[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2012)] [Notices] [Pages 25773-25774] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2012-10392] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-66859; File No. SR-Phlx-2012-52] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Account Fee April 25, 2012. 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 April 18, 2012, NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (``Phlx'' or ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. 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 the Account Fee displayed in the Pricing Schedule at Section VI, A entitled ``Membership Fees.'' While fee changes pursuant to this proposal are effective upon filing, the Exchange has designated these changes to be operative on May 1, 2012. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://nasdaqtrader.com/micro.aspx?id=PHLXfilings, 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 aspects 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 purpose of this filing is to recoup some of the billing and processing costs associated with participant accounts. The proposed amendment would also encourage members to discontinue holding inactive trading accounts, which the Exchange believes should, in turn, eliminate the need to expend resources to create additional account fields. As a result, the staff time allocated to maintaining account records would be reduced, which would allow for a more efficient use of staff resources. Currently, member organizations receive one free account for each permit assigned to the member organization and the Exchange assesses an Account Fee of $50.00 for each additional account a member holds. The Exchange initially adopted this Account Fee in 2006 to encourage member organizations to discontinue holding inactive trading accounts, which the Exchange believed would, in turn, eliminate the need to expend resources to create additional account.\3\ The Exchange is proposing to amend this fee to assess an Account Fee of $50.00 per month for each account held by a member organization. The Exchange would remove the following text from the Pricing Schedule ``for each account beyond the number of permits billed to that member organization.'' While today member organizations receive one free account for each permit assigned to the member organization, the proposal would bill a member organization $50.00 for each account. The Account Fee would cover any month, or any part of a month, during which an account is maintained by a member. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53046 (January 3, 2006), 71 FR 1459 (January 9, 2006) (SR-Phlx-2005-89). The Exchange noted in its filing that the $50 per month fee would be applicable to any part of a month. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Member organizations are not restricted in the number of trading accounts they may request through the Exchange's Membership Department. In many instances, multiple accounts are requested by a member organization as a means of tracking various trading activity using the Exchange's account numbers or because they have multiple clearing arrangements. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that its proposal to amend its Pricing Schedule is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act \4\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \5\ in particular, in that it is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees and other charges among Exchange members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange believes that the proposed amendment to the Account Fee is reasonable because it seeks to recoup costs incurred by the Exchange. Further, the Exchange is seeking to incentivize members to discontinue inactive trading accounts. The Exchange also believes that the proposed Account Fee is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because it would be uniformly applied to all members. 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 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 No written comments were either solicited or received. 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.\6\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and [[Page 25774]] 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 email to [email protected]. Please include File No. SR-Phlx-2012-52 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 No. SR-Phlx-2012-52. 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 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 No. SR-Phlx-2012-52 and should be submitted on or before May 22, 2012. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\7\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \7\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin M. O'Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2012-10392 Filed 4-30-12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P