Document ID: SEC-2017-0890-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: Self-Regulatory Organizations; Proposed Rule Changes: New York Stock Exchange LLC; NYSE Arca, Inc.; NYSE MKT LLC; NYSE National, Inc.
Posted Date: 2017-05-31T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 31, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25018-25022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11141]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-80752; File Nos. SR-NYSE-2017-13; SR-NYSEArca-2017-29; 
SR-NYSEMKT-2017-17; SR-NYSENAT-2017-01]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; NYSE 
Arca, Inc.; NYSE MKT LLC; NYSE National, Inc.; Order Approving Proposed 
Rule Changes To Amend the Certificate and Bylaws of Their Ultimate 
Parent Company, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

May 24, 2017.

I. Introduction

    On March 28, 2017, the New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE''), NYSE 
Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca''), NYSE MKT LLC (``NYSE MKT'') and NYSE 
National, Inc. (``NYSE National,'' and together with NYSE, NYSE Arca 
and NYSE MKT, ``the Exchanges'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission''), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 
thereunder,\2\ proposed rule changes to amend the Third Amended and 
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Intercontinental Exchange, 
Inc. (the ``ICE Certificate'') and Seventh Amended and Restated Bylaws 
of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (the ``ICE Bylaws'') of the 
exchanges' ultimate parent company, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. 
(``ICE''). On April 6, 2017, each Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to its 
proposed rule change.\3\ The proposed rule changes, as modified by 
Amendment No. 1, were published for comment in the Federal Register on 
April 14, 2017.\4\ The Commission received no comments in response to 
the proposed rule changes. This order approves the proposed rule 
changes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ Amendment No. 1 clarified that the word ``indirect'' is 
proposed to be deleted from clause (iii)(y) of the first sentence of 
Section 2.13(b) of the ICE Bylaws.
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 80420 (April 10, 
2017), 82 FR 18038 (April 14, 2017) (``NYSE Notice''); 80418 (April 
10, 2017), 82 FR 18031 (April 14, 2017) (``NYSE Arca Notice''); 
80419 (April 10, 2017), 82 FR 18051 (April 14, 2017) (``NYSE MKT 
Notice''); and 80417 (April 10, 2017), 82 FR 18061 (April 14, 2017) 
(``NYSE National Notice'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Description of the Proposed Rule Changes

    The Exchanges propose to amend the ICE Certificate and/or the ICE 
Bylaws to (1) revise references to ICE subsidiaries that either are or 
control national securities exchanges and delete references to certain 
other subsidiaries of ICE; (2) adopt a definition of ``Member''; (3) 
delete obsolete references and make certain technical corrections to 
the ICE Certificate and/or ICE Bylaws; and (4) clarify ICE Bylaw 
provisions relating to the location of stockholder meetings, quorum 
requirements, and requirements applicable to persons entitled to 
nominate directors or make proposals at a meeting of ICE's 
stockholders.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ ICE owns 100% of the equity interest in Intercontinental 
Exchange Holdings, Inc. (``ICE Holdings''), which in turn owns 100% 
of the equity interest in NYSE Holdings LLC (``NYSE Holdings''). 
NYSE Holdings owns 100% of the equity interest of NYSE Group, Inc. 
(``NYSE Group''), which in turn directly owns 100% of the equity 
interest of NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT and NYSE National.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

References to ICE Subsidiaries

    The Exchanges propose to amend the limitations on voting and 
ownership in Article V of the ICE Certificate to update and streamline 
references to ICE subsidiaries that are national securities exchanges 
or that control national securities exchanges, as well as to delete 
references to certain other ICE subsidiaries.\6\ Specifically, Article 
V of

[[Page 25019]]

the ICE Certificate establishes voting and ownership concentration 
limitations above a specified threshold by ``Persons'' and their 
``Related Persons,'' as defined in Article V of the ICE Certificate, 
for so long as ICE owns any ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiary.'' Article V of 
the ICE Certificate authorizes ICE's Board of Directors to grant 
exceptions to the voting and ownership concentration limitations if the 
Board of Directors makes certain determinations, including that such an 
exception would not impair the ability of ICE, the ``U.S. Regulated 
Subsidiaries,'' ICE Holdings, NYSE Holdings, and NYSE Group to perform 
their respective responsibilities under the Exchange Act and the rules 
and regulations thereunder, and that such an exception is otherwise in 
the best interests of ICE, its stockholders and the U.S. Regulated 
Subsidiaries.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18038-40; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18032-34; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18052-54; 
and NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18062-64.
    \7\ The Exchanges also propose to amend Article V of the ICE 
Certificate to replace references to ICE Holdings, NYSE Holdings, 
and NYSE Group with the defined term ``Intermediate Holding 
Companies.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchanges represent that ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries'' is 
defined in the ICE Bylaws to mean the four national securities 
exchanges owned by ICE (i.e., NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE MKT, and NYSE 
National), NYSE Arca, LLC, and NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. (``NYSE Arca 
Equities''), or their successors, in each case to the extent that such 
entities continue to be controlled, directly or indirectly, by ICE.\8\ 
The Exchanges note that NYSE Arca, LLC, is a subsidiary of NYSE Group, 
and NYSE Arca Equities is a subsidiary of NYSE Arca.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ ICE Certificate, Article V, Section A.10; ICE Bylaws, 
Article III, Section 3.15.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchanges propose to amend Article V to replace references to 
``U.S. Regulated Subsidiary'' or ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries'' with 
references to ``Exchange'' or ``Exchanges.'' \9\ An ``Exchange'' would 
be defined as a ``national securities exchange registered under Section 
6 of the Exchange Act \10\ that is directly or indirectly controlled by 
[ICE].'' \11\ Accordingly, the Exchanges note that Article V of the ICE 
Certificate no longer would include references to NYSE Arca, LLC or 
NYSE Arca Equities.\12\ The Exchanges believe, however, that omitting 
such entities is appropriate because the Exchange Act definition of 
``exchange'' states that ``exchange'' ``includes the market place and 
the market facilities maintained by such exchange.'' \13\ In addition, 
the Exchanges note that NYSE Arca, as the national securities exchange, 
has the regulatory and self-regulatory responsibility for the NYSE Arca 
options and equities markets.\14\ The Exchanges represent that the 
proposed change to incorporate the term ``Exchange'' would align 
Article V of the ICE Certificate with the voting and ownership 
concentration limits in the certificates of incorporation of other 
publicly traded companies that own one or more national securities 
exchanges, which do not include references to subsidiaries other than 
national securities exchanges.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18039; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18032; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18052; and 
NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18062.
    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
    \11\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18039; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18032; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18052; and 
NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18062.
    \12\ Id.
    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(1).
    \14\ See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 3.4 (``The NYSE Arca, Inc. 
(`NYSE Arca Parent'), as a self-regulatory organization registered 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 6 of 
the Exchange Act, shall have ultimate responsibility in the 
administration and enforcement of rules governing the operation of 
its subsidiary, NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. (`Corporation').''). See 
also NYSE Arca Equities Rule 14.1.
    \15\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18039; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18032-33; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18052-53; 
and NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18062.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Clause (B) of Article X of the ICE Certificate requires that, so 
long as ICE controls any of the ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries,'' any 
proposed amendment or repeal of any provision of the ICE Certificate 
must be submitted to the boards of directors of ``New York Stock 
Exchange, NYSE Market, NYSE Regulation, Inc., NYSE Arca, NYSE Arca 
Equities, and NYSE MKT'' for a determination as to whether such 
amendment or repeal must be filed with or filed with and approved by 
the Commission under Section 19 of the Exchange Act and the rules 
promulgated thereunder before such amendment or repeal may be 
effectuated.\16\ For the same reasons discussed above, the Exchanges 
propose to replace the term ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries'' and the 
references to ``New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Market, NYSE Regulation, 
Inc., NYSE Arca, NYSE Arca Equities, and NYSE MKT'' in Clause (B) of 
Article X of the ICE Certificate with ``Exchange'' and ``each 
Exchange,'' respectively.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78s.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchanges also propose to amend provisions of Articles III, 
VII, VIII, IX and XI of the ICE Bylaws in a manner consistent with 
certain proposed changes to the ICE Certificate. In Section 3.14(a) of 
Article III of the ICE Bylaws, the Exchanges propose to replace 
references to ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries'' with ``Exchanges'' and to 
replace references to NYSE Group, NYSE Holdings, and ICE Holdings with 
``Intermediate Holding Companies.'' The Exchanges propose to replace 
the term ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries'' with ``Exchange'' in Articles 
VII, VIII, IX and XI of the ICE Bylaws. The Exchanges propose to define 
the term ``Exchange'' in Section 3.15 of Article III of the ICE Bylaws 
as ``a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the 
Exchange Act that is directly or indirectly controlled by [ICE].'' The 
definition of ``Exchange'' that would be added to the ICE Bylaws 
comports with the definition of ``Exchange'' that would be added to the 
ICE Certificate.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ See text accompanying note 11, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchanges propose to amend Section 8.3(b) of Article VIII of 
the ICE Bylaws to replace ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiary or any other U.S. 
Regulated Subsidiary over which such U.S. Regulated Subsidiary has 
regulatory authority or oversight'' with ``Exchange.'' \18\ The 
Exchanges note that the proposed change would remove the current 
provision that allows any ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiary'' to inspect the 
books and records of another ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiary over which the 
first-noted ``U.S. Regulatory Subsidiary'' ``has regulatory authority 
or oversight.'' \19\ As a result, the Exchanges represent that the ICE 
Bylaws no longer would provide that NYSE Arca may inspect the books and 
records of NYSE Arca Equities or NYSE Arca, LLC.\20\ However, the 
Exchanges represent that the proposed change would have no substantive 
effect, because NYSE Arca would retain its authority to inspect the 
books and records of NYSE Arca Equities and NYSE Arca, LLC pursuant to 
NYSE Arca Equities Rules 14.1 and 14.3.\21\ The Exchanges also note, in 
connection with this proposed amendment, that the NYSE, NYSE MKT,

[[Page 25020]]

NYSE Arca and NYSE National do not have regulatory authority or 
oversight over each other.\22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18041; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18034-35; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18054-55; 
and NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18064.
    \19\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18041; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18035; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18055; and 
NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18064.
    \20\ Id.
    \21\ Id. See also NYSE Arca Equities Rule 14.1(b), which 
provides, among other things, that the books and records of NYSE 
Arca Equities are subject to the oversight of the NYSE Arca pursuant 
to the Act, and that the books and records of NYSE Arca Equities 
shall be subject at all times to inspection and copying by NYSE 
Arca. NYSE Arca Equities Rule 14.3(a) provides, among other things, 
that the books and records of NYSE Arca, LLC are deemed to be the 
books and records of NYSE Arca and NYSE Arca Equities for purposes 
of and subject to oversight pursuant to the Exchange Act.
    \22\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18041; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18035; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18055; and 
NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18064.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Definition of ``Member''

    The Exchanges propose to add as Section A.8., Article V of the ICE 
Certificate a new term, ``Member,'' which would be defined as '' a 
Person that is a `member' of an Exchange within the meaning of Section 
3(a)(3)(A) of the Exchange Act.'' \23\ The Exchanges note that Section 
A.3., Article V of the ICE Certificate currently includes provisions 
setting forth the different categories of members and permit holders of 
NYSE, NYSE Arca, NYSE Arca Equities, and NYSE MKT, respectively.\24\ 
The Exchanges believe that using ``Member'' in place of specifying the 
categories of members and permit holders would simplify the provisions 
in the ICE Certificate and avoid exchange-by-exchange descriptions, 
without making a substantive change.\25\ The Exchanges represent that 
each of the categories listed--an ETP Holder of NYSE Arca Equities (as 
defined in the NYSE Arca Equities rules of NYSE Arca); an OTP Holder or 
OTP Firm of NYSE Arca (each as defined in the rules of NYSE Arca); a 
``member'' or ``member organization'' of NYSE (as defined in the rules 
of the NYSE) and NYSE MKT--is a ``member'' of an exchange within the 
meaning of Section 3(a)(3)(A) of the Exchange Act.\26\ As a result of 
the proposed change, Sections A.3.(c)(ii) and (d)(ii), Article V of the 
ICE Certificate would require, in the case of a person seeking approval 
to exercise voting rights in excess of 20% of the outstanding votes, 
that neither such person nor any of its Related Persons \27\ is a 
Member of any Exchange, instead of referring to the different 
categories of membership recognized by each Exchange.\28\ Similarly, 
the conditions relating to a person seeking approval to exceed the 
ownership concentration limitation in Section B.3.(d), Article V of the 
ICE Certificate would be rephrased in the same manner. The Exchanges 
represent that use of ``Member'' would permit a simplification, without 
substantive change, of the portion of the definition of the term 
``Related Persons'' relating to members and trading permit holders.\29\ 
The Exchanges also state that the use of ``Member'' would be 
appropriate because it would align the provisions of the ICE 
Certificate with the voting and ownership concentration limits in the 
certificates of incorporation of other publicly traded companies that 
own one or more national securities exchanges and that use a similar 
description of membership.\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ 15 U.S.C. 78(c)(a)(3)(A).
    \24\ See ICE Certificate, Article V, Section A.3.(c)(ii) and 
(d)(ii) and Section A.9. See also NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 
18039; NYSE Arca Notice, supra note 4 at 18033; NYSE MKT Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18053; and NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 
18062.
    \25\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18039; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18033; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18053; and 
NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18062.
    \26\ Id.
    \27\ The term ``Related Persons'' would be defined in Section 
A.10., Article V of the amended ICE Certificate.
    \28\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18039; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18033; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18053; and 
NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18062.
    \29\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18039; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18033; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18053; and 
NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18062-63.
    \30\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18039; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18033; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18053; and 
NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18063.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obsolete References and Technical Corrections

    The Exchanges propose to amend Clause (A) of Article X of the ICE 
Certificate, which requires the vote of 80% of all outstanding shares 
entitled to vote in order to reduce the voting requirement set forth in 
Section 11.2(b) of the ICE Bylaws. The Exchanges note that Section 
11.2(b) of the ICE Bylaws was deleted in 2015 after the sale by ICE of 
the Euronext business.\31\ Accordingly, the Exchanges propose to delete 
the requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 74928 (May 12, 
2015), 80 FR 28331 (May 18, 2015) (SR-NYSE-2015-18). See also NYSE 
Notice, supra note 4 at 18040; NYSE Arca Notice, supra note 4 at 
18034; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18054; and NYSE National 
Notice, supra note 4 at 18063.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The ICE Certificate also includes references to NYSE Market (DE), 
Inc., defined as ``NYSE Market,'' and NYSE Regulation, Inc. (``NYSE 
Regulation''). The Exchanges represent that NYSE Market and NYSE 
Regulation were previously parties to a Delegation Agreement whereby 
the NYSE delegated certain regulatory functions to NYSE Regulation and 
certain market functions to NYSE Market, but that the Delegation 
Agreement was terminated when the NYSE re-integrated its regulatory and 
market functions.\32\ As a result, the Exchanges represent that the two 
entities ceased being regulated subsidiaries, and NYSE Regulation was 
subsequently merged out of existence.\33\ Therefore, the Exchanges 
propose to delete all references to NYSE Market and NYSE Regulation 
from the ICE Certificate.\34\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 75991 (September 
28, 2015), 80 FR 59837 (October 2, 2015) (SR-NYSE-2015-27). See also 
NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18040; NYSE Arca Notice, supra note 4 
at 18034; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18054; and NYSE National 
Notice, supra note 4 at 18063-64.
    \33\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18040; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18034; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18054; and 
NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18064.
    \34\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchanges also state that Article XII of the ICE Bylaws was 
added in connection with the acquisition of NYSE National, previously 
National Stock Exchange, Inc., in 2016.\35\ The Exchanges propose to 
delete Article XII of the ICE Bylaws in its entirety because they 
represent that the substance of Article XII would be addressed by 
various proposed amendments to the ICE Certificate. As a result, the 
Exchanges note that Article XII of the ICE Bylaws no longer would be 
necessary.\36\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ See Securities Exchange Act Releases Nos. 79902 (January 
30, 2017), 82 FR 9258 (February 3, 2017) (SR-NSX-2016-16); and 79901 
(January 30, 2017), 82 FR 9251 (February 3, 2017) (SR-NYSE-2016-90, 
SR-NYSEArca-2016-167, SR-NYSEMKT-2016-122). See also NYSE Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18041; NYSE Arca Notice, supra note 4 at 18035; NYSE 
MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18055; and NYSE National Notice, supra 
note 4 at 18064.
    \36\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18041; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18035; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18055; and 
NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18064.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchanges further note that the ICE Bylaws refer to a ``Vice 
Chairman of the Board.'' \37\ The Exchanges represent that the Board of 
Directors of ICE has not had a Vice Chairman since the sale of the 
Euronext business in 2014.\38\ Accordingly, in Sections 2.9, 3.6(b) and 
3.8 of the ICE Bylaws, the Exchanges propose to replace ``Vice Chairman 
of the Board'' with ``lead independent director.'' As a result, the 
lead independent director would preside over meetings of stockholders 
in the absence of the Chairman of the Board (Section 2.9); would have 
the authority to call a special meeting of the Board of Directors 
(Section 3.6(b)); and would preside over meetings of the Board of 
Directors in the absence of the Chairman of the Board (Section 
3.8).\39\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18042; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18036; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18056; and 
NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18065.
    \38\ Id.
    \39\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchanges note that Section 3.14 of the ICE Bylaws sets forth 
considerations directors must take into account in discharging their 
responsibilities as members of ICE's Board of Directors.\40\ The 
Exchanges

[[Page 25021]]

propose to amend the last sentence of Section 3.14(c), which limits 
claims against directors, officers and employees of ICE and against 
ICE.\41\ The revised text would be expanded in scope to apply to any 
``past or present stockholder, employee, beneficiary, agent, customer, 
creditor, community or regulatory authority or member thereof or other 
person or entity,'' and to protect agents of ICE as well as directors, 
officers and employees. The Exchanges represent that these changes 
would conform the provision to similar provisions in the governing 
documents of other holding companies of national securities 
exchanges.\42\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ Id.
    \41\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18042; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18036; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18056; and 
NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18065-66.
    \42\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18042; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18036; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18056; and 
NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18066.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchanges also propose that a reference to ``Article II of 
these Bylaws'' in Section 3.12 of the ICE Bylaws relating to the 
conduct of meetings of committees of the Board of Directors of ICE be 
corrected to read ``this Article III of these Bylaws.'' \43\ Finally, 
the Exchanges note that conforming changes would be made to the title 
and date of the ICE Bylaws.\44\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ Id.
    \44\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meetings of Stockholders

    The Exchanges also propose to amend several sections of Article II 
(Meetings of Stockholders) of the ICE Bylaws.\45\ Specifically, the 
Exchanges propose to simplify Section 2.1 of the ICE Bylaws, which 
relates to the location of stockholder meetings.\46\ The Exchanges 
represent that the revised provision would provide that the location, 
if any, as well as the decision to hold a stockholder meeting solely by 
remote communication, would be determined by the Board of Directors and 
stated in the notice of meeting.\47\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \45\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18041-42; NYSE Arca 
Notice, supra note 4 at 18035-36; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 
18055-56; and NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18064-65.
    \46\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18041; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18035; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18055; and 
NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18064.
    \47\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18041; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18035; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18055; and 
NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18065.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchanges further propose to amend Section 2.7 of the ICE 
Bylaws, which relates to the quorum for stockholder meetings.\48\ The 
Exchanges propose to conform the quorum requirements in the ICE Bylaws 
to those in the ICE Certificate by amending this provision to refer to 
Section B of Article IX of the ICE Certificate, which sets forth the 
quorum requirements for meetings of the stockholders.\49\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \48\ Id.
    \49\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchanges also propose to amend Section 2.13(b) of the ICE 
Bylaws, which sets forth the advance notice requirements for 
stockholder proposals, to simplify certain provisions of the Bylaws by 
using the term ``Nominee Holder'' where appropriate.\50\ The Exchanges 
also propose to add a new defined term, ``Proponent,'' to capture both 
stockholders and Nominee Holders who bring matters before the annual 
meeting of stockholders, and to amend the ICE Bylaws to use the term 
``Proponent'' where appropriate.\51\ Finally, the Exchanges propose to 
make several clarifying revisions to Section 2.13(b) of the ICE Bylaws.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \50\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18041-42; NYSE Arca 
Notice, supra note 4 at 18035; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 
18055; and NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18065.
    \51\ See NYSE Notice, supra note 4 at 18042; NYSE Arca Notice, 
supra note 4 at 18035-36; NYSE MKT Notice, supra note 4 at 18055-56; 
and NYSE National Notice, supra note 4 at 18065.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Discussion and Commission Findings

    Section 19(b) of the Act and Rule 19b-4 thereunder requires a self-
regulatory organization (``SRO'') to file proposed rule changes with 
the Commission. Although ICE is not a SRO, certain provisions of its 
amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation and amended and 
restated Bylaws are rules of the Exchanges \52\ if they are stated 
policies, practices, or interpretations, as defined in Rule 19b-4 under 
the Act, of the Exchanges, and must be filed with the Commission 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(4) of the Act and Rule 19b-4 thereunder. 
Accordingly, the Exchanges have filed the proposed changes to the ICE 
Certificate and the ICE Bylaws with the Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \52\ See 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(27). If ICE decides to amend or repeal 
any provision of the ICE Certificate or ICE Bylaws, ICE must submit 
such amendment or repeal to the Board of Directors of each Exchange, 
and if any or all of such Boards of Directors shall determine that 
such amendment or repeal must be filed with or filed with and 
approved by the Commission pursuant to Section 19 of the Act and the 
rules thereunder, such amendment or repeal shall not be effectuated 
until filed with or filed with and approved by the Commission, as 
the case may be. See Article X, ICE Certificate and Section 11.3, 
ICE Bylaws, with proposed revisions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After careful review, the Commission finds that the proposed rule 
changes are consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules 
and regulations thereunder applicable to national securities 
exchanges.\53\ Specifically, the Commission finds that the proposed 
rule changes are consistent with Section 6(b)(1) of the Act,\54\ which, 
among other things, requires an exchange to be so organized and have 
the capacity to carry out the purposes of the Act and to comply, and to 
enforce compliance by its members and persons associated with its 
members, with the provisions of the Act, the rules and regulations 
thereunder, and the rules of the exchange. The proposed rule changes 
also are consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\55\ which 
requires, among other things, that the rules of a national securities 
exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and 
practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, 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 are not designed to permit unfair discrimination 
between customers, issuers, brokers or dealers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \53\ In approving these proposed rule changes, the Commission 
has considered the proposed rules' impact on efficiency, 
competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \54\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1).
    \55\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchanges propose to amend various provisions of the ICE 
Certificate and ICE Bylaws to replace references to the defined term 
``U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries'' with the term ``Exchange,'' which would 
be defined as a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 
of the Exchange Act \56\ that is directly or indirectly controlled by 
ICE, and to delete references to other subsidiaries of ICE that are not 
Exchanges. The Exchanges also propose to replace references in the ICE 
Certificate and ICE Bylaws to ICE Holdings, NYSE Holdings and NYSE 
Group with the defined term ``Intermediate Holding Companies,'' and to 
adopt a new definition of ``Member'' to be used in place of the list of 
categories of members and permit holders that are specific to each 
Exchange and are listed in the ICE Certificate. The Exchanges also 
propose to delete obsolete references in the ICE Certificate and ICE 
Bylaws. The Commission believes that these amendments to the ICE 
Certificate and ICE Bylaws are consistent with Section 6(b)(1) of the 
Exchange Act, because the amendments clarify references in the ICE 
Certificate and ICE Bylaw to entities that are or control national 
securities exchanges. The proposed changes to the ICE Certificate also 
should simplify references in the ICE Certificate which

[[Page 25022]]

apply to ``Members'' of a national securities exchange without any 
substantive change to the application of those provisions. The 
Commission also believes that it is appropriate for the Exchanges to 
delete obsolete or inaccurate references in the ICE Certificate and ICE 
Bylaws.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \56\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchanges further propose to amend the ICE Bylaws provisions 
relating to the location of stockholder meetings; the quorum for 
stockholder meetings; the advance notice requirements for stockholder 
proposals brought forth at stockholder meetings; and to adopt the term 
``Proponent,'' to refer to stockholders and nominees that propose to 
bring matters before the annual meeting of stockholders. The Commission 
believes that the amendments are consistent with the requirements of 
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\57\ which requires, among other things, 
that the rules of a national securities exchange remove impediments to 
and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national 
market system because the proposed changes clarify the rules applicable 
to shareholder meetings and the entities that can bring matters before 
an annual meeting of shareholders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \57\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, 
that the proposed rule changes (SR-NYSE-2017-13; SR-NYSEArca-2017-29; 
SR-NYSEMKT-2017-17; SR-NYSENAT-2017-01), as modified by Amendment No. 1 
thereto, are approved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \58\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\58\
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-11141 Filed 5-30-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P