66916 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 187 / Thursday, September 28, 2023 / Notices 

12 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 

1Attached hereto as Exhibit A. See also Letter 

from Richard Pullano, Vice President and Associate 

General Counsel, FINRA, to Devin Ryan, Assistant 

Director, Office of Chief Counsel and Moshe 

Rothman, Assistant Director, Office of Clearance 

and Settlement, Division of Trading and Markets, 

dated September 22, 2023 (‘‘FINRA Letter’’). 

2 17 CFR 240.17f–2(c). 

3 15 U.S.C. 78a et seq. 

4See Exchange Act Release No. 93511 (November 

2, 2021), 86 FR 61801 (November 8, 2021), https:// 

www.sec.gov/files/rules/other/2021/34-93511.pdf 

(Declaration of Effectiveness of the Fingerprint Plan 

of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. 

(‘‘2021 Declaration’’)). See also Letter from Richard 

E. Pullano, Vice President and Associate General 

Counsel, FINRA, to Devin Ryan, Assistant Director, 

Office of Chief Counsel, Division of Trading and 

Markets, Commission, dated October 28, 2021, 

https://www.sec.gov/files/rules/other/2021/finraincoming-fingerprint-plan-cover-letter.pdf (‘‘FINRA 

October 2021 Letter’’). 

5See FINRA Letter at 1. See id. at 3, n.8. See also 

2021 Declaration at 5–6, 12 (describing 

fingerprinting processing for transfer agent and 

clearing agency personnel). As FINRA notes, as a 

result of the 2021 Fingerprint Plan transition, the 

percentage of fingerprints processed through 

FINRA’s fingerprint platform decreased by 97 

percent. See FINRA Letter at 1, n.3. 

6See FINRA Letter at 1. FINRA states that, for 

over 20 years, it directly channeled fingerprints of 

transfer agent and clearing agency personnel to the 

Federal Bureau of Investigation (‘‘FBI’’) using a 

proprietary platform that used vendor-provided 

software and specialized communications 

equipment. Although FINRA continues to process 

fingerprints submitted by transfer agents and 

clearing agencies, it soon will no longer have the 

ability to directly channel fingerprints to the FBI as 

its fingerprint processing platform must be retired. 

Specifically, in addition to the vendor 

discontinuing the software used for the platform 

and ceasing to support the software, FINRA learned 

in late 2022 that other software (an unrelated server 

product) that is integral to the platform’s operation 

will no longer be supported after October 10, 2023. 

See id. at 1–2. 

7See id. at 1–4. FINRA states that it will continue 

to channel fingerprints for these personnel 

consistent with the 2021 Fingerprint Plan until the 

Plan is declared effective or September 29, 2023, 

whichever is earlier. See Exhibit A, at 1, n.1. 

8See Exhibit A at 1, n.3. See also 2021 

Declaration at 2, n.6 (discussing the FBI’s 

conditional approval of FINRA using a specified 

FBI-Approved Channel Partner). 

9See FINRA Letter at 3–4. 

10See id. at 3. FINRA states that no additional 

action is needed by the FBI to implement this 

interim measure because the FBI’s 2021 approval of 

FINRA’s outsourcing of its fingerprint channeling 

responsibilities extends to all entities identified in 

Exchange Act section 17(f)(2), including transfer 

agents and clearing agencies. See FINRA Letter at 

3, n. 10 (citing letter from Chasity S. Anderson, FBI 

Compact Officer, National Crime Prevention and 

Privacy Compact Council Office, FBI, to Derek W. 

Linden, Executive Vice President, FINRA, dated 

September 28, 2021), https://www.sec.gov/files/ 

rules/other/2021/fbi-compact-officer-approvalletter.pdf. 

11See id. at 1, 4. For purposes of the Plan, brokerdealer personnel includes personnel of FINRA 

members and other broker-dealers required to be 

fingerprinted pursuant to Exchange Act section 

17(f)(2) and Rule 17f–2 thereunder. The term 

‘‘members,’’ as used in the Plan, includes Capital 

Acquisition Brokers, Funding Portals and 

applicants for FINRA membership. See Exhibit A at 

1–2, n.2. 

12See id. at 1, 4. FINRA’s 2021 transition to the 

FBI-Approved Channel Partner provides brokerdealers an efficient option to comply with the 

fingerprinting requirements in section 17(f)(2) and 

enables FINRA to fulfill its critical regulatory 

responsibilities for those entities. The 2021 

transition similarly enables FINRA to efficiently 

fingerprint its officers, directors, employees and 

contractors consistent with New York General 

Business Law Section 359–e and Exchange Act 

section 17(f)(2) and thereby safeguard against 

potential threats to FINRA personnel, facilities and 

records. As a result of the 2021 transition, the 

percentage of fingerprints processed through 

FINRA’s fingerprint platform decreased by 97 

percent. See id. at 1, n.3. See also 2021 Declaration 

at 4–6, 11–13. 

available for website 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 the filing also 

will be available for inspection and 

copying at the principal office of the 

Exchange. Do not include personal 

identifiable information in submissions; 

you should submit only information 

that you wish to make available 

publicly. We may redact in part or 

withhold entirely from publication 

submitted material that is obscene or 

subject to copyright protection. All 

submissions should refer to file number 

SR–NASDAQ–2023–036 and should be 

submitted on or before October 19, 

2023. 

For the Commission, by the Division of 

Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated 

authority.12

Sherry R. Haywood, 

Assistant Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2023–21136 Filed 9–27–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 

COMMISSION 

[Release No. 34–98488] 

Self-Regulatory Organizations; 

Financial Industry Regulatory 

Authority, Inc.; Declaration of 

Effectiveness of the Fingerprint Plan of 

the Financial Industry Regulatory 

Authority, Inc. 

September 22, 2023. 

On September 22, 2023, the Financial 

Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. 

(‘‘FINRA’’) filed with the Securities and 

Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’ 

or ‘‘SEC’’) a new fingerprint plan 

(‘‘Plan’’) 1 pursuant to Rule 17f–2(c) 2

under the Securities Exchange Act of 

1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’ or ‘‘Act’’).3 The 

Plan supersedes and replaces FINRA’s 

current fingerprint plan, which was 

declared effective for the Commission 

by the Division of Trading and Markets, 

pursuant to delegated authority, on 

November 2, 2021 (‘‘2021 Fingerprint 

Plan’’).4

As discussed in the FINRA Letter, 

historically FINRA has processed 

fingerprints submitted from registered 

transfer agent and registered clearing 

agency (hereinafter referred to as 

‘‘transfer agents’’ and ‘‘clearing 

agencies’’) personnel who are required 

to be fingerprinted using FINRA’s 

fingerprint processing platform.5 FINRA 

states that the new Plan is necessary 

because FINRA must retire its 

fingerprint processing platform, due to 

the termination of support of essential 

software used by the platform.6 Because 

its fingerprint processing platform will 

no longer be supported, FINRA states 

that there is an exigent need to provide 

an option for transfer agents and 

clearing agencies that are currently 

using FINRA to meet the Exchange Act 

fingerprinting requirement.7

Accordingly, FINRA is adopting a new 

Plan to reflect that it has arranged for its 

FBI-approved channeler (‘‘FBIApproved Channel Partner’’) 8 to serve, 

on an interim basis, as a fingerprinting 

option for transfer agents and clearing 

agencies that elect to use it.9 FINRA 

states that it will continue to work with 

SEC and FBI staff to find a more 

permanent solution that does not 

involve FINRA acting in a channeler 

role for transfer agents and clearing 

agencies.10 Importantly, FINRA explains 

that the new Plan will continue, without 

any changes, the processes established 

under the 2021 Fingerprint Plan for 

broker-dealer personnel,11 as well as 

FINRA’s officers, directors, employees 

and contractors, and will extend such 

processes to personnel of transfer agents 

and clearing agencies with respect to the 

use of its FBI-Approved Channel 

Partner.12

For the reasons discussed below, the 

Commission finds that, pursuant to Rule 

17f–2(c) of the Exchange Act, the Plan 

is not inconsistent with the public 

interest and the protection of investors 

and, therefore, declares the Plan to be 

effective. 

1. Applicable Standard 

Section 17(f)(2) of the Act provides, in 

pertinent part, that ‘‘every member of a 

national securities exchange, broker, 

dealer, registered transfer agent and 

registered clearing agency . . . and 

national securities association shall 

require that each of its partners, 

directors, officers, and employees be 

fingerprinted and shall submit such 

fingerprints, or cause the same to be 

submitted, to the Attorney General of 

the United States for identification and 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 187 / Thursday, September 28, 2023 / Notices 66917 

13 15 U.S.C. 78q(f)(2). Hereinafter, ‘‘Attorney 

General of the United States’’ referred to as 

‘‘Attorney General.’’ 

14 17 CFR 240.17f–2(c). 

15See id. The Commission may also impose any 

terms and conditions relating to the provisions of 

the plan and the period of its effectiveness as it may 

deem necessary or appropriate in the public 

interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise 

in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. See id. 

16See Exhibit A at 1. 

17See FINRA Letter at 3–4. See also id. at 3, n.10 

and accompanying text. 

18See id. at 1, 4. See also 2021 Declaration at 4– 

6, 11–13. 

19See FINRA Letter at 3. 

20See id. at 3–4. FINRA also states that under the 

Plan, ‘‘Fingerprints will be collected electronically 

at those locations in the domestic United States. 

Fingerprints collected outside of the domestic 

United States must be captured and transmitted for 

processing consistent with protocols established by 

the FBI.’’ See id. at 4 n.11. 

21See id. at 4. FINRA has also states it ‘‘intends 

to make the statuses and results available 

electronically through a secure method that meets 

FBI requirements; however, FINRA may deliver the 

fingerprint results in hard copy in the unlikely 

event secure electronic delivery is unavailable.’’ See 

id. at 4 n.12. 

22See 2021 Declaration at 2–3, 6–7, 9. 

23As discussed in Section 2, supra, the Plan will 

continue, without any changes, the processes 

established under the 2021 Fingerprint Plan for 

broker-dealer personnel, as well as FINRA’s 

officers, directors, employees and contractors. 

24See FINRA Letter at 1, n.3. 

25See id. 

26See FINRA Letter at 3–4. 

27See Exchange Act Release No. 53751 (May 2, 

2006), 71 FR 27299 (May 10, 2006), https://

www.sec.gov/files/rules/other/2006/34-53751.pdf 

(Declaration of Effectiveness of the Fingerprint Plan 

of the National Association of Securities Dealers, 

Inc.). 

28 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(17)(iii). 

1Securities Exchange Act Release No. 93511 

(November 2, 2021), 86 FR 61801 (November 8, 

2021) (Declaration of Effectiveness of the 

Continued 

appropriate processing.’’ 13 However, in 

accordance with Exchange Act Rule 

17f–2(c), the fingerprinting requirement 

of section 17(f)(2) may be satisfied by 

submitting appropriate and complete 

fingerprint cards to, among others, a 

registered national securities association 

(such as FINRA) which, pursuant to a 

plan filed with and declared effective by 

the Commission, forwards such 

fingerprint cards to the Attorney 

General or its designee for identification 

and appropriate processing.14 Under 

Rule 17f–2(c), such a fingerprinting 

plan—like FINRA’s 2021 Fingerprint 

Plan and this Plan—shall not become 

effective unless it is declared effective 

by the Commission, which requires the 

Commission to find that the plan is ‘‘not 

inconsistent with the public interest or 

the protection of investors.’’ 15

FINRA states that the purpose of the 

Plan is to facilitate compliance with 

section 17(f)(2) of the Exchange Act and 

Rule 17f–2 thereunder by providing a 

program for, among others, transfer 

agents and clearing agencies, to have the 

fingerprints of their partners, directors, 

officers, and employees processed by 

the Attorney General.16 FINRA also 

states it is providing, on an interim 

basis, transfer agents and clearing 

agencies an option to use an FBIApproved Channel Partner with which 

FINRA has contracted to enable them to 

satisfy their fingerprinting 

requirements.17 The Plan will continue, 

without any changes, the processes 

established under the 2021 Fingerprint 

Plan for broker-dealer personnel, as well 

as FINRA’s officers, directors, 

employees and contractors, and will 

extend such processes to personnel of 

transfer agents and clearing agencies 

with respect to the use of its FBIApproved Channel Partner.18

2. Transfer Agents and Clearing 

Agencies 

Under the Plan, the FBI-Approved 

Channel Partner will be the central 

point of intake for fingerprints from 

those transfer agents and clearing 

agencies that elect to use it for their 

personnel who are required to be 

fingerprinted under section 17(f)(2).19

The FBI-Approved Channel Partner will 

offer state-of-the-art collection services 

for those fingerprints at locations 

nationwide.20 After either collecting 

fingerprints directly or receiving them 

from transfer agents or clearing agencies 

(or their authorized agents), the FBIApproved Channel Partner will transmit 

the fingerprints to the FBI for 

processing, track their status, and 

securely make both the statuses and 

results available to FINRA, which, in 

turn, will securely make the fingerprint 

statuses and results available to the 

transfer agent or clearing agency.21

3. Commission’s Declaration of 

Effectiveness of the Plan 

In accordance with Rule 17f–2(c) of 

the Act, the Commission has reviewed 

the procedures detailed in the Plan and 

declares the Plan to be effective, finding 

that it is not inconsistent with the 

public interest and the protection of 

investors. 

The Commission observes that most 

of FINRA’s 2021 Fingerprint Plan, 

which the Commission found 

previously to be not inconsistent with 

the public interest and the protection of 

investors,22 will remain largely 

unchanged.23 As a result, the 

Commission has no reason to revisit its 

prior finding with respect to those 

unchanged provisions. 

With respect to FINRA’s decision to 

arrange for its FBI-Approved Channel 

Partner to serve, on an interim basis, as 

a fingerprinting option for transfer 

agents and clearing agencies, the 

Commission observes the following 

representations made by FINRA. FINRA 

states that the 2021 Fingerprint Plan’s 

transition to the FBI-Approved Channel 

Partner provides broker-dealers an 

efficient option to comply with the 

fingerprinting requirements in section 

17(f)(2) and enables FINRA to fulfill its 

critical regulatory responsibilities for 

those entities.24 The 2021 Fingerprint 

Plan similarly enables FINRA to 

efficiently fingerprint its officers, 

directors, employees and contractors 

consistent with New York state law and 

Exchange Act section 17(f)(2) and 

thereby safeguard against potential 

threats to FINRA personnel, facilities 

and records.25 FINRA further states that 

making the services of FINRA’s FBIApproved Channel Partner available to 

transfer agents and clearing agencies as 

an interim measure will provide those 

entities the ability to continue satisfy 

their Exchange Act requirement to 

fingerprint their personnel following the 

retirement of FINRA’s fingerprint 

processing platform, while FINRA 

works with all appropriate parties to 

find a permanent solution.26

The Commission agrees with FINRA’s 

observation that these statutorilymandated fingerprint-based background 

checks—whether performed by FINRA 

itself for transfer agents and clearing 

agencies under the 2021 Fingerprint 

Plan or FINRA’s prior plan 27 or by an 

FBI-Approved Channel Partner under 

this Plan—will continue to help protect 

investors and serve the public interest. 

Based on the foregoing, the 

Commission finds that, pursuant to Rule 

17f–2(c) of the Exchange Act, the Plan 

is not inconsistent with the public 

interest and the protection of investors 

and, therefore, declares the Plan to be 

effective. 

For the Commission, by the Division of 

Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated 

authority.28

Sherry R. Haywood, 

Assistant Secretary. 

Exhibit A 

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority; 

Fingerprint Plan 

The Financial Industry Regulatory 

Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’) submits this 

fingerprint plan (‘‘Plan’’) pursuant to Rule 

17f–2(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 

1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’). This Plan supersedes 

and replaces FINRA’s current fingerprint 

plan, which was declared effective by the 

Securities and Exchange Commission 

(‘‘Commission’’) on November 2, 2021 (the 

‘‘2021 Fingerprint Plan’’).1


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
66918 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 187 / Thursday, September 28, 2023 / Notices 

Fingerprint Plan of the Financial Industry 

Regulatory Authority, Inc.). Pursuant to the 2021 

Fingerprint Plan, FINRA channels fingerprints for 

transfer agents and clearing agencies. FINRA will 

continue to channel fingerprints for these personnel 

consistent with the 2021 Fingerprint Plan until the 

Plan is declared effective or September 29, 2023, 

whichever is earlier. The Plan will continue 

without changes the processes established under 

the 2021 Fingerprint Plan for broker-dealer 

personnel, as well as FINRA’s officers, directors, 

employees and contractors. 

2For purposes of the Plan, the term ‘‘members’’ 

includes Capital Acquisition Brokers, Funding 

Portals and applicants for FINRA membership. 

3The FBI-Approved Channel Partner is one of a 

limited number of entities approved by the FBI to 

submit fingerprints to the FBI and receive the 

results on behalf of an organization using that 

information for authorized non-criminal justice 

purposes (e.g., employment suitability, licensing 

determinations, etc.). The FBI reviews and approves 

all outsourced channeling relationships consistent 

with its outsourcing standards and protocols. As 

outlined in the September 28, 2021 letter from the 

FBI’s National Crime Prevention and Privacy 

Compact Council Office (‘‘CCO Letter’’), the FBI has 

reviewed and conditionally granted permission to 

FINRA to use a specified FBI-Approved Channel 

Partner contingent upon FINRA filing a fingerprint 

plan with the Commission and the Commission 

declaring that fingerprint plan effective. See CCO 

Letter, available at https://www.finra.org/ 

registration-exams-ce/classic-crd/fingerprints. The 

terms of the CCO Letter are incorporated by 

reference in the Plan. 

4On its website, FINRA informs its members and 

other broker-dealers of the availability of fingerprint 

services and any fees charged by FINRA in 

connection with those services and the processing 

of fingerprints pursuant to this Plan. See https://

www.finra.org/registration-exams-ce/classic-crd/ 

fingerprints. 

5FINRA’s records policy is to maintain all 

records for at least five years. 

6These systems include the Central Registration 

Depository (CRD®) and the Funding Portal 

Registration Depository (FPRD®). 

7See supra note 4. 

8Securities Exchange Act Release No. 50157 

(August 5, 2004), 69 FR 49924 (August 12, 2004) 

(Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of 

File No. SR–NASD–2004–095). 

1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 

2 15 U.S.C. 78a. 

3 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 

The purpose of this Plan is to facilitate 

compliance with section 17(f)(2) of the 

Exchange Act by providing a program for 

FINRA members,2 other broker-dealers, 

transfer agents, clearing agencies, and FINRA 

to have the fingerprints of their partners, 

directors, officers, and employees processed 

by the Attorney General of the United States 

or its designee (hereinafter ‘‘Attorney 

General’’). 

1. Members and Other Broker-Dealers 

FINRA partners with an FBI-approved 

private channeler (‘‘FBI-Approved Channel 

Partner’’) 3 to process fingerprints and 

identifying information from personnel of 

members and other broker-dealers required to 

be fingerprinted pursuant to Exchange Act 

section 17(f)(2) and Rule 17f–2 thereunder. 

The FBI-Approved Channel Partner 

fingerprints such personnel or accepts 

fingerprints of such personnel (either in 

electronic or hard copy format) and submits 

such fingerprints to the Attorney General for 

processing consistent with protocols and 

requirements established by the Attorney 

General.4

FINRA receives results from the FBIApproved Channel Partner after the 

fingerprints have been processed by the 

Attorney General and makes those results 

available to authorized recipients (i.e., to a 

member or other broker-dealer that submitted 

the fingerprints and to regulators, as 

appropriate, for licensing, registration and 

other regulatory purposes), consistent with 

protocols and requirements established by 

the Attorney General. With respect to 

members and other broker-dealers, FINRA 

also reviews any Criminal History Record 

Information returned by the Attorney General 

to identify persons who may be subject to 

statutory disqualification under the Exchange 

Act and to take action, as appropriate, with 

respect to such persons. 

FINRA maintains copies of fingerprint 

processing results received from the Attorney 

General with respect to fingerprints 

submitted by the FBI-Approved Channel 

Partner pursuant to this Plan in accordance 

with FINRA’s records policy.5 Any 

maintenance of fingerprint records by FINRA 

shall be for FINRA’s own administrative 

purposes; FINRA is not undertaking to 

maintain fingerprint records on behalf of 

FINRA members pursuant to Exchange Act 

Rule 17f–2(d)(2). FINRA records in FINRA 

systems the status of fingerprints of 

personnel of members and other brokerdealers submitted to the Attorney General.6

Through these systems, FINRA makes 

available to a member or other broker-dealer 

that has submitted fingerprints the status and 

results of such fingerprints after submission 

to the Attorney General. 

2. Transfer Agents and Clearing Agencies 

FINRA is partnering with an FBI-Approved 

Channel Partner to provide transfer agents 

and clearing agencies the option to process 

fingerprints and identifying information for 

their personnel who are required to be 

fingerprinted pursuant to Exchange Act 

section 17(f)(2) and Rule 17f–2 thereunder. 

The FBI-Approved Channel Partner 

fingerprints such personnel or accepts 

fingerprints of such personnel (either in 

electronic or hard copy format) 7 from a 

transfer agent or clearing agency that elects 

to use it and submits such fingerprints to the 

Attorney General for processing consistent 

with protocols and requirements established 

by the Attorney General. After receiving the 

processed results, FINRA makes them 

available to the submitting transfer agent or 

clearing agency (i.e., an authorized recipient 

of the results) consistent with protocols and 

requirements established by the Attorney 

General. 

3. FINRA Personnel 

FINRA partners with the FBI-Approved 

Channel Partner to obtain fingerprints and 

identifying information from FINRA 

personnel who are required to be 

fingerprinted under Exchange Act section 

17(f)(2) and consistent with its Policy to 

Conduct Fingerprint-Based Background 

Checks (‘‘Fingerprint Policy’’).8 The FBIApproved Channel Partner transmits 

fingerprints to the Attorney General for 

identification and processing consistent with 

protocols and requirements established by 

the Attorney General and securely makes the 

results available to FINRA after the 

fingerprints have been processed. FINRA 

evaluates the fingerprint results and takes 

any appropriate action in accordance with 

the terms of the Fingerprint Policy. 

[FR Doc. 2023–21135 Filed 9–27–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 

COMMISSION 

[Release No. 34–98484; File No. SR– 

NYSEAMER–2023–45] 

Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE 

American LLC; Notice of Filing and 

Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed 

Change To Modify Rule 980NYP 

September 22, 2023. 

Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) 1 of the 

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 

(‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3

notice is hereby given that, on 

September 18, 2023, NYSE American 

LLC (‘‘NYSE American’’ or the 

‘‘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 modify 

Rule 980NYP(g)(1) to expand the 

existing Complex Strategy Limit. The 

proposed rule change is available on the 

Exchange’s website 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. 


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