[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 116 (Monday, June 17, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41289-41290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-15139]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-46054; File No. SR-PCX-2002-12]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate 
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto by 
the Pacific Exchange, Inc. Relating to the Obligation of ETP Holders To 
Maintain Books and Records

June 10, 2002.
    Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on April 22, 2002, the Pacific Exchange, Inc. (``PCX'' or 
``Exchange''), through its wholly-owned subsidiary PCX Equities, Inc. 
(``PCXE'' or ``Corporation''), submitted to the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission'' or ``SEC'') the proposed rule change as 
described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared 
by the Exchange. PCX filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change 
on May 17, 2002.\3\ The Exchange filed the proposed rule change 
pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act,\4\ and Rule 10b-4(f)(6) 
thereunder,\5\ which renders the proposal effective upon filing with 
the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested 
persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange requests that the proposed 
rule change be considered pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the 
Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder, and proposes to add a 
parenthetical phrase ``including any interpretation relating 
thereto'' to the first sentence of proposed PCX Rule 2.23. See 
letter from Mai S. Shiver, Senior Attorney, Regulatory Policy, PCX, 
to Nancy J. Sanow, Assistant Director, Division of Market 
Regulation, Commission, dated May 16, 2002 (``Amendment No. 1''). 
Because the Form 19b-4 submitted on April 22, 2002 was not complete, 
the proposed rule change was not considered filed. The proposed rule 
change became effective on May 17, 2002, the date on which Amendment 
No. 1 was filed with the Commission.
    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \5\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The PCX proposes a new rule, PCX Rule 2.23, in order to codify the 
existing obligations of an equity trading permit holder (``ETP 
Holder'') to keep and preserve books and records. The text of the 
proposed rule change is below; new language is italicized.
    Rule 2.23 Each ETP Holder must make, keep current and preserve such 
books and records as the Exchange may prescribe and as may be 
prescribed by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and 
regulations thereunder (including any interpretation relating thereto) 
as though such ETP Holders were brokers or dealers registered with the 
SEC pursuant to Section 15 of the Exchange Act. No ETP Holder may 
refuse to make available to the Exchange such books, records or other 
information as may be called for under the Rules or as may be requested 
in connection with an Exchange investigation.

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 PCX 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 PCX 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
    Currently, Exchange rules obligate ETP Holders to make, keep 
current, and preserve certain books and records.\6\ In addition, the 
Exchange relies on the Commission's comprehensive books and records 
rules, Rule 17a-3 \7\ and Rule

[[Page 41290]]

17a-4 \8\ of the Act, as the basis of its authority to require ETP 
Holders to maintain and retain books and records not covered under the 
Exchange's express rules.
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    \6\ See, e.g., PCX Rule 4.1, Commentary .02(g) (requirement that 
an ETP Firm maintain records on spot commodities); PCX Rule 4.14(a) 
(requirement that ETP Holders maintain daily margin records).
    \7\ 17 CFR 240.17a-3.
    \8\ 17 CFR 240.17a-4.
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    The Exchange now proposes to adopt a new rule to codify the books 
and records requirement and to make clear to ETP Holders that the 
Commission's comprehensive books and records rule applies to each ETP 
Holder. As proposed, the new rule would require each ETP Holder to 
make, keep current, and preserve such books and records as the Exchange 
may prescribe and as those that may be prescribed by the Act and the 
rules and regulations thereunder (including any interpretation 
thereunder). The proposed rule further provides that no ETP Holder may 
refuse to make available to the Exchange such books, records or other 
information as may be called for under the PCX rules or as may be 
requested in connection with an Exchange investigation. Otherwise, the 
proposed rule does not impose any additional requirements on the ETP 
Holders.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with section 
6(b) of the Act,\9\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5),\10\ in particular, because it is designed to promote just and 
equitable principles of trade, prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts 
and practices, and protect investors and the public interest.
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    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The PCX 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

    Written comments on the proposed rule change 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: (1) Does not 
significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest; (2) does not impose any significant burden on competition; 
and (3) does not become operative for 30 days from the date of filing, 
or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with 
the protection of investors and the public interest, and the Exchange 
has provided the Commission with written notice of its intent to file 
the proposed rule change at least five business days prior to the 
filing date,\11\ the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant 
to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \12\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
thereunder.\13\
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    \11\ The Commission notes that PCX's original Form 19b-4, dated 
April 22, 2002, satisfied the pre-filing notice requirement.
    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \13\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule 
change, the Commission may summarily abrogate 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.\14\
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    \14\ The proposed rule change became effective on May 17, 2002, 
the date on which Amendment No. 1 was filed and, therefore, the 60 
day abrogation period began on May 17, 2002.
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IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change, as amended, 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 
filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the 
principal office of the PCX. All submissions should refer to File 
Number SR-PCX-2002-12 and should be submitted by July 8, 2002.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\15\
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    \15\ 17 CFR 200.30(a)(12).
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Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-15139 Filed 6-14-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P