[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 192 (Thursday, October 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46561-46564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21401]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-81764; File No. SR-CHX-2017-13]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change 
Related to Sponsored Access

September 29, 2017.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 \2\ thereunder, notice is hereby given 
that on September 15, 2017, the Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. (``CHX'' 
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. 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\ 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

    CHX proposes to amend the Rules of the Exchange (``CHX Rules'') 
related to Sponsored Access. The text of this proposed rule change is 
available on the Exchange's Web site at (www.chx.com) and in the 
Commission's Public Reference Room.

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 CHX included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule changes 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 CHX 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 Changes

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to amend CHX Rules to effect the following 
changes:
     Amend Article 1, Rule 1 to adopt the following defined 
terms: ``Sponsoring Participant,'' ``Sponsored Person'' and ``Sponsored 
Access.''
     Amend Article 5, Rule 3 to permit Sponsoring Participants 
to provide Sponsored Access to the Exchange to Sponsored Persons, 
subject to enhanced requirements. Current Article 5, Rule 3 only 
permits Sponsoring Participants to provide authorized access to the 
Exchange's trading facilities to non-Participant \3\ broker-dealers. 
The proposal would permit Participants, non-Participants, broker-
dealers and firms that are not broker-dealers to receive Sponsored 
Access to the Exchange.\4\
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    \3\ A ``Participant'' is a ``member'' of the Exchange for the 
purposes of the Act. See CHX Article 1, Rule 1(s).
    \4\ The Exchange notes that Nasdaq Stock Market (``Nasdaq'') 
permits its members to provide Sponsored Access to a ``Sponsored 
Participant,'' which may be a non-broker-dealer, subject to the 
requirements of Nasdaq Rule 4615. According to Nasdaq, a ``Sponsored 
Participant'' may be a member, non-member, a broker-dealer or not a 
broker-dealer, such as ``a hedge fund, mutual fund, bank or 
insurance company.'' See Exchange Act Release No. 76449 (November 
17, 2015), 80 FR 73011, 73012 (November 23, 2015) (SR-NASDAQ-2015-
140).

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[[Page 46562]]

(1) Current Article 5, Rule 3
    Current Article 5, Rule 3(a) provides that a Sponsoring Participant 
may provide authorized access to the Exchange for a non-Participant 
broker-dealer, through a clearing arrangement or otherwise, only if the 
Sponsoring Participant, the non-Participant broker-dealer and the 
Exchange (as appropriate) enter into one or more written agreements, in 
a form acceptable to the Exchange, prior to any access to the Exchange, 
that contain all of the following terms: (1) All orders submitted by 
the non-Participant broker-dealer, and any executions resulting from 
those orders, are binding in all respects on the Sponsoring 
Participant; (2) the Sponsoring Participant is responsible for all 
actions taken and fees incurred in connection with any order submitted 
or transaction executed by the non-Participant broker-dealer (and any 
person acting on behalf of the non-Participant broker-dealer); (3) in 
all matters relating to the non-Participant broker-dealer's access to 
the Exchange and its use of Exchange facilities, the Exchange shall 
communicate with the Sponsoring Participant and shall not be required 
to communicate with the non-Participant broker-dealer at any time; (4) 
the non-Participant broker-dealer agrees that it will have reasonable 
procedures to maintain the physical security of the equipment used to 
access the Exchange to prevent improper use of, or access to, the 
Exchange; and (5) the Sponsoring Participant agrees that it will 
indemnify and hold the Exchange harmless from any liability, loss, 
claim or expense which the Exchange may incur in connection with the 
agreement. In addition, current Article 5, Rule 3(b) provides that the 
Sponsoring Participant must provide signed copies of the agreements 
required by section (a) to the Exchange prior to the non-participant's 
access to the Exchange through the Sponsoring Participant.
    The Exchange now proposes to amend CHX Rules to permit Sponsoring 
Participants to provide Sponsored Access to the Exchange to any 
Sponsored Person, subject to the requirements of amended Article 5, 
Rule 3. Amended Article 5, Rule 3 is based, in part, on Nasdaq Rule 
4615. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will permit a 
broader group of market participants, such as institutional investors, 
to obtain Sponsored Access to the Exchange, which may result in reduced 
transaction costs to such market participants in furtherance of the 
protection investors and the public interest.
(2) Proposed Definitions
    Proposed CHX Article 1, Rule 1(vv) provides that ``Sponsored 
Person'' means a person which has entered into a sponsorship 
arrangement with a Sponsoring Participant pursuant to amended Article 
5, Rule 3.
    Proposed CHX Article 1, Rule 1(ww) provides that a ``Sponsoring 
Participant'' means a Participant who has been designated by a 
Sponsored Person to execute, clear and settle transactions resulting 
from the Trading Facilities. The rule continues by providing that the 
Sponsoring Participant shall be either (1) a Clearing Participant \5\ 
or (2) a correspondent firm with a clearing arrangement with a Clearing 
Participant.
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    \5\ CHX Article 1, Rule 1(ee) defines ``Clearing Participant'' 
as ``a Participant which has been admitted to membership in a 
Qualified Clearing Agency pursuant to the provisions of the Rules of 
the Qualified Clearing Agency.'' Current CHX Article 1, Rule 1(ff) 
defines ``Qualified Clearing Agency'' as ``a clearing agency as 
defined in Section 3(a)(23) of the Exchange Act which is registered 
with the Commission pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A(b)(2) 
of the Exchange Act or has obtained from the Commission an exemption 
from registration granted specifically to allow the clearing agency 
to provide confirmation and affirmation services.
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    Proposed Article 1, Rule 1(xx) provides that ``Sponsored Access'' 
means an arrangement whereby a Sponsoring Participant permits its 
Sponsored Persons to enter orders into the Matching System that bypass 
the Sponsoring Participant's trading system and are routed directly to 
the Exchange, including through a service bureau or other third party 
technology provider. The Exchange is proposing to adopt a definition 
for ``Sponsored Access'' to clarify the type of market access 
arrangement that is subject to amended Article 5, Rule 3. This 
definition was derived from the Commission's description of Sponsored 
Access used in the release approving the Market Access Rule.\6\
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    \6\ The Market Access Rule, among other things, requires broker-
dealers providing others with access to an exchange or alternative 
trading system to establish, document, and maintain a system of risk 
management controls and supervisory procedures reasonably designed 
to manage the financial, regulatory, and other risks of providing 
such access. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63241 (November 
3, 2010), 75 FR 69792 (November 15, 2010).
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 (3) Amended Article 5, Rule 3
    The Exchange proposes to amend current Article 5, Rule 3 to permit 
Sponsoring Participants to provide Sponsored Access to Sponsored 
Persons, subject to the requirements of amended Article 5, Rule 3. 
Initially, the Exchange proposes to amend the title to Rule 3 to 
reflect that it applies to ``Sponsored Persons.''
    Under paragraph (a), the Exchange proposes to (1) replace a 
reference to ``Participant (the `Sponsoring Participant')'' with 
``Sponsoring Participant''; (2) replace reference to ``authorized 
access'' with the proposed defined term ``Sponsored Access''; (3) 
define the required written agreements between Sponsoring Participant, 
Sponsored Person and the Exchange that permit a Sponsored Person to 
receive Sponsored Access to the Exchange as ``Sponsored Access 
Agreements.'' Under both paragraphs (a) and (b), as well as Article 5, 
Rule 4 (Denial of Access),\7\ the Exchange proposes to replace 
references to the terms ``non-Participant broker-dealer'' or ``non-
Participant'' with ``Sponsored Person.''
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    \7\ Incidentally, under current Article 5, Rule 4(a), the 
Exchange proposes to replace reference to ``Market Regulation 
Department'' with ``Regulatory Operations Division.'' Since the 
Market Regulation Department is a department of the Regulatory 
Operations Division, the Exchange believes that it is appropriate 
for denial of access authority to rest more broadly with the 
Regulatory Operations Division.
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    The Exchange further proposes to adopt proposed paragraphs (a)(6)-
(11) to provide additional terms that must be included in Sponsored 
Access Agreements. Proposed paragraph (a)(6) provides that the 
Sponsoring Participant and Sponsored Person must comply with Rule 15c3-
5 under the Exchange Act.\8\ Pursuant to amended Article 5, Rule 3, the 
Sponsoring Participant is responsible for the activities of the 
Sponsored Person. Sponsoring Participants may have multiple Sponsored 
Access relationships in place at a given time. The Exchange's 
examination program assesses compliance with Article 5, Rule 3, among 
other rules. As such, proposed paragraph (a)(6) clarifies the 
Sponsoring Participant's and Sponsored Person's obligations to comply 
with the Market Access Rule, with which Participants are currently 
required to comply. The Exchange believes that specifying the 
obligation to comply with the Market Access Rule specifically will 
reinforce that amended Article 5, Rule 3 presupposes compliance with 
the Market Access Rule.
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    \8\ 17 CFR 240.15c3-5.
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    Proposed paragraph (a)(7) provides that the Sponsoring Participant 
shall comply with the Exchange's Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, 
Rules and procedures and the Sponsored Person shall comply with the 
Exchange's Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, Rules and procedures 
with regard to the

[[Page 46563]]

Exchange, as if the Sponsored Person were a Participant. The Exchange 
believes that proposed paragraph (a)(7) will ensure that Sponsored 
Persons that are non-Participants are subject to the same regulatory 
requirements as Participants.
    Proposed paragraphs (a)(8)-(11) would impose obligations on 
Sponsored Persons to ensure appropriate use of, and security of access 
to, the Exchange's trading facilities, as well as compliance with the 
applicable Sponsored Access Agreement. Specifically, proposed paragraph 
(a)(8) provides that the Sponsored Person shall maintain, keep current 
and provide to the Sponsoring Participant a list of individuals 
authorized to obtain Sponsored Access to the Exchange on behalf of the 
Sponsored Person. Proposed paragraph (a)(9) provides that the Sponsored 
Person shall familiarize its authorized individuals with all of the 
Sponsored Person's obligations under this Rule and will assure that 
they receive appropriate training prior to any use or access to the 
Exchange pursuant to any Sponsored Access Agreement. Proposed paragraph 
(a)(10) provides that the Sponsored Person may not permit anyone other 
than authorized individuals to use or obtain access to the Exchange 
pursuant to any Sponsored Access Agreement. Proposed paragraph (a)(11) 
provides that the Sponsored Person shall establish, maintain and 
enforce written supervisory procedures and a supervisory system that is 
reasonably designed to ensure that the use or access to the Exchange 
that takes place pursuant to a Sponsored Access Agreement and by any 
Sponsored Person or authorized individual complies with the terms of 
the Sponsored Access Agreement and all applicable CHX and SEC rules and 
regulations.
(4) Operative Date
    The Exchange proposes to make the proposed rule change operative on 
a date after the 30-day preoperative delay and pursuant to at least one 
week's notice to Participants.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Act in general,\9\ and furthers the objectives 
of Section 6(b)(5) in particular,\10\ in that it is designed to promote 
just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and 
coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in 
securities, to remove impediments and perfect the mechanisms of a free 
and open market, and, in general, to protect investors and the public 
interest; and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between 
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
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    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    Specifically, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change 
will remove impediments and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open 
market by permitting Sponsoring Participants to provide Sponsored 
Access to customers that are not broker-dealers, such as institutional 
investors, as well as broker-dealers that are not Participants, which 
may result in reduced transaction costs to such market participants in 
furtherance of the protection investors and the public interest.
    Also, the Exchange believes that the additional required terms for 
Sponsored Access Agreements under proposed Article 5, Rule 3(a)(6)-(11) 
will protect investors and the public interest by enhancing the ability 
of the Exchange to monitor, enforce and compel compliance with CHX 
Rules and the Market Access Rule by Sponsoring Participants and 
Sponsored Persons. In particular, proposed paragraph (a)(6) will 
clarify that any Sponsored Access arrangement under amended Article 5, 
Rule 3 must be effected in accordance with the Market Access Rule; 
proposed paragraph (a)(7) will ensure that both Participant and non-
Participant Sponsored Persons will be subject to the CHX Rules; and 
proposed paragraphs (a)(8)-(11) will impose affirmative obligations on 
Sponsored Persons that will enhance the security of the Exchange.
    Moreover, the Exchange believes that proposed definitions of 
``Sponsoring Participant,'' ``Sponsored Person,'' ``Sponsored Access'' 
and ``Sponsored Access Agreements'' provide clarity to the meaning and 
scope of amended Article 5, Rule 3, which furthers the objectives of 
Section 6(b)(1) \11\ in that it further enables the Exchange to be so 
organized as to have the capacity to be able to carry out the purposes 
of the Act and to comply, and to enforce compliance by its Participants 
and persons associated with its Participants, with the provisions of 
the Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and the rules of the 
Exchange.
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    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of 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. The Exchange notes that 
other national securities exchanges, such as Nasdaq,\12\ currently 
permit its members to provide Sponsored Access to members, non-members, 
broker-dealers and firms that are not broker-dealers. As such, the 
proposal will enhance competition among the national securities 
exchanges by permitting the Exchange to allow Sponsoring Participants 
to provide Sponsored Access to its customers on similar terms.
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    \12\ See supra note 4.
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C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments Regarding the 
Proposed Rule Changes Received From Members, Participants or Others

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Changes 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 \13\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\14\
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    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \14\ 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, along 
with a brief description and the text of 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. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend 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. If the Commission 
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under 
Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act \15\ to determine whether the proposed 
rule should be approved or disapproved.
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    \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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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 proposal is 
consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the 
following methods:

[[Page 46564]]

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File No. SR-CHX-2017-13 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File No. SR-CHX-2017-13. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email 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 changes 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 Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the CHX. 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 No. SR-CHX-2017-13 and should be 
submitted on or before October 26, 2017.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\16\
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    \16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-21401 Filed 10-4-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P