Document ID: SEC-2008-1636-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: Self-Regulatory Organizations; Proposed Rule Changes: NYSE Alternext US LLC
Posted Date: 2008-12-02T05:00Z

[Federal Register: December 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 232)]
[Notices]               
[Page 73363-73368]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02de08-111]                         

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-59009; File No. SR-NYSEALTR-2008-07]

 
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Alternext US LLC; Notice of 
Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change, 
as Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto, To Use Its Broker Dealer 
Affiliate, Archipelago Securities, LLC, as Its Routing Broker

November 24, 2008.
    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 November 19, 2008, NYSE Alternext US LLC (``NYSE Alternext'' or 
``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 Exchange. On November 
20, 2008, the Exchange submitted Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule 
change. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on 
the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested persons, and is 
granting accelerated approval to

[[Page 73364]]

the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange is proposing to use its broker dealer affiliate,\3\ 
Archipelago Securities LLC (``ArcaSec''), as its Routing Broker to 
route orders \4\ to away market centers when that market center is 
displaying the national best bid and offer in accordance with Exchange 
Rules and SEC Regulation National Market System \5\ (``Reg. NMS''). The 
Exchange further proposes to have its Routing Broker facilitate the 
acceptance of executions that result in an odd-lot or sub-penny 
executions. A copy of this filing is available on the Exchange's Web 
site at http://www.nyse.com, at the Exchange's principal office and at 
the Commission's Public Reference Room.
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    \3\ On September 29, 2008, the Commission approved the 
Exchange's business combination with NYSE Euronext, Inc. 
(``Merger''). See, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-58673 
(September 29, 2008), 73 FR 57707 (October 3, 2008) (order approving 
SR-NYSE-2008-60 and SR-Amex-2008-62). Pursuant to the Merger, NYSE 
Euronext became the overall parent company of the Exchange. NYSE 
Euronext now operates three self-regulatory entities: The Exchange, 
the NYSE, and NYSE Arca, Inc. ArcaSec, the approved outbound order 
routing facility of both the NYSE and NYSE Arca, Inc., is also a 
wholly owned subsidiary of NYSE Euronext, and is therefore an 
affiliate of the Exchange.
    \4\ ArcaSec currently acts as the outbound order routing 
facility of the NYSE and NYSE Arca. See, Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 52497 (September 22, 2005), 70 FR 56949 (September 29, 
2005) (SR-PCX-2005-90); see also, Securities Exchange Act Release 
No. 44983 (October 25, 2001), 66 FR 55225 (November 1, 2001) (SR-
PCX-00-25); see also, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58681 
(September 29, 2008), 73 FR 58285 (October 6, 2008) (order approving 
NYSEArca-2008-90). ArcaSec also currently acts as the outbound order 
routing facility of the NYSE. See, Securities Exchange Act Release 
No. 34-55590 (April 5, 2007), 72 FR 18707 (April 13, 2007) (notice 
of immediate effectiveness of SR-NYSE-2007-29); see also, Securities 
and Exchange Act Release No. 34-58680 (September 29, 2008), 73 FR 
58283 (October 6, 2008) (order approving SR-NYSE-2008-76). 
Currently, FINRA is the examining authority for the Routing Broker 
designated by the Commission pursuant to Rule 17d-1 of the Act. As 
such, FINRA is responsible for the oversight and enforcement of the 
Routing Broker for compliance with the applicable financial 
responsibility rules.
    On January 25, 2007, NYSE Arca, Inc. filed with the Commission 
to allow ArcaSec to act as a marketing agent on behalf of NYSE Arca 
Tech 100 Index and NYSE Arca Tech 100 ETF. This proposed business 
activity has no connection to ArcaSec's facility functions as 
described above. See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 55442 
(March 12, 2007), 72 FR 12654 (March 16, 2007) (order approving SR-
NYSEArca-2007-09).
    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9, 
2005), 17 CFR Parts 200, 201, 230, 240, 242, 249 and 270; see also, 
70 FR 374496 (June 29, 2005). Pursuant to Reg. NMS the Exchange, 
among other things, must: (i) ``Establish, maintain, and enforce 
written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the 
execution of trades at prices inferior to protected quotations 
displayed by other trading centers'' and (ii) provide access to the 
trading center displaying the protected quotations.
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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 III below. The Exchange has prepared 
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most 
significant parts of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange is proposing to use ArcaSec as its Routing Broker to 
route orders to away market centers when that market center is 
displaying the national best bid and offer in accordance with Exchange 
Rules and Reg. NMS.\6\ Through this filing the Exchange further 
proposes to otherwise have its Routing Broker facilitate the acceptance 
of executions that result in an odd-lot \7\ or a sub-penny \8\ 
execution after the Routing Broker routed an Exchange order to an away 
market center. Presently, the Exchange employs an un-affiliated broker-
dealer for purposes of routing orders to away market centers in 
furtherance of Reg. NMS compliance. The Exchange intends to use ArcaSec 
as its Routing Broker, pending approval, as of the date that the 
Exchange implements its new electronic trading system in conjunction 
with the opening of its new trading floor at 11 Wall Street in New 
York, New York.
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    \6\ The Exchange is not proposing at this time to use ArcaSec as 
its routing broker to route option orders to away market centers.
    \7\ Odd-lot orders are orders for a size less than the standard 
unit (round-lot) of trading, which is 100 shares for most stocks, 
although some stocks trade in 10 share units.
    \8\ It should be noted that the Exchange's current electronic 
trading system can handle odd-lot and sub-penny executions. Upon 
transfer to its new electronic system, which is based on the NYSE's 
existing system, the Exchange will require that its Routing Broker 
facilitate these transactions until such time as the platform is 
modified. Recently, the NYSE modified its electronic trading system 
in order to accommodate away market center executions in sub-
pennies; implementation of this modification should substantially 
reduce the need for ArcaSec to facilitate sub-penny executions on 
behalf of NYSE Alternext. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
34-58936 (November 13, 2008) (notice of filing and immediate 
effectiveness of SR-NYSE-2008-117).
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    Rule 2B--NYSE Alternext Equities provides, in pertinent part, that:

without prior approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission, 
the Exchange or any entity with which it is affiliated shall not, 
directly or indirectly, acquire or maintain an ownership interest in 
a member organization.

    In its Order approving the acquisition of the American Stock 
Exchange LLC by NYSE Euronext, the SEC, among other things, approved 
the affiliation between NYSE Alternext and ArcaSec, subject to certain 
conditions.\9\ By that Order, the SEC also approved revisions to 
Exchange Rule 1(b), in order to address inbound routing by affiliated 
members.\10\ The Exchange also recently received approval to implement 
Rules 13 and 17--NYSE Alternext Equities, which define the term Routing 
Broker and establish the conditions under which the Exchange's Routing 
Broker shall operate.\11\ In that filing, the Exchange sought to revise 
its equities rules to substantially mirror those of the New York Stock 
Exchange LLC (``NYSE''), including NYSE Rule 2B. Unfortunately, certain 
text of Rule 2B--NYSE Alternext Equities was inadvertently omitted as 
part of the intended revision. The Exchange seeks to rectify this 
omission and revise Rule 2B--NYSE Alternext Equities (in keeping with 
its prior intent) so that it mirrors NYSE Rule 2B.\12\ Accordingly, as 
set forth in Exhibit 5 attached hereto, Rule 2B--NYSE Alternext 
Equities shall provide as follows:
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    \9\ See, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-58673 (September 
29, 2008), 73 FR 57707 (October 3, 2008) (order approving SR-Amex-
2008-62).
    \10\ Id. Rule 1(b) remains effective for trading that continues 
at 86 Trinity on legacy systems until the options relocation 
scheduled for February 2009. Rule 2B--NYSE Alternext Equities will 
apply to all trading conducted on its new equities platform to be 
implemented in conjunction with its move to 11 Wall Street on 
December 1, 2008.
    \11\ See, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-58705 (October 
1, 2008), 73 FR 58995 (October 8, 2008) (order approving SR-AMEX-
2008-63).
    \12\ Please note, NYSE Rule 2B matches previously approved 
Alternext Rule 1 in its entirety. The Exchange is not seeking to 
make any substantive changes, but simply seeks to rectify an 
inadvertent omission of rule text.

    The holding company owning both the Exchange and Archipelago 
Securities L.L.C. shall establish and maintain procedures and 
internal controls reasonably designed to ensure that Archipelago 
Securities, L.L.C. does not develop or implement changes to its 
system on the basis of non-public information regarding planned 
changes to Exchange systems, obtained as a result of its affiliation 
with the Exchange, until such information is available generally to 
similarly situated members of the Exchange in connection with the 
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provision of inbound order routing to the Exchange.

[[Page 73365]]

    Pursuant to Rule 2B--NYSE Alternext Equities, as revised herein, 
the Exchange now seeks authorization to use ArcaSec, an affiliated 
broker-dealer, to operate as its Routing Broker.
    Pursuant to the proposal, the Exchange systems will provide the 
Routing Broker with routing instructions, to route orders to other 
market centers and report such executions back to the Exchange. The 
Routing Broker cannot change the terms of an order or the routing 
instructions, nor does the Routing Broker have any discretion about 
where to route an order.
    The Routing Broker will operate as a ``facility'' \13\ of the 
Exchange in that it will serve as a ``system of communication to or 
from'' \14\ the Exchange. When an order must be routed to an away 
market center for execution, the Exchange systems will affix all order 
handling information to the order. Exchange systems will automatically 
transmit the order and the relevant order handling information to the 
Routing Broker. In turn, the Routing Broker will facilitate the 
delivery of the received order to the destination away market. The 
Routing Broker will obtain receipts of executions and deliver those 
receipts of executions back to Exchange systems.\15\ The Routing 
Broker, as merely a conduit between the Exchange and away market 
centers, cannot change the terms of an order, systemically reject an 
order, or otherwise perform data validation prior to delivery of the 
order to an away market center or after return receipt and delivery of 
the execution to the Exchange.
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    \13\ The term ``facility'' as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended provides,
    * * * when used with respect to an exchange includes its 
premises, tangible or intangible property whether on the premises or 
not, any right to the use of such premises or property or any 
service thereof for the purpose of effecting or reporting a 
transaction on an exchange (including, among other things, any 
system of communication to or from the exchange, by ticker or 
otherwise, maintained by or with the consent of the exchange), and 
any right of the exchange to the use of any property or service. 
See, 15 U.S.C. 78c.
    \14\ Id.
    \15\ Comparable to the operation of ArcaSec in its capacity as a 
facility of the NYSE and NYSE Arca, the use of ArcaSec by the 
Exchange will only be available to members of NYSE Alternext.
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    In particular, and without limitation, under the Act, the exchange 
will be responsible for filing with the Commission rule changes and 
fees relating to the functions performed by the Routing Broker for the 
Exchange and will be subject to exchange non-discrimination 
requirements.
    Furthermore, the books, records, premises, officers, agents, 
directors, and employees of the Routing Broker, as a facility of the 
Exchange, shall be deemed to be the books, records, premises, officers, 
agents, directors, and employees of the Exchange for purposes of, and 
subject to oversight pursuant to, the Act. The books and records of the 
Routing Broker as a facility of the Exchange shall be subject at all 
times to inspection and copying by the Exchange and the Commission.
    In addition to routing orders to away market centers, the Routing 
Broker will facilitate the acceptance of executions that results in an 
odd-lot or a sub-penny execution as Exchange systems will be unable to 
accept such executions after the Routing Broker routes an Exchange 
order to an away market center.\16\ Upon transfer to its new electronic 
trading system, odd-lot orders on the Exchange will be executed in a 
system that is separate from the Exchange system responsible for the 
execution of round-lot orders (``the odd-lot trading platform''). The 
Exchange's new odd-lot trading platform will execute all odd-lots 
orders against the specialist as the contra party separate from the 
trading system that is responsible for the execution of round lot 
orders. Since odd-lot orders will be handled in a separate trading 
system, the Exchange systems that are responsible for the execution of 
round lot orders will be unable to accept receipts of execution in odd-
lots at the present time.
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    \16\ See supra note 8.
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    Similarly, the Exchange has chosen not to quote and trade in sub-
penny increments when permitted under Reg. NMS.
    In order to process receipts of odd lot and sub-penny executions 
from an away market, the Exchange proposes to have the Routing Broker 
facilitate the handling of such odd-lot and sub-penny executions. 
Specifically, if the Routing Broker is in receipt of an odd-lot 
execution in response to the Exchange's routing of a round lot order, 
it will assume the odd-lot position. The Routing Broker will then sell/
buy the requested number of round lot shares to the Exchange member. 
The Routing Broker will perform this adjustment to each odd-lot 
execution in order to transmit a round lot execution to the Exchange. 
The Routing Broker will afford the Exchange order, i.e. for the 
Exchange member, the most favorable execution price based on the odd-
lot execution(s) received by Routing Broker from the away market.
    With regard to a sub-penny execution, the Routing Broker will 
perform an adjustment to each sub-penny execution. Specifically, the 
Routing Broker will round down for each buy order and up for each sell 
order and transmit a round penny execution to the Exchange order. 
Again, the Routing Broker will afford the Exchange order the most 
favorable execution price based on the sub-penny execution received by 
Routing Broker from the away market.
    The Router Broker will liquidate positions assumed as a result of 
the services provided to the Exchange. This service provided by the 
Routing Broker with regard to odd-lot and sub-penny executions is not 
intended to operate as a means to generate revenue. Rather, the Routing 
Broker is providing an additional service to the Exchange in order to 
facilitate the receipt of odd-lot and sub-penny executions from away 
market centers. To that end, it is the intent of the Routing Broker to 
be flat in all positions at the end of each trading day.\17\ The 
Routing Broker will incorporate an automated system to assist, as soon 
as practicable, in the liquidation (acquisition) for any residual long 
(short) positions. To mitigate financial risk \18\ to the Routing 
Broker, registered trading personnel of the Routing Broker may be 
required to manually assist, as soon as practicable, in the liquidation 
(acquisition) of such positions, particularly high-priced securities 
that may trade with a wide spread.
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    \17\ Absent any unusual market conditions or the timing of such 
trades (for example the execution of the order at 15:59:59) it is 
intended that the Routing Broker will be flat in all positions at 
the end of each trading day.
    \18\ Any and all loses incurred during the facilitation of odd-
lot and sub-penny executions will be assumed by the Routing Broker 
as part of the routing service provided.
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    Below are examples of how the Router Broker is intended to operate.
ODD-LOT Executions
    Example 1: Exchange member Firm X enters an order on the 
Exchange to buy 100 shares of ABC at $20.00. The Exchange systems 
transmit the order with order handling instructions to the Routing 
Broker. The Routing Broker then transmits the order with the order 
handling instructions received from the Exchange systems to market 
center A. The Routing Broker receives reports of two odd-lot 
executions from market center A. The first report of execution is 
for 30 shares executed at a price of $20.00. The second report of 
execution completes the original order with an execution of the 
remaining 70 shares at a price of $20.00. The Routing Broker will 
sell 100 shares to Exchange member Firm X at $20.00 and use the odd-
lots received from market center A to offset the position. The 
Routing Broker's position is flat.
    Example 2: Exchange member Firm X enters an order on the 
Exchange to buy 100

[[Page 73366]]

shares of ABC at $20.00. The Exchange systems transmit the order 
with order handling instructions to the Routing Broker. The Routing 
Broker then transmits the order with the order handling instructions 
received from the Exchange systems to market center A. The Routing 
Broker receives two odd-lot fills from market center A. The first 
report is for 30 shares executed at a price of $19.99. The second 
report of execution completes the original with an execution of the 
remaining 70 shares at a price of $20.00. The Routing Broker sells 
100 shares to Firm X at $19.99 and uses the odd-lots to offset the 
position. The Routing Broker's position is flat, with a loss of 
$0.70.
    Example 3: Exchange member Firm X enters an order on the 
Exchange to buy 100 shares of ABC at $20.00. The Exchange systems 
transmit the order with order handling instructions to the Routing 
Broker. The Routing Broker then transmits the order with the order 
handling instructions received from the Exchange systems to market 
center A. The Routing Broker receives an odd-lot fill of only 30 at 
$20.00 and a report of cancellation for the remaining 70 shares of 
the original order. The Routing Broker will sell 100 shares to Firm 
X at $20.00. In turn, the Routing Broker will then go into the 
market to buy 70 shares of ABC. The Routing Broker receives a fill 
of 70 at $20.05. The Routing Broker will then use both odd-lots 
positions to offset the position taken as a result of handling the 
order of Firm X. The Routing Broker's position is flat, with a loss 
of $3.50.
    Example 4: Exchange member Firm X enters an order on the 
Exchange to buy 100 shares of ABC at $20.00. The Exchange systems 
transmit the order with order handling instructions to the Routing 
Broker. The Routing Broker then transmits the order with the order 
handling instructions received from the Exchange systems to market 
center A. The Routing Broker receives an odd-lot fill of only 30 at 
$20.00 and a report of cancellation for the remaining 70 shares of 
the original order. The Routing Broker will sell 100 shares to Firm 
X at $20.00. In turn, the Routing Broker will then go into the 
market to buy 70 shares of ABC. The Routing Broker receives a fill 
of 70 at $19.99. The Routing Broker will then use both odd-lots 
positions to offset the position taken as a result of handling the 
order of Firm X. The Routing Broker's position is flat, with a 
profit of $0.70.
SUB-PENNY Executions
    Example 1: Exchange member Firm X enters an order on the 
Exchange to buy 100 shares of ABC at $20.00. The Exchange's best 
offer is $19.98. Market Center A is displaying a best offer at 
$19.97. Market Center A also offers a mid-point match execution 
process that may result in a trade price that includes sub-pennies. 
The Exchange systems transmit the order with order handling 
instructions to the Routing Broker. The Routing Broker then 
transmits the order with the order handling instructions received 
from Exchange systems to market center A. The Routing Broker 
receives a fill of 100 shares at $19.965 due to a mid-point cross 
occurring at market center A. The Routing Broker will sell 100 
shares to member Firm X at $19.96 and uses the fill of 100 shares at 
$19.965 to offset the position. The Routing Broker will be flat, 
with a loss of $0.50.

    The use of the Routing Broker to route orders to another market 
center will be optional. In the event a member organization does not 
want to use the Routing Broker it must enter an immediate-or-cancel 
order or any such other order type available on the Exchange that is 
not eligible for routing. All bids and offers entered on the Exchange 
that are routed to other market centers via the Routing Broker which 
result in an execution shall be binding on the member organization that 
entered such bid and offer.
    The Routing Broker will not engage in any business for the Exchange 
other than its outbound router and facilitation functions as described 
above. In the event the Exchange seeks to have the Routing Broker 
engage in any other activities it understands that the ability of the 
Routing Broker to engage in such new business activity would require 
Commission approval.
    The Exchange believes that the above described operation of the 
Routing Broker will serve as the most economically efficient execution 
of securities transactions. Furthermore, the Routing Broker is 
necessary for the Exchange to comply with its obligations pursuant to 
Reg. NMS.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with the requirement under Section 6(b)(5) \19\ of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') \20\ that an Exchange have rules 
that are designed 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. The proposed rule change also is 
designed to support the principles of Section 11A(a)(1) \21\ in that it 
seeks to assure economically efficient execution of securities 
transactions. Specifically, the proposed rule change will allow 
Exchange to establish and implement mechanisms to remain fully 
compliant with Reg. NMS and other Exchange rules.
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    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \20\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \21\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that this proposed rule change will 
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

    No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the 
proposed rule change.

III. 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 Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://
www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSEALTR-2008-07 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEALTR-2008-07. 
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 inspection 
and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 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. 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-

[[Page 73367]]

NYSEALTR-2008-122 and should be submitted on or before December 23, 
2008

IV. Commission's Findings and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a 
Proposed Rule Change

    The Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations 
thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange.\22\ In 
particular, it is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\23\ 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 foster 
cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, 
clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and 
facilitating transactions 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 are not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, 
issuers, brokers, or dealers.
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    \22\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has 
considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, 
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \23\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    On September 29, 2008, the Commission approved the Exchange's 
business combination with NYSE Euronext.\24\ In conjunction with the 
Merger, the Exchange proposed to transfer trading from the American 
Stock Exchange LLC system to a new system based on NYSE's existing 
system. Accordingly, the Exchange proposed new rules that would govern 
trading on the Exchange once trading was transferred to the new 
electronic system.\25\ Included in those recently approved rules were 
NYSE Alternext Rules 13 and 17, which define the term Routing Broker 
and establish the conditions under which the Exchange's Routing Broker 
shall operate.\26\ In the instant filing, the Exchange proposes to use 
ArcaSec, an affiliated broker-dealer, as its Routing Broker once 
trading is transferred to the new electronic system.
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    \24\ See supra note 3.
    \25\ See supra note 11. The Commission notes that the Exchange 
intends to transfer trading to its new system on December 1, 2008.
    \26\ Id.
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    In the past, the Commission has expressed concern that the 
affiliation of an exchange with one of its members raises potential 
conflicts of interest, and the potential for unfair competitive 
advantage.\27\ Although the Commission continues to be concerned about 
potential unfair competition and conflicts of interest between an 
exchange's self-regulatory obligations and its commercial interests 
when the exchange is affiliated with one of its members, the Commission 
believes that it is consistent with the Act to permit ArcaSec to 
provide outbound routing services to NYSE Alternext, subject to certain 
conditions.
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    \27\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 58673, 
supra note 3; 54170 (July 18, 2006), 71 FR 42149 (July 25, 2006) 
(SR-NASDAQ-2006-006) (order approving Nasdaq's proposal to adopt 
Nasdaq Rule 2140, restricting affiliations between Nasdaq and its 
members); and 53382 (February 27, 2006, 71 FR 11251 (March 6, 2006) 
(SR-NYSE-2005-77) (order approving the combination of the New York 
Stock Exchange, Inc. and Archipelago Holdings) at 11255.
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    NYSE Alternext Equities Rule 17 imposes certain conditions on an 
Exchange Routing Broker, which would apply to ArcaSec as the Exchange's 
outbound order router. For example, ArcaSec must: (1) Be a member of an 
self-regulatory organization unaffiliated with NYSE Alternext that is 
its designated examining authority; (2) establish and maintain 
procedures and internal controls reasonably designed to restrict the 
flow of confidential and proprietary information between NYSE Alternext 
and its facilities, including ArcaSec, and any other entity; (3) be 
regulated as a facility of the Exchange; \28\ and (4) not engage in any 
business other than its outbound router function unless otherwise 
approved by the Commission. Also, the books, records, premises, 
officers, agents, directors and employees of ArcaSec, as a facility of 
NYSE Alternext, will be deemed to be those of the Exchange for purposes 
of and subject to oversight pursuant to the Act.\29\ In addition, use 
of ArcaSec to route order from NYSE Alternext to away market centers is 
optional, and a NYSE Alternext member is free to route orders to other 
market centers through alternative means.
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    \28\ The Commission notes that, as a facility of the Exchange, 
ArcaSec will be subject to Exchange oversight, as well as Commission 
oversight. Further, the Exchange will be responsible for filing with 
the Commission proposed rule changes and fees relating to ArcaSec's 
outbound router function and ArcaSec's outbound router function will 
be subject to exchange non-discrimination requirements.
    \29\ See NYSE Alternext Equities Rule 17(b). In addition, the 
books and records of ArcaSec, as a facility of the Exchange, will be 
subject at all times to inspection and copying by the Exchange and 
the Commission. Id.
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    In light of the protections discussed above and contained in NYSE 
Alternext Equities Rule 17, the Commission believes that it is 
consistent with the Act to permit NYSE Alternext to use its affiliate, 
ArcaSec, as its Routing Broker, as proposed.
    In addition, the Exchange proposes to have its Routing Broker 
facilitate the acceptance of executions that result in an odd-lot or a 
sub-penny execution of an order that the Routing Broker routed to an 
away market center. The Commission notes that ArcaSec currently 
provides these services to NYSE in its capacity as NYSE's outbound 
order router.\30\ The Commission notes that in each instance the 
Routing Broker will execute the Exchange member's order at the most 
favorable execution price based on the odd-lot or sub-penny execution 
received from the away market. The Commission also notes that the 
Exchange has represented the Routing Broker will liquidate positions 
assumed as a result of this service, with the intent to be flat at the 
end of each trading day. The Commission believes that allowing ArcaSec 
to facilitate the acceptance of executions on away markets that result 
in an odd-lot or a sub-penny execution, as proposed, is consistent with 
the Act and will enable NYSE Alternext to comply with Reg. NMS.
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    \30\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55590, supra note 
4.
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    NYSE Alternext has asked the Commission to accelerate approval of 
the proposed rule change. NYSE Alternext states that accelerated 
approval ``will permit the Exchange to establish and implement 
mechanisms to remain fully compliant with Reg. NMS and other Exchange 
rules immediately upon implementation of its new electronic trading 
system and in conjunction with the opening of its new trading floor at 
11 Wall Street.'' \31\ NYSE Alternext notes that it ``intends to 
implement its new trading system and open its new trading floor on 
December 1, 2008.'' \32\ The Commission finds good cause for approving 
the proposed rule change before the thirtieth day after the date of 
publication of notice of filing thereof in the Federal Register. The 
Commission notes that NYSE Alternext's proposal to use ArcaSec as its 
outbound order routing facility is consistent with prior Commission 
action.\33\ Accordingly, the Commission finds good cause, consistent 
with Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,\34\ to approve the proposed rule 
change on an accelerated basis.
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    \31\ See SR-NYSEALTR-2008-07, Item 7.
    \32\ Id..
    \33\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 52497 and 
55590, supra note 4.
    \34\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

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[[Page 73368]]

V. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, 
that the proposed rule change (SR-NYSEALTR-2008-07), as modified by 
Amendment No. 1, is hereby approved on an accelerated basis.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\35\
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    \35\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-28497 Filed 12-1-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P