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 December 6, 2001, the American Stock Exchange LLC (“Amex” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. Amendment No. 1 was filed on December 17, 2001. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
17 CFR 240.19b-4.
See letter from Claire P. McGrath, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Amex, to Nancy Sanow, Assistant Director, Division of Market Regulation (“Division”), Commission, dated December 14, 2001 (“Amendment No. 1”), In Amendment No. 1, the Amex provided greater detail as to the basis for the proposed rule change.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange has proposed to increase floor, membership and option trading fees under SR-Amex-2001-101, which was filed for immediate effectiveness pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the act. The Exchange now seeks to impose these increased floor, membership, options trading, and comparison and floor brokerage fees, as set forth in Amex-2001-101 and described below, as of August 1, 2001. In addition, the Exchange proposes to impose the increased license fees and the elimination of the fee cap for options as October 1, 2001.
See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 45163 (December 18, 2001) for a description of these increased fees.
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 section 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 proposes to impose floor fees, member fees and options transactions, comparison and Floor brokerage fees as of August 1, 2001, and certain license fees and elimination of the options fee cap as of October 1, 2001. The Exchange filed these fee changes under SR-Amex-2001-101 and requested that they become immediately effective under section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act.
15 U.S.C. 78(b)(3)(a).
According to the Exchange, application of the Floor, member, and options fees as of August 1, 2001, will allow it to recoup a portion of costs it incurred during 2001 in providing enhancements to the Floor, which include major improvements in technology, facilities and services. These enhancements included a major expansion of the Amex trading floor in 2001. The Exchange believes that these fee increases better align its fees with the actual cost of delivering services and reduce Exchange subsidization of such services. The Exchange notes that such subsidies have been longstanding and preceded August 1, 2001. Therefore, the Exchange believes that imposing the fee schedule as of August 1, 2001, which followed approval by the Amex Board of Governors on July 25, 2001, is reasonable and appropriate to fund enhancements that benefit all Floor constituencies, including specialists, Options Principal Members, Limited Trading Permit Holders, Associate Members, and employees of member firms on the Floor.
Furthermore, the Exchange proposes to apply the license fees for NDX, MNX and OEF options as of October 1, 2001 because trading in these options on the Exchange began in October 2001. The Exchange notes that, because these fees are transaction based, they would apply only after trading actually began in October. (NDX and MNX began trading on October 12 and OEF began trading and October 11.) The Exchange proposes to eliminate the options fee cap as October 1, 2001 to further reduce Exchange subsidy of facilities and services on the Floor, as discussed above, and because Exchange billing procedures cannot readily accommodate elimination of the fee cap prior to October 1, 2001.
In conclusion, the Exchange states that the increase in options transactions charges is necessitated by the large and increasing costs incurred by the Exchange in implementing options trading technology. Exchange billing of such fees as of August 1, 2001 (for Floor Fees, Member Fees and Options Fees) and October 1, 2001 (for the License Fee and elimination of options fee cap) will assist in compensating the Exchange for costs incurred by the Exchange in delivering specified services to members and for providing options trading technology.
(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)(4) in particular in that it is designed to provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its members and issuers and other persons using its facilities.
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.
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 the Exchange 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. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. 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. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Amex. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-Amex-2001-102 and should be submitted by January 17, 2002.
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-31741 Filed 12-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M