions would remove                       submit written data, views, and
                                                    the deletion of the current rule and                       impediments to and perfect the                         arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                    implementation of the proposed rule                        mechanism of a free and open market
                                                                                                                                                                      including whether the proposed rule
                                                    designated with a T.                                       and a national market system by adding
                                                      The Exchange also proposes to add a                                                                             change is consistent with the Act.
                                                                                                               clarity and transparency to the
                                                    preamble to each proposed rule that                                                                               Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                                                                               Exchange’s rules, reducing potential
                                                    would provide that: (1) The Exchange                                                                              the following methods:
                                                                                                               confusion, and making the Exchange’s
                                                    will file a separate rule change to                        rules easier to navigate.                              Electronic Comments
                                                    establish the operative date of the
                                                    proposed rule, delete the current                          B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                        • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                    version and the proposed preamble, and                     Statement on Burden on Competition                     comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                    remove the preamble text from the                            The Exchange does not believe that                   rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                    revised rule; and (2) until such time, the                 the proposed rule change will impose                     • Send an email to rule-comments@
                                                    current version of the rule will remain                    any burden on competition that is not                  sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-
                                                    operative and that, in addition to filing                  necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                                    the necessary proposed rule changes,                                                                              NYSE–2016–87 on the subject line.
                                                                                                               of the purposes of the Act. The
                                                    the Exchange will announce via                             proposed change is not designed to                     Paper Comments
                                                    Information Memo the implementation                        address any competitive issue but rather
                                                    of the proposed rule and the operative                     facilitate the industry’s transition to a                • Send paper comments in triplicate
                                                    date of the deletion of the current rule.                  T+2 regular-way settlement cycle. The                  to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities
                                                                                                               Exchange also believes that the                        and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
                                                    2. Statutory Basis
                                                                                                               proposed rule change will serve to                     NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.
                                                       The Exchange believes that the
                                                                                                               promote clarity and consistency,                       All submissions should refer to File
                                                    proposed rule change is consistent with
                                                                                                               thereby reducing burdens on the                        Number SR–NYSE–2016–87. This file
                                                    Section 6(b) of the Act,15 in general, and
                                                                                                               marketplace and facilitating investor                  number should be included on the
                                                    furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5)
                                                    of the Act,16 in particular, because it is                 protection. Moreover, the proposed rule                subject line if email is used. To help the
                                                    designed to prevent fraudulent and                         changes are consistent with the SEC’s                  Commission process and review your
                                                    manipulative acts and practices,                           proposed amendment to SEA Rule                         comments more efficiently, please use
                                                    promote just and equitable principles of                   15c6–1(a) to require standard settlement               only one method. The Commission will
                                                    trade, to foster cooperation and                           no later than T+2. Accordingly, the                    post all comments on the Commission’s
                                                    coordination with persons engaged in                       Exchange believes that the proposed                    Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                    regulating, clearing, settling, processing                 changes do not impose any burdens on                   rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                                    information with respect to, and remove                    the industry in addition to those                      submission, all subsequent
                                                    impediments to and perfect the                             necessary to implement amendments to
                                                                                                                                                                      amendments, all written statements
                                                    mechanism of a free and open market                        SEA Rule 15c6–1(a) as described and
                                                                                                                                                                      with respect to the proposed rule
                                                    and a national market system, and, in                      enumerated in the SEC Proposing
                                                                                                                                                                      change that are filed with the
                                                    general, to protect investors and the                      Release.17
                                                                                                                                                                      Commission, and all written
                                                    public interest.                                           C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      communications relating to the
                                                       In particular, the Exchange believes                    Statement on Comments on the                           proposed rule change between the
                                                    that the proposed rule change supports                     Proposed Rule Change Received From                     Commission and any person, other than
                                                    the industry-led initiative to shorten the                 Members, Participants, or Others                       those that may be withheld from the
                                                    settlement cycle to two business days.                                                                            public in accordance with the
                                                    Moreover, the proposed rule change is                        No written comments were solicited
                                                                                                               or received with respect to the proposed               provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                    consistent with the SEC’s proposed                                                                                available for Web site viewing and
                                                    amendment to SEA Rule 15c6–1(a) to                         rule change.
                                                                                                                                                                      printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                    require standard settlement no later                       III. Date of Effectiveness of the                      Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                    than T+2. The Exchange believes that                       Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                    Washington, DC 20549, on official
                                                    the proposed rule change will provide                      Commission Action                                      business days between the hours of
                                                    the regulatory certainty to facilitate the                                                                        10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
                                                    industry-led move to a T+2 settlement                        Within 45 days of the date of
                                                                                                               publication of this notice in the Federal              filing also will be available for
                                                    cycle. Further, the Exchange believes                                                                             inspection and copying at the principal
                                                    that, by shortening the time period for                    Register or such longer period up to 90
                                                                                                               days (i) as the Commission may                         office of the Exchange. All comments
                                                    settlement of most securities
                                                                                                               designate if it finds such longer period               received will be posted without change;
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                                                    transactions, the proposed rule change
                                                                                                               to be appropriate and publishes its                    the Commission does not edit personal
                                                    would protect investors and the public
                                                                                                               reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which             identifying information from
                                                    interest by reducing the number of
                                                                                                               the self-regulatory organization                       submissions. You should submit only
                                                    unsettled trades in the clearance and
                                                    settlement system at any given time,                       consents, the Commission will:                         information that you wish to make
                                                    thereby reducing the risk inherent in                        (A) by order approve or disapprove                   available publicly. All submissions
                                                                                                               the proposed rule change, or                           should refer to File Number SR–NYSE–
                                                      15 15   U.S.C. 78f(b).                                                                                          2016–87, and should be submitted on or
                                                      16 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                                  17 See   note 9, supra.                              before January 19, 2017.


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                                                    96080                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Notices

                                                      For the Commission, by the Division of                  proposed rule change to November 24,                    (‘‘Price List’’) and the NYSE Amex
                                                    Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                2016.5                                                  Options Fee Schedule (‘‘Fee Schedule’’)
                                                    authority.18                                                 On November 2, 2016, the Exchange                    related to these co-location services.
                                                    Eduardo A. Aleman,                                        filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed                   This Amendment No. 2 10 supersedes
                                                    Assistant Secretary.                                      rule change.6 On November 29, 2016,                     the original filing and Amendment 1 in
                                                    [FR Doc. 2016–31474 Filed 12–28–16; 8:45 am]              the Commission instituted proceedings                   their entirety.11
                                                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                    to determine whether to approve or                         The proposed change is available on
                                                                                                              disapprove the proposed rule change, as                 the Exchange’s Web site at
                                                                                                              modified by Amendment No. 1.7 In                        www.nyse.com, at the principal office of
                                                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                   response to the Order Instituting                       the Exchange, and at the Commission’s
                                                    COMMISSION                                                Proceedings, the Commission received                    Public Reference Room.
                                                    [Release No. 34–79672; File No. SR–
                                                                                                              additional comments letters regarding
                                                                                                              the proposed rule change.8                              II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    NYSEMKT–2016–63]
                                                                                                                 On December 9, 2016, the Exchange                    Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                    Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE                       filed Amendment No. 2 to the proposed                   Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                    MKT LLC; Notice of Filing of                              rule change as described in Items I and                 Change
                                                    Amendment Nos. 2 and 3 to Proposed                        II below, which Items have been
                                                                                                                                                                        In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                    Rule Change Amending the Co-                              prepared by Exchange. On December 13,
                                                                                                                                                                      self-regulatory organization included
                                                    Location Services Offered by the                          2016 the Exchange filed Amendment
                                                                                                                                                                      statements concerning the purpose of,
                                                    Exchange To Add Certain Access and                        No. 3 to the proposed rule change.9 The
                                                                                                                                                                      and basis for, the proposed rule change
                                                    Connectivity Fees                                         Commission is publishing this notice to
                                                                                                                                                                      and discussed any comments it received
                                                                                                              solicit comments on Amendment Nos. 2
                                                    December 22, 2016.                                        and 3 to the proposed rule change from                  on the proposed rule change. The text
                                                       On August 16, 2016, NYSE MKT LLC                       interested persons.                                     of those statements may be examined at
                                                    (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE MKT’’) filed                                                                          the places specified in Item IV below.
                                                    with the Securities and Exchange                          I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       The Exchange has prepared summaries,
                                                    Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant                     Statement of the Terms of Substance of                  set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
                                                    to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities                     the Proposed Amendments                                 of the most significant parts of such
                                                    Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule                    The Exchange proposes to amend the                   statements.
                                                    19b-4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule                        co-location services offered by the
                                                    change to amend the co-location                           Exchange to establish fees relating to                     10 See supra note 9, noting that Amendment No.

                                                    services offered by the Exchange to: (1)                  Users’ access to third party trading and                2 was modified in part by Amendment No. 3.
                                                                                                                                                                      Accordingly, the Commission notes that
                                                    Provide additional information                            execution services; connectivity to third               Amendment Nos. 2 and 3 together supersede the
                                                    regarding the access to various trading                   party data feeds and testing and                        original filing, as modified by Amendment No. 1,
                                                    and execution services; connectivity to                   certification feeds; access to clearing;                in its entirety.
                                                    market data feeds and testing and                         and other services. In addition, this                      11 The Securities and Exchange Commission

                                                                                                              proposed rule change reflects changes to                (‘‘Commission’’) has issued an order instituting
                                                    certification feeds; connectivity to Third                                                                        proceedings to determine whether to approve or
                                                    Party Systems; and connectivity to                        the NYSE MKT Equities Price List                        disapprove the proposed rule change, as modified
                                                    DTCC provided to Users using data                                                                                 by amendments 1 and 2. See Securities Exchange
                                                    center local area networks; and (2)                          5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34–        Act Release No. 79378 (November 22, 2016), 81 FR
                                                                                                              78968 (September 28, 2016), 81 FR 68493.                86050 (November 29, 2016) (SR–NYSEMKT–2016–
                                                    establish fees relating to a User’s access                   6 Amendment No. 1 is available on the                63) (the ‘‘November 22 Order’’). In its filing, as
                                                    to various trading and execution                          Commission’s Web site at https://www.sec.gov/           amended by amendment 1, the Exchange proposed
                                                    services; connectivity to market data                     comments/sr-nysemkt-2016-63/nysemkt201663-              adding to the Fee Schedules (a) a more detailed
                                                    feeds and testing and certification feeds;                1.pdf.                                                  description of the connectivity to certain market
                                                                                                                 7 See Securities Exchange Act Release 34–79378       data products (the ‘‘Included Data Products’’) that
                                                    connectivity to DTCC; and other                                                                                   Users receive with connections to the local area
                                                                                                              (November 22, 2016), 81 FR 86050.
                                                    services. The proposed rule change was                       8 See letter to Brent J. Fields, Commission, from    networks available in the data center; and (b)
                                                    published for comment in the Federal                      Melissa MacGregor, Managing Director and                connectivity fees for connecting to other market
                                                    Register on August 26, 2016.3 The                         Associate General Counsel, SIFMA, dated December        data products of the Exchange and its affiliates,
                                                                                                                                                                      New York Stock Exchange LLC and NYSE Arca, Inc.
                                                    Commission received no comments in                        12, 2016; letter to Brent J. Fields, Commission, from
                                                                                                                                                                      (the ‘‘Premium NYSE Data Products’’). In the
                                                    response to the proposed rule change.4                    Joe Wald, Chief Executive Officer, Clearpool Group,
                                                                                                              dated December 16, 2016; letter to Brent J. Fields,     November 22 Order, the Commission cites language
                                                    On October 4, 2016, the Commission                        Secretary, Commission, from John Ramsay, Chief          from the proposed rule change:
                                                    extended the time period within which                     Market Policy Officer, Investors Exchange LLC              the Exchange also stated that the expectation of
                                                    to approve the proposed rule change,                      (IEX), dated December 21, 2016. All comments            co-location was that normally Users would expect
                                                                                                              received by the Commission on the proposed rule         reduced latencies in . . . receiving market data from
                                                    disapprove the proposed rule change, or                   change are available on the Commission’s Web site       the Exchange by being colocated. Therefore, as the
                                                    institute proceedings to determine                        at: https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysemkt-            Exchange states in Amendment No. 2, both
                                                    whether to approve or disapprove the                      2016-63/nysemkt201663.shtml.                            Included Data Products and Premium NYSE Data
                                                                                                                 The Commission notes that it received an             Products are ‘directly related to the purpose of co-
                                                      18 17                                                   additional letter on the NYSE Companion Filing.         location.’
                                                             CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                      1 15                                                    See letter to Brent J. Fields, Commission, from            Id., at 86053. It goes on to say that, if Included
                                                            U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                       2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                                                                              Adam C. Cooper, Senior Managing Director and            Data Products and Premium NYSE Data Products
                                                                                                              Chief Legal Officer, Citadel Securities, dated          are ‘‘integral to co-located Users for trading on the
                                                       3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34–
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                              December 12, 2016. All comments received by the         Exchange,’’ it was questionable whether obtaining
                                                    78629 (August 22, 2016), 81 FR 58992.                     Commission on the NYSE Companion Filing are             the information from another source is a viable
                                                       4 The Commission notes that it did receive one
                                                                                                              available on the Commission’s Web site at: https://     alternative. Id. The Exchange disagrees with the
                                                    comment letter on a related filing, NYSE–2016–45          www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nyse-2016-45/                   Commission’s description of Included Data
                                                    (the ‘‘NYSE Companion Filing’’), which is equally         nyse201645.shtml.                                       Products and Premium NYSE Data Products as
                                                    relevant to this filing. See letter to Brent J. Fields,      9 The Commission notes that the Exhibit 5 filed      ‘‘integral’’ to Users for trading on the Exchange.
                                                    Secretary, Commission, from John Ramsay, Chief            with Amendment No. 2 contained erroneous rule           Being related to the purpose of co-location is not
                                                    Market Policy Officer, Investors Exchange LLC             text and therefore was corrected in Amendment No.       the same as being integral for trading. A User is not
                                                    (IEX), dated September 9, 2016.                           3. Amendment Nos. 2 and 3 are available at https://     required to receive either Included Data Products or
                                                       On September 23, 2016, the NYSE submitted a            www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysemkt-2016-63/                Premium NYSE Data Products in order to trade on
                                                    response to the IEX letter.                               nysemkt201663-3.pdf.                                    the Exchange.



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Document Created: 2016-12-29 01:59:11
Document Modified: 2016-12-29 01:59:11
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 96076 

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