On June 21, 2024, New York Stock Exchange LLC (“NYSE”) filed with 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 to amend Section 302.00 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual to exempt closed-end funds registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 from the requirement to hold annual shareholder meetings. The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register on July 9, 2024.^[3]

On August 21, 2024, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act,^[4] the Commission designated a longer period within which to approve the proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove the proposed rule change.^[5] On October 4, 2024, the Commission instituted proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act ^[6] to determine whether to approve or disapprove the proposed rule change.^[7]

Section 19(b)(2) of the Act ^[8] provides that, after initiating proceedings, the Commission shall issue an order approving or disapproving the proposed rule change not later than 180 days after the date of publication of notice of filing of the proposed rule change. The Commission may extend the period for issuing an order approving or disapproving the proposed rule change, however, by not more than 60 days if the Commission determines that a longer period is appropriate and publishes the reasons for such determination. The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register on July 9, 2024.^[9] The 180th day after publication of the proposed rule change is January 5, 2025. The Commission is extending the time period for approving or disapproving the proposed rule change for an additional 60 days.

The Commission finds that it is appropriate to designate a longer period within which to issue an order approving or disapproving the proposed rule change so that it has sufficient time to consider the proposed rule change, the issues raised therein, and the comments received. Accordingly, the Commission, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,^[10] designates March 6, 2025, as the date by which the Commission shall either approve or disapprove the proposed rule change (File No. SR-NYSE-2024-35).