[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 148 (Thursday, August 2, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42456-42457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14990]



[[Page 42456]]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-56162; File No. SR-NYSE-2007-013]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC, 
Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule and Amendment No. 1 Relating to a 
Proposed New Rule on Notification of Fees

July 27, 2007.
    Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on February 6, 2007, the New York Stock Exchange (``NYSE'') filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed new rule as described in Items I, II and III below, which 
Items have been substantially prepared by NYSE. On July 27, 2007, NYSE 
filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule. The Commission is 
publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule from 
interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule

    NYSE is filing with the Commission proposed new Rule 405B 
(``Notification of Fees'').

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule

    In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements 
concerning the purpose of, and basis for, 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

1. Purpose
    The NYSE is proposing new Rule 405B (``Notification of Fees'') 
which would require member organizations to provide their customers 
with written notification of all fees related to their customers' 
accounts as well as require that fees be reasonable and not unfairly 
discriminatory between customers.
a. Background
    A significant number of operational complaints that were reported 
to the Exchange pursuant to NYSE Rule 351(d) \3\ concerned member 
organizations' insufficient notification of fees to their customers.\4\ 
Specifically, many of these complaints involved increases in account 
fees and service charges or other charges which customers felt were 
imposed on them without notification. In June of 2005, the Exchange 
published Information Memo 05-41 (``Customer Notification of Service 
Fees and Service Fee Changes''), which provided guidance to firms 
regarding notification of fees. New Rule 405B is proposed to codify 
such guidance so as to emphasize the importance of notification of fees 
to customers.\5\
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    \3\ NYSE Rule 351 (``Reporting Requirements'') specifies certain 
occurrences, incidents, and periodic information that member 
organizations must report to the Exchange.
    \4\ See NYSE Information Memo 05-41 (June 13, 2005) (Customer 
Notification of Service Fees and Service Fee Changes) stating that 
over 25% of customer operational complaints made to the Exchange in 
2004 concerned ``fee/commissions'' problems.
    \5\ There has continued to be abuses in this area of excessive 
fees charged to customers and fee notification to customers. See 
NASD action involving McLaughlin, Piven and Vogel Securities 
(October 26, 2006).
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b. Proposed Rule
    As proposed, Rule 405B would require member organizations to 
provide their customers with written notification of relevant fees 
regarding their accounts. Specifically, Rule 405B(1)(a) would require 
member organizations to provide each of its customers with written 
notification of all fees that are in effect at the time the account is 
opened, or that will take effect within 30 days of the account being 
opened. Additionally, Rule 405B(1)(b) would require member 
organizations to mail written notification of increased fees, or 
imposition of any new fees, at least 30 days prior to the increase or 
imposition related to an account to the last known address of every 
customer whose account is subject to such fees. Further, member 
organizations would be required to post a notification of the types of 
fee changes, and the projected date of such changes, on their internet 
website (if they maintain a website). This proposed Rule would better 
allow customers to stay apprised of their account fees as well as any 
changes to such fees.
    Proposed Rule 405B(2) provides for methods of notification. 
Specifically, the proposed new rule would allow member organizations to 
either send a separate written notification to inform customers of fees 
or include the fee notices with account statements or newsletters.
    Furthermore, Rule 405B(3) describes the types of fees which are 
included under the notification requirements of Rule 405B. 
Specifically, proposed Rule 405B(3) states, in part, that fees ``shall 
be construed broadly to include, but not be limited to, charges such as 
commissions, charges for any managed or non-managed accounts, or 
charges for other account-related services, such as reinvestment of 
dividends or interest, transfer or custody of securities, appraisals, 
safe-keeping, or margin.''
    Also, proposed Rule 405B(4) would require that fees imposed on 
customers by member organizations be reasonable and not unfairly 
discriminatory.\6\ The Exchange recognizes that fees charged to certain 
customers by member organizations may differ in some circumstances 
depending on various factors including, for example, the type of 
account, the amount invested, and the length and type of relationship. 
Thus, the proposed rule would not prohibit or restrict firms' ability 
to structure their pricing schedules based upon the uniqueness of their 
various customer relationships.
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    \6\ This is substantially similar to NASD Rule 2430 (``Charges 
for Services Performed''), but proposed NYSE Rule 405B contains 
notification requirements, whereas NASD Rule 2430 does not.
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    In addition, proposed Rule 405B(5) would provide customers with an 
option to receive notification of fees electronically in lieu of by 
mail, provided the customer affirmatively opts out of receiving such 
notification in writing.\7\ This proposed rule is an effort to provide 
greater convenience to the investing public by providing customers with 
an option as to how they would like to receive fee notifications.
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    \7\ This approach is similar to a recently approved amendment to 
NYSE Rule 409 (``Statements of Accounts to Customers'') permitting 
institutional customers doing business solely on a deliver versus 
payment/receive versus payment basis (``RVP/DVP'') to opt out of 
receiving statements as otherwise required by the rule. See Release 
No. 34-54810 (November 22, 2006), 71 FR 69165 (November 29, 2006) 
(SR-NYSE-2005-90). The SEC also approved similar revisions to NASD 
Rule 2340 in Release No. 34-54811 (November 22, 2006), 71 FR 69161 
(November 29, 2006) (SR-NASD-2006-066). See also NYSE Information 
Memo 06-80 (November 30, 2006).
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2. Statutory Basis
    The statutory basis for this proposed rule change is section 
6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act.\8\ Under that section, rules of the 
Exchange must be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts 
and practices and promote just and equitable principles of trade. 
Proposed new Rule 405B would require member

[[Page 42457]]

organizations to provide their customers with written notification of 
fees. This proposed new rule is, therefore, consistent with section 
6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act because it would provide for greater 
transparency to customers with respect to fees charged and will provide 
guidance to firms with respect to the fees they impose upon their 
customers.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78a et. seq.
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change does not impose 
any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance 
of the purposes of the Exchange Act.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Received from Members, Participants or Others

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule 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 self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
    A. By order approve such proposed rule, or
    B. institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
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 
is consistent with the Act. We invite interested persons to discuss 
whether a de minimis exception to paragraph (1) would help member 
organizations comply with the proposed rule and/or increase the 
effectiveness of the disclosures. If a de minimis exception is 
warranted, we also invite interested persons to discuss under what 
circumstances a fee or fee increase should be considered ``de 
minimis.'' 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 e-mail to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSE-2007-013 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F. Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2007-013. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail 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 that are filed 
with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the 
proposed rule 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, 100 F. Street, NE., Washington, DC 
20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 
p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and 
copying at the principal office of NYSE. 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-NYSE-2007-013 and should be submitted on 
or before August 23, 2007.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\9\
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    \9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E7-14990 Filed 8-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P