[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 60 (Thursday, March 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 16393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6253]



[[Page 16393]]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-57546; File No. 4-443]


Joint Industry Plan; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness 
of Amendment to the Plan for the Purpose of Developing and Implementing 
Procedures To Facilitate the Listing and Trading of Standardized 
Options To Add the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC as a Sponsor

March 21, 2008.
    Pursuant to section 11A(a)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (``Act'') \1\ and Rule 608 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on January 30, 2008, the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') an amendment to the Plan for the Purpose of Developing 
and Implementing Procedures to Facilitate the Listing and Trading of 
Standarized Options (``OLPP'').\3\ The amendment proposes to add Nasdaq 
as a Sponsor of the OLPP. The Commission is publishing this notice to 
solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(3).
    \2\ 17 CFR 242.608.
    \3\ On July 6, 2001, the Commission approved the OLPP, which was 
proposed by the American Stock Exchange LLC (``Amex''), Chicago 
Board Options Exchange, Inc. (``CBOE''), International Securities 
Exchange LLC (``ISE''), Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC''), 
Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. (``Phlx''), and Pacific Exchange, 
Inc. (``PCX'') (n/k/a NYSE Arca). See Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 44521, 66 FR 36809 (July 13, 2001). On February 5, 2004, 
Boston Stock Exchange, Inc. (``BSE'') was added as a Sponsor to 
OLPP. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 49199, 69 FR 7030 
(February 12, 2004).
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I. Description and Purpose of the Amendment

    The current Sponsors of the OLPP are Amex, BSE, CBOE, ISE, NYSE 
Arca, OCC, and Phlx. The proposed amendment to the OLPP would add 
Nasdaq as a Sponsor of the OLPP. A national securities exchange may 
become a sponsor if it satisfies the requirement of Section 7 of the 
OLPP. Specifically an Eligible Exchange \4\ may become a Sponsor of the 
OLPP by: (i) Executing a copy of the OLPP, as then in effect; (ii) 
providing each current Plan Sponsor with a copy of such executed 
Linkage Plan; and (iii) effecting an amendment to the OLPP, as 
specified in section 7(ii) of the OLPP.
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    \4\ The OLPP defines an ``Eligible Exchange'' as a national 
securities exchange registered with the Commission pursuant to 
Section 6(a) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 78f(a), that (1) has effective 
rules for the trading of options contracts issued and cleared by the 
Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') approved in accordance with 
the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations 
thereunder and (2) is a party to the Plan for Reporting Consolidated 
Options Last Sale Reports and Quotation Information (the ``OPRA 
Plan''). Nasdaq has represented that it has met both the 
requirements for being considered an Eligible Exchange. See letter 
from Jeffrey S. Davis, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, 
Nasdaq, to Elizabeth King, Associate Director, Division of Trading 
and Markets, Commission, dated March 20, 2008.
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    Section 7(ii) of the OLPP sets forth the process by which an 
Eligible Exchange may effect an amendment to the OLPP. Specifically, an 
Eligible Exchange must: (a) Execute a copy of the OLPP with the only 
change being the addition of the new sponsor's name in Section 8 of the 
OLPP; and (b) submit the executed OLPP to the Commission. The OLPP then 
provides that such an amendment will be effective at the later of 
either the amendment being approved by the Commission of otherwise 
becoming effective pursuant to Section 11A of the Act. Nasdaq has 
submitted a signed copy of the OLPP to the Commission in accordance 
with the procedures set forth in the OLPP regarding new Plan Sponsors.

II. Effectiveness of the Proposed Linkage Plan Amendment

    The foregoing proposed OLPP amendment has become effective pursuant 
to Rule 608(c)(3)(iii) \5\ because it involves solely technical or 
ministerial matters. At any time within sixty days of the filing of 
this amendment, the Commission may summarily abrogate the amendment and 
require that it be refiled pursuant to paragraphs (b)(1) of Rule 
608,\6\ if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary 
or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors 
or the maintenance of fair and orderly markets, to remove impediments 
to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a national market system or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
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    \5\ 17 CFR 242.608(b)(3)(iii).
    \6\ 17 CFR 242.608(b)(1).
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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 amendment 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 e-mail to: [email protected]. Please include 
File Number 4-443 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 4-443. 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 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, 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 Nasdaq. 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 4-443 and should be submitted on or before 
April 17, 2008.
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    \7\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(29).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\7\
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-6253 Filed 3-26-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P