77 FR 36 pgs. 10791-10792 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Amex LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Deleting NYSE Amex Equities Rule 319, Which Addresses Fidelity Bond Requirements, and Adopt New Rule Text That Is Substantially Similar to FINRA Rule 4360

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Type: NOTICEVolume: 77Number: 36Pages: 10791 - 10792

Docket number: [Release No. 34-66412; File No. SR-NYSEAMEX-2012-08]

FR document: [FR Doc. 2012-4151 Filed 2-22-12; 8:45 am]

Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission

Official PDF Version: PDF Version

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-66412; File No. SR-NYSEAMEX-2012-08]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Amex LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Deleting NYSE Amex Equities Rule 319, Which Addresses Fidelity Bond Requirements, and Adopt New Rule Text That Is Substantially Similar to FINRA Rule 4360

February 16, 2012.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1)¹of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act")²and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,³notice is hereby given that on February 3, 2012, NYSE Amex LLC (the "Exchange" or "NYSE Amex") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. 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 15 U.S.C. 78a.

³ 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 delete NYSE Amex Equities Rule 319, which addresses fidelity bond requirements, and adopt new rule text that is substantially similar to FINRA Rule 4360. The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange, the Commission's Public Reference Room, and www.nyse.com.

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 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 those 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 parts 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 delete NYSE Amex Equities Rule 319, which addresses fidelity bond requirements, and adopt new rule text that is substantially similar to FINRA Rule 4360.⁴

Footnotes:

⁴ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63961 (February 24, 2011), 76 FR 11542 (March 2, 2011) (SR-FINRA-2010-059). FINRA's rule change became effective on January 1, 2012. See FINRA Regulatory Notice 11-21.

Background

On July 30, 2007, FINRA's predecessor, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), and NYSE Regulation, Inc. ("NYSER") consolidated their member firm regulation operations into a combined organization, FINRA. Pursuant to Rule 17d-2 under the Act, NYSE, NYSER and FINRA entered into an agreement (the "Agreement") to reduce regulatory duplication for their members by allocating to FINRA certain regulatory responsibilities for certain NYSE rules and rule interpretations ("FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules"). NYSE Amex LLC ("NYSE Amex") became a party to the Agreement effective December 15, 2008.⁵

Footnotes:

⁵ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 56148 (July 26, 2007), 72 FR 42146 (August 1, 2007) (order approving the Agreement); 56147 (July 26, 2007), 72 FR 42166 (August 1, 2007) (SR-NASD-2007-054) (order approving the incorporation of certain NYSE Rules as "Common Rules"); and 60409 (July 30, 2009), 74 FR 39353 (August 6, 2009) (order approving the amended and restated Agreement, adding NYSE Amex LLC as a party). Paragraph 2(b) of the Agreement sets forth procedures regarding proposed changes by FINRA, NYSE or NYSE Amex to the substance of any of the Common Rules.

As part of its effort to reduce regulatory duplication and relieve firms that are members of FINRA, NYSE and NYSE Amex of conflicting or unnecessary regulatory burdens, FINRA is now engaged in the process of reviewing and amending the NASD and FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules in order to create a consolidated FINRA rulebook.⁶

Footnotes:

⁶ FINRA's rulebook currently has three sets of rules: (1) NASD Rules, (2) FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules, and (3) consolidated FINRA Rules. The FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules apply only to those members of FINRA that are also members of the NYSE ("Dual Members"), while the consolidated FINRA Rules apply to all FINRA members. For more information about the FINRA rulebook consolidation process, see FINRA Information Notice, March 12, 2008.

Proposed Conforming Amendments to NYSE Amex Equities Rules

The Exchange proposes to delete NYSE Amex Equities Rule 319 and adopt new NYSE Amex Equities Rule 4360 to conform to the changes adopted by FINRA for fidelity bonds.⁷FINRA adopted NASD Rule 3020 as FINRA Rule 4360, taking into account NYSE Rule 319 and its Interpretation. FINRA Rule 4360 updates and clarifies fidelity bond requirements for member firms and better reflects current industry practices. The Rule requires each FINRA member that is required to join Securities Investor Protection Corporation to maintain blanket fidelity bond coverage with specified amounts of coverage based on the member organization's net capital requirement, with certain exceptions, and to maintain fidelity bond coverage that provides for per loss coverage without an aggregate limit of liability.

Footnotes:

⁷ The purpose of a fidelity bond is to protect a member organization against certain types of losses, including, but not limited to, those caused by the malfeasance of its officers and employees, and the effect of such losses on the member organization's capital.

Because it covers the same topic as the new FINRA rule, FINRA deleted FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rule 319 and its Interpretation. In particular, NYSE Rule 319 and its Interpretation generally require member organizations to maintain minimum amounts of fidelity bond coverage for officers and employees, and that such coverage address losses incurred due to certain specified events. To harmonize the NYSE Amex Equities Rules with the approved FINRA Rules, the Exchange correspondingly proposes to delete NYSE Amex Equities Rule 319 and to adopt proposed NYSE Amex Equities Rule 4360. The text of proposed NYSE Amex Equities Rule 4360 would be the same as FINRA Rule 4360, except that the Exchange would substitute the term "member organization" for "member" and "Exchange" for "FINRA."

2. Statutory Basis

The proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act⁸in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5)⁹in 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, and to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system. Specifically, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change supports the objectives of the Act by providing greater harmonization between NYSE Amex Equities Rules and FINRA Rules of similar purpose, resulting in less burdensome and more efficient regulatory compliance. In particular, all NYSE Amex member organizations that are subject to NYSE Amex Equities Rule 319 are also subject to FINRA Rule 4360 and harmonizing these two rules would promote just and equitable principles of trade by requiring a single standard for fidelity bonds. To the extent the Exchange has proposed changes that differ from the FINRA version of the Rules, such changes are technical in nature and do not change the substance of the proposed NYSE Amex Equities Rules. The Exchange also believes that the proposed rule change will update and clarify the requirements governing fidelity bonds, which will promote just and equitable principles of trade and help to protect investors.

Footnotes:

⁸ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

⁹ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

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

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is 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

No written comments were either solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change.

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

The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act¹⁰and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.¹¹Because the 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 prior to 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.

Footnotes:

¹⁰ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

¹¹ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)¹²normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),¹³the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing.

Footnotes:

¹² 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

¹³ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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.

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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-NYSEAMEX-2012-08 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

• Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEAMEX-2012-08. This file number should be included on 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 NYSE's principal office and on its Internet Web site at www.nyse.com. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEAMEX-2012-08 and should be submitted on or before March 15, 2012.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.¹⁴

Footnotes:

¹⁴ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

Kevin M. O'Neill,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2012-4151 Filed 2-22-12; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P