Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Delay the Effective Date of the TotalView and OpenView Depth-of-Book Products

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Federal RegisterAug 2, 2017
82 Fed. Reg. 36037 (Aug. 2, 2017)
July 28, 2017.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”), and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on July 21, 2017, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

17 CFR 240.19b-4.

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

The Exchange proposes to delay the effective date of the merger of TotalView and OpenView by 31 days, until September 1, 2017.

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

In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

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

1. Purpose

The purpose of this filing is to delay the effective date of the merger of TotalView and OpenView by 31 days, from August 1, 2017, until September 1, 2017.

On May 26, 2017, the Exchange filed with the Commission a proposed rule change (“Proposal”) to merge the OpenView depth-of-book product into TotalView, and to amend the Exchange's fees at Rules 7023 and 7026 to reflect the merger of these two products. The SEC published the Proposal in the Federal Register for notice and comment on June 8, 2017. The comment period expired on July 5, 2017, and no comments have been received.

Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80891 (June 8, 2017), 82 FR 27318 (June 14, 2017) (SR-NASDAQ-2017-054).

The Exchange has recently been informed that certain Distributors will require additional time to modify systems and procedures to accommodate the merger of OpenView into TotalView, and the Exchange has agreed to modify the effective date of the Proposal from August 1, 2017, to September 1, 2017, to allow all Distributors an additional 31 days to prepare for the merger.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act, in general, and furthers the objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act, in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any facility, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. All Distributors will be able to use their current systems and procedures to obtain the products that they now purchase during the period of delay, and such service will not be interrupted. Those Distributors that require additional time will be able to implement the merger of OpenView into TotalView, and those Distributors that do not require additional time will not be harmed because they will be able to continue using their current systems and procedures to obtain the products that they purchase.

15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The delay will not change the current competitive position of any Distributor because all Distributors will be able to use their current systems and procedures to obtain the products that they purchase.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

No written comments were either solicited or received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.

17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.

In its filing, Nasdaq requests that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay so that certain of its Distributors will have sufficient time to modify their systems and procedures to accommodate the merger of OpenView into TotalView. The Exchange further represents that Distributors that do not require additional time to modify their systems and procedures will not be harmed by a delayed merger of TotalView and OpenView, because they will be able to continue using their current systems and procedures. Accordingly, the Commission believes that granting a waiver of the operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest and therefore designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.

For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the protection of investors; or (iii) otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

  • Use the Commission's Internet comment form ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ); or
  • Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-NASDAQ-2017-075 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-NASDAQ-2017-075. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 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-NASDAQ-2017-075, and should be submitted on or before August 23, 2017.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.

Eduardo A. Aleman,

Assistant Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2017-16270 Filed 8-1-17; 8:45 am]

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