regulatory organizations; proposed rule changes: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
[Federal Register: March 23, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 57)]
[Notices]
[Page 15678-15679]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23mr00-107]
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-42537; File No. SR-NASD-99-77]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., Relating to the Mutual Fund Quotation Service
March 16, 2000.
-
Introduction
On January 4, 2000, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (``NASD''), through its wholly-owned subsidiary, the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (``Nasdaq''), submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission``), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act``) \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a proposed rule change to change the annual listing fees for the Mutual Fund Quotation Service (``MFQS'' or ''Service'').
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register on February 9, 2000.;\3\ No comments were received on the proposal. This order approves the proposal.
\3\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 42376 (February 2, 2000), 65 FR 6340.
-
Description of the Proposal
In its proposed rule change, Nasdaq proposed amendments to Rule 7090 to change the annual listing fees for the MFQS, which collects and disseminates data pertaining to the value of open-end and closed-end funds. The MFQS disseminates the valuation data for over 11,000 funds. The Service facilities this process by providing for the automated entry, through a browser-based application, of pricing data by a fund and a fund's pricing agent.
Funds must meet minimum eligibility criteria in order to be included in the MFQS.\4\ The MFQS has two ``listss'' in which a fund may be included--the News Media List and the Supplemental List--and each list has its own eligibility requirements.\5\ If a fund qualifies for the News Media List, pricing information about the fund is eligible for inclusion in newspaper fund tables and is also eligible for dissemination over Nasdaq's Level 1 service,\6\ which is distributed by market data vendors. If a fund qualifies for the Supplemental List, the pricing information about that fund generally is not included in newspaper fund tables, but is disseminated over Nasdaq's Level 1 Service. The Supplemental List, therefore, provides significant visibility for funds that do not otherwise qualify for inclusion in the News Media List. Each fund incurs an annual fee for
[[Page 15679]]
inclusion in the Service.\7\ At the time of this proposed rule change, funds included in the News Media List paid an annual fee of $275, and funds included in the Supplemental List paid an annual fee of $200.
\4\ See NASD Rule 6800.
\5\ Id.
\6\ Nasdaq Level 1 Service is a subscription-based data service that ``includes the following data: (1) inside bid/ask quotations calculated for securities listed in the Nasdaq Stock Market and securities quoted in the OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB) service; (2) the individual quotations or indications of interest of broker/dealers utilizing the OTCBB service; and (3) last sale information on securities classified as designated securities in the Rule 4630, 4640, and 4650 Series and securities classified as over-the-counter equity securities in the Rule 6600 Series.`` NASD Rule 7010(a).
\7\ See NASD Rule 7090.
According to Nasdaq, the original MFQS was built as a DOS-based application, but in recent years technology has progressed, and thus user needs for the MFQS have increased. Responding to requests made by users of the MFQS, the mutual fund industry, and the Investment Company Institute (``ICI''), Nasdaq performed market research to determine which enhancements MFQS users would prefer in a redesigned Service. In its proposal, Nasdaq represents that since the last fee increase in 1996,\8\ the MFQS software application has been rewritten, and notable technology enhancements have been implemented to support the Service's functionality.
\8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 37014 (March 22, 1996), 61 FR 14182 (March 29, 1996) (File No. SR-NASD-96-05).
Specifically, in 1998, Nasdaq took the list of enhancements requested by MFQS users and developed and implemented an entirely new MFQS application that uses browser-based technology. The MFQS now permits funds included in the Service (or pricing agents designated by such funds) to use the browser-based technology to transmit directly to Nasdaq a multitude of pricing information, including information about a fund's net asset value, offer price, and closing market price. Nasdaq has incorporated 20 of the approximately 27 enhancements suggested by the mutual fund industry into the new MFQS application, and two more are scheduled for implementation in early 2000.
The browser-based MFQS upgrade became fully-operational in May 1999. In its proposal Nasdaq represents that, due to the significant costs for development, maintenance, and support of the new MFQS product, additional revenue was needed to (1) sustain the quality of the MFQS; and (2) make future product enhancements to the MFQS, to improve efficiency and accuracy of price reporting. In addition, the MFQS is operating at a yearly loss in light of the recent technology enhancements to the Service. Accordingly, Nasdaq proposes to increase its fees for the Supplemental List from $200 to $275 and for the News Media List from $275 to $400.
-
Discussion
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 association, and in particular, with the requirements of Section 15A of the Act.\9\ Specifically, the Commission finds that the proposal is consistent with Section 15A(b)(5) \10\ of the Act.
\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3.
\10\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(5).
Section 15A(b)(5) \11\ of the Act requires that the rules of a national securities association provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any facility or system which the association operates or controls. The Commission believes that Nasdaq's proposed increase its user fees is a fair means of recovering the cost related to the development and maintenance of the enhanced MFQS. Moreover, the Commission believes that the increase in fees will support future improvements to the System that will improve efficiency and accuracy in the collection of pricing information. The Commission finds that the proposal is consistent with Section 15A(b)(5) \12\ insofar as the fees will be imposed directly and only on those who requested and benefit from recent enhancements to the MFQS--users of the Service and the ICI. Consequently, the increased fees are reasonable and consistent with Section 15A(b)(5) \13\ of the Act.
\11\ Id.
\12\ Id.
\13\ Id.
-
Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,\14\ that the proposed rule change (SR-NASD-99-77) be and hereby is approved.\15\
\14\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
\15\ In approving this rule, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.\16\
\16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Margaret H. McFarland, Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-7201Filed3-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M
