E9-4756. Self-Regulatory Organizations; the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; NASDAQ OMX Phlx, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Changes To Amend the Certificate of Incorporation of The NASDAQ OMX Group,...  

  • Start Preamble February 26, 2009.

    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 February 17, 2009, The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC (“NASDAQ Exchange”) and NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (“BX”), and on February 20, 2009, NASDAQ OMX Phlx, Inc. (“PHLX”) (collectively, the “NASDAQ OMX Exchange Subsidiaries”) [3] filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule changes as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been substantially prepared by the NASDAQ OMX Exchange Subsidiaries. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule changes from interested persons.

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

    The NASDAQ OMX Exchange Subsidiaries are filing the proposed rule changes with regard to proposed changes to the Restated Certificate of Start Printed Page 9842Incorporation (the “Certificate”) of their parent corporation, NASDAQ OMX. The proposed rule changes will be implemented as soon as practicable following filing with the Commission. The text of the proposed rule changes is available at http://www.cchwallstreet.com/​nasdaqomx/​, http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/​Trader.aspx?​id=​BSEIERules2009, and http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/​Micro.aspx?​id=​PhlxApprovedRulefilings, respectively.

    II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for the Proposed Rule Change

    In their filings with the Commission, each of the NASDAQ OMX Exchange Subsidiaries included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for its proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on its proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. Each of the NASDAQ OMX Exchange Subsidiaries 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

    NASDAQ OMX is proposing to make amendments to its Certificate. As provided in Articles XI and XII of the NASDAQ OMX By-Laws, proposed amendments to the Certificate are to be reviewed by the Board of Directors of each self-regulatory subsidiary of NASDAQ OMX, and if any such proposed amendment must, under Section 19 of the Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, be filed with, or filed with and approved by, the Commission before such amendment may be effective, then such amendment shall not be effective until filed with, or filed with and approved by, the Commission, as the case may be. The governing boards of the NASDAQ Exchange, PHLX, BX, BSECC, and SCCP have each reviewed the proposed change and determined that they should be filed with the Commission.[4] The NASDAQ OMX Exchange Subsidiaries state that the changes to the Certificate are limited in scope, and under Delaware law, they do not require approval by the stockholders of NASDAQ OMX.

    Specifically, NASDAQ OMX proposes to eliminate its Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series D Preferred Stock, and all matters set forth therein. NASDAQ OMX's Series D Stock was created in 2005 for the purpose of allowing National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. to retain voting control over NASDAQ OMX's predecessor, The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. In connection with the NASDAQ Exchange commencing operations as a national securities exchange, the sole share of Series D Stock was redeemed in December 2006. Under Delaware law, both a certificate of designations (designating a series of preferred stock) and a certificate of elimination (eliminating a previously adopted designation) are deemed to be amendments to NASDAQ OMX's Certificate.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The NASDAQ OMX Exchange Subsidiaries believe that their respective proposed rule changes are consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,[5] in general, and with Sections 6(b)(1) and (b)(5) of the Act,[6] in particular, in that the proposal enables the NASDAQ OMX Exchange Subsidiaries to be so organized as to have the capacity to be able to carry out the purposes of the Act and to comply with and enforce compliance by members and persons associated with members with provisions of the Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and self-regulatory organization rules, and is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. The proposed changes will enhance the clarity of NASDAQ OMX's governance documents by eliminating provisions relating to a series of preferred stock that is no longer outstanding.

    B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The NASDAQ OMX Exchange Subsidiaries do not believe that the proposed rule changes will result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act, as amended.

    C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

    III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

    The foregoing rule changes have become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act [7] and subparagraph (f)(3) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.[8] At any time within 60 days of the filing of the respective proposed rule change by the applicable NASDAQ OMX Exchange Subsidiary, the Commission may summarily abrogate such rule changes 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 changes, are consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

    Electronic Comments

    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 Nos. SR-NASDAQ-2009-010, SR-BX-2009-009, and SR-Phlx-2009-14. These file numbers 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). Start Printed Page 9843Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule changes that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule changes 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 on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filings also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal offices 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 available publicly.

    All submissions should refer to File Nos. SR-NASDAQ-2009-010, SR-BX-2009-009, and SR-Phlx-2009-14, and should be submitted on or before March 27, 2009.

    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

    3.  Substantially similar filings have been submitted by Boston Stock Exchange Clearing Corporation (“BSECC”) (SR-BSECC-2009-001) and Stock Clearing Corporation of Philadelphia (“SCCP”) (SR-SCCP-2009-01), the clearing corporation subsidiaries of NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (“NASDAQ OMX”).

    Back to Citation

    4.  The NASDAQ Exchange, PHLX, BX, BSECC, and SCCP are each submitting a filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. E9-4756 Filed 3-5-09; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

Document Information

Published:
03/06/2009
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
E9-4756
Pages:
9841-9843 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-59460, File Nos. SR-NASDAQ-2009-010, SR-BX-2009-009, SR-Phlx-2009-14
EOCitation:
of 2009-02-26
PDF File:
e9-4756.pdf