Self Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Change by Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. to Its Bylaws and Those of Its Parent Corporation, CHX Holdings, Inc.

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Federal RegisterDec 1, 2009
74 Fed. Reg. 62861 (Dec. 1, 2009)
November 23, 2009.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) , and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on November 13, 2009, 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 CHX. CHX filed this proposal pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act and requested that the Commission waive the 30-day pre-operative waiting period contained in Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

17 CFR 240.19b-4.

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

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

CHX proposes to amend its Bylaws and those of its parent corporation, CHX Holdings, Inc. (“CHX Holdings”) to eliminate an age restriction for Directors. The text of this proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at ( http://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 regarding the proposal. 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 remove the current age restriction relating to Directors in its Bylaws and in the Bylaws of the Exchange's parent corporation. The Bylaws of both the Exchange and CHX Holdings currently provide that no Director who is 71 years old or over is eligible to begin a term of office, although he or she may complete a term if elected prior to reaching age 71. The Exchange notes that certain existing Directors of both corporations will be impacted by this restriction in the near future. The forced departure of those Directors could negatively impact the Exchange and its parent, due to the loss of their knowledge and experience. The Exchange also has received expressions of interest from persons above the age of 71 to be nominated to stand for election as a Director of one or both corporations and has had to turn them away due to the age restriction. The Exchange believes that there it would be beneficial to be able to consider the candidacy of such persons without regard to their age. The removal of the age restrictions would be consistent with the provisions of the bylaws of other national securities exchanges.

See, e.g., Bylaws of BATS Exchange, Inc., Article III, § 3(b) (Terms of Office); Bylaws of National Stock Exchange, Inc., Article III, § 3.4 (Terms of Office); Constitution of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc., Article VI, § 6.1 (Number, Election and Term of Office of Directors).

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) in particular, in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transaction 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. By removing the age restriction from its bylaws and those of CHX Holdings, the Exchange hopes to attract and retain additional qualified candidates for service as Directors.

15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

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 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 and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.

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

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act normally may not become operative prior to 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 requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, because the proposed removal of age restrictions relating to Directors are consistent with exchange bylaws the Commission has approved in the past and does not raise any new regulatory issues. The Commission hereby grants the Exchange's request and designates the proposal as operative upon filing.

In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) under the Act 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 items as designated by the Commission. CHX has complied with this requirement.

Id.

See note 5 supra. For board composition of a parent company of an exchange, see e.g., Bylaws of BATS Global Markets, Inc., Article III, § 3.01.

For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay of this proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 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:

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 SR-CHX-2009-15 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-CHX-2009-15. 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-CHX-2009-15 and should be submitted on or before December 22, 2009.

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

Elizabeth M. Murphy,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. E9-28617 Filed 11-30-09; 8:45 am]

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