[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 33 (Friday, February 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7945-7947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3575]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-59400; File No. SR-NYSE-2009-12]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule 
Change by New York Stock Exchange LLC Amending Its Limited Liability 
Company Operating Agreement and the Bylaws of Its Wholly-Owned 
Subsidiary NYSE Market, Inc. To Eliminate, in Each Case, a Requirement 
That Not Less Than Two Members of the Board of Directors Must Qualify 
as ``Non-Affiliated Directors'' and a Related Requirement That Not Less 
Than Two Members of the Board of Directors Must Qualify as ``Fair 
Representation Candidates''

February 12, 2009.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby given 
that on February 2, 2009, New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE'' or the 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, 
and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. 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. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes the amendment of (i) its limited liability 
company operating agreement and (ii) the bylaws of its wholly-owned 
subsidiary NYSE Market, Inc. (``NYSE Market'') to eliminate, in each 
case, a requirement that not less than two members of the board of 
directors must qualify as ``non-affiliated directors'' and a related 
requirement that not less than two members of the board of directors 
must qualify as ``fair representation candidates'' (as each of those 
terms is defined in the foregoing documents). A 20% minimum requirement 
would remain in place with respect to each of those categories of 
directors.

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 Exchange 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 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 Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange is proposing that its parent company, NYSE Group, 
Inc., as the sole member of the Exchange, a New York limited liability 
company, amend the Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of 
the Exchange (the ``Operating Agreement'') to eliminate the 
requirements that (a) not less than two members of the board of 
directors of the Exchange (``Exchange Board'') must be persons who are 
not members of the board of directors of NYSE Euronext (``NYSE Euronext 
Board''), and who qualify as independent under the independence policy 
of the NYSE Euronext Board (``NYSE non-affiliated directors'') and (b) 
not less than two members of the Exchange Board must be ``fair 
representation candidates'' (as defined in the Operating Agreement). In 
each case, however, the current 20% minimum requirement will continue 
to apply.
    The Exchange is further proposing that the Exchange, the sole 
stockholder of NYSE Market, amend the Amended and Restated Bylaws of 
NYSE Market (``Market Bylaws'') to eliminate the requirements that (a) 
not less than two members of the board of directors of NYSE Market 
(``Market Board'') must be persons who are not members of the NYSE 
Euronext Board, although such directors need not be independent 
(``Market non-affiliated directors'') and (b) not less than two members 
of the Market Board must be ``fair representation candidates'' (as 
defined in the Market Bylaws). In each case, however, the current 20% 
minimum requirement will continue to apply.
    The practical effect of the proposed rule change is to enable the 
size of each of the Exchange Board and the Market Board to be reduced 
from ten members to five members. The Exchange believes that reducing 
the size of each board to five directors, when combined with the 
current process for selecting the 20% of directors who meet the fair 
representation requirement in Section

[[Page 7946]]

6(b)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act''),\4\ is 
consistent with the Act.
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    \4\ Section 6(b)(3) requires, as a condition for registration of 
a national securities exchange, the Commission to determine that, 
``The rules of the exchange assure a fair representation of its 
members in the selection of its directors and administration of its 
affairs * * *.''
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    Currently, the Operating Agreement requires that at least 20%, and 
not less than two, of the members of the Exchange Board must be NYSE 
non-affiliated directors, and the same numerical requirements are 
applicable to fair representation candidates.\5\ Similarly, the Market 
Bylaws currently require that at least 20%, and not less than two, of 
the members of the Market Board must be Market non-affiliated 
directors, and the same numerical requirements are applicable to fair 
representation candidates.\6\
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    \5\ As defined in the Operating Agreement, fair representation 
candidates are Exchange Board members that are determined by member 
organizations of the Exchange through a specified petition process 
(``Petition Candidates'') or, in the absence of Petition Candidates, 
candidates recommended jointly by the Director Candidate 
Recommendation Committees (the ``DCRC'') of NYSE Market and NYSE 
Regulation, Inc. Fair representation candidates on the Exchange 
Board also qualify as NYSE non-affiliated directors. In the case of 
NYSE Market, fair representation candidates on the Market Board are 
similarly defined except that, in the absence of Petition 
Candidates, they are individuals recommended by the DCRC of NYSE 
Market. Fair representation candidates on the Market Board also 
qualify as Market non-affiliated directors.
    \6\ For purposes of calculating the minimum number of non-
affiliated directors and fair representation candidates for each of 
the Exchange and NYSE Market, if the number that is equal to 20% of 
the entire board of directors is not a whole number, such number 
will be rounded up to the next whole number. This rounding provision 
is being added to the text of both the limited liability company 
operating agreement of the Exchange and the bylaws of NYSE Market. 
The initial implementation of the proposed changes immediately 
following Commission approval will be accomplished through the 
voluntary resignation of five of the ten directors from each of the 
NYSE and NYSE Market boards, including one ``fair representation'' 
director from each of the boards, in connection with a reduction in 
the size of each board to five directors. The Exchange represents 
that the DCRC is aware of and is in agreement with the proposed plan 
of implementation. There is otherwise no change to the ``fair 
representation'' candidate selection and petition process.
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    The Exchange believes that elimination of the two-director minimum 
requirements for fair representation candidates and non-affiliated 
directors is consistent with the governance structures of other 
national securities exchanges that have been approved by the 
Commission. For example, Section 9(a) of the Limited Liability Company 
Agreement of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (the ``NASDAQ LLC Agreement'') 
requires that ``[a]t least twenty percent (20%) of the Directors shall 
be Member Representative Directors,'' where a Member Representative 
Director is the equivalent of a fair representation candidate on the 
Exchange and NYSE Market.\7\ However, there is no requirement in either 
the NASDAQ LLC Agreement or the NASDAQ By-Laws for a minimum of two 
Member Representative Directors. The number of directors constituting 
the board of directors of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC is at the 
complete discretion of the sole member of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC 
under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.\8\
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    \7\ See Article I, paragraph (q) of the By-Laws of the NASDAQ 
Stock Market LLC (the ``NASDAQ By-Laws), which states that, `` 
`Membership Representative Director' means a Director who has been 
elected or appointed after having been nominated by the Member 
Nominating Committee or by a Nasdaq Member pursuant to these By-
Laws.''
    \8\ See Section 9(a) of the NASDAQ LLC Agreement.
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    More recently, in its approval order relating to the acquisition of 
the American Stock Exchange LLC (``Amex'') by NYSE Euronext (the 
``Approval Order''),\9\ the Commission, after noting (1) that the board 
of directors of NYSE Alternext US LLC (``NYSE Alternext US''), the 
successor to Amex, ``will be composed of a number of directors as 
determined by NYSE Group from time to time, as sole owner of NYSE 
Alternext US'' \10\ and (2) Amex's representation that, immediately 
following the acquisition, ``the NYSE Alternext US Board will have five 
directors, one of which will be a Non-Affiliated Director * * *'' \11\, 
stated, ``The Commission finds that the proposed governance structure 
of NYSE Alternext US is consistent with the Act * * *'' \12\ The 
Approval Order further notes that ``at least twenty percent of the 
directors [of NYSE Alternext US] will be persons who are not members of 
the board of directors of NYSE Euronext and who do not need to be 
independent under the NYSE Euronext Independence Policy (`Non-
Affiliated Directors').'' \13\ This requirement for non-affiliated 
directors of NYSE Alternext US tracks the non-affiliated director 
requirements of the NYSE and NYSE Market,\14\ but there is no 
requirement that there be a minimum of two such directors.\15\ The 
Approval Order also described the selection process for non-affiliated 
directors of NYSE Alternext US, including a written petition process by 
members which is very similar to that of the Exchange and NYSE Market 
for the selection of fair representation candidates. The Approval Order 
then concluded, ``The Commission finds that the requirement that at 
least twenty percent of the NYSE Alternext US Directors be Non-
Affiliated Directors, and the process for selecting such Non-Affiliated 
Directors, are designed to ensure the fair representation of NYSE 
Alternext US members on the NYSE Alternext US Board.'' \16\ In 
conclusion, we again note that the proposed governance structure of 
NYSE Alternext US that was approved by the Commission in the Approval 
Order had no additional requirement for a minimum of two fair 
representation candidates. Consequently, elimination of this 
requirement will leave the Exchange and NYSE Market with governance 
structures that are completely consistent with similar structures that 
the Commission has approved for other national securities exchanges.
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    \9\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58673 (September 29, 
2008), 73 FR 57707 (October 3, 2008) (SR-Amex-2008-62).
    \10\ Id., 73 FR at 57711.
    \11\ See Approval Order, supra note 9, 73 FR at 57712.
    \12\ Id.
    \13\ Id.
    \14\ The Exchange's requirements for non-affiliated directors 
are somewhat more restrictive than those of NYSE Alternext US, in 
that such directors on the Exchange Board must also be independent 
as well. See Section 2.03(a)(i) of the Operating Agreement.
    \15\ The Approval Order does note that, ``For purposes of 
calculation of the minimum number of Non-Affiliated Directors, if 
twenty percent of the directors is not a whole number, such number 
of directors to be nominated and selected by NYSE Alternext US 
members will be rounded up to the next whole number.'' See Approval 
Order, supra note 9, at note 57. See also supra note 6 regarding the 
commitment of the Exchange and NYSE Market to round up the number of 
non-affiliated directors and fair representation candidates in the 
same manner under the proposed rule change.
    \16\ Id.
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2. Statutory Basis
    The proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) \17\ of 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act''), in general, and 
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) \18\ in 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, to remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system and, 
in general, to protect investors and the public interest. More 
specifically, the NYSE believes that, by eliminating, for itself and 
its subsidiary, the current requirement for a minimum of two non-
affiliated directors and fair

[[Page 7947]]

representation candidates, it will be able to improve administrative 
efficiency and effectiveness by operating with a smaller number of 
directors while continuing to fulfill its statutory obligations 
regarding the fair representation of its members. The proposed rule 
change will thereby contribute to perfecting the mechanism of a free 
and open market and a national market system, which is also consistent 
with the protection of investors and the public interest.
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    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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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 solicited or received with respect to the 
proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change 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 Amex consents, the Commission will:
    (A) By order approve such proposed rule change; or
    (B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change 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 
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 e-mail to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSE-2009-12 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2009-12. 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, on official 
business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the 
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 available publicly. All submissions should refer to 
File Number SR-NYSE-2009-12 and should be submitted on or before March 
13, 2009.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\19\
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    \19\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E9-3575 Filed 2-19-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P