2020-07557. Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Waive the Application of Certain of the Shareholder Approval Requirements in Section 312.03 of the NYSE ...

April 6, 2020.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) ^[1] of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) ^[2] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[3] notice is hereby given that, on April 3, 2020, New York Stock Exchange LLC (“NYSE” or the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. 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 waive through and including June 30, 2020 the application of certain of the shareholder approval requirements set forth in Section 312.03 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual (“Manual”) subject to certain conditions. The proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's website at www.nyse.com,, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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 those statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant parts 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 U.S. and global economies have experienced unprecedented disruption as a result of the ongoing spread of COVID-19, including severe limitations on companies' ability to operate their businesses, dramatic market declines and volatility in the U.S. and global equity markets, and severe disruption in the credit markets. The Exchange believes that it is likely that many listed companies will have urgent liquidity needs in the coming months due to lost revenues and maturing debt obligations. In those circumstances, listed companies will need to access additional capital that may not be available in the public equity or credit markets. When similar conditions existed after the financial crisis of 2008-09, the Exchange observed that many companies sought capital by selling significant amounts of equity in private placement transactions to a single investor or small group of investors, in many cases limited to or including existing major shareholders in the company. The Exchange notes that companies raising capital in that manner at that time were often limited by the NYSE's shareholder approval requirements with respect to the size and structure of the transactions they were able to undertake.

Section 312.03 of the Manual, which requires listed companies to acquire shareholder approval prior to certain kinds of equity issuances, imposes significant limitations on the ability of a listed company to engage in the sort of large private placement transaction described above. The most important limitations are as follows:

• Issuance to a Related Party. Subject to an exception for early stage companies set forth therein, Section 312.03(b) of the Manual requires shareholder approval of any issuance to a director, officer or substantial security holder ^[4] of the company (each a “Related Party”) or to an affiliate of a Related Party ^[5] if the number of shares of common stock to be issued, or if the number of shares of common stock into which the securities may be convertible or exercisable, exceeds either 1% of the number of shares of common stock or 1% of the voting power outstanding before the issuance. A limited exception permits cash sales to Related Parties and their affiliates that meet a market price test set forth in the rule (the “Minimum Price”) ^[6] and that relate to no more than 5% of the company's outstanding common stock. However, this exception may only be used if the Related Party in question has Related Party status solely because it is a substantial security holder of the company.

• Transactions of 20% or More. Section 312.03(c) of the Manual requires shareholder approval of any transaction relating to 20% or more of the company's outstanding common stock or 20% of the voting power outstanding before such issuance other than a public offering for cash. Section 312.03(c) includes an exception for transactions involving a cash sale of the company's securities that comply with the Minimum Price requirement and also meet the following definition of a “bona fide private financing,” as set forth in Section 312.04(g): “Bona fide private financing” refers to a sale in which either:

○ A registered broker-dealer purchases the securities from the issuer with a view to the private sale of such securities to one or more purchasers; or

○ the issuer sells the securities to multiple purchasers, and no one such purchaser, or group of related purchasers, acquires, or has the right to acquire upon exercise or conversion of the securities, more than five percent of the shares of the issuer's common stock or more than five percent of the issuer's voting power before the sale.”

The Exchange expects that certain companies during the course of the current unusual economic and market conditions will urgently need to obtain new capital by selling equity securities in private placements.

In many cases, such transactions may involve sales to existing investors in the company or their affiliates that would exceed the applicable 1% and 5% limits of Section 312.03(b). Given the extraordinary nature of the current circumstances, the Exchange proposes a partial waiver of the application of Section 312.03(b) for the period as of the date of this filing through and including June 30, 2020, with the waiver specifically limited to transactions that involve the sale of the company's securities for cash at a price that meets the Minimum Price requirement as set forth in Section 312.04.^[7] In addition, to qualify for this waiver, a transaction must be reviewed and approved by the company's audit committee or a comparable committee comprised solely of independent directors.

This waiver will not be applicable to any transaction involving the stock or assets of another company where any director, officer or substantial security holder of the company has a 5% or greater interest (or such persons collectively have a 10% or greater interest), directly or indirectly, in the company or assets to be acquired or in the consideration to be paid in the transaction or series of related transactions and the present or potential issuance of common stock, or securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock, could result in an increase in outstanding common shares or voting power of 5% or more (i.e., a transaction which would require shareholder approval under NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5635(a)). Specifically, the proposed waiver will not be applicable to a sale of securities by a listed company to any person subject to the provisions of Section 312.03(b) in a transaction, or series of transactions, whose proceeds will be used to fund an acquisition of stock or assets of another company where such person has a direct or indirect interest in the company or assets to be acquired or in the consideration to be paid for such acquisition.

The effect of the above-described proposed waiver would be to allow companies to sell their securities to Related Parties and other persons subject to Section 312.03(b) ^[8] without complying with the numerical limitations of that rule, as long as the sale is in a cash transaction that meets the Minimum Price requirement and also meets the other requirements noted above. As provided by Section 312.03(a), any transaction benefitting from the proposed waiver will still be subject to shareholder approval if required under any other applicable rule, including the equity compensation requirements of Section 303A.08 and the change of control requirements of Section 312.03(d).

Existing large investors are often the only willing providers of much-needed capital to companies undergoing difficulties and the Exchange believes that it is appropriate to increase companies' flexibility to access this source of capital for a limited period. The Exchange notes that, as a result of the proposed waiver, the Exchange's application of Section 312.03(b) will be consistent with the application of NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5635(a) ^[9] to sales of a listed company's securities to related parties.

Many private placement transactions under the current market conditions may also exceed the 20% threshold established by Section 312.03(c). Therefore, given the extraordinary nature of the current circumstances, the Exchange also proposes to waive through and including June 30, 2020, for purposes of the bona fide financing exception to the 20% requirement, the 5% limitation for any sale to an individual investor in a bona fide private financing pursuant to Section 312.03(c) and to permit companies to undertake a bona fide private financing during that period in which there is only a single purchaser. As provided by Section 312.03(a), any transaction benefitting from the proposed waiver will still be subject to shareholder approval if required under any other applicable rule, including the equity compensation requirements of Section 303A.08 and the change of control requirements of Section 312.03(d). Any transaction benefitting from this waiver must be a sale of the company's securities for cash at a price that meets the Minimum Price requirement.

The effect of this proposed waiver would be that a listed company would be exempt from the shareholder approval requirement of Section 312.03(c) in relation to a private placement transaction regardless of its size or the number of participating investors or the amount of securities purchased by any single investor, provided that the transaction is a sale of the company's securities for cash at a price that meets the Minimum Price requirement. If any purchaser in a transaction benefiting from this waiver is a Related Party or other person subject to Section 312.03(b), such transaction must be reviewed and approved by the company's audit committee or a comparable committee comprised solely of independent directors. The Exchange notes that, as a result of the proposed waiver, the Exchange's application of Section 312.03(c) will be consistent with the application of NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5635(c) with respect to private placements relating to 20% or more of a company's common stock or voting power outstanding before such transaction.^[10]

The Exchange notes that these temporary emergency waivers would simply provide NYSE listed companies with the flexibility on a temporary emergency basis to consummate transactions without shareholder approval that would not require shareholder approval under the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market, as the specific limitations the Exchange is proposing to waive do not exist in the applicable NASDAQ rules.^[11]

2. Statutory Basis

The proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,^[12] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[13] in particular, in that it 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 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 the public interest and the interests of investors, and because it is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.

As a result of market and general economic disruption related to the ongoing spread of the COVID-19 virus, certain listed companies may experience urgent liquidity needs that they are unable to meet by raising funds in the public equity or credit markets. The proposed rule change is designed to provide temporary relief from certain of the NYSE's shareholder approval requirements in relation to stock issuances to provide companies with additional flexibility to raise funds by selling equity in private placement transactions during the current extraordinary market and economic conditions provided such transactions meet certain conditions, such as the Minimum Price as defined in Section 312.04(i). The proposed waivers are consistent with the protection of investors because any transaction benefiting from the waivers will not, in the Exchange's view, be dilutive to the company's existing shareholders as it will be subject to a minimum market price requirement and because the audit committee or a comparable committee comprised solely of independent directors will review and approve any transaction benefitting from a waiver that involves a Related Party or affiliates of a Related Party. In addition, as provided by Section 312.03(a), any transaction benefitting from the proposed waiver will still be subject to shareholder approval if required under any other applicable rule, including the equity compensation requirements of Section 303A.08 and the change of control requirements of Section 312.03(d). All companies listed on the Exchange would be eligible to take advantage of the proposed temporary waivers.

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

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change would impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed rule change is not designed to address any competitive issues but rather is designed to provide temporary relief from certain of the NYSE's shareholder approval requirements in relation to stock issuances to provide companies with additional flexibility to raise funds by selling equity in private placement transactions during the current extraordinary market and general economic conditions. In addition, the proposed waivers will simply temporarily conform the treatment of transactions benefitting from the waivers to their treatment under the comparable NASDAQ rules.

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

The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act ^[14] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[15] Because the 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 prior to 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, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[16] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.^[17]

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) ^[18] normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),^[19] the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing.

The Exchange believes that waiver of the operative delay would be consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because, in the Exchange's view, the market and general economic disruption caused by the global spread of the COVID-19 virus may give rise to companies experiencing urgent liquidity needs which they may need to meet by undertaking transactions that would benefit from the proposed relief. In support of its request to waive the 30-day operative delay, the Exchange stated its belief that the proposed waiver does not give rise to any novel investor protection concerns, as the proposed rule change conforms the NYSE's shareholder approval requirements temporarily to those of NASDAQ and would not permit any transactions without shareholder approval that are not permitted on another exchange. In addition, the Exchange stated that all transactions utilizing the waiver would have to satisfy the Minimum Price requirement contained in the rule ^[20] and be reviewed and approved by the issuer's audit committee or comparable committee of the board comprised entirely of independent directors if any transactions benefitting from the waiver involve a Related Party or affiliates of a Related Party, as described above.^[21] Furthermore, the Exchange has stated that, as provided by Section 312.04(a) of the Manual, any transaction benefitting from the proposed waiver will still be subject to shareholder approval if required under any other applicable rule, including the equity compensation requirements of Section 303A.08 of the Manual and the change of control requirements of Section 312.03(d) of the Manual. The Exchange also noted that the proposed waivers are temporary in nature and will only be applied through and including June 30, 2020. For these reasons, the Commission believes that waiver of the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protections of investors and the public interest. According, the Commission hereby waives the 30-day operative delay and designates the proposal operative upon filing.^[22]

At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend 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. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) ^[23] of the Act to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or 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. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

• Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-NYSE-2020-30 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2020-30. This file number should be included on the subject line if email 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 website (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 website viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2020-30 and should be submitted on or before May 1, 2020.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[24]

J. Matthew DeLesDernier,

Assistant Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  15 U.S.C. 78a.

3.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

4.  For purposes of Section 312.03(b), Section 312.04(e) provides that: “An interest consisting of less than either five percent of the number of shares of common stock or five percent of the voting power outstanding of a company or entity shall not be considered a substantial interest or cause the holder of such an interest to be regarded as a substantial security holder.”

5.  Under Section 312.03 of the Manual, a “Related Party” includes “(1) a director, officer or substantial security holder of the company (each a “Related Party”); (2) a subsidiary, affiliate or other closely-related person of a Related Party; or (3) any company or entity in which a Related Party has a substantial direct or indirect interest;”

6.  Section 312.04(i) Defines the “Minimum Price” as follows: “Minimum Price” means a price that is the lower of: (i) The Official Closing Price immediately preceding the signing of the binding agreement; or (ii) the average Official Closing Price for the five trading days immediately preceding the signing of the binding agreement.

Section 312.04(j) defines “Official Closing Price” as follows: “Official Closing Price” of the issuer's common stock means the official closing price on the Exchange as reported to the Consolidated Tape immediately preceding the signing of a binding agreement to issue the securities. For example, if the transaction is signed after the close of the regular session at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on a Tuesday, then Tuesday's official closing price is used. If the transaction is signed at any time between the close of the regular session on Monday and the close if the regular session on Tuesday, then Monday's official closing price is used.

7.  See supra note 6.

8.  See supra note 5.

9.  If a company is raising capital through a transaction, or series of transaction, via the waiver, they cannot use such capital to fund an acquisition.

10.  See supra note 9 which also applies to the waivers available under Section 312.03(c).

11.  See NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5635, including specifically subsections (a) and (c) thereof.

12.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

13.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

14.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

15.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

16.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

17.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the Exchange's 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 filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Commission has waived the five business day notification requirement for this proposed rule change.

18.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

19.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

20.  The Commission notes that the Minimum Price is related to minimum market price requirements as defined above. See supra note 6.

21.  The Commission notes that, as described in the purpose section above, all transactions utilizing the waiver for purposes of Section 312.03(b) would be subject to review and approval by an audit committee or comparable body of independent directors. As to transactions utilizing the temporary waiver under Section 312.03(c) all transactions involving Related Parties or other persons subject to Section 312.03(b), as described above, must be reviewed and approved by the company's audit committee or a comparable committee comprised solely of independent directors.

22.  For purposed only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

23.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).

24.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).