82_FR_52102 82 FR 51887 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ PHLX LLC; Order Approving Proposed Rule Changes To Amend Rules 1024, Conduct of Accounts for Options Trading, and 1025, Supervision of Accounts

82 FR 51887 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ PHLX LLC; Order Approving Proposed Rule Changes To Amend Rules 1024, Conduct of Accounts for Options Trading, and 1025, Supervision of Accounts

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 215 (November 8, 2017)

Page Range51887-51889
FR Document2017-24256

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 215 (Wednesday, November 8, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51887-51889]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24256]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-82005; File No. SR-PHLX-2017-055]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ PHLX LLC; Order Approving 
Proposed Rule Changes To Amend Rules 1024, Conduct of Accounts for 
Options Trading, and 1025, Supervision of Accounts

November 2, 2017.

I. Introduction

    On September 7, 2017, NASDAQ PHLX LLC (``Phlx'' or ``Exchange'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''), 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Exchange Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ proposed rule 
changes to amend Phlx Rules 1024 (Conduct of Accounts for Options 
Trading) and 1025 (Supervision of Accounts) to conform them more 
closely to the comparable rules of the Chicago Board Options Exchange 
(``CBOE'') and to make minor clarifications and corrections to the 
text.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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    The proposed rule changes were published for comment in the Federal 
Register on September 22, 2017.\3\ The public comment period closed on 
October 13, 2017. The Commission received no comments on the proposed 
rule changes. This order approves the proposed rule changes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See Exchange Act Release No. 81642 (Sept. 18, 2017), 82 FR 
44481 (Sept. 22, 2017) (``Notice'').
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II. Description of the Proposed Rule Changes 4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The subsequent description of the proposed rule changes is 
substantially excerpted from the Exchange's description in the 
Notice. See Notice, 82 FR 44481-83.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rules 1024 and 1025 contain regulatory requirements generally 
applicable to Phlx members and member organizations that conduct a 
public customer options business. The Exchange is proposing changes to 
certain sections of those rules to clarify the language and to correct 
inaccuracies. The Exchange also proposes to change certain rule 
language to conform the rules more closely to CBOE rules dealing with 
the same subject matter, in order to prevent inadvertent 
misunderstandings of the rules' requirements. These rule changes are 
intended to promote more effective regulatory compliance by Exchange 
members and member organizations. The proposed changes are detailed 
below.

Rule 1024(a)(i)

    Rule 1024(a)(i) governs registration of Options Principals.\5\ The 
rule currently provides that no member or member organization or 
individual associated with a member organization shall be approved to 
transact options business with the public until such persons, who are 
designated as Options Principals, have been approved by and registered 
with the Exchange. Additionally, it provides that persons engaged in 
the supervision of options sales practice or a person to whom the 
designated general partner or executive officer

[[Page 51888]]

(pursuant to Rule 1025) or another Registered Options Principal \6\ 
delegates the authority to supervise options sales practices shall be 
designated as Options Principals. Finally, the rule states that all 
members and member organizations must use Web CRD to submit Form U4, 
Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer 
filings on behalf of their Options Principals. Members and member 
organizations are required under the rule to amend Form U4 filings not 
later than thirty (30) days after the filer knew or should have known 
of the facts which gave rise to the amendment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See Rule 612(d).
    \6\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange is proposing to amend Rule 1024(a)(i) by adopting 
language requiring Options Principals to electronically file a Uniform 
Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer (Form U4) 
with Web CRD, to successfully complete an examination prescribed by the 
Exchange and specified in Rule 1024 for the purpose of demonstrating an 
adequate knowledge of the options business and of the Rules of the 
Exchange, and to further agree in the U4 filing to abide by the Bylaws 
and Rules of the Exchange and the Rules of The Options Clearing 
Corporation. The Exchange is proposing to remove the sentence that 
requires members and member organizations to amend Form U4 filings not 
later than thirty (30) days after the filer knew or should have known 
of the facts which gave rise to the amendment. However, the Exchange 
proposes to add language requiring members and member organizations 
that are required to complete Form U4 to promptly (but in any event no 
later than 30 days after the filer knew or should have known of the 
facts which gave rise to the need for the amendment) electronically 
file any required amendments to Form U4 with Web CRD. Additionally, new 
language is proposed that would require termination of employment or 
affiliation of any Registered Options Principal in such capacity to be 
promptly, but in any event no later than 30 days following the 
termination, electronically reported to Web CRD together with a brief 
statement of the reason for such termination on Form U5. The amendment 
would conform Rule 1024(a) more closely to CBOE Rule 9.2. The proposal 
would also correct a reference in the second sentence to ``options sale 
practice,'' substituting for that term ``options sales practices.''

Rule 1024(b)(ii)

    Rule 1024(b)(ii) generally provides that, in approving a customer's 
account for options transactions, a member or member organization shall 
exercise due diligence to learn the essential facts as to the customer 
and his investment objectives and financial situation, and shall make a 
record of such information. It also provides for approval and for 
confirmation of approval of the customer's account by a Registered 
Options Principal qualified individual.
    For purposes of clarity, the Exchange proposes to eliminate 
references in Rule 1024(b)(ii) to a ``specific'' or ``specified'' 
Registered Options Principal. It also proposes to delete the words 
``qualified individual'' as they appear following references to 
Registered Options Principals to eliminate any ambiguity, as it is not 
clear what a Registered Options Principal qualified individual means if 
not a Registered Options Principal. Finally, the Exchange proposes to 
relocate the phrase ``within a reasonable period of time'' simply to 
conform the rule in this respect more closely to CBOE Rule 9.7.

Rule 1024(c)(v)

    Rule 1024(c)(v) is proposed to be amended by changing an inaccurate 
internal cross reference, from Rule 1029(c) to Rule 1029(b).

Rule 1024 Commentary .01 Section 8

    The Exchange is proposing to delete the word ``other'' as 
unnecessary and to correct the placement of a closing parenthesis, 
moving it from after the word ``transactions'' to after the word 
``commodities.''

Rule 1024 Commentary .03

    The Exchange is proposing to add the inadvertently omitted word 
``an'' before the word ``opportunity.''

Rule 1024 Commentary .06

    The Exchange is proposing to reword the sentence for clarity, so 
that it states that individuals engaged in the supervision of options 
sales practices are required to be designated as Options Principals and 
are required to qualify as an Options Principal by passing one of the 
examinations referred to in the rule. The Exchange also proposes to 
amend the rule's reference to the Series 9/10 examination, in order to 
use the same name that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority 
(``FINRA'') uses for that examination.

Rule 1024 Commentary .07

    The Exchange proposes to add the inadvertently dropped word 
``reviewing'' to a sentence that requires individuals who are delegated 
responsibility for reviewing, among other things, the acceptance of 
discretionary accounts, to be designated as Options Principals and pass 
the Series 4 examination.

Rule 1025(a)(iii)A

    The Exchange proposes to substitute the word ``responsibility'' for 
the word ``responsibilities'' simply to conform the rule more closely 
to CBOE Rule 9.8(a)(3)(i).

Rule 1025(b)(i)

    The Exchange proposes to make non-substantive wording changes to 
conform the rule language more closely to that of CBOE Rule 9.8(b)(1) 
by removing the unnecessary words ``above-noted,'' by replacing the 
words ``requirements applicable to'' with the words ``responsibility 
of,'' by deleting the unnecessary words ``however, the,'' and by 
replacing the words ``other than the principal supervisory office if 
such documents and information'' with the words ``off premises so long 
as the records.''

Rule 1025(b)(iii)

    The Exchange proposes to capitalize the word ``Rule'' in a 
reference to SEC Rule 17a-4, to conform the language more closely to 
CBOE Rule 9.8(b)(3).

Rule 1025(b) Concluding Sentence

    The words ``any person'' are proposed to be substituted for the 
words ``a person'', and an inaccurate reference to ``this paragraph 
(b)(3)'' is proposed to be corrected to read ``this paragraph 
(b)(iii).''

Rule 1025(d)

    An extraneous word ``the'' is proposed to be deleted before the 
word ``proximity'' to conform more closely to CBOE Rule 9.8(d)(1)(i), 
and an inaccurate reference to Rule 1025(c) is proposed to be corrected 
to read Rule 1025(e).

Rule 1025(e)

    The Exchange proposes to remove an extraneous comma to conform the 
rule more closely to CBOE Rule 9.8(e)(1) and to change an incorrect 
internal cross reference from paragraph (e)(1) to paragraph (e)(i).

Rule 1025(g)

    Currently, Rule 1025(g) requires each member organization that 
conducts a non-member customer business to submit each year to the 
Exchange a written report on the member organization's supervision and 
compliance effort during the preceding year. The Exchange proposes to 
expand the requirement to conform it more closely to CBOE Rule 9.8(g), 
by

[[Page 51889]]

specifying that the report must also detail the adequacy of the member 
organization's ongoing compliance processes and procedures. The 
proposed amendments to Rule 1025(g) would also require the Chief 
Executive Officer (or equivalent) to certify that the member 
organization has in place processes to test the effectiveness of 
policies and procedures on a periodic, rather than on a regular, basis. 
This change would conform the Exchange's requirement more closely to 
the comparable CBOE Rule 9.8(g)5(i)(C) requirement. The proposal would 
also correct the spelling of the word ``preceding'' in Rule 
1025(g)(ii), add missing semicolons to an itemized list found in Rule 
1025(g)(iii), correct inaccurate internal cross references in Rules 
1025(g)(v)(C) and (D), as well as correct the placement of a closing 
parenthesis in Rule 1025(g)(v)(C). Finally, it would replace the 
awkward phrase ``this requirement of this Rule'' with ``the 
requirements of this Rule.''

Rule 1025(h)

    Rule 1025(h) currently provides that each member organization shall 
submit the report required by Rule 1024(g) to its one or more control 
persons or, if the member organization has no control person, to the 
audit committee of its board of directors or its equivalent committee 
or group. The Exchange proposes to replace the inaccurate reference to 
Rule 1024(g) with a correct reference to Rule 1025(g). The Exchange 
proposes to add language to the end of the rule to establish the 
meaning of ``control person,'' proposed to be defined as a person who 
controls the member organization. The new language would define the 
term ``control'' as meaning the power to exercise a controlling 
influence over the management or policies of the member organization, 
unless such power is solely the result of an official position with the 
member organization. Finally, the new language would state that any 
person who owns beneficially, directly or indirectly, more than 20% of 
the voting power in the election of directors of the member 
organization, or more than 25% of the voting power in the election of 
directors of any other corporation which directly or through one or 
more affiliates owns beneficially more than 25% of the voting power in 
the election of directors of the member organization, shall be presumed 
to control the member organization. The proposed new language is based 
on CBOE Rules 9.8(h) and 1.1(k), which is incorporated by reference 
into CBOE Rule 9.8(h).

Rule 1025 Commentary .02 and .03

    Rule 1025 Commentary .02 is proposed to be amended by deleting the 
introductory phrase ``In meeting their supervisory responsibilities'' 
in order to conform the language more closely to CBOE Rule 9.8, 
Interpretations and Policies .01. The rule currently requires member 
organizations conducting a non-member customer business to enforce 
written procedures governing the conduct of options accounts. As 
revised, the written procedures would be required to detail the 
specific methods used to supervise all non-member customer accounts and 
all orders in such accounts. This amendment would also provide greater 
clarity regarding the required content of the procedures and also would 
conform the rule more closely to CBOE Rule 9.8, Interpretations and 
Policies .01. The last sentence of Commentary .02 would be revised by 
replacing the phrase ``short uncovered'' options positions with the 
phrase ``uncovered short'' options positions. Finally, the Exchange 
proposes to amend Rule 1025 Commentary .03 by adding the word ``shall'' 
to the first sentence, to conform the language more closely to CBOE 
Rule 9.8, Interpretations and Policies .02.

IV. Discussion and Commission Findings

    After careful review of the proposed rule changes, the Commission 
finds that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of the 
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder that are 
applicable to a national securities exchange.\7\ Specifically, the 
Commission finds that the proposed rule changes are consistent with 
Section 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act,\8\ which requires, among other 
things, that the rules of a national securities exchange be designed to 
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices; to promote just 
and equitable principles of trade; to remove impediments to and perfect 
the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system; 
and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. Section 
6(b)(5) also requires that the rules of an exchange not be designed to 
permit unfair discrimination among customers, issuers, brokers, or 
dealers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ In approving these rule changes, the Commission has 
considered the rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital 
formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposal is designed to ``remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, by 
correcting various aspects of the rules and by adding additional 
clarity to the rules.'' \9\ The Commission notes that Phlx believes 
that conforming its rules regarding conduct of accounts for options 
trading and supervision of accounts more closely to the corresponding 
CBOE rules will create ``more efficient regulatory compliance by 
members of both exchanges due to reduction of differences in wording 
and consequent potential for inadvertent regulatory noncompliance.'' 
\10\ The Commission further notes that Phlx believes that the minor 
corrections and clarifications of the rules in the proposal will 
``improve the accuracy of the rules'' and ``improve their readability, 
making them more understandable and thereby facilitating easier 
compliance.'' \11\ The Commission notes that the proposal received no 
comments from the public.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See Notice, 82 FR at 44483.
    \10\ See id.
    \11\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission believes that the proposal will promote regulatory 
efficiency through more precise rule text and greater harmonization of 
regulatory requirements across national securities exchanges, thereby 
reducing regulatory burdens, without undermining strong regulatory 
protections for investors. The Commission believes that the approach 
proposed by the Exchange is appropriate and designed to protect 
investors and the public interest, consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of 
the Exchange Act. For these reasons, the Commission finds that the 
proposed rule changes are consistent with the Exchange Act and the 
rules and regulations thereunder.

V. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) \12\ of the 
Exchange Act that the proposal (SR-PHLX-2017-055), be and hereby is 
approved.
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    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
    \13\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).


    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\13\
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-24256 Filed 11-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 215 / Wednesday, November 8, 2017 / Notices                                                    51887

                                               does not impose an undue burden on                         All submissions should refer to File                   with the Securities and Exchange
                                               intra-market competition. All NOM                          Number SR–NASDAQ–2017–116. This                        Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant
                                               Participants are eligible to qualify for a                 file number should be included on the                  to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
                                               MARS Payment, provided they have                           subject line if email is used. To help the             Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange
                                               System Eligibility, and all NOM                            Commission process and review your                     Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                               Participants may be eligible for a Penny                   comments more efficiently, please use                  proposed rule changes to amend Phlx
                                               Pilot Options Customer and/or                              only one method. The Commission will                   Rules 1024 (Conduct of Accounts for
                                               Professional Rebate to Add Liquidity                       post all comments on the Commission’s                  Options Trading) and 1025 (Supervision
                                               provided they execute qualifying                           Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                 of Accounts) to conform them more
                                               volume. All NOM Participants are                           rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                        closely to the comparable rules of the
                                               eligible to qualify for the note ‘‘d’’                     submission, all subsequent                             Chicago Board Options Exchange
                                               incentive provided the requisite                           amendments, all written statements                     (‘‘CBOE’’) and to make minor
                                               requirements are met. The Exchange                         with respect to the proposed rule                      clarifications and corrections to the text.
                                               would uniformly pay the additional                         change that are filed with the                            The proposed rule changes were
                                               note ‘‘d’’ incentive to all qualifying                     Commission, and all written                            published for comment in the Federal
                                               NOM Participants.                                          communications relating to the                         Register on September 22, 2017.3 The
                                                                                                          proposed rule change between the                       public comment period closed on
                                               C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                          Commission and any person, other than                  October 13, 2017. The Commission
                                               Statement on Comments on the                               those that may be withheld from the                    received no comments on the proposed
                                               Proposed Rule Change Received From                         public in accordance with the                          rule changes. This order approves the
                                               Members, Participants, or Others                           provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                    proposed rule changes.
                                                 No written comments were either                          available for Web site viewing and
                                                                                                          printing in the Commission’s Public                    II. Description of the Proposed Rule
                                               solicited or received.                                                                                            Changes 4
                                                                                                          Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
                                               III. Date of Effectiveness of the                          Washington, DC 20549, on official                         Rules 1024 and 1025 contain
                                               Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                        business days between the hours of                     regulatory requirements generally
                                               Commission Action                                          10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                 applicable to Phlx members and
                                                  The foregoing rule change has become                    filing also will be available for                      member organizations that conduct a
                                               effective pursuant to Section                              inspection and copying at the principal                public customer options business. The
                                               19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.16                              office of the Exchange. All comments                   Exchange is proposing changes to
                                                  At any time within 60 days of the                       received will be posted without change.                certain sections of those rules to clarify
                                               filing of the proposed rule change, the                    Persons submitting comments are                        the language and to correct inaccuracies.
                                               Commission summarily may                                   cautioned that we do not redact or edit                The Exchange also proposes to change
                                               temporarily suspend such rule change if                    personal identifying information from                  certain rule language to conform the
                                               it appears to the Commission that such                     comment submissions. You should                        rules more closely to CBOE rules
                                               action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in                 submit only information that you wish                  dealing with the same subject matter, in
                                               the public interest; (ii) for the protection               to make available publicly. All                        order to prevent inadvertent
                                               of investors; or (iii) otherwise in                        submissions should refer to File                       misunderstandings of the rules’
                                                                                                          Number SR–NASDAQ–2017–116 and                          requirements. These rule changes are
                                               furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
                                                                                                          should be submitted on or before                       intended to promote more effective
                                               If the Commission takes such action, the
                                                                                                          November 29, 2017.                                     regulatory compliance by Exchange
                                               Commission shall institute proceedings
                                               to determine whether the proposed rule                       For the Commission, by the Division of               members and member organizations.
                                               should be approved or disapproved.                         Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated             The proposed changes are detailed
                                                                                                          authority.17                                           below.
                                               IV. Solicitation of Comments                               Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                                                                                                                                 Rule 1024(a)(i)
                                                 Interested persons are invited to                        Assistant Secretary.
                                                                                                                                                                   Rule 1024(a)(i) governs registration of
                                               submit written data, views, and                            [FR Doc. 2017–24251 Filed 11–7–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                                 Options Principals.5 The rule currently
                                               arguments concerning the foregoing,                        BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                                                                                 provides that no member or member
                                               including whether the proposed rule                                                                               organization or individual associated
                                               change is consistent with the Act.                                                                                with a member organization shall be
                                               Comments may be submitted by any of                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                                                                          COMMISSION                                             approved to transact options business
                                               the following methods:                                                                                            with the public until such persons, who
                                               Electronic Comments                                        [Release No. 34–82005; File No. SR–PHLX–               are designated as Options Principals,
                                                                                                          2017–055]                                              have been approved by and registered
                                                 • Use the Commission’s Internet                                                                                 with the Exchange. Additionally, it
                                               comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                          Self-Regulatory Organizations;
                                                                                                          NASDAQ PHLX LLC; Order Approving                       provides that persons engaged in the
                                               rules/sro.shtml); or                                                                                              supervision of options sales practice or
                                                 • Send an email to rule-comments@                        Proposed Rule Changes To Amend
                                                                                                                                                                 a person to whom the designated
                                               sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                    Rules 1024, Conduct of Accounts for
                                                                                                          Options Trading, and 1025,                             general partner or executive officer
                                               NASDAQ–2017–116 on the subject line.
                                                                                                          Supervision of Accounts                                  1 15
                                               Paper Comments                                                                                                           U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                                   2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                                                                          November 2, 2017.
                                                 • Send paper comments in triplicate                                                                               3 See Exchange Act Release No. 81642 (Sept. 18,

                                               to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities                  I. Introduction                                        2017), 82 FR 44481 (Sept. 22, 2017) (‘‘Notice’’).
                                                                                                                                                                   4 The subsequent description of the proposed rule
                                               and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                         On September 7, 2017, NASDAQ                        changes is substantially excerpted from the
                                               NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.                            PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed              Exchange’s description in the Notice. See Notice, 82
                                                                                                                                                                 FR 44481–83.
                                                 16 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).                           17 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                           5 See Rule 612(d).




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                                               51888                    Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 215 / Wednesday, November 8, 2017 / Notices

                                               (pursuant to Rule 1025) or another                      for options transactions, a member or                 discretionary accounts, to be designated
                                               Registered Options Principal 6 delegates                member organization shall exercise due                as Options Principals and pass the
                                               the authority to supervise options sales                diligence to learn the essential facts as             Series 4 examination.
                                               practices shall be designated as Options                to the customer and his investment
                                                                                                                                                             Rule 1025(a)(iii)A
                                               Principals. Finally, the rule states that               objectives and financial situation, and
                                               all members and member organizations                    shall make a record of such information.                 The Exchange proposes to substitute
                                               must use Web CRD to submit Form U4,                     It also provides for approval and for                 the word ‘‘responsibility’’ for the word
                                               Uniform Application for Securities                      confirmation of approval of the                       ‘‘responsibilities’’ simply to conform the
                                               Industry Registration or Transfer filings               customer’s account by a Registered                    rule more closely to CBOE Rule
                                               on behalf of their Options Principals.                  Options Principal qualified individual.               9.8(a)(3)(i).
                                               Members and member organizations are                       For purposes of clarity, the Exchange              Rule 1025(b)(i)
                                               required under the rule to amend Form                   proposes to eliminate references in Rule
                                               U4 filings not later than thirty (30) days              1024(b)(ii) to a ‘‘specific’’ or ‘‘specified’’           The Exchange proposes to make non-
                                               after the filer knew or should have                     Registered Options Principal. It also                 substantive wording changes to conform
                                               known of the facts which gave rise to                   proposes to delete the words ‘‘qualified              the rule language more closely to that of
                                               the amendment.                                          individual’’ as they appear following                 CBOE Rule 9.8(b)(1) by removing the
                                                  The Exchange is proposing to amend                   references to Registered Options                      unnecessary words ‘‘above-noted,’’ by
                                               Rule 1024(a)(i) by adopting language                    Principals to eliminate any ambiguity,                replacing the words ‘‘requirements
                                               requiring Options Principals to                         as it is not clear what a Registered                  applicable to’’ with the words
                                               electronically file a Uniform                           Options Principal qualified individual                ‘‘responsibility of,’’ by deleting the
                                               Application for Securities Industry                     means if not a Registered Options                     unnecessary words ‘‘however, the,’’ and
                                               Registration or Transfer (Form U4) with                 Principal. Finally, the Exchange                      by replacing the words ‘‘other than the
                                               Web CRD, to successfully complete an                    proposes to relocate the phrase ‘‘within              principal supervisory office if such
                                               examination prescribed by the Exchange                  a reasonable period of time’’ simply to               documents and information’’ with the
                                               and specified in Rule 1024 for the                      conform the rule in this respect more                 words ‘‘off premises so long as the
                                               purpose of demonstrating an adequate                    closely to CBOE Rule 9.7.                             records.’’
                                               knowledge of the options business and
                                               of the Rules of the Exchange, and to                    Rule 1024(c)(v)                                       Rule 1025(b)(iii)
                                               further agree in the U4 filing to abide by                Rule 1024(c)(v) is proposed to be                     The Exchange proposes to capitalize
                                               the Bylaws and Rules of the Exchange                    amended by changing an inaccurate                     the word ‘‘Rule’’ in a reference to SEC
                                               and the Rules of The Options Clearing                   internal cross reference, from Rule                   Rule 17a–4, to conform the language
                                               Corporation. The Exchange is proposing                  1029(c) to Rule 1029(b).                              more closely to CBOE Rule 9.8(b)(3).
                                               to remove the sentence that requires
                                                                                                       Rule 1024 Commentary .01 Section 8                    Rule 1025(b)      Concluding Sentence
                                               members and member organizations to
                                               amend Form U4 filings not later than                       The Exchange is proposing to delete                   The words ‘‘any person’’ are proposed
                                               thirty (30) days after the filer knew or                the word ‘‘other’’ as unnecessary and to              to be substituted for the words ‘‘a
                                               should have known of the facts which                    correct the placement of a closing                    person’’, and an inaccurate reference to
                                               gave rise to the amendment. However,                    parenthesis, moving it from after the                 ‘‘this paragraph (b)(3)’’ is proposed to be
                                               the Exchange proposes to add language                   word ‘‘transactions’’ to after the word               corrected to read ‘‘this paragraph
                                               requiring members and member                            ‘‘commodities.’’                                      (b)(iii).’’
                                               organizations that are required to
                                                                                                       Rule 1024 Commentary .03                              Rule 1025(d)
                                               complete Form U4 to promptly (but in
                                               any event no later than 30 days after the                 The Exchange is proposing to add the                   An extraneous word ‘‘the’’ is
                                               filer knew or should have known of the                  inadvertently omitted word ‘‘an’’ before              proposed to be deleted before the word
                                               facts which gave rise to the need for the               the word ‘‘opportunity.’’                             ‘‘proximity’’ to conform more closely to
                                               amendment) electronically file any                                                                            CBOE Rule 9.8(d)(1)(i), and an
                                                                                                       Rule 1024 Commentary .06                              inaccurate reference to Rule 1025(c) is
                                               required amendments to Form U4 with
                                               Web CRD. Additionally, new language                       The Exchange is proposing to reword                 proposed to be corrected to read Rule
                                               is proposed that would require                          the sentence for clarity, so that it states           1025(e).
                                               termination of employment or affiliation                that individuals engaged in the
                                                                                                       supervision of options sales practices                Rule 1025(e)
                                               of any Registered Options Principal in
                                               such capacity to be promptly, but in any                are required to be designated as Options                The Exchange proposes to remove an
                                               event no later than 30 days following                   Principals and are required to qualify as             extraneous comma to conform the rule
                                               the termination, electronically reported                an Options Principal by passing one of                more closely to CBOE Rule 9.8(e)(1) and
                                               to Web CRD together with a brief                        the examinations referred to in the rule.             to change an incorrect internal cross
                                               statement of the reason for such                        The Exchange also proposes to amend                   reference from paragraph (e)(1) to
                                               termination on Form U5. The                             the rule’s reference to the Series 9/10               paragraph (e)(i).
                                               amendment would conform Rule                            examination, in order to use the same
                                                                                                                                                             Rule 1025(g)
                                               1024(a) more closely to CBOE Rule 9.2.                  name that the Financial Industry
                                               The proposal would also correct a                       Regulatory Authority (‘‘FINRA’’) uses                   Currently, Rule 1025(g) requires each
                                               reference in the second sentence to                     for that examination.                                 member organization that conducts a
                                               ‘‘options sale practice,’’ substituting for                                                                   non-member customer business to
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                                                                                                       Rule 1024 Commentary .07                              submit each year to the Exchange a
                                               that term ‘‘options sales practices.’’
                                                                                                          The Exchange proposes to add the                   written report on the member
                                               Rule 1024(b)(ii)                                        inadvertently dropped word                            organization’s supervision and
                                                 Rule 1024(b)(ii) generally provides                   ‘‘reviewing’’ to a sentence that requires             compliance effort during the preceding
                                               that, in approving a customer’s account                 individuals who are delegated                         year. The Exchange proposes to expand
                                                                                                       responsibility for reviewing, among                   the requirement to conform it more
                                                 6 Id.                                                 other things, the acceptance of                       closely to CBOE Rule 9.8(g), by


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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 215 / Wednesday, November 8, 2017 / Notices                                                  51889

                                               specifying that the report must also                    Rule 1025 Commentary .02 and .03                      correcting various aspects of the rules
                                               detail the adequacy of the member                          Rule 1025 Commentary .02 is                        and by adding additional clarity to the
                                               organization’s ongoing compliance                       proposed to be amended by deleting the                rules.’’ 9 The Commission notes that
                                               processes and procedures. The proposed                  introductory phrase ‘‘In meeting their                Phlx believes that conforming its rules
                                               amendments to Rule 1025(g) would also                   supervisory responsibilities’’ in order to            regarding conduct of accounts for
                                               require the Chief Executive Officer (or                 conform the language more closely to                  options trading and supervision of
                                               equivalent) to certify that the member                  CBOE Rule 9.8, Interpretations and                    accounts more closely to the
                                               organization has in place processes to                  Policies .01. The rule currently requires             corresponding CBOE rules will create
                                               test the effectiveness of policies and                  member organizations conducting a                     ‘‘more efficient regulatory compliance
                                               procedures on a periodic, rather than on                non-member customer business to                       by members of both exchanges due to
                                               a regular, basis. This change would                     enforce written procedures governing                  reduction of differences in wording and
                                               conform the Exchange’s requirement                      the conduct of options accounts. As                   consequent potential for inadvertent
                                               more closely to the comparable CBOE                     revised, the written procedures would                 regulatory noncompliance.’’ 10 The
                                               Rule 9.8(g)5(i)(C) requirement. The                     be required to detail the specific                    Commission further notes that Phlx
                                               proposal would also correct the spelling                methods used to supervise all non-                    believes that the minor corrections and
                                               of the word ‘‘preceding’’ in Rule                       member customer accounts and all                      clarifications of the rules in the proposal
                                               1025(g)(ii), add missing semicolons to                  orders in such accounts. This                         will ‘‘improve the accuracy of the rules’’
                                               an itemized list found in Rule                          amendment would also provide greater                  and ‘‘improve their readability, making
                                               1025(g)(iii), correct inaccurate internal               clarity regarding the required content of             them more understandable and thereby
                                               cross references in Rules 1025(g)(v)(C)                 the procedures and also would conform                 facilitating easier compliance.’’ 11 The
                                               and (D), as well as correct the placement               the rule more closely to CBOE Rule 9.8,               Commission notes that the proposal
                                               of a closing parenthesis in Rule                        Interpretations and Policies .01. The last            received no comments from the public.
                                               1025(g)(v)(C). Finally, it would replace                sentence of Commentary .02 would be                      The Commission believes that the
                                               the awkward phrase ‘‘this requirement                   revised by replacing the phrase ‘‘short               proposal will promote regulatory
                                               of this Rule’’ with ‘‘the requirements of               uncovered’’ options positions with the                efficiency through more precise rule text
                                               this Rule.’’                                            phrase ‘‘uncovered short’’ options                    and greater harmonization of regulatory
                                               Rule 1025(h)                                            positions. Finally, the Exchange                      requirements across national securities
                                                                                                       proposes to amend Rule 1025                           exchanges, thereby reducing regulatory
                                                  Rule 1025(h) currently provides that                 Commentary .03 by adding the word                     burdens, without undermining strong
                                               each member organization shall submit                   ‘‘shall’’ to the first sentence, to conform           regulatory protections for investors. The
                                               the report required by Rule 1024(g) to its              the language more closely to CBOE Rule                Commission believes that the approach
                                               one or more control persons or, if the                  9.8, Interpretations and Policies .02.                proposed by the Exchange is
                                               member organization has no control                                                                            appropriate and designed to protect
                                                                                                       IV. Discussion and Commission
                                               person, to the audit committee of its                                                                         investors and the public interest,
                                                                                                       Findings
                                               board of directors or its equivalent                                                                          consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the
                                               committee or group. The Exchange                           After careful review of the proposed               Exchange Act. For these reasons, the
                                               proposes to replace the inaccurate                      rule changes, the Commission finds that               Commission finds that the proposed
                                               reference to Rule 1024(g) with a correct                the proposal is consistent with the                   rule changes are consistent with the
                                               reference to Rule 1025(g). The Exchange                 requirements of the Exchange Act and                  Exchange Act and the rules and
                                               proposes to add language to the end of                  the rules and regulations thereunder                  regulations thereunder.
                                               the rule to establish the meaning of                    that are applicable to a national
                                               ‘‘control person,’’ proposed to be                      securities exchange.7 Specifically, the               V. Conclusion
                                               defined as a person who controls the                    Commission finds that the proposed
                                                                                                                                                               It is therefore ordered pursuant to
                                               member organization. The new language                   rule changes are consistent with Section
                                                                                                                                                             Section 19(b)(2) 12 of the Exchange Act
                                               would define the term ‘‘control’’ as                    6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act,8 which
                                                                                                                                                             that the proposal (SR–PHLX–2017–055),
                                               meaning the power to exercise a                         requires, among other things, that the
                                                                                                                                                             be and hereby is approved.
                                               controlling influence over the                          rules of a national securities exchange
                                               management or policies of the member                    be designed to prevent fraudulent and
                                               organization, unless such power is                      manipulative acts and practices; to
                                               solely the result of an official position               promote just and equitable principles of
                                               with the member organization. Finally,                  trade; to remove impediments to and
                                               the new language would state that any                   perfect the mechanism of a free and
                                               person who owns beneficially, directly                  open market and a national market
                                               or indirectly, more than 20% of the                     system; and, in general, to protect
                                               voting power in the election of directors               investors and the public interest.
                                               of the member organization, or more                     Section 6(b)(5) also requires that the                  For the Commission, by the Division of
                                               than 25% of the voting power in the                     rules of an exchange not be designed to               Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                               election of directors of any other                      permit unfair discrimination among                    authority.13
                                               corporation which directly or through                   customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.              Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                               one or more affiliates owns beneficially                   The proposal is designed to ‘‘remove               Assistant Secretary.
                                               more than 25% of the voting power in                    impediments to and perfect the
                                                                                                                                                             [FR Doc. 2017–24256 Filed 11–7–17; 8:45 am]
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                                               the election of directors of the member                 mechanism of a free and open market
                                                                                                                                                             BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                               organization, shall be presumed to                      and a national market system, by
                                               control the member organization. The                                                                            9 See Notice, 82 FR at 44483.
                                                                                                          7 In approving these rule changes, the
                                               proposed new language is based on                                                                               10 See id.
                                                                                                       Commission has considered the rule’s impact on
                                               CBOE Rules 9.8(h) and 1.1(k), which is                  efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See     11 See id.

                                               incorporated by reference into CBOE                     15 U.S.C. 78c(f).                                       12 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

                                               Rule 9.8(h).                                               8 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                               13 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).




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Document Created: 2017-11-08 01:20:22
Document Modified: 2017-11-08 01:20:22
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 Citation82 FR 51887 

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