[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 14, 2011)] [Notices] [Pages 34794-34795] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2011-14663] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-64634; File No. SR-EDGA-2011-17] Self-Regulatory Organizations; EDGA Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Amendments to the EDGA Exchange, Inc. Fee Schedule June 8, 2011. 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 May 31, 2011, the EDGA Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or the ``EDGA'') 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend its fees and rebates applicable to Members \3\ of the Exchange pursuant to EDGA Rule 15.1(a) and (c). All of the changes described herein are applicable to EDGA Members. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Internet Web site at http://www.directedge.com. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ A Member is any registered broker or dealer, or any person associated with a registered broker or dealer, that has been admitted to membership in the Exchange. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The self-regulatory organization has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. [[Page 34795]] A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change Purpose The Exchange proposes to amend footnote 3 to reflect NYSE's increase in charge from $0.0021 per share to $0.0023 per share for removing liquidity in stocks priced below $1.00. The Exchange also proposes to decrease the rebate on Flag C (routed to Nasdaq BX, removes liquidity) from $0.0014 per share to $0.0005 per share. The Exchange proposes to implement these amendments to its fee schedule on June 1, 2011. Basis The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the objectives of Section 6 of the Act,\4\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4),\5\ in particular, as it is designed to provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among its members and other persons using its facilities. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f. \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange believes that the decreased rebate on Flag C when EDGA routes to Nasdaq BX is designed to provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges as it represents a straight pass through of Nasdaq BX's decreased rebate from $0.0014 per share to $0.0005 per share, which is effective June 1, 2011. EDGA believes that it is reasonable and equitable to pass on these fees to its members. The Exchange believes that the proposed rate is non-discriminatory in that it applies uniformly to all Members. The increase in fee from $0.0021 per share to $0.0023 per share, as reflected in footnote 3, is assessed by NYSE for stocks priced below $1.00. This increase in fee is a pass through of NYSE's increased fee, effective January 3, 2011. The same rate change was made for orders in securities priced $1 and over for securities that are routed or re- routed to NYSE (Flag D) in the Exchange's fee filing effective January 1, 2011.\6\ EDGA believes that it is reasonable and equitable to pass on these fees to its members. The Exchange believes that the proposed rate is non-discriminatory in that it applies uniformly to all Members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ See SR-EDGA-2010-26 (December 28, 2010). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange also notes that it operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily direct order flow to competing venues if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be excessive. The proposed rule change reflects a competitive pricing structure designed to incent market participants to direct their order flow to the Exchange. The Exchange believes that the proposed rates are equitable in that they apply uniformly to all Members. The Exchange believes the fees and credits remain competitive with those charged by other venues and therefore continue to be reasonable and equitably allocated to Members. B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition The proposed rule change does not 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 not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received any unsolicited written comments from members or other interested parties. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act \7\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) \8\ thereunder. 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. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii). \8\ 17 CFR 19b-4(f)(2). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 CommentsUse the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or Send an e-mail to [email protected]. Please include File Number SR-EDGA-2011-17 on the subject line. 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 Number SR-EDGA-2011-17. 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 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 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- EDGA-2011-17 and should be submitted on or before July 5, 2011. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\9\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cathy H. Ahn, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011-14663 Filed 6-13-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P