82_FR_54646 82 FR 54425 - Self-Regulatory Organizations: Investors Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Adopt Rules Pertaining to Certain Listing Regulatory Reporting and Operational Requirements

82 FR 54425 - Self-Regulatory Organizations: Investors Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Adopt Rules Pertaining to Certain Listing Regulatory Reporting and Operational Requirements

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 221 (November 17, 2017)

Page Range54425-54430
FR Document2017-24930

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 221 (Friday, November 17, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 221 (Friday, November 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54425-54430]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24930]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-82058; File No. SR-IEX-2017-39]


Self-Regulatory Organizations: Investors Exchange LLC; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Adopt 
Rules Pertaining to Certain Listing Regulatory Reporting and 
Operational Requirements

November 13, 2017.
    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 October 31, 2017, the Investors Exchange LLC (``IEX'' 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

[[Page 54426]]

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

    Pursuant to the provisions of Section 19(b)(1) under the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act''),\4\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\5\ 
Investors Exchange LLC (``IEX'' or ``Exchange'') is filing with the 
Commission a proposed rule change to adopt rules pertaining to certain 
listing regulatory reporting and operational requirements. The Exchange 
has designated this proposal as non-controversial and provided the 
Commission with the notice required by Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) under the 
Act.\6\ The text of the proposed rule change is available at the 
Exchange's Web site at www.iextrading.com, at the principal office of 
the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
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    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \5\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \6\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
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II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the 
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 these statement [sic] may be examined 
at the places specified in Item IV below. The self-regulatory 
organization has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections A, B, and C 
below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    On June 17, 2016 the Commission granted IEX's application for 
registration as a national securities exchange under Section 6 of the 
Act including approval of rules applicable to the qualification, 
listing and delisting of companies on the Exchange.\7\ The Exchange 
plans to begin a listing program in 2017 and is proposing to adopt 
rules pertaining to certain listing regulatory reporting and 
operational requirements, as described below.
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    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-78101 (June 17, 
2016), 81 FR 41141 (June 23, 2016) (File No. 10-222).
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Short-Interest Reporting
    The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (``FINRA''), the Nasdaq 
Stock Market (``Nasdaq'') and the New York Stock Exchange (``NYSE'') 
each have rules requiring that members of such self-regulatory 
organization (``SRO'') record and report specified short positions in 
all customer and proprietary accounts.\8\ This data is also referred to 
as short interest. In the case of Nasdaq, the recording and reporting 
requirements apply to positions in securities listed on Nasdaq, while 
the FINRA and NYSE rules apply to all equity securities. The FINRA, 
Nasdaq and NYSE rules each require reporting on a bi-monthly basis by 
their member firms. FINRA, NYSE and Nasdaq firms provide their short 
position reports to FINRA through the Firm Gateway.\9\ Firms must 
report their mid-month short positions as of the close of business on 
the settlement date of the 15th of each month, or, where the 15th is a 
non-settlement date, on the preceding settlement date. Firms must 
report their end-of-month short positions as of the close of business 
on the last business day of the month on which transactions settle 
pursuant to FINRA and exchange rules. Both reports must be received by 
FINRA no later than the second business day after the reporting 
settlement date.
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    \8\ See FINRA Rule 4560, Nasdaq Rule 3360, and NYSE Rule 4560.
    \9\ FINRA members are required to report short interest 
positions through a web-based interface which is accessible via the 
Firm Gateway. See, Regulatory Notice 16-32 entitled ``Short Interest 
Reporting'' accessible at http://www.finra.org/sites/default/files/notice_doc_file_ref/Regulatory-Notice-16-32.pdf.
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    FINRA consolidates the short position reports submitted by each 
firm, and provides such reports to the relevant listing exchange for 
each listed security (i.e., NYSE, Nasdaq and Bats BZX Exchange, Inc. 
(``Bats'')). In order to provide transparency \10\ regarding aggregate 
short interest in equities securities, the listing exchanges publish 
the consolidated short interest data seven business days after the 
reporting settlement date. Similarly, FINRA publishes consolidated 
short interest data for securities that are not listed on an exchange 
on the same time frame. Short interest data is also used by FINRA for 
regulatory purposes, including to assess compliance with Regulation 
SHO.
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    \10\ Short interest reporting and publication began in 1986 in 
connection with a study and recommendation by Irving M. Pollack (a 
former Commissioner of the SEC) on behalf of the National 
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the predecessor to FINRA.
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    IEX proposes to adopt a comparable rule requiring short interest 
recording and reporting in securities listed on IEX by Members. 
Specifically, IEX proposes to adopt new Rule 3.293, entitled Short-
Interest Reporting, that requires IEX Members, to the extent such 
information is not otherwise reported to FINRA in conformance with 
FINRA Rule 4560, to comply with FINRA Rule 4560 with respect to 
securities listed on IEX, as if such rule were part of IEX's rules, and 
to report required information in the form and manner specified by IEX. 
Thus, as proposed, IEX Members are subject to the following 
requirements:

    (a) Each Member shall maintain a record of total ``short'' 
positions in all customer and proprietary firm accounts in 
securities listed on IEX \11\ and shall regularly report such 
information to FINRA in such a manner as may be prescribed by IEX. 
Reports shall be received by FINRA no later than the second business 
day after the reporting settlement date designated by IEX.
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    \11\ FINRA Rule 4560(a) provides that the short interest 
recording and reporting requirements are not applicable to 
Restricted Equity Securities, as defined in FINRA Rule 6420 which 
further references the definition of ``restricted security'' in Rule 
144(a)(3) under the Securities Act of 1933. Restricted securities 
are not eligible for listing on IEX since they are subject to 
trading restrictions, so this limitation is not necessary for 
inclusion in IEX Rule 3.293.
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    (b) Members shall record and report all gross short positions 
existing in each individual firm or customer account, including the 
account of a broker-dealer, that resulted from (1) a ``short sale'', 
as that term is defined in Rule 200(a) of SEC Regulation SHO, or (2) 
where the transaction(s) that caused the short position was marked 
``long,'' consistent with SEC Regulation SHO, due to the firm's or 
the customer's net long position at the time of the transaction. 
Members shall report only those short positions resulting from short 
sales that have settled or reached settlement date by the close of 
the reporting settlement date designated by IEX.
    (c) The recording and reporting requirements shall not apply to:
    (1) Any sale by any person, for an account in which he has an 
interest, if such person owns the security sold and intends to 
deliver such security as soon as is possible without undue 
inconvenience or expense; and
    (2) any sale by an underwriter, or any member of a syndicate or 
group participating in the distribution of a security, in connection 
with an over-allotment of securities, or any lay-off sale by such a 
person in connection with a distribution of securities through 
rights or a standby underwriting commitment.

    While FINRA Rule 4560 requires such recording and reporting in all 
equity securities, not all IEX Members are also members of FINRA. 
Therefore, the Exchange believes that with the launch of its listing 
program, it is appropriate to add an IEX rule requiring recording and 
reporting of short interest positions

[[Page 54427]]

in securities listed on IEX, so that IEX Members that are not FINRA 
members are subject to such requirements and their short positions in 
IEX listed securities will be consolidated for publication and 
available to FINRA for regulatory purposes.
    Further, as proposed, IEX Rule 3.293 specifies that information 
required to be reported pursuant to FINRA Rule 4560 shall be reported 
to IEX in the form and manner specified by IEX.\12\ As proposed, IEX 
Rule 3.293 is substantially similar to FINRA Rule 4560 except that 
Members are only required to record and report short positions in 
securities listed on IEX. This limitation is substantially similar to 
Nasdaq Rule 3360, which also limits short interest reporting to 
securities listed on Nasdaq.\13\
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    \12\ IEX Members will use the FINRA Gateway to report short 
interest positions. IEX believes that virtually all IEX Members 
already have access to the FINRA Firm Gateway. To the extent there 
are any Members that do not already have access, FINRA will provide 
such Members with access to the Firm Gateway. Following 
effectiveness of this rule change, and prior to listing launch, IEX 
will disseminate a notice to Members advising of the reporting 
process and timelines.
    \13\ See Nasdaq Rule 3360(a).
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Notification Requirements for Offering Participants
    SEC Regulation M is designed to prevent manipulation by individuals 
with an interest in the outcome of an offering of securities, and 
prohibits activities and conduct that could artificially influence the 
market for an offered security.\14\ Regulation M generally prohibits 
underwriters, broker-dealers, issuers and other persons participating 
in a distribution from directly or indirectly bidding for or purchasing 
the offered security (or inducing another person to do so) during the 
applicable ``restricted period,'' \15\ which commences on the later of 
one or five business days prior to determination of the offering price 
\16\ or such time that a person becomes a distribution participant, and 
ends upon such person's completion of participation in the 
distribution. Regulation M also governs certain market activities 
(i.e., stabilizing bids, syndicate covering transactions and penalty 
bids \17\) in connection with an offering and requires that 
notification of such activity be provided to the SRO with direct 
authority over the principal market in the United States for the 
security for which the syndicate covering transaction is effected or 
the penalty bid is imposed. In the case of a stabilizing bid, such 
notice must be provided to the market on which the stabilizing bid will 
be posted. Further, Regulation M prohibits any person from selling 
short a security that is the subject of a public offering and 
purchasing the security in the offering, if the short sale was effected 
during the restricted period.
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    \14\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 38067 (December 20, 
1996), 62 FR 520 (January 3, 1997) (File No. S7-11-96) (Anti-
Manipulation Rules Concerning Securities Offerings; Final Rules). 
See also generally SEC Staff Legal Bulletin No. 9, Frequently Asked 
Questions About Regulation M (April 12, 2002 update) at https://www.sec.gov/interps/legal/mrslb9.htm.
    \15\ The term ``restricted period'' is defined in Rule 100(b) of 
Regulation M. See 17 CFR 242.100(b).
    \16\ The term ``offering price'' means the price at which the 
security is to be or is distributed. See 17 CFR 242.100(b).
    \17\ See 17 CFR 242.100(b) (definitions of ``stabilizing,'' 
``syndicate covering transaction,'' and ``penalty bid''). Generally, 
a ``stabilizing bid'' is a bid that is intended to maintain the 
price of the offered security and is necessary to prevent or retard 
a decline in the security's price. A ``penalty bid'' allows a lead 
underwriter to reclaim a selling concession paid to a syndicate 
member if that member's customers sell their allocated shares in the 
immediate aftermarket. A ``syndicate covering transaction'' is 
generally defined as placing a bid or effecting a purchase to reduce 
a syndicate short position.
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    IEX and FINRA are parties to a regulatory services agreement 
pursuant to which FINRA performs certain regulatory functions on behalf 
of IEX.\18\ IEX and FINRA also entered into an agreement to reduce 
regulatory duplication for IEX Members that are also members of FINRA 
whereby IEX has allocated certain regulatory responsibilities to FINRA 
pursuant to Rule 17d-2 under the Act.\19\ Compliance with Regulation M 
is included within the regulatory functions and responsibilities that 
FINRA performs with respect to IEX Members. As part of FINRA's program 
to monitor for compliance with Regulation M, FINRA reviews trading and 
quoting activity for prohibited purchases, bids or attempts to induce 
bids or purchases during the applicable restricted period and for 
prohibited short sales during the restricted period prior to the 
pricing of an offering. Thus, FINRA must receive pertinent distribution 
related information in a timely fashion to facilitate its review of IEX 
Members' compliance with Regulation M.
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    \18\ See IEX Rule 1.160(hh).
    \19\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78434 (July 28, 
2016), 81 FR 51256 (August 3, 2016) (File No. 4-700).
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    Accordingly, in preparation for becoming a listing market, the 
Exchange proposes to amend Rule 11.160, which is currently reserved, to 
adopt provisions requiring notification requirements for offering 
participants that are substantially identical to those specified in 
NYSE Rule 5190.\20\ As proposed, Rule 11.160 is entitled ``Notification 
Requirements for Offering Participants'' and includes the following 
provisions:
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    \20\ Proposed IEX Rule 11.160 is also substantially similar to 
FINRA Rule 5190, except that the FINRA rule has a broader scope 
since the IEX rule applies only to offerings in securities listed on 
IEX, and minor terminology differences.
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     Paragraph (a) provides general information and states that 
IEX Rule 11.160 sets forth the notice requirements applicable to 
Members participating in offerings of listed securities for purposes of 
monitoring compliance with the provisions of SEC Regulation M. In 
addition, the paragraph notes that Members also must comply with all 
applicable rules governing the withdrawal of quotations in accordance 
with SEC Regulation M.
     Paragraph (b) states that the terms shall have the 
meanings as set forth in Rules 100 and 101 of SEC Regulation M: 
``actively traded'', ``affiliated purchaser'', ``covered security'', 
``distribution'', ``distribution participant'', ``offering price'', 
``penalty bid'', ``restricted period'', ``selling security holder'', 
``stabilizing'' and ``syndicate covering transaction''.
     Paragraph (c) is entitled ``Notice Relating to 
Distributions of Listed Securities Subject to a Restricted Period Under 
SEC Regulation M'' and sets forth the notification requirements 
applicable to distributions of listed securities that are ``covered 
securities'' \21\ subject to a restricted period under Rule 101 or 102 
of Regulation M. Required notices must be provided in such form as 
specified by the Exchange with respect to: The Member's determination 
as to whether a one-day or five-day restricted period applies under 
Rule 101 of Regulation M and the basis for such determination, 
including the contemplated date and time of the commencement of the 
restricted period, the listed security name and symbol, and 
identification of the distribution participants and affiliated 
purchasers, no later than the business day prior to the first complete 
trading session of the applicable restricted period, unless later 
notification is necessary under specific circumstances; the pricing of 
the distribution, including the listed security name and symbol, the 
type of security, the number of shares offered, the offering price, the 
last sale before the distribution, the pricing basis, the SEC effective 
date and time, the trade date, the restricted period, and 
identification of the distribution participants and affiliated 
purchasers, no later than the

[[Page 54428]]

close of business the next business day following the pricing of the 
distribution, unless later notification is necessary under specific 
circumstances; and the cancellation or postponement of any distribution 
for which prior notification of commencement of the restricted period 
has been submitted under paragraph (c)(1)(A) of Rule 11.160, 
immediately upon the cancellation or postponement of such distribution. 
If no Member is acting as a manager (or in a similar capacity) of such 
distribution, then each Member that is a distribution participant or 
affiliated purchaser shall provide the notice required under paragraph 
(c)(1) of Rule 11.160, unless another Member has assumed responsibility 
in writing for compliance therewith. Paragraph (c) also provides that 
any Member that is an issuer or selling security holder in a 
distribution of any listed security that is a covered security subject 
to a restricted period under Rule 102 of SEC Regulation M shall comply 
with the notice requirements of paragraph (c)(1) Rule 11.160, unless 
another Member has assumed responsibility in writing for compliance 
therewith.
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    \21\ The term ``covered security'' is defined in Rule 100(b) of 
Regulation M. See 17 CFR 242.100(b).
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     Paragraph (d) is entitled ``Notice Relating to 
Distributions of ``Actively Traded'' Securities Under Regulation M'' 
and sets forth the notification requirements applicable to 
distributions of any listed security that is considered an ``actively 
traded'' security under Rule 101 of Regulation M. Required notices must 
be provided in such form as specified by the Exchange with respect to: 
The Member's determination that no restricted period applies under Rule 
101 of SEC Regulation M and the basis for such determination; and the 
pricing of the distribution, including the listed security name and 
symbol, the type of security, the number of shares offered, the 
offering price, the last sale before the distribution, the pricing 
basis, the SEC effective date and time, the trade date, and 
identification of the distribution participants and affiliated 
purchasers. Paragraph (d) also provides that such notice shall be 
provided no later than the close of business the next business day 
following the pricing of the distribution, unless later notification is 
necessary under specific circumstances. Further if no Member is acting 
as a manager (or in a similar capacity) of such distribution, then each 
Member that is a distribution participant or an affiliated purchaser 
shall provide the notice required, unless another Member has assumed 
responsibility in writing for compliance therewith.
     Paragraph (e) is entitled ``Notice of Stabilizing Bids, 
Penalty Bids and Syndicate Covering Transactions in Listed Securities'' 
and sets forth the notification requirements for such activities. 
Required notices must be provided in such form as specified by the 
Exchange with respect to: The Member's intention to conduct such 
activity, prior to placing or transmitting the stabilizing bid, 
imposing the penalty bid or engaging in the first syndicate covering 
transaction, including identification of the listed security and its 
symbol and the date such activity will occur; and confirmation that the 
Member has placed or transmitted a stabilizing bid, imposed a penalty 
bid or engaged in a syndicate covering transaction, within one business 
day of completion of such activity, including identification of the 
listed security and its symbol, the total number of shares and the 
date(s) of such activity.
    All required notifications pursuant to IEX Rule 11.160 will be 
submitted by IEX Members to FINRA through the Firm Gateway.\22\ Upon 
effectiveness of this rule change and prior to the first IEX listing, 
the Exchange will disseminate a regulatory circular to Members advising 
of the form and manner for submission of required notifications through 
the FINRA Firm Gateway.
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    \22\ Information regarding FINRA's Firm Gateway is available at: 
http://www.finra.org/sites/default/files/NoticeDocument/p125975.pdf. 
IEX believes that virtually all IEX Members that would be required 
to submit notifications pursuant to IEX Rule 11.160 already have 
access to the FINRA Firm Gateway. Generally, such Members must be 
members of FINRA in order to distribute shares to the public, unless 
such Member is an issuer or selling security holder in a 
distribution of a listed security pursuant to Rule 102 of Regulation 
M. To the extent there are any Members that fall into this 
exception, and do not already have access to the Firm Gateway, such 
Members will be provided with access to the Firm Gateway.
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Short Sale Circuit Breaker Restriction
    Rule 201 of Regulation SHO \23\ provides for the imposition of a 
short sale circuit breaker, in a covered security by trading centers in 
the event that the price of a covered security \24\ decreases by 10% or 
more from the covered security's closing price as determined by the 
listing market \25\ for the covered security as of the end of regular 
trading hours \26\ on the prior day. If the circuit breaker is 
triggered, paragraph (b)(1) of Rule 201 requires each trading center to 
establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures 
reasonably designed to prevent the execution or display of a short sale 
order of a covered security at a price that is less than or equal to 
the current national best bid (subject to certain specified exceptions) 
for the remainder of the trading day on which it is triggered and the 
following day.
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    \23\ 17 CFR 242.201.
    \24\ 17 CFR 242.201(a)(1).
    \25\ 17 CFR 242.201(a)(3).
    \26\ 17 CFR 242.201(a)(7).
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    Paragraph (b)(3) of Rule 201 further provides that the listing 
market for a covered security shall determine whether the price of such 
covered security has decreased by 10% or more from the covered 
security's closing price as of the end of regular trading hours on the 
prior day, and, if such decrease has occurred shall immediately notify 
the single plan processor responsible for consolidation of information 
for the covered security pursuant to Rule 603(b) of Regulation NMS.\27\ 
The single plan processor must then disseminate this information, 
thereby triggering the short sale circuit breaker restriction.\28\
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    \27\ 17 CFR 242.603(b).
    \28\ See, FAQ 1.3 of ``Division of Trading and Markets: 
Responses to Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Rule 201 of 
Regulation SHO.''
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    Accordingly, in preparation for becoming a listing market, the 
Exchange proposes to amend IEX Rule 11.290 to adopt provisions 
regarding the required determinations and processes related to the 
short sale circuit breaker. As proposed, paragraph (b) of IEX Rule 
11.290 is amended to add ``Trigger Price'' as a defined term with 
respect to the existing description of the Short Sale Price Test. 
Paragraph (c) of IEX Rule 11.290 (which is currently reserved) is 
titled ``Determination of Trigger Price'' and provides that, for 
covered securities for which the Exchange is the listing market, the 
System \29\ shall determine whether a transaction in a covered security 
has occurred at a Trigger Price \30\ and shall immediately notify the 
responsible single plan processor. Further, the System will not 
calculate the Trigger Price of a covered security outside of the 
Regular Market Session,\31\ and, if a covered security did not trade on 
the Exchange on the prior trading day (due to a trading halt, trading 
suspension, or otherwise), the Exchange's determination of the Trigger 
Price shall be based on the last sale price on the Exchange for that 
security on the most recent day on which the security traded. In 
addition, the Exchange proposes to add provisions to paragraph (d)(1) 
of IEX Rule 11.290 to provide that the Exchange may lift the Short Sale 
Price

[[Page 54429]]

Test \32\ before the Short Sale Period \33\ ends for securities for 
which the Exchange is the listing market if the Exchange determines 
pursuant to IEX Rule 11.270 that the triggering transaction was a 
clearly erroneous execution as soon as practicable following such 
determination. Further, the Exchange may also lift the Short Sale Price 
Test before the Short Sale Period ends, for a covered security for 
which the Exchange is the listing market, if the Exchange has been 
informed by another exchange or a self-regulatory organization 
(``SRO'') that a transaction in the covered security that occurred at 
the Trigger Price was a clearly erroneous execution, as determined by 
the rules of that exchange or SRO. Finally, proposed paragraph (d)(2) 
of IEX Rule 11.290 provides that if the Exchange determines that the 
prior day's closing price for a listed security is incorrect in the 
System and resulted in an incorrect determination of the Trigger Price, 
the Exchange may correct the prior day's closing price and lift the 
Short Sale Price Test before the Short Sale Period ends.
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    \29\ The term ``System'' is defined in IEX Rule 1.160(nn).
    \30\ See amendments to Rule 11.290(b).
    \31\ See Rule 1.160(gg).
    \32\ The term ``Short Sale Price Test'' is defined in IEX Rule 
11.290(b), and encompasses the restrictions of the short sale 
circuit breaker pursuant to Rule 201 of Regulation SHO. 17 CFR 
242.201.
    \33\ The term ``Short Sale Period'' is defined in IEX Rule 
11.290(d), and encompasses the duration of the short sale circuit 
breaker pursuant to Rule 201(b)(1)(ii) of Regulation SHO. 17 CFR 
242.201(b)(1)(ii).
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    As proposed, the amendments to IEX Rule 11.290 are substantially 
identical to Bats Rule 11.19.
2. Statutory Basis
    IEX believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
provisions of Section 6 of the Act, in general and with Sections 6(b) 
\34\ of the Act in general, and furthers the objectives of Sections 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\35\ in particular, in that it is designed to 
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just 
and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and 
coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in 
securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a 
free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to 
protect investors and the public interest. The Exchange believes that 
the proposed rule change supports these objectives because it provides 
for certain listing regulatory reporting and operational requirements 
which are consistent with the public interest and the protection of 
investors.
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    \34\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
    \35\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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Short-Interest Reporting
    The Exchange believes that it is consistent with the Act to require 
IEX Members to record and report short interest in securities listed on 
IEX, to the extent not otherwise reported to FINRA. As discussed in the 
Purpose section, recording and reporting of short interest provides 
transparency regarding aggregate short interest and is also used by 
FINRA for regulatory purposes, including to assess compliance with 
Regulation SHO. The Exchange believes that requiring short interest 
recording and reporting by IEX Members in securities listed on IEX is 
thus consistent with the public interest and the protection of 
investors in support of these objectives. Further, the Exchange 
believes that the requirement that all IEX Members record and report 
short interest is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because the 
requirement will result in all IEX Members being subject to such 
requirements, regardless of whether such Member is a member of FINRA.
    The Exchange also notes that proposed Rule 3.293 is substantially 
identical to FINRA Rule 4560 and Nasdaq Rule 3360, as described in the 
Purpose section, and thus the Exchange does not believe it raises any 
new or novel issues not already considered by the Commission.
Notification Requirements for Offering Participants
    The Exchange believes that it is consistent with the Act to require 
IEX Members that are offering participants to provide the specified 
notifications to IEX in such form as specified by IEX, which, as 
discussed in the Purpose section, will be to FINRA through the Firm 
Gateway. The Exchange believes that imposing the specified notification 
requirements, and specifying that notification be to FINRA through the 
Firm Gateway, is consistent with the public interest and the protection 
of investors, since FINRA must receive such notifications in order to 
monitor IEX Members and other market participants for compliance with 
Regulation M. As described in the Purpose section, as part of FINRA's 
program to monitor for compliance with Regulation M, and pursuant to 
IEX regulatory services agreement with FINRA and allocation to FINRA 
pursuant to Rule 17d-2 under the Act, FINRA reviews trading and quoting 
activity for prohibited purchases, bids or attempts to induce bids or 
purchases during the applicable restricted period and for prohibited 
short sales during the restricted period prior to the pricing of an 
offering. Thus, FINRA must receive pertinent distribution related 
information in a timely fashion to facilitate its review of IEX 
Members' compliance with Regulation M. Accordingly, IEX believes that 
requiring such notifications is consistent with the protection of 
investors and the public interest.
    Further, the Exchange believes that imposition of the notification 
requirements is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because all 
IEX Members will be subject to such requirements in the same manner.
    The Exchange also notes that the proposed amendments to Rule 11.160 
are substantially identical to those specified in NYSE Rule 5190 and 
substantially similar to FINRA Rule 5190, as described in the Purpose 
section, and thus the Exchange does not believe that the proposed 
amendments raise any new or novel issues not already considered by the 
Commission.
Short Sale Circuit Breaker Restriction
    The Exchange believes that it is consistent with the Act to amend 
IEX Rule 11.290 to adopt provisions regarding the required 
determinations and processes related to the short sale circuit breaker, 
as required by Rule 201 of Regulation SHO, as described in the Purpose 
section. Further, the Exchange believes that the rule amendments are 
equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because such amendments will 
apply to all IEX Members in the same manner.
    The Exchange also believes that the rule amendments are consistent 
with the Act, since they are designed to encourage fair and orderly 
trading and markets. Additionally, as proposed the rule amendments are 
substantially identical to Bats Rule 11.19, and thus the Exchange does 
not believe that the proposed amendments raise any new or novel issues 
not already considered by the Commission.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    IEX does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in 
any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. As described in the Purpose and 
Statutory Basis sections, the proposed rule change effectuates listing 
regulatory reporting and operational requirements and is not designed 
to address or advance any competitive issues. To the contrary, the 
Exchange believes that the proposed rule change facilitates competition 
since

[[Page 54430]]

it is designed to effectuate IEX's operation as a listing market 
thereby enhancing competition with the other listing markets.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) 
Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) 
become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or 
such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become 
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \36\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\37\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \37\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19(b)-4(f)(6) normally does 
not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. 
However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), the Commission may 
designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest.\38\ The Exchange has 
asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the 
proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Commission 
believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest because the proposed 
rule change is substantially identical to the rules of other self-
regulatory organizations and thus raises no novel issues.\39\ 
Accordingly, the Commission hereby waives the 30-day operative delay 
and designates the proposed rule change as operative upon filing.\40\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ Rule 19b-4(f)(6) requires an SRO to give the Commission 
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at 
least five business days prior to the -date of filing the proposed 
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. 
See 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). The Exchange has satisfied this 
requirement.
    \39\ See supra notes 12-13 and accompanying text and supra note 
20 and accompanying text. See also Bats Rule 11.19.
    \40\ For purposes only of waiving the operative delay for this 
proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact 
on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission 
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under 
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \41\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed 
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic 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-IEX-2017-39 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-IEX-2017-39. This file 
number should be included in 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 Section, 100 F Street 
NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. Copies of the filing will also be 
available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the 
Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons 
submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit 
personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-IEX-2017-39 and should be 
submitted on or before December 8, 2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\42\
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-24930 Filed 11-16-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 221 / Friday, November 17, 2017 / Notices                                                54425

                                                to determine concentration limits and to                 (C) Clearing Agency’s Statement on                    Commission and any person, other than
                                                clarify certain other matters relating to                Comments on the Proposed Rule                         those that may be withheld from the
                                                calculation of haircuts and limits. The                  Change Received From Members,                         public in accordance with the
                                                amendments also enhance the                              Participants or Others                                provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                governance process around the                              Written comments relating to the                    available for Web site viewing and
                                                Collateral and Haircut Policy. In ICE                    proposed changes to the rules have not                printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                Clear Europe’s view, the amendments                      been solicited or received. ICE Clear                 Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                will help ICE Clear Europe more clearly                  Europe will notify the Commission of                  Washington, DC 20549, on official
                                                determine the liquidity of relevant                      any written comments received by ICE                  business days between the hours of
                                                bonds, which in turn will facilitate                     Clear Europe.                                         10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
                                                establishment of accurate concentration                                                                        filing also will be available for
                                                                                                         III. Date of Effectiveness of the                     inspection and copying at the principal
                                                limits. As a result, ICE Clear Europe
                                                                                                         Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                   office of ICE Clear Europe and on ICE
                                                believes the amendments are consistent                   Commission Action                                     Clear Europe’s Web site at https://www.
                                                with the requirements of Section
                                                                                                           Within 45 days of the date of                       theice.com/notices/Notices.shtml
                                                17A(b)(3)(F) 6 of the Act. In addition, for                                                                    ?regulatoryFilings.
                                                the foregoing reasons, the amendments                    publication of this notice in the Federal
                                                will facilitate setting and enforcing                    Register or within such longer period                    All comments received will be posted
                                                                                                         up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may               without change. Persons submitting
                                                appropriately conservative haircuts and
                                                                                                         designate if it finds such longer period              comments are cautioned that we do not
                                                concentration limits, and provide for a
                                                                                                         to be appropriate and publishes its                   redact or edit personal identifying
                                                review of the sufficiency of such
                                                                                                         reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which            information from comment submissions.
                                                haircuts and limits not less than                                                                              You should submit only information
                                                                                                         the self-regulatory organization
                                                annually, within the meaning of Rule                                                                           that you wish to make available
                                                                                                         consents, the Commission will:
                                                17Ad–22(e)(5).7                                            (A) By order approve or disapprove                  publicly. All submissions should refer
                                                (B) Clearing Agency’s Statement on                       the proposed rule change or                           to File Number SR–ICEEU–2017–011
                                                Burden on Competition                                      (B) institute proceedings to determine              and should be submitted on or before
                                                                                                         whether the proposed rule change                      December 8, 2017.
                                                   ICE Clear Europe does not believe the                 should be disapproved.                                  For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                proposed changes to the rules would                                                                            Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                                                                         IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                have any impact, or impose any burden,                                                                         authority.8
                                                on competition not necessary or                            Interested persons are invited to                   Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                appropriate in furtherance of the                        submit written data, views, and                       Assistant Secretary.
                                                purpose of the Act. ICE Clear Europe is                  arguments concerning the foregoing,                   [FR Doc. 2017–24935 Filed 11–16–17; 8:45 am]
                                                adopting the amendments to the                           including whether the proposed rule
                                                                                                                                                               BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                Collateral and Haircut Policy in order to                change is consistent with the Act.
                                                enhance the calculations of                              Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                concentration limits and haircuts and                    the following methods:                                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                make certain other governance and                        Electronic Comments                                   COMMISSION
                                                related enhancements to the Collateral                     • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                and Haircut Policy. The amendments                       comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                     [Release No. 34–82058; File No. SR–IEX–
                                                will apply to all Clearing Members and                   rules/sro.shtml) or                                   2017–39]
                                                products. ICE Clear Europe does not                        • Send an email to rule-comments@
                                                believe the amendments would                                                                                   Self-Regulatory Organizations:
                                                                                                         sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–               Investors Exchange LLC; Notice of
                                                materially affect the cost of clearing,                  ICEEU–2017–011 on the subject line.
                                                adversely affect access to clearing in                                                                         Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
                                                                                                         Paper Comments                                        Proposed Rule Change To Adopt Rules
                                                these products for Clearing Members or
                                                                                                                                                               Pertaining to Certain Listing
                                                their customers, or otherwise adversely                    • Send paper comments in triplicate
                                                                                                                                                               Regulatory Reporting and Operational
                                                affect competition in clearing services.                 to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
                                                                                                                                                               Requirements
                                                Although the amendments may change                       Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                the haircuts or concentration limits for                 Washington, DC 20549–1090.                            November 13, 2017.
                                                particular bonds, which may affect the                   All submissions should refer to File                     Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
                                                costs and benefits of using those bonds                  Number SR–ICEEU–2017–011. This file                   Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
                                                as collateral, ICE Clear Europe believe                  number should be included on the                      ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
                                                that such changes are appropriate in                     subject line if email is used. To help the            notice is hereby given that on October
                                                light of the risk management                             Commission process and review your                    31, 2017, the Investors Exchange LLC
                                                enhancements provided by the revised                     comments more efficiently, please use                 (‘‘IEX’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
                                                policy. As a result, ICE Clear Europe                    only one method. The Commission will                  Securities and Exchange Commission
                                                believes that any impact or burden on                    post all comments on the Commission’s                 (the ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
                                                competition from such amendments                         Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                change as described in Items I and II
                                                                                                         rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                would be appropriate in furtherance of                                                                         below, which Items have been prepared
                                                the purpose of the Act.                                  submission, all subsequent                            by the self-regulatory organization. The
                                                                                                         amendments, all written statements                    Commission is publishing this notice to
                                                                                                         with respect to the proposed rule
                                                                                                         change that are filed with the                          8 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                                                                         Commission, and all written                             1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                  6 15   U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).                          communications relating to the                          2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
                                                  7 17   CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(5).                          proposed rule change between the                        3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.




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                                                54426                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 221 / Friday, November 17, 2017 / Notices

                                                solicit comments on the proposed rule                   Short-Interest Reporting                                   IEX proposes to adopt a comparable
                                                change from interested persons.                                                                                 rule requiring short interest recording
                                                                                                           The Financial Industry Regulatory                    and reporting in securities listed on IEX
                                                I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Authority (‘‘FINRA’’), the Nasdaq Stock                 by Members. Specifically, IEX proposes
                                                Statement of the Terms of Substance of                  Market (‘‘Nasdaq’’) and the New York                    to adopt new Rule 3.293, entitled Short-
                                                the Proposed Rule Change                                Stock Exchange (‘‘NYSE’’) each have                     Interest Reporting, that requires IEX
                                                                                                        rules requiring that members of such                    Members, to the extent such information
                                                   Pursuant to the provisions of Section                self-regulatory organization (‘‘SRO’’)
                                                19(b)(1) under the Securities Exchange                                                                          is not otherwise reported to FINRA in
                                                                                                        record and report specified short                       conformance with FINRA Rule 4560, to
                                                Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),4 and Rule 19b–4                  positions in all customer and
                                                thereunder,5 Investors Exchange LLC                                                                             comply with FINRA Rule 4560 with
                                                                                                        proprietary accounts.8 This data is also                respect to securities listed on IEX, as if
                                                (‘‘IEX’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) is filing with the            referred to as short interest. In the case
                                                Commission a proposed rule change to                                                                            such rule were part of IEX’s rules, and
                                                                                                        of Nasdaq, the recording and reporting                  to report required information in the
                                                adopt rules pertaining to certain listing               requirements apply to positions in
                                                regulatory reporting and operational                                                                            form and manner specified by IEX.
                                                                                                        securities listed on Nasdaq, while the                  Thus, as proposed, IEX Members are
                                                requirements. The Exchange has                          FINRA and NYSE rules apply to all
                                                designated this proposal as non-                                                                                subject to the following requirements:
                                                                                                        equity securities. The FINRA, Nasdaq
                                                controversial and provided the                          and NYSE rules each require reporting                      (a) Each Member shall maintain a record of
                                                Commission with the notice required by                  on a bi-monthly basis by their member                   total ‘‘short’’ positions in all customer and
                                                                                                                                                                proprietary firm accounts in securities listed
                                                Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii) under the Act.6 The               firms. FINRA, NYSE and Nasdaq firms                     on IEX 11 and shall regularly report such
                                                text of the proposed rule change is                     provide their short position reports to                 information to FINRA in such a manner as
                                                available at the Exchange’s Web site at                 FINRA through the Firm Gateway.9                        may be prescribed by IEX. Reports shall be
                                                www.iextrading.com, at the principal                    Firms must report their mid-month                       received by FINRA no later than the second
                                                office of the Exchange, and at the                      short positions as of the close of                      business day after the reporting settlement
                                                Commission’s Public Reference Room.                     business on the settlement date of the                  date designated by IEX.
                                                                                                        15th of each month, or, where the 15th                     (b) Members shall record and report all
                                                II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                                                                              gross short positions existing in each
                                                                                                        is a non-settlement date, on the                        individual firm or customer account,
                                                Statement of the Purpose of, and the
                                                                                                        preceding settlement date. Firms must                   including the account of a broker-dealer, that
                                                Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                                                                        report their end-of-month short                         resulted from (1) a ‘‘short sale’’, as that term
                                                Change                                                  positions as of the close of business on                is defined in Rule 200(a) of SEC Regulation
                                                  In its filing with the Commission, the                the last business day of the month on                   SHO, or (2) where the transaction(s) that
                                                                                                        which transactions settle pursuant to                   caused the short position was marked ‘‘long,’’
                                                self-regulatory organization included                                                                           consistent with SEC Regulation SHO, due to
                                                statements concerning the purpose of                    FINRA and exchange rules. Both reports
                                                                                                                                                                the firm’s or the customer’s net long position
                                                and basis for the proposed rule change                  must be received by FINRA no later
                                                                                                                                                                at the time of the transaction. Members shall
                                                and discussed any comments it received                  than the second business day after the                  report only those short positions resulting
                                                on the proposed rule change. The text                   reporting settlement date.                              from short sales that have settled or reached
                                                of these statement [sic] may be                            FINRA consolidates the short position                settlement date by the close of the reporting
                                                examined at the places specified in Item                reports submitted by each firm, and                     settlement date designated by IEX.
                                                                                                        provides such reports to the relevant                      (c) The recording and reporting
                                                IV below. The self-regulatory                                                                                   requirements shall not apply to:
                                                organization has prepared summaries,                    listing exchange for each listed security
                                                                                                                                                                   (1) Any sale by any person, for an account
                                                set forth in Sections A, B, and C below,                (i.e., NYSE, Nasdaq and Bats BZX                        in which he has an interest, if such person
                                                of the most significant aspects of such                 Exchange, Inc. (‘‘Bats’’)). In order to                 owns the security sold and intends to deliver
                                                statements.                                             provide transparency 10 regarding                       such security as soon as is possible without
                                                                                                        aggregate short interest in equities                    undue inconvenience or expense; and
                                                A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       securities, the listing exchanges publish                  (2) any sale by an underwriter, or any
                                                Statement of the Purpose of, and the                    the consolidated short interest data                    member of a syndicate or group participating
                                                Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  seven business days after the reporting                 in the distribution of a security, in
                                                Change                                                                                                          connection with an over-allotment of
                                                                                                        settlement date. Similarly, FINRA                       securities, or any lay-off sale by such a
                                                1. Purpose                                              publishes consolidated short interest                   person in connection with a distribution of
                                                                                                        data for securities that are not listed on              securities through rights or a standby
                                                   On June 17, 2016 the Commission                      an exchange on the same time frame.                     underwriting commitment.
                                                granted IEX’s application for registration              Short interest data is also used by                       While FINRA Rule 4560 requires such
                                                as a national securities exchange under                 FINRA for regulatory purposes,                          recording and reporting in all equity
                                                Section 6 of the Act including approval                 including to assess compliance with                     securities, not all IEX Members are also
                                                of rules applicable to the qualification,               Regulation SHO.                                         members of FINRA. Therefore, the
                                                listing and delisting of companies on                                                                           Exchange believes that with the launch
                                                the Exchange.7 The Exchange plans to                      8 See FINRA Rule 4560, Nasdaq Rule 3360, and
                                                                                                                                                                of its listing program, it is appropriate
                                                begin a listing program in 2017 and is                  NYSE Rule 4560.
                                                                                                          9 FINRA members are required to report short
                                                                                                                                                                to add an IEX rule requiring recording
                                                proposing to adopt rules pertaining to                                                                          and reporting of short interest positions
                                                                                                        interest positions through a web-based interface
                                                certain listing regulatory reporting and                which is accessible via the Firm Gateway. See,
                                                operational requirements, as described                  Regulatory Notice 16–32 entitled ‘‘Short Interest         11 FINRA Rule 4560(a) provides that the short
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                below.                                                  Reporting’’ accessible at http://www.finra.org/sites/   interest recording and reporting requirements are
                                                                                                        default/files/notice_doc_file_ref/Regulatory-Notice-    not applicable to Restricted Equity Securities, as
                                                                                                        16-32.pdf.                                              defined in FINRA Rule 6420 which further
                                                  4 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                  10 Short interest reporting and publication began     references the definition of ‘‘restricted security’’ in
                                                  5 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                   in 1986 in connection with a study and                  Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act of 1933.
                                                  6 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).
                                                                                                        recommendation by Irving M. Pollack (a former           Restricted securities are not eligible for listing on
                                                  7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34–         Commissioner of the SEC) on behalf of the National      IEX since they are subject to trading restrictions, so
                                                78101 (June 17, 2016), 81 FR 41141 (June 23, 2016)      Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the            this limitation is not necessary for inclusion in IEX
                                                (File No. 10–222).                                      predecessor to FINRA.                                   Rule 3.293.



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 221 / Friday, November 17, 2017 / Notices                                                          54427

                                                in securities listed on IEX, so that IEX                 penalty bids 17) in connection with an                     specified in NYSE Rule 5190.20 As
                                                Members that are not FINRA members                       offering and requires that notification of                 proposed, Rule 11.160 is entitled
                                                are subject to such requirements and                     such activity be provided to the SRO                       ‘‘Notification Requirements for Offering
                                                their short positions in IEX listed                      with direct authority over the principal                   Participants’’ and includes the following
                                                securities will be consolidated for                      market in the United States for the                        provisions:
                                                publication and available to FINRA for                   security for which the syndicate                              • Paragraph (a) provides general
                                                regulatory purposes.                                     covering transaction is effected or the                    information and states that IEX Rule
                                                   Further, as proposed, IEX Rule 3.293                  penalty bid is imposed. In the case of a                   11.160 sets forth the notice
                                                specifies that information required to be                stabilizing bid, such notice must be                       requirements applicable to Members
                                                reported pursuant to FINRA Rule 4560                     provided to the market on which the                        participating in offerings of listed
                                                shall be reported to IEX in the form and                 stabilizing bid will be posted. Further,                   securities for purposes of monitoring
                                                manner specified by IEX.12 As                            Regulation M prohibits any person from                     compliance with the provisions of SEC
                                                proposed, IEX Rule 3.293 is                              selling short a security that is the                       Regulation M. In addition, the
                                                substantially similar to FINRA Rule                      subject of a public offering and                           paragraph notes that Members also must
                                                4560 except that Members are only                        purchasing the security in the offering,                   comply with all applicable rules
                                                required to record and report short                      if the short sale was effected during the                  governing the withdrawal of quotations
                                                positions in securities listed on IEX.                   restricted period.                                         in accordance with SEC Regulation M.
                                                This limitation is substantially similar                    IEX and FINRA are parties to a                             • Paragraph (b) states that the terms
                                                to Nasdaq Rule 3360, which also limits                   regulatory services agreement pursuant                     shall have the meanings as set forth in
                                                short interest reporting to securities                   to which FINRA performs certain                            Rules 100 and 101 of SEC Regulation M:
                                                listed on Nasdaq.13                                      regulatory functions on behalf of IEX.18                   ‘‘actively traded’’, ‘‘affiliated
                                                                                                         IEX and FINRA also entered into an                         purchaser’’, ‘‘covered security’’,
                                                Notification Requirements for Offering                                                                              ‘‘distribution’’, ‘‘distribution
                                                Participants                                             agreement to reduce regulatory
                                                                                                         duplication for IEX Members that are                       participant’’, ‘‘offering price’’, ‘‘penalty
                                                   SEC Regulation M is designed to                                                                                  bid’’, ‘‘restricted period’’, ‘‘selling
                                                                                                         also members of FINRA whereby IEX
                                                prevent manipulation by individuals                                                                                 security holder’’, ‘‘stabilizing’’ and
                                                                                                         has allocated certain regulatory
                                                with an interest in the outcome of an                                                                               ‘‘syndicate covering transaction’’.
                                                                                                         responsibilities to FINRA pursuant to
                                                offering of securities, and prohibits                                                                                  • Paragraph (c) is entitled ‘‘Notice
                                                activities and conduct that could                        Rule 17d–2 under the Act.19
                                                                                                                                                                    Relating to Distributions of Listed
                                                artificially influence the market for an                 Compliance with Regulation M is                            Securities Subject to a Restricted Period
                                                offered security.14 Regulation M                         included within the regulatory                             Under SEC Regulation M’’ and sets forth
                                                generally prohibits underwriters,                        functions and responsibilities that                        the notification requirements applicable
                                                broker-dealers, issuers and other                        FINRA performs with respect to IEX                         to distributions of listed securities that
                                                persons participating in a distribution                  Members. As part of FINRA’s program                        are ‘‘covered securities’’ 21 subject to a
                                                from directly or indirectly bidding for or               to monitor for compliance with                             restricted period under Rule 101 or 102
                                                purchasing the offered security (or                      Regulation M, FINRA reviews trading                        of Regulation M. Required notices must
                                                inducing another person to do so)                        and quoting activity for prohibited                        be provided in such form as specified by
                                                during the applicable ‘‘restricted                       purchases, bids or attempts to induce                      the Exchange with respect to: The
                                                period,’’ 15 which commences on the                      bids or purchases during the applicable                    Member’s determination as to whether a
                                                later of one or five business days prior                 restricted period and for prohibited                       one-day or five-day restricted period
                                                to determination of the offering price 16                short sales during the restricted period                   applies under Rule 101 of Regulation M
                                                or such time that a person becomes a                     prior to the pricing of an offering. Thus,                 and the basis for such determination,
                                                distribution participant, and ends upon                  FINRA must receive pertinent                               including the contemplated date and
                                                such person’s completion of                              distribution related information in a                      time of the commencement of the
                                                participation in the distribution.                       timely fashion to facilitate its review of                 restricted period, the listed security
                                                Regulation M also governs certain                        IEX Members’ compliance with                               name and symbol, and identification of
                                                market activities (i.e., stabilizing bids,               Regulation M.                                              the distribution participants and
                                                syndicate covering transactions and                         Accordingly, in preparation for                         affiliated purchasers, no later than the
                                                                                                         becoming a listing market, the Exchange                    business day prior to the first complete
                                                  12 IEX Members will use the FINRA Gateway to           proposes to amend Rule 11.160, which                       trading session of the applicable
                                                report short interest positions. IEX believes that       is currently reserved, to adopt                            restricted period, unless later
                                                virtually all IEX Members already have access to the     provisions requiring notification                          notification is necessary under specific
                                                FINRA Firm Gateway. To the extent there are any          requirements for offering participants
                                                Members that do not already have access, FINRA                                                                      circumstances; the pricing of the
                                                will provide such Members with access to the Firm        that are substantially identical to those                  distribution, including the listed
                                                Gateway. Following effectiveness of this rule                                                                       security name and symbol, the type of
                                                change, and prior to listing launch, IEX will               17 See 17 CFR 242.100(b) (definitions of
                                                disseminate a notice to Members advising of the
                                                                                                                                                                    security, the number of shares offered,
                                                                                                         ‘‘stabilizing,’’ ‘‘syndicate covering transaction,’’ and
                                                reporting process and timelines.                         ‘‘penalty bid’’). Generally, a ‘‘stabilizing bid’’ is a
                                                                                                                                                                    the offering price, the last sale before the
                                                  13 See Nasdaq Rule 3360(a).
                                                                                                         bid that is intended to maintain the price of the          distribution, the pricing basis, the SEC
                                                  14 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 38067       offered security and is necessary to prevent or            effective date and time, the trade date,
                                                (December 20, 1996), 62 FR 520 (January 3, 1997)         retard a decline in the security’s price. A ‘‘penalty      the restricted period, and identification
                                                (File No. S7–11–96) (Anti-Manipulation Rules             bid’’ allows a lead underwriter to reclaim a selling
                                                Concerning Securities Offerings; Final Rules). See       concession paid to a syndicate member if that
                                                                                                                                                                    of the distribution participants and
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                                                also generally SEC Staff Legal Bulletin No. 9,           member’s customers sell their allocated shares in          affiliated purchasers, no later than the
                                                Frequently Asked Questions About Regulation M            the immediate aftermarket. A ‘‘syndicate covering
                                                (April 12, 2002 update) at https://www.sec.gov/          transaction’’ is generally defined as placing a bid or       20 Proposed IEX Rule 11.160 is also substantially
                                                interps/legal/mrslb9.htm.                                effecting a purchase to reduce a syndicate short           similar to FINRA Rule 5190, except that the FINRA
                                                  15 The term ‘‘restricted period’’ is defined in Rule   position.                                                  rule has a broader scope since the IEX rule applies
                                                100(b) of Regulation M. See 17 CFR 242.100(b).              18 See IEX Rule 1.160(hh).                              only to offerings in securities listed on IEX, and
                                                  16 The term ‘‘offering price’’ means the price at         19 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78434        minor terminology differences.
                                                which the security is to be or is distributed. See 17    (July 28, 2016), 81 FR 51256 (August 3, 2016) (File          21 The term ‘‘covered security’’ is defined in Rule

                                                CFR 242.100(b).                                          No. 4–700).                                                100(b) of Regulation M. See 17 CFR 242.100(b).



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                                                54428                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 221 / Friday, November 17, 2017 / Notices

                                                close of business the next business day                 Listed Securities’’ and sets forth the                  current national best bid (subject to
                                                following the pricing of the distribution,              notification requirements for such                      certain specified exceptions) for the
                                                unless later notification is necessary                  activities. Required notices must be                    remainder of the trading day on which
                                                under specific circumstances; and the                   provided in such form as specified by                   it is triggered and the following day.
                                                cancellation or postponement of any                     the Exchange with respect to: The
                                                                                                                                                                   Paragraph (b)(3) of Rule 201 further
                                                distribution for which prior notification               Member’s intention to conduct such
                                                                                                                                                                provides that the listing market for a
                                                of commencement of the restricted                       activity, prior to placing or transmitting
                                                period has been submitted under                         the stabilizing bid, imposing the penalty               covered security shall determine
                                                paragraph (c)(1)(A) of Rule 11.160,                     bid or engaging in the first syndicate                  whether the price of such covered
                                                immediately upon the cancellation or                    covering transaction, including                         security has decreased by 10% or more
                                                postponement of such distribution. If no                identification of the listed security and               from the covered security’s closing price
                                                Member is acting as a manager (or in a                  its symbol and the date such activity                   as of the end of regular trading hours on
                                                similar capacity) of such distribution,                 will occur; and confirmation that the                   the prior day, and, if such decrease has
                                                then each Member that is a distribution                 Member has placed or transmitted a                      occurred shall immediately notify the
                                                participant or affiliated purchaser shall               stabilizing bid, imposed a penalty bid or               single plan processor responsible for
                                                provide the notice required under                       engaged in a syndicate covering                         consolidation of information for the
                                                paragraph (c)(1) of Rule 11.160, unless                 transaction, within one business day of                 covered security pursuant to Rule 603(b)
                                                another Member has assumed                              completion of such activity, including                  of Regulation NMS.27 The single plan
                                                responsibility in writing for compliance                identification of the listed security and               processor must then disseminate this
                                                therewith. Paragraph (c) also provides                  its symbol, the total number of shares                  information, thereby triggering the short
                                                that any Member that is an issuer or                    and the date(s) of such activity.                       sale circuit breaker restriction.28
                                                selling security holder in a distribution                  All required notifications pursuant to
                                                of any listed security that is a covered                IEX Rule 11.160 will be submitted by                       Accordingly, in preparation for
                                                security subject to a restricted period                 IEX Members to FINRA through the                        becoming a listing market, the Exchange
                                                under Rule 102 of SEC Regulation M                      Firm Gateway.22 Upon effectiveness of                   proposes to amend IEX Rule 11.290 to
                                                shall comply with the notice                            this rule change and prior to the first                 adopt provisions regarding the required
                                                requirements of paragraph (c)(1) Rule                   IEX listing, the Exchange will                          determinations and processes related to
                                                11.160, unless another Member has                       disseminate a regulatory circular to                    the short sale circuit breaker. As
                                                assumed responsibility in writing for                   Members advising of the form and                        proposed, paragraph (b) of IEX Rule
                                                compliance therewith.                                   manner for submission of required                       11.290 is amended to add ‘‘Trigger
                                                   • Paragraph (d) is entitled ‘‘Notice                 notifications through the FINRA Firm                    Price’’ as a defined term with respect to
                                                Relating to Distributions of ‘‘Actively                 Gateway.                                                the existing description of the Short
                                                Traded’’ Securities Under Regulation                                                                            Sale Price Test. Paragraph (c) of IEX
                                                                                                        Short Sale Circuit Breaker Restriction
                                                M’’ and sets forth the notification                                                                             Rule 11.290 (which is currently
                                                requirements applicable to distributions                   Rule 201 of Regulation SHO 23                        reserved) is titled ‘‘Determination of
                                                of any listed security that is considered               provides for the imposition of a short                  Trigger Price’’ and provides that, for
                                                an ‘‘actively traded’’ security under Rule              sale circuit breaker, in a covered
                                                                                                                                                                covered securities for which the
                                                101 of Regulation M. Required notices                   security by trading centers in the event
                                                                                                                                                                Exchange is the listing market, the
                                                must be provided in such form as                        that the price of a covered security 24
                                                                                                        decreases by 10% or more from the                       System 29 shall determine whether a
                                                specified by the Exchange with respect
                                                                                                        covered security’s closing price as                     transaction in a covered security has
                                                to: The Member’s determination that no
                                                restricted period applies under Rule 101                determined by the listing market 25 for                 occurred at a Trigger Price 30 and shall
                                                of SEC Regulation M and the basis for                   the covered security as of the end of                   immediately notify the responsible
                                                such determination; and the pricing of                  regular trading hours 26 on the prior day.              single plan processor. Further, the
                                                the distribution, including the listed                  If the circuit breaker is triggered,                    System will not calculate the Trigger
                                                security name and symbol, the type of                   paragraph (b)(1) of Rule 201 requires                   Price of a covered security outside of the
                                                security, the number of shares offered,                 each trading center to establish,                       Regular Market Session,31 and, if a
                                                the offering price, the last sale before the            maintain, and enforce written policies                  covered security did not trade on the
                                                distribution, the pricing basis, the SEC                and procedures reasonably designed to                   Exchange on the prior trading day (due
                                                effective date and time, the trade date,                prevent the execution or display of a                   to a trading halt, trading suspension, or
                                                and identification of the distribution                  short sale order of a covered security at               otherwise), the Exchange’s
                                                participants and affiliated purchasers.                 a price that is less than or equal to the               determination of the Trigger Price shall
                                                Paragraph (d) also provides that such                                                                           be based on the last sale price on the
                                                notice shall be provided no later than                     22 Information regarding FINRA’s Firm Gateway
                                                                                                                                                                Exchange for that security on the most
                                                the close of business the next business                 is available at: http://www.finra.org/sites/default/
                                                                                                        files/NoticeDocument/p125975.pdf. IEX believes
                                                                                                                                                                recent day on which the security traded.
                                                day following the pricing of the                        that virtually all IEX Members that would be            In addition, the Exchange proposes to
                                                distribution, unless later notification is              required to submit notifications pursuant to IEX        add provisions to paragraph (d)(1) of
                                                necessary under specific circumstances.                 Rule 11.160 already have access to the FINRA Firm       IEX Rule 11.290 to provide that the
                                                Further if no Member is acting as a                     Gateway. Generally, such Members must be
                                                                                                        members of FINRA in order to distribute shares to       Exchange may lift the Short Sale Price
                                                manager (or in a similar capacity) of
                                                                                                        the public, unless such Member is an issuer or
                                                such distribution, then each Member                     selling security holder in a distribution of a listed
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                                                that is a distribution participant or an                security pursuant to Rule 102 of Regulation M. To         27 17 CFR 242.603(b).
                                                affiliated purchaser shall provide the                  the extent there are any Members that fall into this      28 See, FAQ 1.3 of ‘‘Division of Trading and
                                                notice required, unless another Member                  exception, and do not already have access to the
                                                                                                        Firm Gateway, such Members will be provided with        Markets: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions
                                                has assumed responsibility in writing                   access to the Firm Gateway.                             Concerning Rule 201 of Regulation SHO.’’
                                                for compliance therewith.                                  23 17 CFR 242.201.                                     29 The term ‘‘System’’ is defined in IEX Rule

                                                   • Paragraph (e) is entitled ‘‘Notice of                 24 17 CFR 242.201(a)(1).                             1.160(nn).
                                                Stabilizing Bids, Penalty Bids and                         25 17 CFR 242.201(a)(3).                               30 See amendments to Rule 11.290(b).

                                                Syndicate Covering Transactions in                         26 17 CFR 242.201(a)(7).                               31 See Rule 1.160(gg).




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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 221 / Friday, November 17, 2017 / Notices                                         54429

                                                Test 32 before the Short Sale Period 33                 consistent with the public interest and               and for prohibited short sales during the
                                                ends for securities for which the                       the protection of investors.                          restricted period prior to the pricing of
                                                Exchange is the listing market if the                                                                         an offering. Thus, FINRA must receive
                                                                                                        Short-Interest Reporting
                                                Exchange determines pursuant to IEX                                                                           pertinent distribution related
                                                Rule 11.270 that the triggering                           The Exchange believes that it is                    information in a timely fashion to
                                                transaction was a clearly erroneous                     consistent with the Act to require IEX                facilitate its review of IEX Members’
                                                execution as soon as practicable                        Members to record and report short                    compliance with Regulation M.
                                                following such determination. Further,                  interest in securities listed on IEX, to              Accordingly, IEX believes that requiring
                                                the Exchange may also lift the Short                    the extent not otherwise reported to                  such notifications is consistent with the
                                                Sale Price Test before the Short Sale                   FINRA. As discussed in the Purpose                    protection of investors and the public
                                                Period ends, for a covered security for                 section, recording and reporting of short             interest.
                                                which the Exchange is the listing                       interest provides transparency regarding                Further, the Exchange believes that
                                                market, if the Exchange has been                        aggregate short interest and is also used             imposition of the notification
                                                informed by another exchange or a self-                 by FINRA for regulatory purposes,                     requirements is equitable and not
                                                regulatory organization (‘‘SRO’’) that a                including to assess compliance with                   unfairly discriminatory because all IEX
                                                transaction in the covered security that                Regulation SHO. The Exchange believes                 Members will be subject to such
                                                occurred at the Trigger Price was a                     that requiring short interest recording               requirements in the same manner.
                                                clearly erroneous execution, as                         and reporting by IEX Members in                         The Exchange also notes that the
                                                determined by the rules of that                         securities listed on IEX is thus                      proposed amendments to Rule 11.160
                                                exchange or SRO. Finally, proposed                      consistent with the public interest and               are substantially identical to those
                                                paragraph (d)(2) of IEX Rule 11.290                     the protection of investors in support of             specified in NYSE Rule 5190 and
                                                provides that if the Exchange                           these objectives. Further, the Exchange               substantially similar to FINRA Rule
                                                determines that the prior day’s closing                 believes that the requirement that all                5190, as described in the Purpose
                                                price for a listed security is incorrect in             IEX Members record and report short                   section, and thus the Exchange does not
                                                the System and resulted in an incorrect                 interest is equitable and not unfairly                believe that the proposed amendments
                                                determination of the Trigger Price, the                 discriminatory because the requirement                raise any new or novel issues not
                                                Exchange may correct the prior day’s                    will result in all IEX Members being                  already considered by the Commission.
                                                closing price and lift the Short Sale                   subject to such requirements, regardless
                                                                                                        of whether such Member is a member of                 Short Sale Circuit Breaker Restriction
                                                Price Test before the Short Sale Period
                                                                                                        FINRA.                                                  The Exchange believes that it is
                                                ends.
                                                                                                          The Exchange also notes that                        consistent with the Act to amend IEX
                                                   As proposed, the amendments to IEX                   proposed Rule 3.293 is substantially                  Rule 11.290 to adopt provisions
                                                Rule 11.290 are substantially identical                 identical to FINRA Rule 4560 and                      regarding the required determinations
                                                to Bats Rule 11.19.                                     Nasdaq Rule 3360, as described in the                 and processes related to the short sale
                                                2. Statutory Basis                                      Purpose section, and thus the Exchange                circuit breaker, as required by Rule 201
                                                                                                        does not believe it raises any new or                 of Regulation SHO, as described in the
                                                   IEX believes that the proposed rule                  novel issues not already considered by                Purpose section. Further, the Exchange
                                                change is consistent with the provisions                the Commission.                                       believes that the rule amendments are
                                                of Section 6 of the Act, in general and
                                                                                                        Notification Requirements for Offering                equitable and not unfairly
                                                with Sections 6(b) 34 of the Act in
                                                                                                        Participants                                          discriminatory because such
                                                general, and furthers the objectives of
                                                                                                                                                              amendments will apply to all IEX
                                                Sections 6(b)(5) of the Act,35 in                         The Exchange believes that it is                    Members in the same manner.
                                                particular, in that it is designed to                   consistent with the Act to require IEX                  The Exchange also believes that the
                                                prevent fraudulent and manipulative                     Members that are offering participants                rule amendments are consistent with
                                                acts and practices, to promote just and                 to provide the specified notifications to             the Act, since they are designed to
                                                equitable principles of trade, to foster                IEX in such form as specified by IEX,                 encourage fair and orderly trading and
                                                cooperation and coordination with                       which, as discussed in the Purpose                    markets. Additionally, as proposed the
                                                persons engaged in facilitating                         section, will be to FINRA through the                 rule amendments are substantially
                                                transactions in securities, to remove                   Firm Gateway. The Exchange believes                   identical to Bats Rule 11.19, and thus
                                                impediments to and perfect the                          that imposing the specified notification              the Exchange does not believe that the
                                                mechanism of a free and open market                     requirements, and specifying that                     proposed amendments raise any new or
                                                and a national market system and, in                    notification be to FINRA through the                  novel issues not already considered by
                                                general, to protect investors and the                   Firm Gateway, is consistent with the                  the Commission.
                                                public interest. The Exchange believes                  public interest and the protection of
                                                that the proposed rule change supports                  investors, since FINRA must receive                   B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                these objectives because it provides for                such notifications in order to monitor                Statement on Burden on Competition
                                                certain listing regulatory reporting and                IEX Members and other market                             IEX does not believe that the
                                                operational requirements which are                      participants for compliance with                      proposed rule change will result in any
                                                                                                        Regulation M. As described in the                     burden on competition that is not
                                                  32 The term ‘‘Short Sale Price Test’’ is defined in
                                                                                                        Purpose section, as part of FINRA’s                   necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                                IEX Rule 11.290(b), and encompasses the                 program to monitor for compliance with                of the purposes of the Act. As described
                                                restrictions of the short sale circuit breaker
                                                                                                        Regulation M, and pursuant to IEX                     in the Purpose and Statutory Basis
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                                                pursuant to Rule 201 of Regulation SHO. 17 CFR
                                                242.201.                                                regulatory services agreement with                    sections, the proposed rule change
                                                  33 The term ‘‘Short Sale Period’’ is defined in IEX   FINRA and allocation to FINRA                         effectuates listing regulatory reporting
                                                Rule 11.290(d), and encompasses the duration of         pursuant to Rule 17d–2 under the Act,                 and operational requirements and is not
                                                the short sale circuit breaker pursuant to Rule
                                                201(b)(1)(ii) of Regulation SHO. 17 CFR
                                                                                                        FINRA reviews trading and quoting                     designed to address or advance any
                                                242.201(b)(1)(ii).                                      activity for prohibited purchases, bids               competitive issues. To the contrary, the
                                                  34 15 U.S.C. 78f.                                     or attempts to induce bids or purchases               Exchange believes that the proposed
                                                  35 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                               during the applicable restricted period               rule change facilitates competition since


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                                                54430                        Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 221 / Friday, November 17, 2017 / Notices

                                                it is designed to effectuate IEX’s                       it appears to the Commission that such                   submit only information that you wish
                                                operation as a listing market thereby                    action is necessary or appropriate in the                to make available publicly. All
                                                enhancing competition with the other                     public interest, for the protection of                   submissions should refer to File
                                                listing markets.                                         investors, or otherwise in furtherance of                Number SR–IEX–2017–39 and should
                                                                                                         the purposes of the Act. If the                          be submitted on or before December 8,
                                                C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                         Commission takes such action, the                        2017.
                                                Statement on Comments on the
                                                                                                         Commission shall institute proceedings                     For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                                                                         under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 41 of the Act to               Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                Members, Participants, or Others
                                                                                                         determine whether the proposed rule                      authority.42
                                                  Written comments were neither                          change should be approved or                             Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                solicited nor received.                                  disapproved.                                             Assistant Secretary.
                                                III. Date of Effectiveness of the                        IV. Solicitation of Comments                             [FR Doc. 2017–24930 Filed 11–16–17; 8:45 am]
                                                Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
                                                                                                           Interested persons are invited to                      BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                Commission Action
                                                                                                         submit written data, views and
                                                   Because the foregoing proposed rule                   arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                change does not: (i) Significantly affect                including whether the proposed rule                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                the protection of investors or the public                change is consistent with the Act.                       COMMISSION
                                                interest; (ii) impose any significant                    Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                burden on competition; and (iii) become                  the following methods:                                   [Release No. 34–82056; File No. SR–OCC–
                                                operative for 30 days from the date on                                                                            2017–806]
                                                which it was filed, or such shorter time                 Electronic Comments
                                                as the Commission may designate, it has                    • Use the Commission’s Internet                        Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
                                                become effective pursuant to Section                     comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                        Options Clearing Corporation; Notice
                                                19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 36 and Rule 19b–                  rules/sro.shtml); or                                     of Filing of Advance Notice
                                                4(f)(6) thereunder.37                                      • Send an email to rule-comments@                      Concerning Liquidity for Same-Day
                                                   A proposed rule change filed under                    sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                  Settlement
                                                Rule 19(b)–4(f)(6) normally does not                     IEX–2017–39 on the subject line.
                                                                                                                                                                  November 13, 2017.
                                                become operative prior to 30 days after
                                                                                                         Paper Comments                                              Pursuant to Section 806(e)(1) of Title
                                                the date of the filing. However, pursuant
                                                to Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii), the Commission                   • Send paper comments in triplicate                    VIII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street
                                                may designate a shorter time if such                     to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities                Reform and Consumer Protection Act,
                                                action is consistent with the protection                 and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                    entitled Payment, Clearing and
                                                of investors and the public interest.38                  NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.                          Settlement Supervision Act of 2010
                                                The Exchange has asked the                               All submissions should refer to File                     (‘‘Clearing Supervision Act’’) 1 and Rule
                                                Commission to waive the 30-day                           Number SR–IEX–2017–39. This file                         19b–4(n)(1)(i) of the Securities Exchange
                                                operative delay so that the proposal may                 number should be included in the                         Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),2 notice is hereby
                                                become operative immediately upon                        subject line if email is used. To help the               given that on October 13, 2017, The
                                                filing. The Commission believes that                     Commission process and review your                       Options Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’)
                                                waiving the 30-day operative delay is                    comments more efficiently, please use                    filed with the Securities and Exchange
                                                consistent with the protection of                        only one method. The Commission will                     Commission (‘‘Commission’’) an
                                                investors and the public interest                        post all comments on the Commission’s                    advance notice as described in Items I,
                                                because the proposed rule change is                      Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                   II and III below, which Items have been
                                                substantially identical to the rules of                  rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                          prepared by OCC. The Commission is
                                                other self-regulatory organizations and                  submission, all subsequent                               publishing this notice to solicit
                                                thus raises no novel issues.39                           amendments, all written statements                       comments on the advance notice from
                                                Accordingly, the Commission hereby                       with respect to the proposed rule                        interested persons.
                                                waives the 30-day operative delay and                    change that are filed with the                           I. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
                                                designates the proposed rule change as                   Commission, and all written                              Terms of Substance of the Advance
                                                operative upon filing.40                                 communications relating to the
                                                   At any time within 60 days of the                                                                              Notice
                                                                                                         proposed rule change between the
                                                filing of the proposed rule change, the                  Commission and any person, other than                       This advance notice is filed in
                                                Commission summarily may                                 those that may be withheld from the                      connection with a proposed change to
                                                temporarily suspend such rule change if                  public in accordance with the                            modify the tools available to OCC in
                                                                                                         provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                      order to provide a mechanism for
                                                  36 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                            available for Web site viewing and                       addressing the risks of liquidity
                                                  37 17  CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
                                                                                                         printing in the Commission’s Public                      shortfalls, specifically, in the
                                                   38 Rule 19b–4(f)(6) requires an SRO to give the

                                                Commission written notice of its intent to file the      Reference Section, 100 F Street NE.,                     extraordinary situation where OCC faces
                                                proposed rule change at least five business days         Washington, DC 20549–1090. Copies of                     a liquidity need to meet its same-day
                                                prior to the –date of filing the proposed rule change,   the filing will also be available for                    settlement obligations as a result of a
                                                or such shorter time as designated by the                inspection and copying at the principal                  bank or securities or commodities
                                                Commission. See 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). The
                                                                                                                                                                  clearing organization failing to achieve
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                                                Exchange has satisfied this requirement.                 office of the Exchange. All comments
                                                   39 See supra notes 12–13 and accompanying text        received will be posted without change.                  daily settlement.
                                                and supra note 20 and accompanying text. See also        Persons submitting comments are                             The proposed changes to OCC’s By-
                                                Bats Rule 11.19.                                         cautioned that we do not redact or edit                  Laws were submitted as Exhibit 5 of the
                                                   40 For purposes only of waiving the operative
                                                                                                         personal identifying information from
                                                delay for this proposal, the Commission has
                                                considered the proposed rule’s impact on                 comment submissions. You should                            42 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                                                                                                                                    1 12 U.S.C. 5465(e)(1).
                                                efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See
                                                15 U.S.C. 78c(f).                                         41 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).                              2 17 CFR 240.19b–4(n)(1)(i).




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Document Created: 2017-11-17 05:15:06
Document Modified: 2017-11-17 05:15:06
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 54425 

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