Joint Industry Plan; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Amendment to the National Market System Plan for the Selection and Reservation of Securities Symbols To Add NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc., as a Party Thereto

Download PDF
Federal RegisterJan 7, 2009
74 Fed. Reg. 729 (Jan. 7, 2009)
December 30, 2008.

Pursuant to Section 11A(a)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) and Rule 608 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on December 24, 2008, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc., (“BSE”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) an amendment to the National Market System Plan for the Selection and Reservation of Securities Symbols (“Symbology Plan” or “Plan”). The amendment proposes to add BSE as a party to the Symbology Plan. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed amendment from interested persons.

On November 6, 2008, the Commission approved the Symbology Plan that was originally proposed by the Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. (“CHX”), The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (“Nasdaq”), National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) (n/k/a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”)), National Stock Exchange, Inc. (“NSX”), and Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. (“Phlx”), subject to certain changes. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58904, 73 FR 67218 (November 13, 2008) (File No. 4-533).

I. Description and Purpose of the Amendment

The current parties to the Symbology Plan are Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (“CBOE”), CHX, FINRA, the International Securities Exchange, LLC (“ISE”), Nasdaq, New York Stock Exchange LLC (“NYSE”), NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”), NYSE Alternext U.S. LLC (“NYSE Alternext”), NSX and Phlx. The proposed amendment to the Symbology Plan would add BSE as a party to the Symbology Plan. A self-regulatory organization (“SRO”) may become a party to the Symbology Plan if it satisfies the requirements of Section I(c) of the Plan. Specifically, an SRO may become a party to the Symbology Plan if: (i) It maintains a market for the listing or trading of Plan Securities in accordance with rules approved by the Commission, which securities are identified by one, two, or three character symbols, on the one hand, or four or five character symbols, on the other hand, in each case prior to any suffix or special conditional identifier; (ii) it signs a current copy of the Plan; and (iii) it pays to the other parties a proportionate share of the aggregate development costs, based upon the number of symbols reserved by the new party during the first twelve (12) months of such party's membership.

On November 18, 2008, ISE filed with the Commission an amendment to the Plan to add ISE as a member to the Plan. See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 59024 (November 26, 2008) 73 FR 74538 (December 8, 2008) (File No. 4-533).

On December 22, 2008, NYSE, NYSE Arca, and NYSE Alternext (“NYSE Group Exchanges”) and CBOE filed with the Commission amendments to the Plan to add the NYSE Group Exchanges and CBOE as members to the Plan. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59162 (December 24, 2008) (File No. 4-533).

“Plan Securities” are defined in the Symbology Plan as securities that: (i) Are NMS securities as currently defined in Rule 600(a)(46) under the Act; and (ii) any other equity securities quoted, traded and/or trade reported through an SRO facility.

Sections I(c) and IV(a) of the Plan.

BSE has submitted a signed copy of the Symbology Plan to the Commission in accordance with the requirement set forth in the Symbology Plan regarding new parties to the plan.

II. Effectiveness of the Proposed Symbology Plan Amendment

The foregoing proposed Symbology Plan amendment has become effective pursuant to Rule 608(b)(3)(iii) because it involves solely technical or ministerial matters. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the amendment, the Commission may summarily abrogate the amendment and require that it be refiled pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) of Rule 608, 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.

17 CFR 242.608(b)(1).

III. 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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number 4-533 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 Number 4-533. 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 4-533 and should be submitted on or before January 28, 2009.

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

Florence E. Harmon,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. E9-11 Filed 1-6-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P