Self-Regulatory Organizations; Bats BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Certificate of Incorporation of the Exchange's Ultimate Parent Company, Bats Global Markets, Inc.

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Federal RegisterApr 19, 2016
81 Fed. Reg. 23060 (Apr. 19, 2016)
April 13, 2016.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”), and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on April 8, 2016, Bats BZX Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange” or “BZX”) 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 Exchange has designated this proposal as a “non-controversial” proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder, which renders it effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

17 CFR 240.19b-4.

17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

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

The Exchange filed a proposal to amend the certificate of incorporation of the Exchange's ultimate parent company, Bats Global Markets, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange's Web site at www.batstrading.com,, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at 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 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 parts of such statements.

(A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

On December 16, 2015, the Corporation, the ultimate parent entity of the Exchange, filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Commission seeking to register shares of common stock and to conduct an initial public offering of those shares, which will be listed for trading on the Exchange (the “IPO”). In connection with its IPO, the Corporation intends to amend and restate its certificate of incorporation (the “New Certificate of Incorporation”). The Exchange previously received Commission approval of certain substantive amendments to the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation that comprise changes included in the New Certificate of Incorporation. Since that date, the Corporation has determined it to be necessary to further amend its certificate of incorporation to achieve the final, pre-IPO version of the New Certificate of Incorporation. The additional amendments will be achieved through the filing with the State of Delaware of a certificate of amendment to the New Certificate of Incorporation. The additional amendments are described in further detail below.

See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77464 (March 29, 2016), 81 FR 19252 (April 1, 2016) (SR-BATS-2016-010; SR-BYX-2016-02; SR-EDGX-2016-04; SR-EDGA-2016-01).

The Exchange, on behalf of the Corporation, proposes changes to the New Certificate of Incorporation in connection with a forward stock split, pursuant to which each share of common stock of the Corporation outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the completion of the IPO would automatically and without action on the part of the holders thereof be subdivided into 2.91 shares of common stock (the “Stock Split”). Accordingly, the number of authorized shares of the Corporation, both in the aggregate and as set forth by class, as codified in paragraph (a)(i) of Article Fourth of the New Certificate of Incorporation, will be adjusted. The Corporation also plans to adjust the preferred stock of the Corporation consistent with the Stock Split. The par value of the Corporation's common stock will remain $0.01 per share.

Common stock consists of voting common stock and non-voting common stock of the Corporation.

The purpose of this rule filing is to permit the Corporation, the ultimate parent company of the Exchange, to adopt an amendment to the New Certificate of Incorporation, as described in this proposal. The changes described herein relate to the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation only, not to the governance of the Exchange. The Exchange will continue to be governed by its existing certificate of incorporation and bylaws. The stock in, and voting power of, the Exchange will continue to be directly and solely held by Bats Global Markets Holdings, Inc., an intermediate holding company wholly-owned by the Corporation, and the governance of the Exchange will continue under its existing structure.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with the requirements of the Act and rules and regulations thereunder that are applicable to a national securities exchange, and, in particular, with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act. In particular, the proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)(1) of the Act, because it retains, without modification, the existing limitations on ownership and total voting power that currently exist and that are designed to prevent any stockholder from exercising undue control over the operation of the Exchange and to assure that the Exchange is able to carry out its regulatory obligations under the Act. Under the proposal, the Corporation is making certain administrative and structural changes to the New Certificate of Incorporation. These changes, however, do not impact the governance of the Exchange nor do they modify the ownership of the Corporation.

(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change imposes any burden on competition. As described above, the proposed rule change is simply to make certain administrative and structural changes to the New Certificate of Incorporation. These changes do not impact the governance of the Exchange nor do they modify the ownership of the Corporation.

(C) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others

The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received any written comments from members or other interested parties.

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

The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder. Because the 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, if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.

17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the Exchange's intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and 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.

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange states that the Corporation's IPO may occur in the near future, and the changes described in this notice are a critical component of such IPO. The Exchange states that waiver of the operative delay will allow the Corporation to promptly move forward with the IPO without delay. The Commission notes that the Exchange represents that there are no changes to the provisions of the New Certificate of Incorporation that impact the ownership or governance of the Exchange, and that instead, the amendments reflect administrative and structural amendments to the New Certificate of Incorporation. Based on the foregoing, the Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Commission hereby grants the Exchange's request and designates the proposal operative upon filing.

17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has also 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 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 to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or 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 email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-BatsBZX-2016-07 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 SR-BatsBZX-2016-07. 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 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 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 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-BatsBZX-2016-07 and should be submitted on or before May 10, 2016.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.15

Robert W. Errett,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2016-08939 Filed 4-18-16; 8:45 am]

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