2020-26992. Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; Notice of Designation of a Longer Period for Commission Action on Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove a Proposed Rule Change To Apply Additional Initial ...

December 3, 2020.

On May 29, 2020, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) ^[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] a proposed rule change to apply additional initial listing criteria for companies primarily operating in a jurisdiction that has secrecy laws, blocking statues, national security laws or other laws or regulations restricting access to information by regulators of U.S.-listed companies in such jurisdiction. The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register on June 12, 2020.^[3] On July 21, 2020, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,^[4] the Commission designated a longer period within which to approve the proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove the proposed rule change.^[5] On September 9, 2020, the Commission instituted proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act ^[6] to determine whether to approve or disapprove the proposed rule change.^[7]

Section 19(b)(2) of the Act ^[8] provides that, after initiating disapproval proceedings, the Commission shall issue an order approving or disapproving the proposed rule change not later than 180 days after the date of publication of notice of filing of the proposed rule change. The Commission may extend the period for issuing an order approving or disapproving the proposed rule change, however, by not more than 60 days if the Commission determines that a longer period is appropriate and publishes the reasons for such determination. The date of publication of notice of filing of the proposed rule change was June 12, 2020. December 9, 2020 is 180 days from that date, and February 7, 2021 is 240 days from that date.

The Commission finds it appropriate to designate a longer period within which to issue an order approving or disapproving the proposed rule change so that it has sufficient time to consider this proposed rule change. Accordingly, the Commission, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,^[9] designates February 7, 2021, as the date by which the Commission shall either approve or disapprove the proposed rule change (File No. SR-NASDAQ-2020-027).

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[10]

J. Matthew DeLesDernier,

Assistant Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89027 (June 8, 2020), 85 FR 35962. Comments on the proposed rule change can be found at: https://www.sec.gov/​comments/​sr-nasdaq-2020-027/​srnasdaq2020027.htm.

4.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89358, 85 FR 45275 (July 27, 2020). The Commission designated September 10, 2020 as the date by which the Commission shall approve or disapprove, or institute proceedings to determine whether to approve or disapprove, the proposed rule change.

6.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).

7.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89799, 85 FR 57282 (September 15, 2020).

8.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

9.  Id.

10.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(57).