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DOCUMENT ID: [Release No. 34-56825; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2007-066]
SUBJECT CATEGORY: Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Clarify the Applicability to Limited Partnerships of Nasdaq's Direct Registration Program Requirements
DOCUMENT SUMMARY: November 20, 2007.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act''),\1\ notice is hereby given that on July 12, 2007, NASDAQ
Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq'') filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change described in Items
I, II, and III below, which items have been prepared primarily by
Nasdaq. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested parties.
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
I. SelfRegulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
Nasdaq proposes to clarify that the requirement that all issuers be
eligible to participate in the Direct Registration Program (``DRS'')
also applies to issuers that are limited partnerships. The text of the proposed rule change is below.\2\
\2\ Changes are to the rule text that appears in the electronic
manual of Nasdaq found at http://www.complinet.com/nasdaq.
4360. Qualitative Listing Requirements for Nasdaq Issuers That Are Limited Partnerships
(a)(i) No Change.
(j) Each issuer that is a limited partnership must comply with the
requirements to be eligible for a Direct Registration Program, as described in Rule 4350(l).
* * * * *
II. SelfRegulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, Nasdaq 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. Nasdaq has prepared summaries, set forth in sections
(A), (B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of these statements.\3\
\3\ The Commission has modified the text of the summaries prepared by the Nasdaq.
A. SelfRegulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In August 2006, the Commission approved changes to Nasdaq Rule
4350(l) to require that Nasdaqlisted securities be eligible to
participate in a direct registration program.\4\ This requirement is
currently applicable to newly listing companies and on January 1, 2008,
will be fully implemented when all Nasdaqlisted securities will be
required to be eligible. In proposing this requirement, Nasdaq intended
that the requirement apply to all listed securities except nonequity
securities which are bookentryonly.\5\ However, Rule 4350 does not
apply to Nasdaq issuers that are limited partnerships. This filing
addresses that oversight by adopting in Rule 4360, which does apply to
limited partnerships, the requirement that each issuer be eligible for DRS, as described in Rule 4350(l).
\4\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54288 (August 8, 2007),
71 FR 47276 (August 16, 2007) [File No. SRNASDAQ2006008] (order
approving listing standards requiring DRS eligibility) (``Approval Order'').
\5\ The Approval Order states, ``In order to reduce the number
of transactions in securities for which settlement is effected by
the physical delivery of securities certificates and thereby reduce
the risks, costs, and delays associated with the physical delivery
of securities certificates, Nasdaq is proposing to add new Section
(l) to its rule 4350 to require that all listed securities be eligible to participate in DRS.''
Nasdaq believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with
the requirements of Section 6 of the Act \6\ in general and
particularly with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \7\ in that it is designed
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 transaction 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
and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers,
issuers, brokers, or dealers. Nasdaq believes that requiring securities
to be eligible to use DRS will make it easier to trade securities in
bookentry form, which will facilitate the settlement of securities transactions.
\6\ 15 U.S.C. 78o3.
\7\ 15 U.S.C. 78o3(b)(6).
B. SelfRegulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
Nasdaq 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. SelfRegulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments relating to the proposed rule change have been
solicited or received. Nasdaq will notify the Commission of any written comments received by Nasdaq.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become effective upon filing pursuant
to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \8\ and Rule 19b4(f)(6) \9\
thereunder in that it (1) does not significantly affect the protection
of investors or the public interest; (ii) does not impose any
significant burden on competition; (iii) by its terms, does not become
operative for 30 days after the date of the filing. As such, this
proposed rule change is effective upon the Commission's receipt of this
filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(3) and rule 19b4(f)(6) thereunder. At
any time within sixty days of the filing of such rule change, the
Commission may summarily abrogate 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.
\8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
\9\ 17 CFR 240.19b4(f)(6).
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
All submissions should refer to File Number SRNasdaq2007066.
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 inspection
and copying 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 filings also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal office of Nasdaq and on
Nasdaq's Web site, http://www.complinet.com/nasdaq. 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 SRNASDAQ2007066 and should be submitted on or before December 26, 2007.
For the Commission by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
\10\ 17 CFR 200.303(a)(12).
Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E723397 Filed 12307; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 801101P
SUMMARY: NASDAQ Stock Market LLC,
DOCUMENT BODY 2: November 20, 2007.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act''),\1\ notice is hereby given that on July 12, 2007, NASDAQ
Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq'') filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change described in Items
I, II, and III below, which items have been prepared primarily by
Nasdaq. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested parties.
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
I. SelfRegulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
Nasdaq proposes to clarify that the requirement that all issuers be
eligible to participate in the Direct Registration Program (``DRS'')
also applies to issuers that are limited partnerships. The text of the proposed rule change is below.\2\
\2\ Changes are to the rule text that appears in the electronic
manual of Nasdaq found at http://www.complinet.com/nasdaq.
4360. Qualitative Listing Requirements for Nasdaq Issuers That Are Limited Partnerships
(a)(i) No Change.
(j) Each issuer that is a limited partnership must comply with the
requirements to be eligible for a Direct Registration Program, as described in Rule 4350(l).
* * * * *
II. SelfRegulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, Nasdaq 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. Nasdaq has prepared summaries, set forth in sections
(A), (B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of these statements.\3\
\3\ The Commission has modified the text of the summaries prepared by the Nasdaq.
A. SelfRegulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In August 2006, the Commission approved changes to Nasdaq Rule
4350(l) to require that Nasdaqlisted securities be eligible to
participate in a direct registration program.\4\ This requirement is
currently applicable to newly listing companies and on January 1, 2008,
will be fully implemented when all Nasdaqlisted securities will be
required to be eligible. In proposing this requirement, Nasdaq intended
that the requirement apply to all listed securities except nonequity
securities which are bookentryonly.\5\ However, Rule 4350 does not
apply to Nasdaq issuers that are limited partnerships. This filing
addresses that oversight by adopting in Rule 4360, which does apply to
limited partnerships, the requirement that each issuer be eligible for DRS, as described in Rule 4350(l).
\4\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54288 (August 8, 2007),
71 FR 47276 (August 16, 2007) [File No. SRNASDAQ2006008] (order
approving listing standards requiring DRS eligibility) (``Approval Order'').
\5\ The Approval Order states, ``In order to reduce the number
of transactions in securities for which settlement is effected by
the physical delivery of securities certificates and thereby reduce
the risks, costs, and delays associated with the physical delivery
of securities certificates, Nasdaq is proposing to add new Section
(l) to its rule 4350 to require that all listed securities be eligible to participate in DRS.''
Nasdaq believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with
the requirements of Section 6 of the Act \6\ in general and
particularly with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \7\ in that it is designed
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 transaction 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
and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers,
issuers, brokers, or dealers. Nasdaq believes that requiring securities
to be eligible to use DRS will make it easier to trade securities in
bookentry form, which will facilitate the settlement of securities transactions.
\6\ 15 U.S.C. 78o3.
\7\ 15 U.S.C. 78o3(b)(6).
B. SelfRegulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
Nasdaq 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. SelfRegulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments relating to the proposed rule change have been
solicited or received. Nasdaq will notify the Commission of any written comments received by Nasdaq.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become effective upon filing pursuant
to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \8\ and Rule 19b4(f)(6) \9\
thereunder in that it (1) does not significantly affect the protection
of investors or the public interest; (ii) does not impose any
significant burden on competition; (iii) by its terms, does not become
operative for 30 days after the date of the filing. As such, this
proposed rule change is effective upon the Commission's receipt of this
filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(3) and rule 19b4(f)(6) thereunder. At
any time within sixty days of the filing of such rule change, the
Commission may summarily abrogate 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.
\8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
\9\ 17 CFR 240.19b4(f)(6).
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
All submissions should refer to File Number SRNasdaq2007066.
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 inspection
and copying 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 filings also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal office of Nasdaq and on
Nasdaq's Web site, http://www.complinet.com/nasdaq. 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 SRNASDAQ2007066 and should be submitted on or before December 26, 2007.
For the Commission by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
\10\ 17 CFR 200.303(a)(12).
Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E723397 Filed 12307; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 801101P
14 CFR Part 39 40 CFR Part 52 14 CFR Part 71 33 CFR Part 165 26 CFR Part 1 50 CFR Part 679 40 CFR Part 180 47 CFR Part 73 33 CFR Part 117 50 CFR Part 17 44 CFR Part 67 50 CFR Part 648 14 CFR Part 97 33 CFR Part 100 40 CFR Part 63 26 CFR Part 301 50 CFR Part 622 39 CFR Part 111 50 CFR Part 660 44 CFR Part 65 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81 40 CFR Part 271 47 CFR Part 64 40 CFR Part 300 14 CFR Part 23 14 CFR Part 25 21 CFR Part 522 50 CFR Part 665 47 CFR Part 76 27 CFR Part 9