2010-23299. Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Adopt BATS Rule 2.12, Entitled “BATS Trading, Inc. as Inbound Router” and To Make Related Changes  

  • Start Preamble September 13, 2010.

    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”), [1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,[2] notice is hereby given that on September 9, 2010, BATS Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange” or “BATS”) 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 Exchange. The Exchange has designated this proposal as a “non-controversial” proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act [3] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder,[4] which renders it effective upon filing with the Commission. 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 adopt new BATS Rule 2.12, entitled “BATS Trading, Inc. as Inbound Router” and to make other related changes.

    The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange's Web site at http://www.batstrading.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 Exchange 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 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 Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    1. Purpose

    On August 13, 2010, the Commission approved the application of BATS Y-Exchange, Inc. (“BYX”), an affiliate of the Exchange, to register as a national securities exchange.[5] Included in the approved rules of BYX is BYX Rule 2.12, which governs the routing of orders by BYX's (and the Exchange's) affiliated broker-dealer, BATS Trading, Inc. (“BATS Trading”) to BYX as inbound router in its capacity as a routing facility of the Exchange. The Exchange is proposing to adopt the same inbound routing rule, also numbered Rule 2.12, which will govern BATS Trading's status as an inbound router that sends orders to the Exchange in its capacity as a routing facility of BYX. Pursuant to proposed Rule 2.12, BATS Trading's inbound routing services from BYX to the Exchange would be subject to the following conditions and limitations:

    (1) The Exchange must enter into (1) a plan pursuant to Rule 17d-2 under the Act with a non-affiliated self-regulatory organization (“SRO”) to relieve the Exchange of regulatory responsibilities for BATS Trading with respect to rules that are common rules between the Exchange and the non-affiliated SRO, and (2) a regulatory services contract (“Regulatory Contract”) with a non-affiliated SRO to perform regulatory responsibilities for BATS Trading for unique Exchange rules.

    (2) The Regulatory Contract must require the Exchange to provide the non-affiliated SRO with information, in an easily accessible manner, regarding all exception reports, alerts, complaints, trading errors, cancellations, investigations, and enforcement matters (collectively “Exceptions”) in which BATS Trading is identified as a participant that has potentially violated Exchange or Commission Rules, and requires that FINRA provide a report, at least quarterly, to the Exchange quantifying all Exceptions in which BATS Trading is identified as a participant that has potentially violated Exchange or Commission rules.

    (3) The Exchange, on behalf of its parent company, BATS Global Markets, Inc., must establish and maintain procedures and internal controls reasonably designed to ensure that BATS Trading does not develop or implement changes to its system based on non-public information obtained as a result of its affiliation with the Exchange, until such information is available generally to similarly situated members of the Exchange.

    The Exchange has proposed adoption of new Rule 2.12 on a pilot basis. The Exchange requests that this pilot period run concurrently with the twelve month period for BYX's receipt of inbound routes from the Exchange, which is set to expire one year after the commencement of operations by BYX. BYX currently plans to commence operations on October 15, 2010.

    In addition to the adoption of an inbound routing rule, the Exchange proposes minor modifications to its existing rule applicable to BATS Trading's status as an outbound router. Specifically, Rule 2.11 currently states that BATS Trading will not engage in any business other than its outbound router function and any other activities it may engage in as approved by the Commission. The Exchange proposes to add acting as inbound router to the list of activities in which BATS Trading will engage.Start Printed Page 57098

    Finally, due to the adoption of Rule 2.12, the Exchange proposes to re-number existing Rule 2.12 as 2.13.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The rule change proposed in this submission is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder that are applicable to a national securities exchange, and, in particular, with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.[6] In particular, the proposed change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,[7] because it would promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of, a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, protect investors and the public interest, by implementing a rule to allow BATS Trading, Inc. to route orders to the Exchange in its capacity as an order routing facility of BYX.

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change imposes any burden on competition.

    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

    Because the foregoing 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 for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act [8] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.[9]

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the 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

    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 No. SR-BATS-2010-024. 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 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 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of BATS. 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 No. SR-BATS-2010-024 and should be submitted on or before October 8, 2010.

    Start Signature

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.10

    Florence E. Harmon,

    Deputy Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-62716 (August 13, 2010), 75 FR 51295 (August 19, 2010) (order approving application of BATS Y-Exchange, Inc. for registration as a national securities exchange).

    Back to Citation

    9.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its intent to file 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.

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. 2010-23299 Filed 9-16-10; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8010-01-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
09/17/2010
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
2010-23299
Pages:
57097-57098 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-62901, File No. SR-BATS-2010-024
EOCitation:
of 2010-09-13
PDF File:
2010-23299.pdf