I. Introduction

On March 19, 2001, the American Stock Exchange LLC (“Exchange” or “Amex”) submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”), pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) ^[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] a proposed rule change increasing the number of regular memberships on the Exchange and creating two-year permits. The Exchange submitted Amendment Nos. 1, 2, and 3 to the proposed rule change on May 3, 2001,^[3] May 16, 2001,^[4] and May 18, 2001,^[5] respectively. The ( printed page 64325) proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register on June 1, 2001.^[6] The Commission received no comments on the proposal. This order approves the proposal. The portion of the proposed rule change establishing the trading permits is approved on a pilot basis for a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years, in the event that the Exchange's Seat Fund Committee exercises its authority to renew the permits for an additional two years.

II. Description of the Proposal

The Amex proposes to increase by 25 the number of regular memberships and create 25 two-year permits as a result of a Regular Seat and Two-Year Permit Offering Plan (the “Plan”). The seats and the permits would be allocated as determined by the Exchange's Seat Fund Committee (“Committee”). The Committee would determine the sale price for regular seats would be at least $600,000. The price for two-year permits would be at least $14,000, per month.

The Committee would be able to renew the two-year permits once for an additional two years, but the permits would be non-transferable. A two-year permit would terminate if the holder went out of business. Any regular seats offered but not sold would be permitted to be converted into two-year permits as determined by the Committee.^[7] The two-year permits would have no distribution or voting rights.

All prospective seat and/or permit holders would be required to be approved by the Exchange prior to the sale of a seat or the transfer of a permit by the Exchange. The Exchange would receive a $750 administrative fee for each sea/permit for administering the sale/transfer for prospective seat/permit owners.

Prior to any seat sale or permit transfer by the Exchange, a non-member or a person/organization that was not currently the owner of a regular membership would be required to meet all requirements currently applicable to regular or two-year permit holders. If the purchaser of a seat intended to lease the seat pursuant to a special transfer agreement or transfer the seat to a nominee, the lessee or nominee would also be required to meet all Exchange requirements. All applicable fees due by persons/organizations that are not owners of regular memberships or members of the Exchange would be required to be paid before the sale of any seat or transfer of any permit.

Sale proceeds will be distributed to all seat owners at a date to be determined by the Committee. The Ex-date for determining distribution of sale proceeds to owners would be the date of approval of the Plan by the Commission.

III. Discussion

The Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act and the rules and regulations under the Act applicable to a national securities exchange and, in particular, the requirements of section 6(b) of the Act.^[8] Specifically, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[9] in that it is designed to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market.^[10]

The Commission believes that the proposed rule change will remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market by enhancing the depth and liquidity of the Amex floor by bringing additional capital and market participants to the Amex, which should attract more order flow. In addition, the Commission believes that the proposed rule change will enable the Exchange to better handle increased volume on the Exchange. The Commission believes that increasing the number of seats and providing a limited number of trading permits should enable Exchange members to afford customers an optimal level of service. The Commission notes that there are currently 864 Amex seat holders that have the ability to trade securities pursuant to the Exchange's equity trading rules and approximately 300 equity seat holders.^[11] These traders are fully represented on the Exchange's Board and key committees. The Commission specifically notes that the proposed trading permits are limited in duration to a maximum of four years and constitute a de minimis number in relation to regular members that trade equities.^[12] The Commission also notes that a majority of the Exchange's regular and options principal members voted in favor of the proposed rule change.

IV. Conclusion

It is Therefore Ordered , pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the Act,^[13] that the proposed rule change (SR-Amex-2001-17) is approved. The portion of the proposed rule change establishing trading permits is approved on a pilot basis for a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years.