67 FR 29 pgs. 6565-6567 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Amending Exchange Rule 351 Concerning the Reporting of Criminal Offenses by Members and Member Organizations to the Exchange
Type: NOTICEVolume: 67Number: 29Pages: 6565 - 6567
Docket number: [Release No. 34-45404; File No. SR-NYSE-2002-06]
FR document: [FR Doc. 02-3300 Filed 2-11-02; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-45404; File No. SR-NYSE-2002-06]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Amending Exchange Rule 351 Concerning the Reporting of Criminal Offenses by Members and Member Organizations to the Exchange
February 6, 2002.
Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act"),1and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,2notice is hereby given that on January 9, 2002, the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. ("NYSE" or "Exchange") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
Footnotes:
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Rule 351 that would narrow the scope of reportable criminal offenses reported by members and member organizations to incidents, which are more germane to the conduct of a securities-related business and would, therefore, minimize the number of immaterial filings and maximize the effective use of resources committed to fulfilling self-regulatory responsibilities at the Exchange. Moreover, the proposed amendment would capture the reporting of arrests for which any subsequent conviction would subject the individual to a statutory disqualification under section 3(a)(39) of the Act.3
Footnotes:
3 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(39).
The text of the proposed rule change appears below. New text is in italics; deletions are in brackets.
Reporting Requirements
Rule 351
(a) (1)-(4) no change.
(a) (5) is arrested, arraigned, indicted or convicted of, or pleads guilty to, pleads no contest to, [any criminal offense (other than minor traffic violations)] any felony; or any misdemeanor that involves the purchase or sale of any security, the taking of a false oath, the making of a false report, bribery, perjury, burglary, larceny, theft, robbery, extortion, forgery, counterfeiting, fraudulent concealment, embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, or misappropriation of funds, or securities, or substantially equivalent activity in a domestic or foreign court.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange 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 statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
(1) Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Rule 351(a)(5) with respect to the reporting of criminal offenses by members and member organizations to the Exchange. According to the Exchange, one of its objectives, as provided by the Exchange's Constitution, is to "maintain high standards of commercial honor and integrity among its members, allied members, member firms and member corporations.* * *" To this end, NYSE Rule 351(a)(5) requires that members and member organizations promptly report to the Exchange whenever a member, member organization, or any member, allied member or registered or non-registered employee associated with such member or member organization is arrested, arraigned, indicted, convicted of, pleads guilty to or pleads no contest to, any criminal offense (other than a minor traffic violation).
According to the Exchange, the reporting requirement under NYSE Rule 351(a)(5) is intended to assist it ensure that its members, allied members and member organizations possess commercial integrity and can function in a fiduciary capacity. However, the Exchange believes that the definition of a reportable offense under NYSE Rule 351(a)(5) is too broad in its current form and departs from the prevailing industry disclosure requirements.4The Exchange states that it has required member organizations to report a wide range of criminal offenses to the Exchange. In fact, the Exchange believes that the majority of offenses currently reported to the Exchange do not relate to the commercial integrity of the industry. The Exchange states that such reported offences are not business-related, such as fraud, embezzlement, theft or forgery. More often, the Exchange states, the reported offences relate to violations of the motor vehicle code, such as drunk driving offenses.
Footnotes:
4 Under the current version of the Form U-4, Question 22A(1) reads as follows: "Have you ever (a) been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere ("no contest") in a domestic, foreign, or military court to any felony? (b) been charged with any felony?' Question 22B(1) reads as follows: Have you ever (a) been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere ("no contest") in a domestic or foreign court to a misdemeanor involving: investments or an investment-related business, fraud, false statements or omissions, wrongful taking of property, or bribery, forgery, counterfeiting or extortion, or a conspiracy to commit any of these offenses? (b) been charged with a misdemeanor specified in 23B(1)(a)?
As a result, the Exchange believes the overly broad reference to "criminal offense" under NYSE Rule 351(a)(5) currently requires applicants to report information that is of no regulatory interest to the Exchange, is not in keeping with other industry regulatory requirements and places unnecessary demands on Exchange staff since they have been required to review these unnecessary filings. For example, the Exchange asserts that 95% of the 154 reported arrests in the first quarter of 2001 were not felonies or business-related offenses. In fact, 50% of the reported arrests involved drunk driving offenses. Under the proposed amendment, the Exchange states that these types of arrests would not need to be reported to the Exchange.
According to the Exchange, the proposed rule change would narrow the scope of reportable criminal offenses required by members and member organizations to incidents, which are more germane to the conduct of a securities-related business and would, therefore, minimize the number of immaterial filings and maximize the effective use of resources committed to fulfilling self-regulatory responsibilities at the Exchange. However, the Exchange notes that the proposed rule change would still require that every felony be reported to the Exchange, while only the proposed enumerated misdemeanors need be reported.5Moreover, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change would capture the reporting of arrests for which any subsequent conviction would subject the individual to a statutory disqualification under Section 3(a)(39)6of the Act.
Footnotes:
5 Telephone conversation between Susan Light, Vice President, NYSE, and Katherine England, Assistant Director, Division of Market Regulation, Commission, on January 31, 2002.
6 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(39).
(2) Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the basis for the proposed rule change, as amended, is the requirement under sections 6(b)(5)7and 6(c)(2) of the Act.8Section 6(b)(5)9requires, among other things, that the rules of an exchange be designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and national market system, and in general, to protect investors and the public interest. Section 6(c)(2)10permits an exchange to deny membership to a registered broker-dealer or bar association of a natural person with a registered broker-dealer who is subject to a statutory disqualification.
Footnotes:
7 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
8 15 U.S.C. 78f(c)(2).
9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
10 15 U.S.C. 78f(c)(2).
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange believes that the proposal does not impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
Comments were neither solicited nor received by the Exchange.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding, or (ii) as to which the Exchange consents, the Commission will:
A. By order approve such proposed rule change; or
B. Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. 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 inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filings will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-NYSE-2002-06 and should be submitted by March 5, 2002.
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.11
Footnotes:
11 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-3300 Filed 2-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P