2014-17147. Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Extending the Operation of Its Supplemental Liquidity Providers Pilot Currently Scheduled To Expire on July 31, 2014, Until ...

July 16, 2014.

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 July 3, 2014, NYSE MKT LLC (“NYSE MKT” 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 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 extend the operation of its Supplemental Liquidity Providers Pilot (“SLP Pilot” or “Pilot”) (see Rule 107B—Equities), currently scheduled to expire on July 31, 2014, until the earlier of the Securities and Exchange Commission's (“Commission”) approval to make such Pilot permanent or December 31, 2014. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site 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 Exchange proposes to extend the operation of its SLP Pilot,^[3] currently scheduled to expire on July 31, 2014, until the earlier of Commission approval to make such Pilot permanent or December 31, 2014.

Background ^[4]

In October 2008, the New York Stock Exchange LLC (“NYSE”) implemented significant changes to its market rules, execution technology and the rights and obligations of its market participants all of which were designed to improve execution quality on the NYSE. These changes were all elements of the NYSE's and the Exchange's enhanced market model referred to as the “New Market Model” (“NMM Pilot”).^[5] The NYSE SLP Pilot was launched in coordination with the NMM Pilot (see NYSE Rule 107B).

As part of the NMM Pilot, NYSE eliminated the function of specialists on the Exchange creating a new category of market participant, the Designated Market Maker or “DMM.” ^[6] Separately, the NYSE established the SLP Pilot, which established SLPs as a new class of market participants to supplement the liquidity provided by DMMs.^[7]

The NYSE adopted NYSE Rule 107B governing SLPs as a six-month pilot program commencing in November 2008. This NYSE pilot has been extended several times, most recently to July 31, 2014.^[8] The NYSE is in the process of requesting an extension of their SLP Pilot until December 31, 2014 or until the Commission approves the pilot as permanent.^[9] The extension of the NYSE SLP Pilot until December 31, 2014 runs parallel with the extension of the NMM Pilot until December 31, 2014, or until the Commission approves the NMM Pilot as permanent.

Proposal To Extend the Operation of the NYSE MKT SLP Pilot

The Exchange established the SLP Pilot to provide incentives for quoting, to enhance competition among the existing group of liquidity providers, including the DMMs, and add new competitive market participants. NYSE MKT Rule 107B—Equities is based on NYSE Rule 107B. NYSE MKT Rule 107B—Equities was filed with the Commission on December 30, 2009, as a “me too” filing for immediate effectiveness as a pilot program.^[10] The Exchange's SLP Pilot is scheduled to end operation on July 31, 2014 or such earlier time as the Commission may determine to make the rules permanent.

The Exchange believes that the SLP Pilot, in coordination with the NMM Pilot and the NYSE SLP Pilot, allows the Exchange to provide its market participants with a trading venue that utilizes an enhanced market structure to encourage the addition of liquidity, facilitate the trading of larger orders more efficiently and operates to reward aggressive liquidity providers. As such, the Exchange believes that the rules governing the SLP Pilot (NYSE MKT Rule 107B—Equities) should be made permanent.

Through this filing the Exchange seeks to extend the current operation of the SLP Pilot until December 31, 2014, in order to allow the Exchange to formally submit a filing to the Commission to convert the SLP Pilot rule to a permanent rule. The Exchange is currently preparing a rule filing seeking permission to make the Exchange's SLP Pilot permanent, but does not expect that filing to be completed and approved by the Commission before July 31, 2014.^[11]

The proposed change is not otherwise intended to address any other issues and the Exchange is not aware of any problems that member organizations would have in complying with the proposed change.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that 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, because 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 regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest and because it is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.

The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices and to promote just and equitable principles of trade because it seeks to extend a pilot program that has already been approved by the Commission. The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is designed to facilitate transactions in securities and to remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a national market system because the SLP Pilot provides its market participants with a trading venue that utilizes an enhanced market structure to encourage the addition of liquidity and operates to reward aggressive liquidity providers. Moreover, requesting an extension of the SLP Pilot will permit adequate time for: (i) The Exchange to prepare and submit a filing to make the rules governing the SLP Pilot permanent; (ii) public notice and comment; and (iii) completion of the 19b-4 approval process. Finally, the Exchange believes that it is subject to significant competitive forces, as described below in the Exchange's statement regarding the burden on competition. For these reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the Act.

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

In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,^[14] the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change would not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange believes that extending the operation of the SLP Pilot will enhance competition among liquidity providers and thereby improve execution quality on the Exchange. The Exchange will continue to monitor the efficacy of the program during the proposed extended pilot period.

Finally, the Exchange notes that it operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily favor competing venues. In such an environment, the Exchange must continually review, and consider adjusting the services it offers and the requirements it imposes to remain competitive with other U.S. equity exchanges. For the reasons described above, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change reflects this competitive environment.

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 ^[15] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[16] 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 and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) ^[17] normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),^[18] 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 before the pilot's expiration. The Exchange stated that an immediate operative date is necessary in order to immediately implement the proposed rule change so that member organizations could continue to benefit from the pilot program without interruption after July 31, 2014.

The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because such waiver would allow the pilot to continue uninterrupted, thereby avoiding any potential investor confusion that could result from the temporary interruption in the pilot program. Further, the Commission notes that because the proposed rule change was filed on an immediately effective basis on July 3, 2014, the fact that the current pilot program does not expire until July 31, 2014 will afford interested parties the opportunity to comment on the proposal before the Exchange requires it to become operative. For this reason, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be operative on July 31, 2014.^[19]

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.

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-NYSEMKT-2014-58 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-NYSEMKT-2014-58. 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 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 Web site 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 such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office 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 Number SR-NYSEMKT-2014-58 and should be submitted on or before August 12, 2014.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[20]

Kevin M. O'Neill,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C.78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61308 (January 7, 2010), 75 FR 2573 (January 15, 2010) (SR-NYSEAmex-2009-98) (establishing the NYSE Amex Equities SLP Pilot). See also Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 61841 (April 5, 2010), 75 FR 18560 (April 12, 2010) (SR-NYSEAmex-2010-33) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to September 30, 2010); 62814 (September 1, 2010), 75 FR 54671 (September 8, 2010) (SR-NYSEAmex-2010-88) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to January 31, 2011); 63615 (December 29, 2010), 76 FR 611 (January 5, 2011) (SR-NYSEAmex-2010-123) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to August 1, 2011); 64772 (June 29, 2011), 76 FR 39455 (July 6, 2011) (SR-NYSEAmex-2011-44) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to January 31, 2012); 66041 (December 23, 2011), 76 FR 82328 (December 30, 2011) (SR-NYSEAmex-2011-103) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to July 31, 2012); 67496 (July 25, 2012), 77 FR 45390 (July 31, 2012) (SR-NYSEMKT-2012-22) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to January 31, 2013); 68557 (January 2, 2013), 78 FR 1284 (January 8, 2013) (SR-NYSEMKT-2012-85) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to July 31, 2013); 69820 (June 21, 2013), 78 FR 38748 (June 27, 2013) (SR-NYSEMKT-2013-52) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to January 31, 2014); and 71361 (January 21, 2014), 79 FR 4364 (January 27, 2014) (SR-NYSEMKT-2014-03) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to July 31, 2014).

4.  The information contained herein is a summary of the “New Market Model” Pilot and the SLP Pilot. See supra note 4 and infra note 6 for a fuller description of those pilots.

5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58845 (October 24, 2008), 73 FR 64379 (October 29, 2008) (SR-NYSE-2008-46).

6.  See NYSE Rule 103.

7.  See NYSE Rule 107B and NYSE MKT Rule 107B—Equities. NYSE amended the monthly volume requirements to an average daily volume (“ADV”) that is a specified percentage of NYSE consolidated ADV. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67759 (August 30, 2012), 77 FR 54939 (September 6, 2012) (SR-NYSE-2012-38).

8.  See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 58877 (October 29, 2008), 73 FR 65904 (November 5, 2008) (SR-NYSE-2008-108) (adopting SLP Pilot program); 59869 (May 6, 2009), 74 FR 22796 (May 14, 2009) (SR-NYSE-2009-46) (extending SLP Pilot program until October 1, 2009); 60756 (October 1, 2009), 74 FR 51628 (October 7, 2009) (SR-NYSE-2009-100) (extending SLP Pilot program until November 30, 2009); 61075 (November 30, 2009), 74 FR 64112 (December 7, 2009) (SR-NYSE-2009-119) (extending SLP Pilot program until March 30, 2010); 61840 (April 5, 2010), 75 FR 18563 (April 12, 2010) (SR-NYSE-2010-28) (extending the SLP Pilot until September 30, 2010); 62813 (September 1, 2010), 75 FR 54686 (September 8, 2010) (SR-NYSE-2010-62) (extending the SLP Pilot until January 31, 2011); 63616 (December 29, 2010), 76 FR 612 (January 5, 2011) (SR-NYSE-2010-86) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to August 1, 2011); 64762 (June 28, 2011), 76 FR 39145 (July 5, 2011) (SR-NYSE-2011-30) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to January 31, 2012); 66045 (December 23, 2011), 76 FR 82342 (December 30, 2011) (SR-NYSE-2011-66) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to July 31, 2012); 67493 (July 25, 2012), 77 FR 45388 (July 31, 2012) (SR-NYSE-2012-27) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to January 31, 2013); 68560 (January 2, 2013), 78 FR 1280 (January 8, 2013) (SR-NYSE-2012-76) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to July 31, 2013); 69819 (June 21, 2013), 78 FR 38764 (June 27, 2013) (SR-NYSE-2013-44) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to January 31, 2014); and 71362 (January 21, 2014), 79 FR 4371 (January 27, 2014) (SR-NYSE-2014-03) (extending the operation of the SLP Pilot to July 31, 2014).

9.  See SR-NYSE-2014-34.

10.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61308 (January 7, 2010), 75 FR 2573 (January 15, 2010) (SR-NYSEAmex-2009-98).

11.  The NMM Pilot was scheduled to expire on July 31, 2014 as well. On July 3, 2014, the Exchange filed to extend the NMM Pilot until December 31, 2014. See SR-NYSEMKT-2014-57.

12.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

13.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

14.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).

15.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

16.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 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 Exchange has satisfied this requirement.

17.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

18.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

19.  For purposes 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).

20.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).