97-4529. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change by the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. Relating to Membership Committee Jurisdiction Over Continuing Membership  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 1997)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 8472-8474]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-4529]
    
    
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    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
    [Release No. 34-38290; File No. SR-CBOE-96-73]
    
    
    Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule 
    Change by the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. Relating to 
    Membership Committee Jurisdiction Over Continuing Membership
    
    February 14, 1997.
        Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
    (``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 \2\ thereunder, notice is hereby given 
    that on November 26, 1996, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. 
    (``CBOE'' or ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
    Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in 
    Items I, II and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-
    regulatory organization.\3\ The Commission is publishing this notice to 
    solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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        \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
        \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
        \3\ On February 12, 1997, the Exchange filed an amendment to the 
    rule proposal. See Letter from Arthur Reinstein, Senior Attorney, 
    CBOE, to Janice Mitnick, Attorney, Division of Market Regulation, 
    Commission, dated February 12, 1997 (``Amendment No. 1''). Amendment 
    No. 1 provides that failure to file an application notifying the 
    Exchange of a statutory disqualification would be a factor to be 
    considered by the CBOE's Membership Committee in making 
    determinations with respect to the person's membership or 
    association pursuant to CBOE Rule 3.4(e), instead of constituting a 
    waiver of the individual's right of appeal. Further, Amendment No. 1 
    describes the procedures to be followed by the Exchange's Membership 
    Committee in reviewing an application submitted pursuant to proposed 
    Rule 3.4(f). Finally, Amendment No. 1 describes the composition of 
    the CBOE's Business Conduct Committee (``BCC'') and CBOE's 
    Membership Committee.
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    I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
    of the Proposed Rule Change
    
        The Exchange proposes to amend CBOE Rule 3.4 to: (i) grant the 
    Membership Committee, instead of the BCC, the power to decide whether 
    to limit or condition the right of a person to continue as a member, or 
    as a person associated with a member, when such person fails to meet 
    any of the qualification requirements for membership or association 
    after the membership or association has been approved, fails to meet 
    any condition placed by the Membership Committee on such membership or 
    association, violates an agreement with the Exchange, or becomes 
    subject to a statutory disqualification under the Act; and (ii) require 
    a member or person associated with a member who is subject to a 
    statutory disqualification to submit an application to the Membership 
    Committee in order to continue as a member or as a person associated 
    with a member.
        The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Office of 
    the Secretary, CBOE and at the Commission.
    
    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 self-regulatory organization 
    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 self-regulatory organization 
    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 Change
    
    1. Purpose
        The purpose of the proposed rule change is to grant to the CBOE's 
    Membership Committee certain authority over persons who fail to meet 
    conditions to their remaining as members or persons associated with 
    members, or who become subject to a statutory disqualification after 
    becoming a member or person associated with a member. Presently this 
    authority rests with the Exchange's BCC. The proposed rule change also 
    requires a member or person associated with a member who is subject to 
    a statutory disqualification and who wants to continue as a member or 
    in association with a member to submit an application to that effect to 
    the CBOE's Membership Committee.
        CBOE Rule 3.4 (a) through (c) sets forth the reasons the CBOE's 
    Membership Committee may deny or condition membership or a person's 
    association with a member. However, the jurisdiction of the CBOE's 
    Membership Committee currently applies only to applicants for 
    membership or association with a member, not to existing members or 
    associated persons. CBOE Rule 3.4(e) currently authorizes the 
    Exchange's BCC to take action against an existing member under Chapter 
    XVII, ``Discipline,'' of the CBOE's rules when any of these reasons for 
    denying or conditioning membership (or association with a member) comes 
    into existence. Under this authority, the Exchange's BCC may suspend or 
    bar from membership an existing member for the same reasons a person 
    applying for membership could be denied membership or be granted only 
    conditional membership. For example, if an existing member becomes 
    subject to a statutory disqualification under Sections 3(a)(39) and 
    15(b) under the Act, the CBOE's BCC may take action, pursuant to CBOE 
    Rule 3.4(e), to discontinue that member's membership. In addition, 
    Section 2.2 under the CBOE's Constitution, ``Eligibility for 
    Membership; Good Standing,'' provides that the good standing of a CBOE 
    member may be suspended, terminated or otherwise withdrawn, as provided 
    in the CBOE's Rules, if any of the conditions for approval cease to be 
    maintained or the member violates any of its agreements with the 
    Exchange or any of the provisions of the Constitution. Again, the 
    CBOE's BCC currently would take action under Section 2.2 of the 
    Exchange's Constitution against existing members or associated persons.
        The CBOE believes it is more appropriate for the Exchange's 
    Membership Committee to deal with membership related issues (whether 
    those issues concern an applicant for membership or an already existing 
    CBOE member), and for the Exchange's BCC to limit its activities to 
    disciplinary matters involving allegations of specific rule violations. 
    The Exchange believes that its Membership Committee is more familiar 
    with the considerations that properly bear on decisions to deny or 
    condition membership, and is best able to evaluate cases involving 
    whether to continue or condition the membership of an existing member 
    by referring to the standards it applies when evaluating applicants for 
    membership. The Exchange's BCC may not be privy to membership 
    applications that were denied by the CBOE's Membership Committee and 
    the reasons for such denial. Furthermore, the CBOE's BCC may not be 
    familiar with the factors considered by the Exchange's Membership 
    Committee when acting on membership applications, or the types of 
    conditions that may be imposed on applicants. In short, the Exchange 
    believes that the present bifurcation of membership issues between the 
    two committees could result in the CBOE's
    
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    BCC treating existing members who now fail to meet conditions of 
    membership inconsistently with the way the CBOE's Membership Committee 
    treats applicants for CBOE membership who are also subject to these 
    same conditions.
        The CBOE believes the same committee should make determinations 
    about a person's fitness for CBOE membership whether that person is 
    applying for CBOE membership or is an existing member whose ability to 
    continue in membership is at issue. The proposed rule change would 
    accomplish this. The CBOE states that, under the proposed rule change, 
    the CBOE's Membership Committee may determine whether to limit or 
    condition the right of a person to continue as a member or as a person 
    associated with a member for the same reasons that the Exchange's BCC 
    may presently take such action.
        Pursuant to the proposed rule change, the CBOE's BCC will retain 
    its powers to take action against existing members or associated 
    persons under Section 2.2 of the Exchange's Constitution if the member 
    or associated person violates any provision of the Exchange's 
    Constitution or Rules. However, pursuant to the proposed rule change, 
    the CBOE's BCC will no longer have the ability to take action pursuant 
    to CBOE Rule 3.4(e) for the circumstances set forth in CBOE Rule 
    3.4(c).\4\ Practically, the Exchange believes that this change will 
    have little effect because the CBOE's BCC does not typically rely on 
    CBOE Rule 3.4(e) to take action for the circumstances set forth in CBOE 
    Rule 3.4(c). Instead, the practice of the CBOE's BCC is to take 
    disciplinary action for specific rule violations. Most of the 
    circumstances set forth in CBOE Rule 3.4(c) are covered by CBOE Rules 
    16.1, ``Imposition of suspension,'' or 4.2, ``Adherence to Law.'' 
    Following the Exchange's present practice, the CBOE's BCC will continue 
    to take disciplinary action based on CBOE Rule 4.2 and the Chairman of 
    the Board or Chairman of the Executive Committee will continue to take 
    action based on CBOE Rule 16.1.
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        \4\ Under CBOE Rule 3.4(c), the CBOE's Membership Committee may 
    deny or condition membership or prevent or condition a person from 
    becoming an associated person if the applicant has a negative net 
    worth or other financial difficulties, is unable to satisfactorily 
    demonstrate a capacity to adhere to all applicable CBOE, Commission, 
    Options Clearing Corporation, and Federal Reserve Board policies and 
    rules, would bring the CBOE into disrepute, or for such other cause 
    as the CBOE's Membership Committee may reasonably decide.
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        The proposed rule change will also clarify that CBOE Rule 3.4(e) 
    applies to persons associated with members as well as members. The 
    other subsections of CBOE Rule 3.4 refer to persons associated with 
    members and it appears to be an oversight that subsection (e) does not 
    refer to such persons. The Exchange has always interpreted Rule 3.4(e) 
    to apply to associated persons.
        Presently, under Chapter XIX, ``Hearings and Review,'' of the 
    CBOE's rules, if a person's application for membership is denied, that 
    person may apply for a hearing before a panel of the Appeals Committee 
    to review the Membership Committee's denial. The panel's decision may 
    then be reviewed by the CBOE's Board of Directors pursuant to CBOE Rule 
    19.5, ``Review.'' The proposed amendment will grant this same right of 
    review to an existing member or person associated with a member and 
    will reference this right in new paragraph (g) to CBOE Rule 3.4. New 
    paragraph (g) to CBOE Rule 3.4 also provides that no determination of 
    the Membership Committee to discontinue or condition a person's 
    membership or association with a member pursuant to CBOE Rule 3.4(e) 
    shall take effect until the review procedures under Chapter XIX have 
    been exhausted or the time for review has expired.
        The proposed rule change will also add a paragraph (f) to CBOE Rule 
    3.4 requiring a member or person associated with a member who becomes 
    subject to a statutory disqualification to submit an application to the 
    Exchange's Membership Committee within 30 days of becoming subject to a 
    statutory disqualification if the member or person associated with a 
    member wants to continue in their membership or association with a 
    member.\5\ Paragraph (b) of Rule 19h-1 under the Act requires a self-
    regulatory organization to file a preliminary notice with the 
    Commission promptly after it receives an application for admission to, 
    or continuance in, membership or association with a member, 
    notwithstanding a statutory disqualification. In order to permit the 
    Exchange to file the required preliminary notice in respect of existing 
    members and associated persons, proposed paragraph (f) of CBOE Rule 3.4 
    requires the statutorily disqualified member or associated person to 
    sumit a formal application to the Exchange requesting permission to 
    continue in membership or association. The application would include 
    the permission to continue in membership or association. The 
    application would include the information the Exchange needs from the 
    member or associated person in order to complete the Rule 19h-1 
    preliminary notice. The application would also inform the Exchange that 
    it needs to devote the resources necessary to make a decision regarding 
    whether to continue the membership or association of this statutorily 
    disqualified person or entity.
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        \5\ See Amendment No. 1 supra note 3. Procedures to be followed 
    by the CBOE's Membership Committee in considering an application 
    filed pursuant to CBOE Rule 3.4(f) to continue as a member or 
    associated person after becoming subject to a statutory 
    disqualification will be the same procedures that are followed 
    currently by the CBOE's Membership Committee when it reviews an 
    application from a person subject to a statutory disqualification 
    who is applying for exchange membership or association with an 
    Exchange member. These procedures are generally set forth in 
    Exchange Regulatory Circular RG95-93.
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        Pursuant to proposed paragraph (f) of CBOE Rule 3.4, absent 
    extenuating circumstances, if the member or associated person who is 
    subject to a statutory disqualification fails to file an application 
    with the CBOE's Membership Committee seeking to continue in Exchange 
    membership or association, the Exchange will consider such failure as a 
    factor to be considered by the Membership Committee in making 
    determinations with respect to the person's membership or association 
    pursuant to Rule 3.4(e).\6\
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        \6\ See Amendment No. 1, supra note 3.
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    2. Statutory Basis
        The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
    with and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b) (6) and (7) of the 
    Act, in that it is designed to protect investors and the public 
    interest by providing appropriate standards of qualification for 
    membership and association with members, and procedures intended to 
    assure the consistent application of these standards.
    
    B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
    
        The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will not 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
    
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    publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-
    regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
        (A) by order 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. Persons making written submissions 
    should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and 
    Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. 
    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 coping at the 
    Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing will also be 
    available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the 
    Exchange. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-CBOE-96-73 and 
    should be submitted by March 18, 1997.
    
        For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
    pursuant to delegated authority.\7\
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        \7\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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    Margaret H. McFarland,
    Deputy Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 97-4529 Filed 2-24-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 8010-01-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/25/1997
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
97-4529
Pages:
8472-8474 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-38290, File No. SR-CBOE-96-73
PDF File:
97-4529.pdf