[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6683-6685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2656]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-59348; File No. SR-NYSEALTR-2009-08]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate 
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by NYSE Alternext US, LLC 
Amending Rule 916 To Eliminate the $3 Market Price Per Share 
Requirement

February 3, 2009.
    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 February 2, 2009, NYSE Alternext US, LLC (``NYSE Amex'' or the 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and 
II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. NYSE Amex has 
designated the proposed rule change as constituting a non-controversial 
rule change under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act,\3\ which renders the 
proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. The

[[Page 6684]]

Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 916, Withdrawal of Approval of 
Underlying Securities, to eliminate the $3 market price per share 
requirement from the Exchange's requirements for continued approval for 
an underlying security and eliminate the prohibition against listing 
additional series of options on an underlying security at any time when 
the price per share of such underlying security is less than $3. 
Changes to the rule text are shown in the attached Exhibit 5. Changes 
to the rule text are shown in the attached Exhibit 5.\4\ A copy of this 
filing is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://www.nyse.com, 
at the Exchange's principal office and at the Commission's Public 
Reference Room.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The Commission notes that while provided in Exhibit 5 to the 
filing, the text of the proposed rule change is not attached to this 
notice but is available at the Exchange, the Commission's Public 
Reference Room, and at http://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 purpose of this proposed rule change is to eliminate the $3 
market price per share requirement from the Exchange's requirements for 
continued approval for an underlying security from Rule 916. In 
addition, the rule filing would further amend Rule 916 by eliminating 
the prohibition against listing additional series of options on an 
underlying security at any time when the price per share of such 
underlying security is less than $3.
    The Exchange believes that the $3 market price per share 
requirement is no longer necessary or appropriate, and states that only 
those underlying securities meeting the remaining maintenance listing 
criteria set forth in Rule 5.4 will be eligible for continued listing 
and the listing of additional option series. The Exchange believes that 
the current $3 market price per share requirement could have a negative 
effect on investors. For example, in the current volatile market 
environment, the Exchange is currently unable to list new series on 
underlying securities trading below $3. If there is market demand for 
series while the underlying is below $3, the Exchange would be unable 
to accommodate such requests and investors would be unable to hedge 
their positions with new options series.
    As of January 2, 2009, the Exchange had 161 underlying issues that 
closed below $3 per share, and an additional 114 that closed between $3 
and $5 per share, out of a total of 1646 underlying classes.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act, in that it 
is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove 
impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market and 
a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the 
public interest, as it provides for the continued listing of options 
overlying securities that meet all requirements except for share price. 
By continuing the listing, investors will be able to continue managing 
risk in these securities.

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.

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

    Because the foregoing 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 for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or 
such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become 
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \5\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \6\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at 
least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed 
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. 
NYSE Amex has satisfied this requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A proposed rule change filed pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the 
Act \7\ normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date 
of its filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \8\ permits the Commission to 
designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest. NYSE Amex requests 
that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay. The Commission 
notes that this proposed rule change is substantially identical to a 
proposed rule change that was approved by the Commission after an 
opportunity for public comment,\9\ and does not raise any new 
substantive issues. The Exchange requests the waiver of the 30-day 
operative delay so that the proposed rule change may become effective 
and operative on or near the date that the CBOE proposal is operative. 
For these reasons, the Commission believes that waiving the 30-day 
operative delay \10\ is consistent with the protection of investors and 
the public interest and designates the proposal operative upon filing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \9\ NYSE Amex's proposed rule change is substantially identical 
to a proposed rule change by the Chicago Board Options Exchange 
(``CBOE'') recently approved by the Commission. See Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 59336 (February 2, 2009) (SR-CBOE-2008-
127).
    \10\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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:

[[Page 6685]]

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-NYSEALTR-2009-08 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-NYSEALTR-2009-08. 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 the Exchange. 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 publicly available. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEALTR-2009-08 and should 
be submitted on or before March 3, 2009.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-2656 Filed 2-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P