E7-7939. Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Amendments to Interpretation to Rule 311(b)(5) (“Co-Designation of Principal Executive Officers”) as Modified by Amendment No. 1

April 19, 2007.

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 February 2, 2007, the New York Stock Exchange LLC (“NYSE” or the “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 substantially prepared by the Exchange. On April 16, 2007, the Exchange submitted Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.^[4] 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 NYSE is proposing amendments to Interpretation .05 to NYSE Rule 311(b)(5) regarding co-designation of principal executive officers.

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. The text of these 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 aspects of such statements.

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

1. Purpose

Rule 311 (“Formation and Approval of Member Organizations”) and specifically Section (b)(5) thereof provide that “principal executive officers” shall exercise principal executive responsibility over the various areas of the business of the member corporation. Interpretation .05 to Rule 311(b)(5) (the “Interpretation”) sets forth the regulatory framework under which member organizations may request approval for assigning two persons as the “principal executive officers” ^[5] for the same function pursuant to Rule 311(b)(5). It presently provides that no understanding or agreement purporting to limit or apportion the joint and several responsibility of each such co-officer will be recognized by the Exchange. The proposed amended Interpretation would qualify that prohibition to permit certain principal executive officers to allocate specific responsibility, subject to Exchange approval.

Background

On September 7, 2005, the Commission approved changes to Rule 311.^[6] In promulgating the changes to the Interpretation, the Exchange explained: ^[7]

Co-Designation of Principal Executive Officers

The Exchange believes that co-designating principal executive officer titles (i.e., assigning or sharing of the same title to two persons) is a potentially troublesome practice in that it can lead to confusion as to which designee is ultimately responsible and accountable for assigned functions. However, there may be instances where such arrangements are supported by valid business reasons, such as when each co-designee has special expertise in critical areas within the purview of the principal executive officer job description or co-principal executive officers have functional responsibility for separate business lines. In light of such circumstances, the Exchange has permitted the co-designation of certain principal executive officer titles at member organizations on a limited basis. Accordingly, the amendments continue to permit such co-designations, but only pursuant to a written request and subject to the prior written approval of the Exchange (see new Section /05).

Written requests to the Exchange must set forth the reason for the co-designation and explain how the arrangement is structured. Further, since such co-designations raise issues regarding which person has ultimate authority and accountability, the request must make clear that each co-designee has joint and several responsibility for discharging the duties of the principal executive officer designation and that no understanding or agreement purporting to apportion or limit such responsibility will be recognized by the Exchange.

In situations where authority is, by its nature, indivisible, such as in the cases of CEOs and CFOs, the basis for this position is unarguable. The Exchange now believes, however, that there are legitimate situations where other principal executive officers exercise supervisory authority over discrete and naturally separate business functions, consistent with the internal corporate structure of the particular member organization. As an example, the Exchange has seen a reasonable division of supervisory jurisdictions and responsibility between CCOs whereby one is responsible for the member organization's retail brokerage activities and another deals with the firm's investment banking functions. While there are inevitable areas of overlap between the two, as where new offerings are readied for distribution by the retail sales force, and any proposed request for recognition of the differing areas would need to address such overlap, the greater part of the two functions are mutually exclusive, and lend themselves logically to separation.^[8]

It can be seen that a joint and several responsibility could expose one of the co-CCOs to regulatory sanctions for actions in an area which he or she did not and could not reasonably supervise. This needs to be balanced against the need to avoid the situation where each such officer attempts to disclaim responsibility for the supervision of the area in question.

Proposed Amendments

Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to amend the Interpretation to permit co-CCOs and co-COO ^[9] to allocate supervisory responsibility in a fashion acceptable to the Exchange. Where a member organization seeks to divide regulatory responsibility between more than one principal executive officer bearing the same or similar titles without the assumption of joint and several responsibility, it must provide the Exchange with a plan acceptable to the Exchange allocating specific responsibility and making unambiguous provisions, especially for the supervision of areas where the separate functions interact. It should be clearly understood that joint and several responsibility remains in effect for any area not specifically included in the plan approved by the Exchange. In addition, because the CCO of a member organization has unique responsibilities under Rule 342.30 (“Annual Reports”), the revised Interpretation would also require a representation that the certification required by Rule 342.30(e) will further confirm the qualification of each such co-CCO and that the responsibility of the co-CCOs encompasses every aspect of the business of the member organization. Of necessity, each of the co-CCOs would meet with and advise the CEO as part of the Rule 342.30 certification process.

As proposed, the Interpretation would read:

The prior written approval of the Exchange is required to assign [two] more than one person[s] to a single “principal executive officer” designation pursuant to Rule 311(b)(5). Member organizations seeking approval for such co-designations must submit a written request to the Exchange that sets forth the reason for the co-designation, explains how the arrangement is structured, and makes clear that each co-designee has joint and several responsibility for discharging the duties of that principal executive officer designation[;]. However, the Exchange may approve a specific plan identifying the business need and other justification for an arrangement which does not provide for joint and several responsibility for principal executive officers other than the chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Such a plan must identify the areas and functions subject to separate supervisory responsibility and make specific provisions for the supervisory responsibility of functions, activities and areas which can reasonably be expected to overlap. [no understanding or agreement purporting to apportion or limit such responsibility will be recognized by the Exchange.] In addition, in the case of co-CCOs, the written approval request submitted in accordance with this Interpretation shall include a representation to the Exchange, to the effect that the CEO's Annual Report and Certification required by Rule 342.30(e) will further state, in addition to the fact that each such CCO has met the qualification requirements set forth at 342.30(d)/01, that the collective authority, accountability, and responsibility of such co-equal CCOs encompasses, without exception, every aspect of the business of such member organization.

Implementation Date

The proposed amendments would be effective upon SEC approval.

2. Statutory Basis

The proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange, and in particular, with the requirements of Sections 6(b)(5)^[10] of the Act. Section 6(b)(5) requires, among other things, that the rules of an exchange be designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and national market system, and in general, to protect investors and the public interest. The proposed amendments will provide member organizations with organizational flexibility in the allocation of certain regulatory responsibilities.

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

The Exchange has neither solicited nor received written comments on 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 publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the Exchange consents, the Commission will:

(A) By order approve 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, 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 e-mail to [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-NYSE-2007-10 on the subject line.

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-NYSE-2007-10. 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. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the NYSE. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information 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-NYSE-2007-10 and should be submitted by May 17, 2007.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.^[11]

Florence E. Harmon,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  15 U.S.C. 78(a) et seq.

3.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

4.  Amendment No. 1 replaced the original filing in its entirety.

5.  Rule 311(b)(5) provides that the board of directors of each member organization shall designate “principal executive officers” who shall have responsibility over the various areas of the business of the member organization. In operation, the Exchange recognizes four such principal executive officers: Chief executive officer (“CEO”), chief operations officer (“COO”), chief finance officer (“CFO”) and chief compliance officer (“CCO”).

6.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 52391 (September 7, 2005), 70 FR 54429 (September 14, 2005) (SR-NYSE-2005-04).

7.  See NYSE Information Memo 05-69 (September 16, 2005).

8.  All present co-designations have involved two persons, and that may be the optimal number for such sharing of responsibility. However, to assure maximum member organization operational flexibility, the proposed interpretation does not limit the number to two, but would allow three co-designees where a compelling case for such allocation is made. The Commission notes that while the Exchange states above that it would allow three co-designees, the proposed change to the Interpretation .05 of rule 311(b)(5) does not specify a limit on the number of co-designees permitted.

9.  Although to date only co-CCOs have chosen to seek separate status, it would not be unreasonable to extend the same treatment to co-COOs where their duties are subject to rational separation.

10.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

11.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).