E8-2614. Self-Regulatory Organizations; American Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Amending Amex Rule 3-AEMI  

  • Start Preamble February 7, 2008.

    Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) [1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,[2] notice is hereby given that on January 31, 2007, the American Stock Exchange LLC (“Amex” or “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 substantially prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange filed the proposal pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act [3] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,[4] which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

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

    The Exchange proposes to amend Amex Rule 3-AEMI to include provisions regarding the prevention of the misuse of material nonpublic information by members, member organizations, or persons associated with such members, pursuant to the Act. The text of the proposed rule change is available at Amex, the Commission's Public Reference Room, and http://www.Amex.com.

    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. Amex 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 the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    1. Purpose

    The purpose of the proposal is to amend Amex Rule 3-AEMI to include provisions regarding the prevention of the misuse of material nonpublic information by members, member organizations, or persons associated with such members, pursuant to section 15(f) of the Act.[5] section 15(f) requires that every registered broker or dealer establish, maintain and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed, taking into consideration the nature of such broker's or dealer's business, to prevent the misuse of material, nonpublic information by such broker or dealer or any person associated with such broker or dealer. The Commission previously approved proposals by the Amex to amend non-AEMI Amex Rule 3 to require members to establish, maintain and enforce written policies and procedures to prevent the misuse of material nonpublic information.[6] This filing proposes to update Amex Rule 3-AEMI to adopt the rules in non-AEMI Amex Rule 3 concerning the prevention of the misuse of material nonpublic information, as previously approved by the Commission.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with section 6(b) of the Act [7] in general, and furthers the objectives of section 6(b)(5) [8] in particular, in that it would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market in a manner consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest.

    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 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

    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, if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, it has become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder. As required under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) under the Act, the Exchange provided the Commission with written notice of its 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 the filing of the proposed rule change.

    A proposed rule change filed under 19b-4(f)(6) 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. Waiver of the 30-day operative delay would enable the Exchange to implement and enforce the new provisions relating to the prevention of the misuse of material nonpublic information in Amex Rule 3-AEMI immediately. For this reason, the Commission therefore designates the Start Printed Page 8382proposal to become operative immediately.

    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

    Paper Comments

    • Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Amex-2008-06. 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 Amex. 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-Amex-2008-06 and should be submitted on or before March 5, 2008.

    Start Signature

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.9

    Florence E. Harmon,

    Deputy Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    6.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-54983 (Dec. 20, 2006), 71 FR 78476 (Dec. 29, 2006) (File No. SR-Amex-2006-86). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-55187 (Jan. 29, 2007), 72 FR 5467 (Feb. 6, 2007) (File No. SR-Amex-2006-110).

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. E8-2614 Filed 2-12-08; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

Document Information

Published:
02/13/2008
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
E8-2614
Pages:
8381-8382 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-57289, File No. SR-Amex-2008-06
EOCitation:
of 2008-02-07
PDF File:
e8-2614.pdf