Self-Regulatory Organizations; Proposed Rule Changes:

Federal Register Volume 76, Number 203 (Thursday, October 20, 2011)

Notices

Pages 65230-65247

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]

FR Doc No: 2011-27197

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Release No. 34-65567; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2011-72

Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to a Corporate Transaction in Which

Its Indirect Parent, NYSE Euronext, Will Become a Wholly Owned

Subsidiary of Alpha Beta Netherlands Holding N.V.

October 14, 2011.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Exchange Act''), and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that on October 12, 2011, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``NYSE

Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the

``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II

Page 65231

below, which Items have been prepared substantially by NYSE Arca. The

Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

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

\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.

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

    1. Overview of the Proposed Combination

      NYSE Arca, a Delaware corporation, registered national securities exchange and self-regulatory organization, is submitting this rule filing (the ``Proposed Rule Change'') to the Commission in connection with the proposed business combination (the ``Combination'') of NYSE

      Euronext, a Delaware corporation, and Deutsche B[ouml]rse AG, an

      Aktiengesellschaft organized under the laws of the Federal Republic of

      Germany (``Deutsche B[ouml]rse'').

      NYSE Euronext owns 100% of the equity interest of NYSE Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (``NYSE Group''), which in turn directly or indirectly owns (1) 100% of the equity interest of three registered national securities exchanges and self-regulatory organizations

      (together, the ``NYSE Exchanges'')--NYSE Arca, New York Stock Exchange,

      LLC (``Exchange'') and NYSE Amex LLC (``NYSE Amex'')--and (2) 100% of the equity interest of NYSE Market, Inc. (``NYSE Market''), NYSE

      Regulation, Inc. (``NYSE Regulation''), NYSE Arca L.L.C. (``NYSE Arca

      LLC'') and NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. (``NYSE Arca Equities'') (the NYSE

      Exchanges, together with NYSE Market, NYSE Regulation, NYSE Arca LLC and NYSE Arca Equities, the ``NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries'' and each, a ``NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiary''). The Exchange and NYSE Amex will be separately filing a proposed rule change in connection with the

      Combination that will be substantially the same as the Proposed Rule

      Change.

      Deutsche B[ouml]rse indirectly owns 50% of the equity interest of

      International Securities Exchange Holdings, Inc. (``ISE Holdings''), which in turn holds 100% of the equity interest of International

      Securities Exchange, LLC (``ISE''), a registered national securities exchange and self-regulatory organization. ISE Holdings also holds 31.54% of the equity interest of Direct Edge Holdings, LLC (``Direct

      Edge Holdings''), which in turn indirectly holds 100% of the equity interest of two registered national securities exchanges and self- regulatory organizations--EDGA Exchange, Inc. (``EDGA'') and EDGX

      Exchange, Inc. (``EDGX'') (each of ISE, EDGA and EDGX, a ``DB

      Exchange'' and a ``DB U.S. Regulated Subsidiary'' and together, the

      ``DB Exchanges'' and the ``DB U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries''). The DB

      Exchanges will be separately filing a proposed rule change in connection with the Combination.

      If the Combination is completed, the businesses of NYSE Euronext and Deutsche B[ouml]rse, including the NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries and the DB U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries (together, the ``U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiaries'' and each, a ``U.S. Regulated Subsidiary''), will be held under a single, publicly traded holding company organized under the laws of the Netherlands (``Holdco'').\3\ The Proposed Rule Change, if approved by the Commission, will not be operative until the consummation of the Combination.

      \3\ Holdco is currently named ``Alpha Beta Netherlands Holding

      N.V.,'' but it is expected that Holdco will be renamed prior to the completion of the Combination to a name agreed between NYSE Euronext and Deutsche B[ouml]rse.

    2. Summary of Proposed Rule Change

      NYSE Arca is proposing that, pursuant to the Combination, its indirect parent, NYSE Euronext, will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco. In addition, NYSE Arca is proposing that, in connection with the Combination, the Commission approve certain amendments to the organizational and other governance documents of Holdco, NYSE Euronext,

      NYSE Group and certain of the NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries as well as certain rules of the Exchange, NYSE Amex and NYSE Arca Equities.\4\

      The Proposed Rule Change is summarized as follows:

      \4\ Proposed amendments to the governance documents and rules of the Exchange and/or NYSE Amex are included in this Proposed Rule

      Change, and the text of those proposed amendments are attached as exhibits to this Proposed Rule Change, because they are part of the overall set of changes proposed by the NYSE Exchanges to be made in connection with the Combination.

      Proposed Approval of Waiver of Ownership and Voting

      Restrictions of NYSE Euronext. The Amended and Restated Certificate of

      Incorporation of NYSE Euronext (the ``NYSE Euronext Certificate'') currently restricts any person, either alone or together with its related persons, from being entitled to vote or cause the voting of shares to the extent that such shares represent in the aggregate more than 10% of the outstanding votes entitled to be cast on any matter or beneficially owning shares of stock of NYSE Euronext representing in the aggregate more than 20% of the outstanding votes entitled to be cast on any matter.\5\ NYSE Euronext is required to disregard votes which are in excess of the voting restriction and to repurchase NYSE

      Euronext shares that are held in excess of the ownership restriction.

      The NYSE Euronext Certificate and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of

      NYSE Euronext (the ``NYSE Euronext Bylaws'') provide that the board of directors of NYSE Euronext may waive these voting and ownership restrictions if it makes certain determinations and resolves to expressly permit the voting and ownership that is subject to such restrictions, and such resolutions have been filed with, and approved by, the Commission under Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act \6\ and filed with, and approved by, each European Regulator (as defined in the

      NYSE Euronext Certificate) having appropriate jurisdiction and authority.\7\ Acting pursuant to this waiver provision, the board of directors of NYSE Euronext has adopted the resolutions set forth in

      Exhibit 5A (the ``NYSE Euronext Resolutions'') in order to permit

      Holdco to own and vote 100% of the outstanding common stock of NYSE

      Euronext as of and after the Combination. NYSE Arca is requesting approval by the Commission of the NYSE Euronext Resolutions in order to allow the Combination to take place.

      \5\ See Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of

      NYSE Euronext, Article V Sections 1 & 2.

      \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b).

      \7\ See Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of

      NYSE Euronext, Article V Sections 1 & 2, and Amended and Restated

      Bylaws of NYSE Euronext, Section 10.12.

      Proposed Amendments to Voting and Ownership Restrictions of NYSE Euronext. Because NYSE Euronext would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco as a result of the Combination, NYSE Arca is proposing to amend the voting and ownership restrictions in the NYSE

      Euronext Certificate to be consistent with the analogous provisions in the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of NYSE

      Group (the ``NYSE Group Certificate''): (1) First, the NYSE Euronext

      Certificate would be amended to provide that all of the issued and outstanding shares of NYSE Euronext will be held by Holdco, and that

      Holdco may not transfer or assign any shares without approval by the

      Commission under the Exchange Act and the relevant European Regulators under the applicable European Exchange Regulations (as defined in the

      Page 65232

      NYSE Euronext Certificate); \8\ and (2) second, the NYSE Euronext

      Certificate would be amended to provide that the voting and ownership restrictions contained therein would only apply in the event that

      Holdco does not own all of the issued and outstanding shares of NYSE

      Euronext and only for so long as NYSE Euronext directly or indirectly controls any U.S. Regulated Subsidiary or any European Market

      Subsidiary (as such terms are defined in the NYSE Euronext

      Certificate).\9\ In addition, the voting and ownership restrictions in the NYSE Euronext Certificate would be amended to (a) Change the 10% threshold for the voting restriction to a 20% threshold; (b) change the 20% threshold for the ownership restriction to a 40% restriction

      (except that a 20% ownership restriction would continue to apply to any person who is, or with respect to whom a related person is, (A) A

      Member of the Exchange, as defined in the NYSE Euronext Certificate (a

      ``NYSE Member''), (B) a Member of NYSE Amex as defined in the current

      NYSE Euronext Bylaws (including any person who is a related person of such member, an ``Amex Member''), (C) an ETP Holder of NYSE Arca

      Equities, as defined in the NYSE Euronext Certificate (an ``ETP

      Holder''), or (D) an OTP Holder or OTP Firm of NYSE Arca, as defined in the NYSE Euronext Certificate (an ``OTP Holder'' and ``OTP Firm,'' respectively)); (c) add the provision, which is currently in the NYSE

      Euronext Bylaws, that requires the board of directors of NYSE Euronext to make certain determinations relating to NYSE Amex in order to waive the voting and ownership restrictions to the NYSE Euronext Certificate, and delete this provision from the NYSE Euronext Bylaws; (d) update the names of certain European regulatory entities in the definition of

      ``European Regulator'' (as currently defined in the NYSE Euronext

      Certificate and the NYSE Euronext Bylaws); and (e) expand the definition of ``Related Persons'' to address Amex Members in a manner that is substantively consistent with provisions currently located in the NYSE Rules.

      \8\ The analogous provision in the NYSE Group Certificate is

      Section 4(a) of Article IV.

      \9\ The analogous provision in the NYSE Group Certificate is

      Section 4(b) of Article IV.

      Proposed Amendments to Voting and Ownership Restrictions of NYSE Group. The NYSE Group Certificate currently provides that, if

      NYSE Euronext and the trust \10\ established pursuant to the Trust

      Agreement, dated as of April 4, 2007, by and among NYSE Euronext, NYSE

      Group and the other parties thereto, do not hold 100% of the outstanding stock of NYSE Group, no person, either alone or together with its related persons, may be entitled to vote or cause the voting of shares to the extent that such shares represent in the aggregate more than 10% of the outstanding votes entitled to be cast on any matter or beneficially own shares of stock of NYSE Group representing in the aggregate more than 20% of the outstanding votes entitled to be cast on any matter.\11\ NYSE Group is required to disregard votes which are in excess of the voting restriction and to repurchase NYSE Group shares which are held in excess of the ownership restriction.\12\ Under the Proposed Rule Change, the voting and ownership restrictions in the

      NYSE Group Certificate would be amended to (1) Change the 10% threshold for the voting restriction to a 20% threshold; (2) change the 20% threshold for the ownership restriction to a 40% restriction (except that a 20% ownership restriction would continue to apply to any person who is, or with respect to whom a related person is, a NYSE Member, an

      Amex Member, an ETP Holder or an OTP Holder or OTP Firm); (3) provide that the ownership and voting limitations would apply only for so long as NYSE Group directly or indirectly controls any Regulated Subsidiary

      (as defined in the NYSE Group Certificate); and (4) expand the definition of ``Related Persons'' regarding Amex Members so that it is consistent with the language in the NYSE Rules, which language will be incorporated in the NYSE Euronext Certificate pursuant to this Proposed

      Rule Change.

      \10\ No changes are being proposed to the current Delaware trust and stichting for ``regulatory overspill'' matters, except that references to the Nominating and Governance Committee of NYSE

      Euronext would be replaced with references to the Holdco Nominating,

      Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee.

      \11\ See Second Amended and Restated Certificate of

      Incorporation of NYSE Group, Inc., Article IV Section 4(b)(1) & (2).

      \12\ See Second Amended and Restated Certificate of

      Incorporation of NYSE Group, Inc., Article IV Sections 4(b)(1)(A) & 4(b)(2)(D).

      Proposed Amendments to Certain Public-Company-Related and

      Other Provisions of NYSE Euronext Organizational and Corporate

      Governance Documents. Under the Proposed Rule Change, in light of the fact that NYSE Euronext would become a wholly owned subsidiary of

      Holdco following completion of the Combination, the NYSE Euronext

      Certificate and the NYSE Euronext Bylaws would be amended to (1)

      Simplify and provide for a more efficient governance and capital structure that is appropriate for a wholly owned subsidiary; (2) conform certain provisions to analogous provisions of the organizational documents of NYSE Group, which will likewise be an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco following completion of the

      Combination; and (3) make certain clarification and technical edits

      (for example, to conform the use of defined terms and other provisions, and to update cross-references to sections, consistent with the other amendments to the NYSE Euronext Certificate and the NYSE Euronext

      Bylaws set forth in this Proposed Rule Change). In addition, the current Independence Policy of the NYSE Euronext board of directors would cease to be in effect.

      Proposed Amendments to Board Composition Requirements for the Exchange, NYSE Amex, NYSE Market and NYSE Regulation. Under the

      Proposed Rule Change, certain provisions of the Third Amended and

      Restated Operating Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2009, of the

      Exchange (the ``Exchange Operating Agreement'') relating to the composition of the Exchange's board of directors would be amended, including to provide that the independent directors of the Exchange would perform certain functions currently allocated to the NYSE

      Euronext nominating and governance committee and that the Exchange's board of directors would have its own director independence policy, instead of referring to the director independence policy of NYSE

      Euronext. Substantially the same revisions would be made to the analogous provisions of the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of

      NYSE Amex,\13\ the Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE Market \14\ and the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE Regulation.\15\

      \13\ See Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of NYSE Amex

      LLC, Section 2.03(a).

      \14\ See Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE Market, Inc.,

      Article III Section 1.

      \15\ See Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE Regulation,

      Inc., Article III Section 1.

      Proposed Amendments to the NYSE Group Certificate and NYSE

      Group Bylaws. Under the Proposed Rule Change, the NYSE Group

      Certificate and the NYSE Group Bylaws would be amended in order to (1)

      Conform certain provisions to analogous provisions of the organizational documents of NYSE Euronext, which will likewise be a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco following completion of the

      Combination; and (2) make certain clarification and technical edits

      (for example, to conform the use of defined terms and other provisions to be consistent with the other amendments to the NYSE Group

      Certificate and the

      Page 65233

      NYSE Group Bylaws set forth in this Proposed Rule Change).

      Proposed Amendments to the Exchange Rules, NYSE Amex Rules and NYSE Arca Equities Rules. Under the Proposed Rule Change, certain technical amendments would be made to the rules of the Exchange (the

      ``Exchange Rules'') to (1) Replace references therein to ``NYSE

      Euronext'' with references to Holdco; and (2) delete the definitions of

      ``member'' and ``member organization'' relating to NYSE Amex which are set forth in Rule 2 for purposes of Section 1(L) of Article 5 of the

      NYSE Euronext Certificate, because the Proposed Rule Change will revise the NYSE Euronext Certificate to include analogous language relating to

      NYSE Amex Members. In addition, certain technical amendments would be made to the rules of NYSE Amex (the ``NYSE Amex Rules'') and to the rules of NYSE Arca Equities (the ``NYSE Arca Equities Rules'') to replace references therein to ``NYSE Euronext'' with references to

      Holdco.

      The text of the proposed amended NYSE Euronext Certificate, NYSE

      Euronext Bylaws, NYSE Group Certificate, NYSE Group Bylaws, Exchange

      Operating Agreement, Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of NYSE

      Amex, Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE Market, Third Amended and

      Restated Bylaws of NYSE Regulation, Exchange Rules, form of Director

      Independence Policy for certain NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries, NYSE

      Amex Rules and NYSE Arca Equities Rules are attached to the Proposed

      Rule Change as Exhibits 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5I, 5J, 5K, 5P and 5Q, respectively.

      Under the Proposed Rule Change, Holdco would take appropriate steps to incorporate voting and ownership restrictions, requirements relating to submission to jurisdiction, access to books and records and other requirements related to its control of the U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries.

      Specifically, the Articles of Association of Holdco in effect as of the completion of the Combination (the ``Holdco Articles'') would contain provisions \16\ to incorporate these concepts with respect to itself, as well as its directors, officers, employees and agents (as applicable):

      \16\ The text of the proposed Holdco Articles is attached to the

      Proposed Rule Change as Exhibit 5L.

      Voting and Ownership Restrictions in the Holdco Articles.

      The Holdco Articles would contain voting and ownership restrictions that will restrict any person, either alone or together with its related persons, from having voting control over Holdco shares entitling the holder thereof to cast more than 20% of the then outstanding votes entitled to be cast on a matter or beneficially owning Holdco shares representing more than 40% of the outstanding votes entitled to be cast on a matter (except that a 20% ownership restriction would apply to any person who is a NYSE Member, an Amex

      Member, an ETP Holder, an OTP Holder or OTP Firm, a Member (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(3)(A) of the Exchange Act) of ISE (an

      ``ISE Member''), or a member of EDGA or EDGX (as such terms are defined in the rules of EDGA and EDGX, respectively, an ``EDGA Member'' and

      ``EDGX Member,'' respectively)). The Holdco Articles would provide that

      Holdco will be required to disregard any votes purported to be cast in excess of the voting restriction. In the event that any such person(s) exceeds the ownership restriction, it will be required to offer for sale and transfer the number of Holdco shares required to comply with the ownership restriction, and the rights to vote, attend general meetings of Holdco shareholders and receive dividends or other distributions attached to shares held in excess of the 40% threshold

      (or 20% threshold, if applicable) will be suspended for so long as such threshold is exceeded. If such person(s) fails to comply with the transfer obligation within two weeks, then the Holdco Articles would provide that Holdco will be irrevocably authorized to take actions on behalf of such person(s) in order to cause it to comply with such obligations. Consistent with the current NYSE Euronext Certificate, the

      Holdco board of directors may waive the voting and ownership restrictions if it makes certain determinations (which will be subject to the same requirements which are currently required to be made by the board of directors of NYSE Euronext and ISE Holdings in order to waive the voting and ownership restrictions in the current NYSE Euronext

      Certificate and the Certificate of Incorporation of ISE Holdings (the

      ``ISE Certificate''), as applicable) and resolves to expressly permit the voting and ownership that is subject to such restrictions, and such resolutions have been filed with, and approved by, the Commission under

      Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act and filed with, and approved by, the relevant European Regulators having appropriate jurisdiction and authority.

      Jurisdiction. The Holdco Articles will provide that Holdco and its directors, and to the extent they are involved in the activities of the U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries, (x) Holdco's officers, and (y) those of its employees whose principal place of business and residence is outside the United States, will be deemed to irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the U.S. federal courts and the

      Commission for the purposes of any suit, action or proceeding pursuant to the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules or regulations thereunder, arising out of, or relating to, the activities of the U.S.

      Regulated Subsidiaries. In addition, the Holdco Articles would provide that so long as Holdco directly or indirectly controls any U.S.

      Regulated Subsidiary, the directors, officers and employees will be deemed to be directors, officers and employees of such U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiaries for purposes of, and subject to oversight pursuant to, the

      Exchange Act. The Holdco Articles would provide that Holdco will take reasonable steps necessary to cause its officers, directors and employees, prior to accepting a position as an officer, director or employee, as applicable, to agree and consent in writing to the applicability to them of these jurisdictional and oversight provisions with respect to their activities related to any U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiary. Furthermore, the Holdco Articles would provide that no person may be a director of Holdco unless he or she has agreed and consented in writing to the applicability to him or her of these jurisdictional and oversight provisions with respect to his or her activities related to any U.S. Regulated Subsidiary. Holdco would sign an irrevocable agreement and consent for the benefit of each U.S.

      Regulated Subsidiary that it will comply with these provisions of the

      Holdco Articles.

      Books and Records. The Holdco Articles would provide that for so long as Holdco directly or indirectly controls any U.S.

      Regulated Subsidiary, the books, records and premises of Holdco will be deemed to be the books, records and premises of such U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiaries for purposes of, and subject to oversight pursuant to, the

      Exchange Act, and that Holdco's books and records will at all times be made available for inspection and copying by the Commission, and by any

      U.S. Regulated Subsidiary to the extent they are related to the activities of such U.S. Regulated Subsidiary or any other U.S.

      Regulated Subsidiary over which such U.S. Regulated Subsidiary has regulatory authority or oversight. In addition, Holdco's books and records related to the U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries will be maintained within the United States, except that to the extent that books and records may relate to both European subsidiaries and U.S.

      Page 65234

      Regulated Subsidiaries, Holdco may maintain such books and records either in the home jurisdiction of one or more European subsidiaries or in the United States.

      Amendments to Holdco Articles. The Holdco Articles would provide that before any amendment to the Holdco Articles may be effectuated by execution of a notarial deed of amendment, such amendment would need to be submitted to the board of directors of each

      U.S. Regulated Subsidiary and, if so determined by any such board, would need to be filed with, or filed with and approved by, the

      Commission before such amendment may become effective.

      Additional Matters. The Holdco Articles would include provisions regarding cooperation with the Commission and the U.S.

      Regulated Subsidiaries, compliance with U.S. federal securities laws, confidentiality of information regarding the U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiaries' self-regulatory function, preservation of the independence of the U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries' self-regulatory function, and directors' consideration of the effect of Holdco's actions on the U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries' ability to carry out their respective responsibilities under the Exchange Act. In addition, the

      Holdco Articles would provide that Holdco will take reasonable steps necessary to cause its officers, directors and employees, prior to accepting a position as an officer, director or employee, as applicable, of Holdco to agree and consent in writing to the applicability to them of these provisions of the Holdco Articles with respect to their activities related to any U.S. Regulated Subsidiary.

      The Holdco Articles would also provide that no person may be a director of Holdco unless he or she has agreed and consented in writing to the applicability to him or her of these provisions with respect to his or her activities related to any U.S. Regulated Subsidiary. Holdco will sign an irrevocable agreement and consent for the benefit of each U.S.

      Regulated Subsidiary \17\ that it will comply with these provisions of the Holdco Articles.\18\

      \17\ The form of Holdco's agreement and consent is attached as

      Exhibit 5M to this Proposed Rule Change.

      \18\ The Holdco Articles will also set forth certain restrictions and requirements relating to Holdco's European subsidiaries and applicable European regulatory matters, which will be substantially consistent with the analogous restrictions and requirements applicable with respect to Holdco's U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiaries and U.S. regulatory matters.

      In addition, Holdco would adopt a Director Independence Policy in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 5N (the ``Holdco Independence

      Policy''), which would be substantially similar to the current

      Independence Policy of the NYSE Euronext board of directors, except for certain changes described in this Proposed Rule Change.

      The text of the Proposed Rule Change is available at NYSE Arca, the

      Commission's Public Reference Room, and on the Web site of NYSE

      Euronext (http://www.nyse.com). The text of Exhibits 5A through 5Q of the Proposed Rule Change are also available on NYSE Euronext's Web site and on the Commission's Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml).

      Other than as described herein and set forth in the attached

      Exhibits 5A through 5Q, NYSE Arca will continue to conduct its regulated activities in the manner currently conducted and will not make any changes to its regulated activities in connection with the

      Combination. If NYSE Arca determines to make any such changes, it will seek approval of the Commission.

  2. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and

    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, NYSE Arca has included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the Proposed Rule

    Change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. NYSE Arca has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections A, B and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

    1. Purpose [sic]

      The purpose of this rule filing is to adopt the rules necessary to permit NYSE Euronext to effect the Combination and to amend certain provisions of the organizational and other governance documents of NYSE

      Euronext, NYSE Group and certain of the NYSE U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiaries, including certain Exchange Rules, NYSE Amex Rules and

      NYSE Arca Equities Rules. 1. Overview of the Combination

      NYSE Arca is submitting this Proposed Rule Change to the Commission in connection with the Combination of NYSE Euronext and Deutsche

      B[ouml]rse. The Combination will create a holding company, Holdco, which will hold the businesses of NYSE Euronext and Deutsche

      B[ouml]rse. Following the Combination, each of NYSE Euronext and

      Deutsche B[ouml]rse will be a separate subsidiary of Holdco. Holdco expects the Combination will create a group that will be both a world leader in derivatives and risk management and the premier global venue for capital raising, with a truly global franchise and presence in many of the world's financial centers including New York, London, Frankfurt,

      Paris and Luxembourg. This global presence should facilitate providing world-class services to global and local customers worldwide.

      Other than as described herein, Holdco and the NYSE Exchanges will not make any changes to the regulated activities of the NYSE U.S.

      Regulated Subsidiaries in connection with the Combination, and, other than as described in the separate proposed rule changes filed by each of the DB Exchanges in connection with the Combination, Holdco and the

      DB Exchanges will not make any changes to the regulated activities of the DB U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries in connection with the Combination.

      If Holdco determines to make any such changes to the regulated activities of any U.S. Regulated Subsidiary, it will seek the approval of the Commission. The Proposed Rule Change, if approved by the

      Commission, will not be operative until the consummation of the

      Combination.

      The Combination will occur pursuant to the terms of the Business

      Combination Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2011, as amended by

      Amendment No. 1 dated as of May 2, 2011 and by Amendment No. 2 dated as of June 16, 2011 (as it may be further amended from time to time, the

      ``Combination Agreement''), by and among NYSE Euronext, Deutsche

      B[ouml]rse, Holdco and Pomme Merger Corporation, a Delaware corporation and newly formed wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco (``Merger Sub'').

      Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Combination

      Agreement and in compliance with applicable law, Holdco has conducted a public exchange offer (the ``Exchange Offer''), in which shareholders of Deutsche B[ouml]rse have been afforded the opportunity to tender each share of Deutsche B[ouml]rse for one ordinary share of Holdco

      (each, a ``Holdco Share'').

      Immediately after the time that Holdco accepts for exchange, and exchanges, the Deutsche B[ouml]rse shares that are validly tendered and not withdrawn in the Exchange Offer, Merger Sub will merge with and into NYSE Euronext, as a result of which NYSE Euronext will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco (the ``Merger''). In the Merger, each outstanding share of NYSE Euronext common stock will be converted into the right to receive 0.47 of a fully paid

      Page 65235

      and non-assessable Holdco Share. NYSE Euronext's obligation to complete the Merger is subject to the completion of the Exchange Offer and the acquisition by Holdco of all of the Deutsche B[ouml]rse shares validly tendered and not withdrawn in the Exchange Offer. The completion of the

      Exchange Offer (and, therefore, the completion of the Merger) is subject to the satisfaction of a number of conditions, including that

      Deutsche B[ouml]rse shares representing at least 75% of the Deutsche

      B[ouml]rse shares outstanding, on a fully diluted basis, must be validly tendered and not withdrawn in the Exchange Offer, and that holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of NYSE Euronext shall have adopted the Combination Agreement. Both of these conditions have been satisfied.

      Following the completion of the Exchange Offer, and depending on the percentage of Deutsche B[ouml]rse shares acquired by Holdco in the

      Exchange Offer, Deutsche B[ouml]rse and Holdco intend to complete a post-completion reorganization pursuant to which Holdco will enter into a domination agreement, or a combination of a domination agreement and a profit and loss transfer agreement, pursuant to which the remaining shareholders of Deutsche B[ouml]rse will have limited rights, including a limited ability to participate in the profits of Deutsche B[ouml]rse.

      Holdco expects the Combination will create a group that will be both a world leader in derivatives and risk management and the premier global venue for capital raising, with a truly global franchise and presence in many of the world's financial centers including New York,

      London, Frankfurt, Paris and Luxembourg. This global presence should facilitate providing world-class services to global and local customers worldwide. Following the Combination, Holdco and its subsidiaries

      (together, the ``Holdco Group'') expect to serve as a benchmark regulatory model, facilitating transparency and harmonization of capital markets globally, while continuing to operate all national exchanges under local regulatory frameworks and their respective brand names. 2. Overview of the Holdco Group Following the Combination

      Following the Combination, Holdco will be a for-profit, publicly traded corporation formed under the laws of the Netherlands and will act as the holding company for the businesses of NYSE Euronext and

      Deutsche B[ouml]rse. Holdco will hold all of the equity interests in

      NYSE Euronext, which holds (1) 100% of the equity interest of NYSE

      Group (which, in turn, directly or indirectly holds 100% of the equity interests of the NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries) and (2) 100% of the equity interest of Euronext N.V. (which, in turn, directly or indirectly holds 100% of the equity interests of trading markets in

      Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom).

      Holdco will also hold a majority of the equity interests in Deutsche

      B[ouml]rse, which indirectly holds 50% of the equity interest of ISE

      Holdings (which, in turn, holds (1) 100% of the equity interest of ISE and (2) 31.54% of the equity interest of Direct Edge Holdings). Direct

      Edge Holdings indirectly holds 100% of the equity interest of EDGA and

      EDGX. Holdco intends to list its ordinary shares on the New York Stock

      Exchange, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris. The Holdco

      Group will have dual headquarters in Frankfurt and New York.

      After the Combination, NYSE Group will continue to be directly wholly owned by NYSE Euronext and will continue to directly or indirectly own the three NYSE Exchanges--the Exchange, NYSE Arca and

      NYSE Amex--which provide marketplaces where investors buy and sell listed companies' common stock and other securities as well as equity options and securities traded on the basis of unlisted trading privileges. NYSE Regulation, Inc., an indirect not-for-profit subsidiary of NYSE Group, oversees FINRA's performance of certain market surveillance and enforcement functions for NYSE Euronext's U.S. securities exchanges, enforces listed company compliance with applicable standards, and oversees regulatory policy determinations, rule interpretation and regulation related rule development.

      In Europe, NYSE Euronext, Deutsche B[ouml]rse and their respective subsidiaries own several European exchanges, including trading operations on regulated and non-regulated markets for cash products in

      Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal and derivatives in the United Kingdom and in the five above-mentioned locations. As a result, the activities of the NYSE Euronext and Deutsche B[ouml]rse

      European markets are or may be subject to the jurisdiction and authority of a number of European regulators, including the German

      Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt f[uuml]r

      Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht), the Hessian Exchange Supervisory

      Authority, the Dutch Minister of Finance, the French Minister of the

      Economy, the French Financial Market Authority (Autorit[eacute] des

      March[eacute]s Financiers), the French Prudential Supervisory Authority

      (Autorit[eacute] de Contr[ocirc]le Prudentiel), the Netherlands

      Authority for the Financial Markets (Autoriteit Financi[euml]le

      Markten), the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority

      (Autorit[eacute] des Services et March[eacute]s Financiers), the

      Portuguese Securities Market Commission (Comiss[atilde]o do Mercado de

      Valores Mobili[aacute]rios--CMVM) and the U.K. Financial Services

      Authority (FSA).

      Other than certain modifications described herein, the current corporate structure, governance and self-regulatory independence and separation of each NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiary will be preserved.

      Specifically, after the Combination, NYSE Group's businesses and assets will continue to be structured as follows:

      The Exchange will remain a direct wholly owned subsidiary of NYSE Group and an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of NYSE

      Euronext.

      NYSE Market will remain a wholly owned subsidiary of the

      Exchange and will continue to conduct the Exchange's business.

      NYSE Regulation will remain a wholly owned subsidiary of the Exchange and continue to perform, and/or oversee the performance of, regulatory responsibilities of the Exchange pursuant to a delegation agreement with the Exchange and regulatory functions of NYSE

      Arca and NYSE Amex pursuant to services agreements with them.\19\

      \19\ Certain regulatory functions have been allocated to, and/or are otherwise performed by, FINRA.

      Archipelago Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (``Arca

      Holdings''), will remain a wholly owned subsidiary of NYSE Group and indirect wholly owned subsidiary of NYSE Euronext.

      NYSE Arca Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (``NYSE

      Arca Holdings''), and NYSE Arca, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (``NYSE Arca LLC''), will remain wholly owned subsidiaries of

      Arca Holdings.

      NYSE Arca will remain a wholly owned subsidiary of NYSE

      Arca Holdings.

      NYSE Arca Equities, a Delaware corporation, will remain a wholly owned subsidiary of NYSE Arca.

      NYSE Amex will remain a direct wholly owned subsidiary of

      NYSE Group and an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of NYSE Euronext.

      The Combination will have no effect on the ability of any party to trade securities on the Exchange, NYSE Arca or NYSE Amex.

      Page 65236

      Similarly, Deutsche B[ouml]rse and its subsidiaries, and NYSE

      Euronext and its subsidiaries, will continue to conduct their regulated activities in the same manner as they are currently conducted, with any changes subject to the relevant approvals of their respective European regulators and, in the case of the U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries, with any changes subject to the approval of the Commission.

      Holdco acknowledges that to the extent it becomes aware of possible violations of the rules of the Exchange, NYSE Arca or NYSE Amex, it will be responsible for referring such possible violations to each such exchange, respectively. In addition, Holdco will become a party to the agreement among NYSE Euronext, NYSE Group, the Exchange, NYSE Market and NYSE Regulation to provide for adequate funding for NYSE

      Regulation. 3. Proposed Approval of Waiver of Voting and Ownership Restrictions of

      NYSE Euronext

      Article V of the current NYSE Euronext Certificate provides that

      (1) No person, either alone or together with its ``related persons''

      (as defined in the NYSE Euronext Certificate), may be entitled to vote or cause the voting of shares of NYSE Euronext beneficially owned by such person or its related persons, in person or by proxy or through any voting agreement or other arrangement, to the extent that such shares represent in the aggregate more than 10% of the then outstanding votes entitled to be cast on such matter; and (2) no person, either alone or together with its related persons, may acquire the ability to vote more than 10% of the then outstanding votes entitled to be cast on any such matter by virtue of agreements or arrangements entered into with other persons to refrain from voting shares of stock of NYSE

      Euronext (the ``NYSE Euronext Voting Restriction'').\20\ NYSE Euronext must disregard any votes purposed to be cast in excess of the NYSE

      Euronext Voting Restriction.\21\

      \20\ See Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of

      NYSE Euronext, Article V Section 1.

      \21\ See Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of

      NYSE Euronext, Article V Section 1(A).

      In addition, the NYSE Euronext Certificate provides that no person, either alone or together with its related persons, may at any time beneficially own shares of NYSE Euronext representing in the aggregate more than 20% of the then outstanding votes entitled to be cast on any matter (the ``NYSE Euronext Ownership Restriction'').\22\ If any person, either alone or together with its related persons, owns shares of NYSE Euronext in excess of the NYSE Euronext Ownership Restriction, then such person and its related persons are obligated to sell promptly, and NYSE Euronext is obligated to purchase promptly, at a price equal to the par value of such shares and to the extent funds are legally available for such purchase, the number of shares of NYSE

      Euronext necessary so that such person, together with its related persons, will beneficially own shares of NYSE Euronext representing in the aggregate no more than 20% of the then outstanding votes entitled to be cast on any matter, after taking into account that such repurchased shares will become treasury shares and will no longer be deemed to be outstanding.\23\

      \22\ See Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of

      NYSE Euronext, Article V Section 2.

      \23\ See Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of

      NYSE Euronext, Article V Section 2(D).

      The NYSE Euronext Voting Restriction and the NYSE Euronext

      Ownership Restriction are applicable to each person unless and until

      (1) Such person has delivered a notice in writing to the board of directors of NYSE Euronext, not less than 45 days (or such shorter period as the board of directors of NYSE Euronext expressly permits) prior to any vote or, in the case of the NYSE Euronext Ownership

      Restriction, prior to the acquisition of any shares of NYSE Euronext that would cause such person, either alone or together with its related persons, to exceed the NYSE Euronext Ownership Restriction, of such person's intention, either alone or together with its related persons, to vote or cause the voting of shares of NYSE Euronext stock beneficially owned by such person or its related persons in excess of the NYSE Euronext Voting Restriction or, in the case of the NYSE

      Euronext Ownership Restriction, of such person's intention, either alone or together with its related persons, to acquire such ownership;

      (2) the board of directors of NYSE Euronext has resolved to expressly permit such voting or ownership, as applicable; (3) such resolution has been filed with, and approved by, the Commission under Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act \24\ and has become effective thereunder; and (4) such resolution has been filed with, and approved by, each European

      Regulator having appropriate jurisdiction and authority. Subject to its fiduciary duties under applicable law, the NYSE Euronext board of directors may not adopt any resolution pursuant to the foregoing clause

      (2) unless it has determined that the exercise of such voting rights

      (or the entering into of a voting agreement) or ownership, as applicable:

      \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b).

      Will not impair the ability of any NYSE U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiary, NYSE Euronext or NYSE Group (if and to the extent that NYSE

      Group continues to exist as a separate entity) to discharge their respective responsibilities under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;

      Will not impair the ability of any of the European Market

      Subsidiaries (as defined in the NYSE Euronext Bylaws) of NYSE Euronext or Euronext (to the extent that Euronext continues to exist as a separate entity) to discharge their respective responsibilities under the European Exchange Regulations (as defined in the NYSE Euronext

      Bylaws);

      Is otherwise in the best interest of NYSE Euronext, its stockholders, the NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries and the European

      Market Subsidiaries, and will not impair the Commission's ability to enforce the Exchange Act or the European Regulators' ability to enforce the European Exchange Regulations;

      For so long as NYSE Euronext directly or indirectly controls the Exchange or NYSE Market, neither such person nor any of its related persons is a NYSE Member;

      For so long as NYSE Euronext directly or indirectly controls NYSE Amex, neither such person nor any of its related persons is an Amex Member;

      For so long as NYSE Euronext directly or indirectly controls NYSE Arca, NYSE Arca Equities or any facility of NYSE Arca, neither such person nor any of its related persons is an ETP Holder, an

      OTP Holder or an OTP Firm; and

      Neither such person nor any of its related persons is a

      U.S. Disqualified Person or a European Disqualified Person (as such terms are defined in the NYSE Euronext Certificate).\25\

      \25\ See Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of

      NYSE Euronext, Article V Sections 1(B), 1(C), 2(B) and 2(C), and

      Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE Euronext, Section 10.12.

      In order to allow Holdco to wholly own and vote all of the outstanding common stock of NYSE Euronext upon consummation of the

      Combination, Holdco has delivered written notice to the board of directors of NYSE Euronext pursuant to the procedures set forth in the

      NYSE Euronext Certificate requesting approval of its voting and ownership of NYSE Euronext shares in excess of the NYSE Euronext Voting

      Restriction and the NYSE Euronext

      Page 65237

      Ownership Restriction. Among other things, in this notice, Holdco represented to the board of directors of NYSE Euronext that neither it, nor any of its related persons, is (1) A ``member'' or ``member organization'' of the Exchange; (2) a ``member'' of NYSE Amex; (3) an

      ETP Holder; (4) an OTP Holder or an OTP Firm; or (5) a U.S.

      Disqualified Person or a European Disqualified Person.

      At a meeting duly convened on September 15, 2011, the board of directors of NYSE Euronext adopted the NYSE Euronext Resolutions to permit Holdco, either alone or with its related persons, to exceed the

      NYSE Euronext Ownership Restriction and the NYSE Euronext Voting

      Restriction. In adopting such resolutions, the board of directors of

      NYSE Euronext made the necessary determinations set forth above and approved the submission of this Proposed Rule Change to the Commission.

      The NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries will continue to operate and regulate their markets and members exactly as they have done prior to the Combination. Except as set forth in this Proposed Rule Change,

      Holdco is not proposing any amendments to their trading or regulatory rules.

      With respect to the ability of the Commission to enforce the

      Exchange Act as it applies to the NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries after the Combination, the NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries will operate in the same manner following the Combination as they operate today.\26\ Thus, the Commission will continue to have plenary regulatory authority over the NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries, as is the case currently with these entities. As described in the following sections of this filing, NYSE Arca is proposing a series of amendments to the NYSE Euronext Certificate, the NYSE Euronext Bylaws, the NYSE

      Group Certificate and the NYSE Group Bylaws, as well as certain provisions of the Holdco Articles, that will create an ownership structure that will provide the Commission with appropriate oversight tools to ensure that the Commission will have the ability to enforce the Exchange Act with respect to each U.S. Regulated Subsidiary, its direct and indirect parent entities and its directors, officers, employees and agents to the extent they are involved in the activities of such U.S. Regulated Subsidiary.

      \26\ NYSE Arca has been informed by Deutsche B[ouml]rse that the

      DB U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries are also expected to operate in the same manner following the Combination as they operate today. This is addressed in the separate proposed rule change filed by each of the

      DB Exchanges.

      The NYSE Euronext board of directors also determined that ownership of NYSE Euronext by Holdco is in the best interests of NYSE Euronext, its shareholders and the NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries. With respect to the interests of the NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries, the board of directors of NYSE Euronext has noted, among other things, its expectation that the Combination would over time create substantial incremental efficiency and growth opportunities and that the Holdco

      Group is expected to be a leader in a diverse set of large and growing businesses, including derivatives, listings, cash equities, post-trade settlement and asset servicing, market data and technology servicing.

      In addition, neither Holdco, nor any of its related persons, is (1)

      A NYSE Member; (2) an Amex Member; (3) an ETP Holder, an OTP Holder or an OTP Firm; or (4) a U.S. Disqualified Person or a European

      Disqualified Person.

      An extract with the relevant provisions of the NYSE Euronext

      Resolutions is attached as Exhibit 5A to the Proposed Rule Change and can be found on NYSE Euronext's Web site and the Commission's Web site.

      NYSE Arca hereby requests that the Commission approve the NYSE

      Euronext Resolutions and allow Holdco, either alone or with its related persons, to own and vote all of the outstanding common stock of NYSE

      Euronext upon and following the consummation of the Combination. 4. Proposed Amendments to Ownership and Voting Restrictions After the

      Combination

      Overview

      NYSE Arca is proposing that, effective as of the completion of the

      Combination, the Holdco Articles would contain voting and ownership restrictions that restrict any person, either alone or together with its related persons, from having voting control over Holdco shares entitling the holder thereof to cast more than 20% of the votes entitled to be cast on any matter or beneficially owning Holdco shares representing more than 40% of the outstanding votes that may be cast on any matter (except that a 20% ownership restriction would apply to any person who is a NYSE Member, an Amex Member, an ETP Holder, an OTP

      Holder, an OTP Firm, an ISE Member, an EDGA Member or an EDGX Member).

      In addition, NYSE Arca is proposing that, effective as of the

      Combination, the voting and ownership restrictions currently in the

      NYSE Euronext Certificate and NYSE Euronext Bylaws, as well as the related waiver provisions set forth therein, would remain in effect, except that they would be modified in certain respects as described herein.\27\

      \27\ As described in the proposed rule change filed by each of the DB Exchanges, the current voting and ownership restrictions contained in the certificate of incorporation of ISE Holdings, as well as the related provisions contained in the amended and restated bylaws of U.S. Exchange Holdings and the board resolutions of

      Deutsche B[ouml]rse, Eurex Frankfurt AG and other indirect parent entities of ISE, would remain in effect. The DB Trust would also remain unaltered and would continue to have rights to enforce these restrictions.

      Voting and Ownership Restrictions in Holdco Articles

      Under the Proposed Rule Change, the Holdco Articles would provide that no person, either alone or together with its related persons, will be entitled to vote or cause the voting of a number of shares of

      Holdco, in person or by proxy or through any voting agreement or other arrangement, which represent in the aggregate (1) More than 20% of the then outstanding votes entitled to be cast on such matter; or (2) more than 20% of the then outstanding votes entitled to be cast on any such matter by virtue of agreements or arrangements entered into with other persons to refrain from voting shares of Holdco (the ``Holdco Voting

      Restriction'').\28\ The Holdco Articles would provide that Holdco will be required to disregard any votes purported to be cast in excess of the Holdco Voting Restriction.

      \28\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 34.1.

      In addition, the Holdco Articles would provide that any person who, either alone or together with its related persons, beneficially owns

      Holdco shares which represent in the aggregate more than 40% of the outstanding votes entitled to be cast on any matter (except that a 20% restriction would apply to any person who is a NYSE Member, an Amex

      Member, an ETP Holder, an OTP Holder, an OTP Firm, an ISE Member, an

      EDGA Member or an EDGX Member) (the ``Holdco Ownership Restriction''), will be obligated to offer for sale and to transfer a number of Holdco shares necessary so that such person, together with its related persons, beneficially owns a number of Holdco shares that complies with the Holdco Ownership Restriction (the ``Holdco Transfer

      Obligation'').\29\ If such person(s) fails to comply with the Holdco

      Transfer Obligation within two weeks, Holdco will be irrevocably authorized to act on behalf of such person(s) in order to

      Page 65238

      ensure compliance with the Holdco Transfer Obligation.\30\

      \29\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Articles 35.1 and 35.4.

      \30\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 35.7.

      Furthermore, the Holdco Articles would provide that in the event any person, either alone or together with its related persons, exceeds the Holdco Ownership Restriction (any such person(s), a ``Non-Compliant

      Owner''), the Non-Compliant Owner would cease to have certain rights to the extent that its shareholding exceeds the Holdco Ownership

      Restriction. Specifically, the Non-Compliant Owner's rights to vote, to attend general meetings of Holdco shareholders and to receive dividends or other distributions attached to such shares in excess of the Holdco

      Ownership Restriction would be suspended for so long as the Holdco

      Ownership Restriction is exceeded.\31\

      \31\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 35.6.

      Pursuant to Section 2:87a of the Dutch Civil Code, the Non-

      Compliant Owner may request that an independent expert be appointed to determine the value of the Holdco shares, but such expert will have discretion to determine that the value of the shares is equal to the price received for the shares by the Non-Compliant Owner on any stock exchange where the Holdco shares are listed.\32\

      \32\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 35.5.

      The voting and ownership restrictions will apply to each person unless it (1) Delivers to the Holdco board of directors a written notice of its intention to acquire voting power or ownership in excess of the relevant limitation, and such notice is delivered at least 45 days (or such shorter period as the Holdco board of directors expressly consents to) prior to acquiring Holdco shares in excess of the Holdco

      Voting Restriction or Holdco Ownership Restriction; (2) obtains a written confirmation from the Holdco board of directors that the board has expressly resolved to permit such voting or ownership; and (3) such resolution has been filed with, and approved by, the Commission under

      Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act and filed with, and approved by, the relevant European regulators having appropriate jurisdiction and authority.\33\ The Holdco board of directors may waive the Holdco

      Voting Restriction and Holdco Ownership Restriction if it makes certain determinations, which will be consistent with the determinations currently required to be made by the board of directors of NYSE

      Euronext and ISE Holdings in order to waive the voting and ownership restrictions in the NYSE Euronext Certificate and the ISE Holdings

      Certificate, respectively.\34\

      \33\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Articles 34.2 and 35.2.

      \34\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Articles 34.3 and 35.3.

      Amendments to NYSE Group Voting and Ownership Restrictions

      The voting restrictions contained in the current NYSE Group

      Certificate provide that, if such restrictions apply, (1) No person, either alone or together with its related persons (as defined in the

      NYSE Group Certificate), may be entitled to vote or cause the voting of shares of stock of NYSE Group beneficially owned by such person or its related persons, in person or by proxy or through any voting agreement or other arrangement, to the extent that such shares represent in the aggregate more than 10% of the then outstanding votes entitled to be cast on such matter; and (2) no person, either alone or together with its related persons, may acquire the ability to vote more than 10% of the then outstanding votes entitled to be cast on any such matter by virtue of agreements or arrangements entered into with other persons to refrain from voting shares of stock of NYSE Group (the ``NYSE Group

      Voting Restriction'').\35\ NYSE Group must disregard any votes purported to be cast in excess of the NYSE Group Voting Restriction.

      \35\ See Second Amended and Restated Certificate of

      Incorporation of NYSE Group, Inc., Article IV Section 4(b).

      In addition, the ownership restrictions contained in the current

      NYSE Group Certificate provide that, if such restrictions apply, no person, either alone or together with its related persons, may at any time own beneficially shares of NYSE Group representing in the aggregate more than 20% of the then outstanding votes entitled to be cast on any matter (the ``NYSE Group Ownership Restriction''). If any person, either alone or together with its related persons, owns shares of NYSE Group in excess of the NYSE Group Ownership Restriction, then such person and its related persons are obligated to sell promptly, and

      NYSE Group is obligated to purchase promptly, at a price equal to the par value of such shares and to the extent funds are legally available for such purchase, the number of shares of NYSE Group necessary so that such person, together with its related persons, will beneficially own shares of NYSE Group representing in the aggregate no more than 20% of the then outstanding votes entitled to be cast on any matter, after taking into account that such repurchased shares will become treasury shares and will no longer be deemed to be outstanding.

      The NYSE Group Voting Restriction and the NYSE Group Ownership

      Restriction apply to each person unless and until (1) Such person has delivered a notice in writing to the board of directors of NYSE Group, not less than 45 days (or such shorter period as the board of directors of NYSE Group expressly permits) prior to any vote or, in the case of the NYSE Group Ownership Restriction, prior to the acquisition of any shares of NYSE Group that would cause such person, either alone or together with its related persons, to exceed the NYSE Group Ownership

      Restriction, of such person's intention, either alone or together with its related persons, to vote or cause the voting of shares of NYSE

      Group stock beneficially owned by such person or its related persons in excess of the NYSE Group Voting Restriction or, in the case of the NYSE

      Group Ownership Restriction, of such person's intention, either alone or together with its related persons, to acquire such ownership; (2) the board of directors of NYSE Group has resolved to expressly permit such voting or ownership, as applicable; and (3) such resolution has been filed with, and approved by, the Commission under Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act \36\ and has become effective thereunder. Subject to its fiduciary duties under applicable law, the NYSE Group board of directors may not adopt any resolution pursuant to the foregoing clause

      (2) unless the board has made certain determinations which are substantially similar to the determinations required to be made by the

      NYSE Euronext board of directors in connection with a waiver of the

      NYSE Euronext Voting Limitation and/or the NYSE Euronext Ownership

      Limitation (as described above).

      \36\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b).

      Under the Proposed Rule Change, the NYSE Group Certificate would be amended, effective as of the Combination, to (1) Change the 10% threshold for the NYSE Group Voting Restriction to a 20% threshold; and

      (2) change the 20% threshold for the NYSE Group Ownership Restriction to a 40% restriction (except that a 20% restriction would continue to apply to any person who is a NYSE Member, an Amex Member, an ETP

      Holder, an OTP Holder or an OTP Firm). These percentage thresholds are consistent with those applicable to ISE Holdings and other regulated exchanges and have been approved on several occasions by the

      Page 65239

      Commission.\37\ The NYSE Group Certificate would also be updated to provide that the NYSE Group Voting Restriction and the NYSE Group

      Ownership Restriction would apply only for so long as NYSE Group directly or indirectly controls any Regulated Subsidiary (as defined in the NYSE Group Certificate).

      \37\ See, e.g., SEC Release No. 34-49718 (May 17, 2004) (File

      No. SR-PCX-2004-08), 69 FR 29611 (approval of rule change proposed by the Pacific Exchange, Inc.); SEC Release No. 34-49098 (January 16, 2004) (File No. SR-PHLX-2003-73), 69 FR 3974 (approval of rule change proposed by the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc.); and SEC

      Release No. 34-50170 (August 9, 2004) (File No. SR-PCX-2004-56), 69

      FR 50419 (approval of rule change proposed by the Pacific Exchange,

      Inc. relating to initial public offering of parent of Archipelago

      Exchange, L.L.C.).

      Under the Proposed Rule Change, the definition of ``Related

      Persons'' would be expanded to provide that (1) In the case of a person that is a ``member'' (as defined in Section 3(a)(3)(A)(i) of the

      Exchange Act) of NYSE Amex, such person's ``Related Persons'' would include the ``member'' (as defined in Section 3(a)(3)(A)(iv) of the

      Exchange Act, in addition to Sections 3(a)(3)(A)(ii) and 3(a)(3)(A)(iii) of the Exchange Act which are currently referenced in this provision of the NYSE Group Certificate) with which such person is associated; and (2) in the case of any person that is a ``member'' (as defined in Section 3(a)(3)(A)(iv) of the Exchange Act, in addition to

      Sections 3(a)(3)(A)(ii) and 3(a)(3)(A)(iii) of the Exchange Act which are currently referenced in this provision of the NYSE Group

      Certificate) of NYSE Amex, such person's ``Related Persons'' would include any ``member'' (as defined in Section 3(a)(3)(A)(i) of the

      Exchange Act) that is associated with such person. These provisions are substantively consistent with language in the NYSE Rules, which language would be deleted under the Proposed Rule Change.

      Amendments to NYSE Euronext Voting and Ownership Restrictions

      Under the Proposed Rule Change, the NYSE Euronext Certificate would be amended, effective as of the Combination, to be consistent with the

      NYSE Group Certificate in the following respects: (1) First, the NYSE

      Euronext Certificate would be amended to provide that all of the issued and outstanding shares of NYSE Euronext will be held by Holdco, and that Holdco may not transfer or assign any shares without approval by the Commission under the Exchange Act and the relevant European

      Regulators (as defined in the NYSE Euronext Certificate) under the applicable European Exchange Regulations (as defined in the NYSE

      Euronext Certificate); \38\ and (2) the NYSE Euronext Certificate would be amended to provide that the NYSE Euronext Voting Restriction and

      NYSE Euronext Ownership Restriction contained therein would only apply in the event that Holdco does not own all of the issued and outstanding shares of NYSE Euronext.\39\ In addition, the NYSE Euronext Certificate would be amended to (a) change the 10% threshold for the NYSE Euronext

      Voting Restriction to a 20% threshold; (b) change the 20% threshold for the NYSE Euronext Ownership Restriction to a 40% restriction (except that a 20% ownership restriction would continue to apply to any person who is a NYSE Member, an Amex Member, an ETP Holder, an OTP Holder or an OTP Firm); (c) provide that the NYSE Euronext Voting Restriction and

      NYSE Euronext Ownership Restriction contained therein would only apply only for so long as NYSE Euronext directly or indirectly controls any

      U.S. Regulated Subsidiary or any European Market Subsidiary (as such terms are defined in the NYSE Euronext Certificate); (d) add the provision, which is currently in the NYSE Euronext Bylaws, that requires the board of directors of NYSE Euronext to make certain determinations relating to NYSE Amex in order to waive the voting and ownership restrictions in the NYSE Euronext Certificate, and delete this provision from the NYSE Euronext Bylaws; (e) update the names of certain European regulatory entities in the definition of ``European

      Regulator''; and (f) expand the definition of ``Related Persons'' to address Amex Members in a manner that is substantively consistent with language currently located in the NYSE Rules, as described above.

      \38\ The analogous provision in the NYSE Group Certificate is

      Section 4(a) of Article IV.

      \39\ The analogous provision in the NYSE Group Certificate is

      Section 4(b) of Article IV.

      5. Additional Matters To Be Addressed in the Holdco Articles \40\

      \40\ The Holdco Articles will also set forth certain restrictions and requirements relating to Holdco's European subsidiaries and applicable European regulatory matters, which will be substantially consistent with the analogous restrictions and requirements applicable with respect to Holdco's U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiaries and U.S. regulatory matters.

      Jurisdiction Over Individuals

      Under the Proposed Rule Change, the Holdco Articles would provide that Holdco and its directors, and to the extent that they are involved in the activities of the U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries, (x) Holdco's officers, and (y) those of its employees whose principal place of business and residence is outside the United States, would be deemed to irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the U.S. federal courts and the Commission for the purposes of any suit, action or proceeding pursuant to the U.S. federal securities laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, commenced or initiated by the Commission arising out of, or relating to, the activities of the U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiaries.\41\ The Holdco Articles would also provide that, with respect to any such suit, action, or proceeding brought by the

      Commission, Holdco and its directors, officers and employees would (1)

      Be deemed to agree that NYSE Group may serve as U.S. agent for purposes of service of process in such suit, action, or proceeding relating to

      NYSE Group or any of its subsidiaries, and ISE Holdings may serve as the U.S. agent for proceedings relating to ISE Holdings or any of its subsidiaries; and (2) be deemed to waive, and agree not to assert by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, in any such suit, action, or proceeding, any claims that it or they are not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, that the suit, action, or proceeding is an inconvenient forum or that the venue of the suit, action, or proceeding is improper, or that the subject matter thereof may not be enforced in or by the U.S. federal courts or the

      Commission.\42\

      \41\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 3.2(c).

      \42\ See id.

      In addition, the Holdco Articles would provide that, so long as

      Holdco directly or indirectly controls any U.S. Regulated Subsidiary, the directors, officers and employees of Holdco will be deemed to be directors, officers and employees of such U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries for purposes of, and subject to oversight pursuant to, the Exchange

      Act.\43\

      \43\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 3.2(f).

      The Holdco Articles would provide that Holdco will take reasonable steps necessary to cause its directors, officers and employees, prior to accepting a position as an officer, director or employee, as applicable, of Holdco to agree and consent in writing to the applicability to them of these jurisdictional and oversight provisions with respect to their activities related to any U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiary.\44\ The Holdco Articles would also provide that no person may be a director of Holdco

      Page 65240

      unless he or she has agreed and consented in writing to the applicability to him or her of these jurisdictional and oversight provisions with respect to his or her activities related to any U.S.

      Regulated Subsidiary.\45\ Furthermore, Holdco would sign an irrevocable agreement and consent for the benefit of each U.S. Regulated Subsidiary

      \46\ that it will comply with these provisions in the Holdco Articles.

      \44\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 3.2(m).

      \45\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 14.11.

      \46\ The form of Holdco's agreement and consent is attached as

      Exhibit 5M to this Proposed Rule Change.

      NYSE Arca anticipates that the functions and activities of each

      U.S. Regulated Subsidiary generally will be carried out by the officers and directors of such U.S. Regulated Subsidiary, each of whom the

      Commission has direct authority over pursuant to Section 19(h)(4) of the Exchange Act.\47\

      \47\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(h)(4).

      Access to Books and Records

      Under the Proposed Rule Change, the Holdco Articles would provide that for so long as Holdco directly or indirectly controls any U.S.

      Regulated Subsidiary, the books, records and premises of Holdco will be deemed to be the books, records and premises of such U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiaries for purposes of, and subject to oversight pursuant to, the

      Exchange Act.\48\ In addition, the Holdco Articles would provide that

      Holdco's books and records will at all times be made available for inspection and copying by the Commission, and any U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiary to the extent they are related to the activities of such

      U.S. Regulated Subsidiary or any other U.S. Regulated Subsidiary over which such U.S. Regulated Subsidiary has regulatory authority or oversight.\49\ In addition, Holdco's books and records related to the

      U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries will be maintained within the United

      States, except that to the extent that books and records may relate to both European subsidiaries and U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries, Holdco may maintain such books and records either in the home jurisdiction of one or more European subsidiaries or in the United States.\50\

      \48\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 3.2(f).

      \49\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 3.2(e).

      \50\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 3.2(g).

      Additional Matters

      Under the Proposed Rule Change, the Holdco Articles would provide that Holdco will comply with the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and will cooperate with the

      Commission and with the U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries pursuant to and to the extent of their respective regulatory authority.\51\ In addition,

      Holdco would be required to take reasonable steps necessary to cause its agents to cooperate with the Commission and, where applicable, the

      U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries pursuant to their regulatory authority.\52\

      The Holdco Articles would also provide that, in discharging his or her responsibilities as a member of the Holdco board of directors or as an officer or employee of Holdco, each such director, officer or employee will (a) Comply with the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder; (b) cooperate with the Commission; and (c) cooperate with the U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries pursuant to and to the extent of their regulatory authority (but this provision will not create any duty owed by any director, officer or employee of Holdco to any person to consider, or afford any particular weight to, any such matters or to limit his or her consideration to such matters).\53\

      \51\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 3.2(a).

      \52\ See id.

      \53\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 3.2(l).

      The Holdco Articles would also provide that all confidential information that comes into the possession of Holdco pertaining to the self-regulatory function of any U.S. Regulated Subsidiary will (a) not be made available to any persons other than to those officers, directors, employees and agents of Holdco that have a reasonable need to know the contents thereof; (b) be retained in confidence by Holdco and the officers, directors, employees and agents of Holdco; and (c) not be used for any commercial purposes.\54\ In addition, the Holdco

      Articles would provide that these obligations regarding such confidential information will not be interpreted so as to limit or impede (i) The rights of the Commission or the relevant U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiary to have access to and examine such confidential information pursuant to the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder; or (ii) the ability of any officers, directors, employees or agents of Holdco to disclose such confidential information to the Commission or any U.S. Regulated Subsidiary.\55\

      \54\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 3.2(h).

      \55\ See id.

      Additionally, the Holdco Articles would provide that, for so long as Holdco directly or indirectly controls any U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiary, Holdco and its directors, officers and employees will give due regard to the preservation of the independence of the self- regulatory function of such U.S. Regulated Subsidiary and to its obligations to investors and the general public, and will not take any actions that would interfere with the effectuation of any decisions by the board of directors or managers of such U.S. Regulated Subsidiary relating to its regulatory responsibilities (including enforcement and disciplinary matters) or that would interfere with the ability of such

      U.S. Regulated Subsidiary to carry out its responsibilities under the

      Exchange Act.\56\

      \56\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 3.2(i).

      Finally, the Holdco Articles would provide that each director of

      Holdco would, in discharging his or her responsibilities, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, take into consideration the effect that Holdco's actions would have on the ability of (a) the U.S.

      Regulated Subsidiaries to carry out their responsibilities under the

      Exchange Act; and (b) the U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries, NYSE Group, ISE

      Holdings and Holdco to (1) Engage in conduct that fosters and does not interfere with the ability of the U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries, NYSE

      Group, ISE Holdings and Holdco to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices in the securities markets; (2) promote just and equitable principles of trade in the securities markets; (3) foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities; (4) remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market in securities and a

      U.S. national securities market system; and (5) in general, protect investors and the public interest.\57\ This requirement would not, however, create any duty owed by any director, officer or employee of

      Holdco to any person to consider, or afford any particular weight to, any of the foregoing matters or to limit his or her consideration to such matters.\58\

      \57\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 3.2(k).

      \58\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 3.2(k).

      In addition, the Holdco Articles would provide that Holdco will take reasonable steps necessary to cause its officers, directors and employees, prior to accepting a position as an officer, director or employee, as applicable, of Holdco to agree and consent in writing to the applicability to them of these

      Page 65241

      provisions of the Holdco Articles with respect to their activities related to any U.S. Regulated Subsidiary.\59\ The Holdco Articles would also provide that no person may be a director of Holdco unless he or she has agreed and consented in writing to the applicability to him or her of these provisions with respect to his or her activities related to any U.S. Regulated Subsidiary.\60\

      \59\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 3.2(m).

      \60\ See Form of Deed of Amendment to Holdco Articles of

      Association, Article 14.11.

      Holdco would also sign an irrevocable agreement and consent for the benefit of each U.S. Regulated Subsidiary that it will comply with provisions in the Holdco Articles regarding (1) Cooperation with the

      Commission and such U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries; (2) compliance with

      U.S. federal securities laws; (3) inspection and copying of Holdco's books, records and premises; (4) Holdco's books, records, premises, officers, directors and employees being deemed to be those of U.S.

      Regulated Subsidiaries; (5) maintenance of books and records in the

      United States; (6) confidentiality of information regarding the U.S.

      Regulated Subsidiaries' self-regulatory function; (7) preservation of the independence of the self-regulatory function of the U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiaries; and (8) taking reasonable steps to cause Holdco's officers, directors and employees to consent to the applicability to them of the Holdco Articles. The form of Holdco's agreement and consent is attached as Exhibit 5M to this Proposed Rule Change.

      Amendments to the Holdco Articles

      Under the Proposed Rule Change, the Holdco Articles would provide that, before any amendment to or repeal of any provision of the Holdco

      Articles may become effectuated by means of a notarial deed of amendment, the same will be submitted to the board of directors of each

      U.S. Regulated Subsidiary (or the boards of directors of their successors) and if any or all of such boards of directors determine that the same must be filed with, or filed with and approved by, the

      Commission before the same may be effective under Section 19 of the

      Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, then the same will not be effective until filed with, or filed with and approved by, the

      Commission, as the case may be. These requirements would also apply to any action by Holdco that would have the effect of amending or repealing any provision of the Holdco Articles.

      Holdco Director Independence Policy

      Under the Proposed Rule Change, Holdco would adopt the Holdco

      Independence Policy in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 5N, which would be substantially similar to the current Independence Policy of the NYSE Euronext board of directors, except that (1) A majority (as opposed to 75%) of the board of Holdco would be required to be independent; (2) executive officers of listed companies would no longer be prohibited from being considered independent for purposes of the

      Holdco board; (3) the ``additional independence requirements'' at the end of the current Independence Policy of NYSE Euronext, which provide that executive officers of foreign private issuers, executive officers of NYSE Euronext and directors of affiliates of member organizations must together comprise no more than a minority of the total board, would be eliminated; (4) references to certain European regulatory authorities would be updated, because their names have changed; (5) references to NYSE Alternext, Inc. would refer instead to NYSE Amex, because of this entity's name change; (6) footnote 2 of the current

      Independence Policy of NYSE Euronext would be deleted because the

      Holdco Independence Policy would not be applicable to NYSE Regulation,

      Inc., the Exchange, NYSE Amex or NYSE Market, which would have their own director independence policy in the form attached to this Proposed

      Rule Change as Exhibit 5K; and (7) references to the independence standards and criteria in the Dutch Corporate Governance Code would be added, because such standards and criteria will apply to Holdco, a

      Dutch company, and will supplement (rather than supersede or limit) the other independence standards and criteria set forth in the Holdco

      Independence Policy.

      NYSE Arca believes that a majority independence standard is appropriate to ensure that Holdco's board as a whole consists of individuals with independent, objective perspectives, while at the same time affording Holdco sufficient flexibility to include persons with expertise and qualifications that will contribute meaningfully to the board's performance of its oversight function. The importance of allowing highly qualified individuals to serve on the board is underscored by the fact that Holdco will serve as the holding company for a complex, global business with highly specialized operations and regulatory functions. Although Holdco has unique responsibilities and functions as the holding company for the NYSE U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiaries, it will be subject to various corporate governance and regulatory obligations that will be addressed by means of ownership and voting limitations on its shareholders, commitments to provide access to its books and records and to submit to the jurisdiction of the

      Commission, director qualification requirements and other undertakings that are addressed in the Proposed Rule Change and will be formalized in the Holdco Articles and undertakings of Holdco to its U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiaries. NYSE Arca submits that some of these undertakings call for in-depth industry knowledge and expertise on the Holdco board, such as the requirement that Holdco's directors take into consideration the effect that Holdco's actions would have on the ability of its U.S.

      Regulated Subsidiaries to (i) Foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaging in regulating, clearing, settling and processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, and (ii) remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market in securities and a U.S. national securities market system.

      In addition, NYSE Arca believes that the per se disqualification of listed company executives from being deemed independent should not be applicable to Holdco. The per se disqualification was initially adopted by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. in early 2005 in the context of its unique circumstances and history and its management structure and board composition at that time.\61\ NYSE Arca submits that those circumstances are no longer applicable and, following the proposed combination of NYSE Euronext and Deutsche B[ouml]rse, the disqualification of listed company executives would impede rather than facilitate Holdco's efforts to ensure a qualified and balanced board composition and promote various other important corporate governance objectives, such as ensuring appropriate expertise and experience on its board, as well as representation of the interests of a diverse range of market constituencies and local European and U.S. interests. A per se disqualification would narrow the pool of potential Holdco director candidates and arbitrarily eliminate from consideration a large number of highly qualified, experienced individuals who have proven track records as business leaders. In addition, because the listed companies of the U.S.

      Page 65242

      Regulated Subsidiaries tend to be U.S. domestic companies, this requirement could disproportionately restrict the eligibility of persons affiliated with U.S. companies as compared to non-U.S. companies to serve on the board of Holdco. Under the Holdco

      Independence Policy, the Holdco board would still need to assess whether a listed company executive meets the various independence criteria, including whether he or she has any ``material relationship'' with Holdco and its subsidiaries.

      \61\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-51217 (February 16, 2005) (File No. SR-NYSE-2004-54), 70 FR 9688.

      Furthermore, NYSE Euronext believes that the objectivity of board members is adequately protected by the various other independence criteria in the proposed Holdco Independence Policy, such as the requirement that independent directors may not be or have been within the last year, and may not have an immediate family member who is or within the last year was, a member of the Exchange, NYSE Arca or NYSE

      Amex. In addition, if and to the extent that a matter concerning a listed company whose executive is a Holdco director were ever to come before the Holdco board for consideration, such director would be required to be recused from acting on such matter pursuant to the

      Holdco board's conflicts of interest policy.

      Finally, the current Independence Policy of NYSE Euronext provides that the sum of (a) executive officers of foreign private issuers, (b) executive officers of NYSE Euronext and (c) directors of affiliates of

      ``members'' (as defined in Sections 3(a)(A)(3)(ii), 3(a)(A)(3)(iii) and 3(a)(A)(3)(iv) of the Exchange Act) of NYSE, NYSE Arca or NYSE Amex, may not constitute more than a minority of the total number of directors of NYSE Euronext. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that, although executives of listed companies who are foreign private issuers are not disqualified from serving on the board, such executives may not, together with NYSE Euronext executives and directors of affiliates of members, constitute more than a minority of the board. In light of NYSE Arca's proposal to eliminate the disqualification of listed company executives from the Holdco

      Independence Policy, this requirement would serve no purpose because the exception to such disqualification for foreign private issuer executives would also be eliminated. NYSE Arca further notes that under the proposed Holdco Independence Policy, executives of Holdco and directors of affiliates of exchange members would not be deemed independent and, accordingly, could not in any event constitute more than a minority of the Holdco board. 6. Proposed Amendments to Certain Public-Company-Related and Other

      Provisions of NYSE Euronext Organizational and Corporate Governance

      Documents

      Pursuant to the Combination, NYSE Euronext will merge with Merger

      Sub, a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco. NYSE Euronext, as the surviving corporation in the Merger, will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco. Following the Merger, the current organizational documents of NYSE Euronext will remain in effect, except that NYSE Arca is proposing that, in addition to the aforementioned revisions relating to voting and ownership limitations, certain provisions will be amended to reflect the fact that, after the Combination, NYSE Euronext will be an intermediate holding company and will no longer be a public company traded on the Exchange, and the registration of its capital stock under

      Section 12 of the Exchange Act will be terminated upon application to the Commission. As a result, NYSE Euronext will no longer be subject to the Exchange's listing standards or to the corporate governance requirements applicable to publicly traded companies. As summarized below, the following revisions to the NYSE Euronext Certificate and

      NYSE Euronext Bylaws are proposed in order to (1) Simplify and provide for a more efficient governance and capital structure that is appropriate for a wholly owned subsidiary; (2) conform certain provisions to analogous provisions of the organizational documents of

      NYSE Group, which will likewise be an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco following completion of the Combination; and (3) make certain clarification and technical edits (for example, to conform the use of defined terms and other provisions, and to update cross-references to sections, to reflect the other amendments to the NYSE Euronext

      Certificate and the NYSE Euronext Bylaws set forth in this Proposed

      Rule Change):

      The NYSE Euronext Certificate would be revised to provide that the registered office and agent of NYSE Euronext in Delaware will be the Corporation Trust Company, which is the registered agent of other subsidiaries of NYSE Euronext;

      The number of authorized shares of NYSE Euronext common stock and preferred stock will be reduced to 1,000 and 100, respectively, because it would no longer be necessary for NYSE Euronext to have a large number of widely held and actively traded shares; \62\

      \62\ Effective as of the time that NYSE Euronext merges with

      Pomme Merger Corporation, the Second Amended and Restated

      Certificate of Incorporation of NYSE Euronext (as the surviving corporation in the merger) will provide that 800,000,000 shares of common stock will be authorized and 100 shares of preferred stock will be authorized. All of the outstanding shares of NYSE Euronext will be held by Alpha Beta Netherlands Holding N.V. Promptly thereafter, (1) NYSE Euronext will conduct a reverse stock split so that Alpha Beta Netherlands Holding N.V. will hold a substantially reduced number of NYSE Euronext shares (e.g., 1,000 common shares), and (2) the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of NYSE Euronext will accordingly be amended to reduce the total number of authorized shares of common stock to 1,000.

      The restrictions on transfers of NYSE Euronext shares contained in Section 4 of Article IV of the NYSE Euronext Certificate have now expired in accordance with their terms and would accordingly be deleted;

      Sections 2(A) and 2(B) of Article VI of the NYSE Euronext

      Certificate, and Section 2.2 of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws, would be amended to allow shareholders to call special meetings of shareholders and to postpone such meetings, in order to give Holdco additional flexibility to take actions in its capacity as the sole shareholder of

      NYSE Euronext following completion of the Combination;

      Section 6 of Article VI of the NYSE Euronext Certificate, and Section 3.6 of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws (which would be renumbered as Section 3.5), would be amended to allow shareholders to fill board vacancies in order to give Holdco additional flexibility to take actions in its capacity as the sole shareholder of NYSE Euronext following completion of the Combination;

      Section 1 of Article VIII of the NYSE Euronext

      Certificate, and Section 2.11 of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws (which would be renumbered as Section 2.9), would be amended to allow shareholders to take actions without a meeting and without prior notice if written consents are signed by the minimum number of votes that would be required to approve the action at a meeting, in order to give Holdco additional flexibility to take actions in its capacity as the sole shareholder of NYSE Euronext following completion of the Combination, and the reference at the end of Section 3.5 of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws to a special meeting of shareholders would be deleted because the NYSE

      Euronext shareholder may act by written consent to fill board vacancies;

      The supermajority shareholder vote requirements pursuant to Article X to

      Page 65243

      amend or repeal certain provisions of the NYSE Euronext Certificate would be eliminated and replaced with a majority vote requirement, because a supermajority vote requirement would no longer serve any purpose after NYSE Euronext becomes wholly owned by a single shareholder and a majority voting standard is consistent with the standard generally applicable for actions by shareholders under the

      Delaware General Corporation Law and for actions by the parent entity of other wholly owned subsidiaries of NYSE Euronext such as NYSE Group;

      Section 2.3 of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws would be amended to clarify that notice of shareholder meetings is not required if waived in accordance with Section 10.3 of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws;

      The requirement in Section 2.6 of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws for the appointment of an inspector of elections for shareholders meetings would be deleted, because the requirement for an inspector of elections pursuant to Section 231 of the Delaware General Corporation

      Law would no longer apply to NYSE Euronext after completion of the

      Combination; \63\

      \63\ See Section 231(e) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

      The requirement in Section 2.7 (which would be renumbered as Section 2.6) of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws that directors be elected by a majority of the votes cast (and that they must tender their resignation if such a majority vote is not received), except in the case of contested elections, and that the NYSE Euronext board of directors may fill any resulting vacancy or may decrease the size of the board, would be deleted and a plurality voting standard would be adopted for all director elections, because these requirements would no longer serve any purpose after NYSE Euronext becomes wholly owned by a single shareholder and a plurality voting standard is consistent with the standard generally applicable for elections of directors under the

      Delaware General Corporation Law and for actions by the parent entity of other wholly owned subsidiaries of NYSE Euronext such as NYSE Group;

      The requirements in Section 2.10 of the NYSE Euronext

      Bylaws requiring certain advance notice from shareholders of director nominations and shareholder proposals, and the requirement that only business brought before a special meeting of stockholders pursuant to

      NYSE Euronext's notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting, would be eliminated, because these requirements would no longer serve any purpose after NYSE Euronext becomes wholly owned by a single shareholder;

      Section 3.1 of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws would be amended to clarify that the right of the NYSE Euronext board of directors to fix and change the number of directors on such board is subject to any rights of holders of any preferred stock to elect additional directors, in order to make this provision consistent with Section 2 of Article IV of the NYSE Euronext Certificate, which provides that preferred stock may be issued which may have voting rights;

      Sections 3.2(B) and 4.4 of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws would be amended to add ``if any'' after the references therein to the

      Nominating and Governance Committee, because NYSE Euronext would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco and, as such, may not have a

      Nominating and Governance Committee;

      The requirement in Section 3.4 of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws that at least 75% of the board must be independent would be deleted, because NYSE Euronext would be a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco after completion of the Combination and, therefore, it may be appropriate for executives of Holdco and its subsidiaries to serve on this board, and the reference to Section 3.4 in Section 3.2(A) would accordingly be deleted;

      Section 3.9 (which would be renumbered as Section 3.8) of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws would be amended to clarify that notice of board meetings is not required if waived in accordance with Section 10.3 of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws;

      The advance notice period in Section 3.9 (which would be renumbered as Section 3.8) of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws for electronic or telephonic notices of board meetings would be reduced from 24 hours to 12 hours, in order to simplify the requirements for board meetings and to be consistent with the analogous 12-hour time period currently required for notices pursuant to Section 3.7 of the NYSE Group Bylaws;

      Section 3.12 of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws (which would be renumbered as Section 3.11) would be amended to delete the requirement that, if the chairman or deputy chairman of the board of directors is also the chief executive officer or deputy chief executive officer, he or she may not participate in executive sessions of the board of directors, and if the chairman is not the chief executive officer or deputy chief executive officer, he or she will act as a liaison between the board of directors and the chief executive officer or the deputy chief executive officer, in light of the fact that there are not expected to be any independent, non-executive directors of NYSE

      Euronext and in order to simplify the governance requirements for NYSE

      Euronext as a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco;

      Certain aspects of the indemnification and expense advancement provisions in Section 10.6 of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws, including the terms of any insurance policy maintained by NYSE

      Euronext, would be simplified in light of the fact that there are not expected to be any independent, non-executive directors of NYSE

      Euronext, and, therefore, a more streamlined process for indemnification claims is appropriate;

      The supermajority shareholder vote requirements in Section 10.10(B) of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws would be changed to a majority vote requirement, because a supermajority vote requirement would no longer serve any purpose after NYSE Euronext becomes wholly owned by a single shareholder and a majority voting standard is consistent with the standard generally applicable for actions by shareholders under the

      Delaware General Corporation Law and for actions by the parent entity of other wholly owned subsidiaries of NYSE Euronext such as NYSE Group;

      In light of the fact that NYSE Alternext US LLC formally changed its name to NYSE Amex LLC, references to NYSE Alternext US LLC in the NYSE Euronext Bylaws would be amended to refer instead to NYSE

      Amex LLC;

      Section 10.13 of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws--which requires that, for so long as NYSE Euronext directly or indirectly controls NYSE

      Amex, any amendments to the NYSE Euronext Certificate must be approved by the Commission--would be deleted and Article X of the NYSE Euronext

      Certificate would be amended to incorporate this requirement; and

      Certain clarifying, conforming or other technical edits would be made to Sections 1(B), 1(C), 1(L), 2(C) and 2(E) of Article V,

      Article X and Article XIII of the NYSE Euronext Certificate and to

      Sections 3.7 (which would be renumbered as Section 3.6) and 3.15(A)(2) and 3.15(B) (which would be renumbered as Section 3.14(A)(2) and 3.14(B), respectively) of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws. In addition, the numbering of certain sections of the NYSE Euronext Certificate and NYSE

      Euronext Bylaws, and cross-references to such sections, would be deleted or updated to reflect the amendments to

      Page 65244

      the NYSE Euronext Certificate and the NYSE Euronext Bylaws set forth above.

      In addition, the current Independence Policy of the NYSE Euronext board of directors would, effective as of the Combination, cease to apply. 7. Proposed Amendments to the NYSE Group Certificate and NYSE Group

      Bylaws

      Under the Proposed Rule Change, the revisions summarized below to the NYSE Group Certificate and the NYSE Group Bylaws are proposed in order to: (1) Conform certain provisions to the analogous provisions of the organizational documents of NYSE Euronext, which would likewise be a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco following completion of the

      Combination; and (2) make certain clarification and technical edits

      (for example, to conform the use of defined terms and other provisions to reflect the other amendments set forth in this Proposed Rule

      Change):

      Section 2 of Article IV of the NYSE Group Certificate would be amended to clarify that (1) Preferred stock may be issued

      ``from time to time,'' and (2) the certificate of designations for such stock would fix, among other things, the ``relative, participating, optional and other'' rights of such shares including the qualifications and restrictions of any series of preferred stock, which is consistent with the analogous provisions in Section 2 of Article IV of the NYSE

      Euronext Certificate;

      Section 3 of Article V of the NYSE Group Certificate would be revised to clarify that the number of directors will be fixed ``from time to time,'' which is consistent with the analogous provision in

      Section 3 of Article VI of the NYSE Euronext Certificate;

      Section 5 of Article V of the NYSE Group Certificate would be amended to clarify that the right of the NYSE Group board of directors to remove directors is subject to any rights of holders of any preferred stock, in order to make this provision consistent with

      Section 2 of Article IV of the NYSE Group Certificate, which provides that preferred stock may be issued that may have voting rights, and also to make it consistent with the analogous provision in Section 5 of

      Article VI of the NYSE Euronext Certificate;

      Section 2.3 of the NYSE Group Bylaws would be amended to clarify that notice of shareholder meetings is not required if waived in accordance with Section 7.3 of the NYSE Group Bylaws;

      A new Section 2.8 would be added to the NYSE Group Bylaws to clarify that a list of shareholders entitled to vote will be open to examination by shareholders, because this is required by Section 219 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and is consistent with the analogous provision in Section 2.9 (which would be renumbered as

      Section 2.8) of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws;

      The reference at the end of Section 3.4 of the NYSE Group

      Bylaws to a special meeting of shareholders would be deleted because the shareholder of NYSE Group may act by written consent to fill board vacancies pursuant to Section 2.9 of the NYSE Group Bylaws;

      Section 3.7 of the NYSE Group Bylaws would be amended to clarify that notice of any special meeting of directors is not required if waived in accordance with Section 7.3 of the NYSE Group Bylaws, and the methods of delivery of notices would be updated to delete references to telegrams, provide certain requirements for notices sent to non-U.S. addresses and add a reference to email or other electronic transmission of notices, in each case to be consistent with the analogous provisions in Section 3.9 (which would be renumbered as

      Section 3.8) of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws;

      The reference in Section 3.8 of the NYSE Group Bylaws to restrictions on telephonic participation in meetings would be deleted, because the NYSE Group Bylaws and the NYSE Group Certificate do not contain any such restrictions, and the wording of this provision would be amended to be consistent with the analogous language in Section 3.10

      (renumbered as Section 3.9) of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws;

      Section 7.4 would be revised to provide that the persons who are authorized to execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of NYSE Group would include the Chief Executive Officer, which is consistent with the analogous provision in Section 10.4 of the NYSE

      Euronext Bylaws;

      Certain aspects of the indemnification and expense advancement provisions in Section 7.6 of the NYSE Group Bylaws, including the terms of any insurance policy maintained by NYSE Group, would be simplified in light of the fact that there are not expected to be any independent, non-executive directors of NYSE Group and, therefore, a more streamlined process for indemnification claims is appropriate, and these revisions would be consistent with the revisions to the analogous provisions of the NYSE Euronext Bylaws set forth in this Proposed Rule Change;

      Section 7.9 of the NYSE Group Bylaws would be amended to clarify that they may be amended or repealed, and new bylaws may be adopted, by either (1) The NYSE Group board of directors or (2) subject to any vote of holders of any class or series of NYSE Group stock required by law or the NYSE Group Certificate, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of NYSE Group entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class;

      In light of the fact that NYSE Alternext US LLC formally changed its name to NYSE Amex LLC, references to NYSE Alternext US LLC in the NYSE Group Bylaws would be amended to refer instead to NYSE Amex

      LLC, and the definition of ``Regulated Subsidiary'' in the NYSE Group

      Certificate would be amended to include NYSE Amex; and

      Certain other clarifying, conforming or other technical edits would be made to Sections 4(a), 4(b)(1)(A)(w), 4(b)(1)(A)(y), 4(b)(1)(A)(z), 4(b)(1)(E)(iv), 4(b)(1)(E)(vi), 4(b)(1)(E)(x), 4(b)(1)(E)(xii), 4(b)(2)(C) and 4(b)(2)(E) of Article IV, Sections 6 and 8 of Article V, Article X, Article XII and Article XIV of the NYSE

      Group Certificate and to Sections 2.3, 2.9, 5.1 and 7.9 of the NYSE

      Group Bylaws. In addition, the numbering of certain sections of the

      NYSE Group Certificate and NYSE Group Bylaws would be updated to reflect the amendments set forth above. 8. Proposed Amendments to Board Composition Requirements for the

      Exchange, NYSE Amex, NYSE Market and NYSE Regulation

      The Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, dated as of

      April 1, 2009, of the Exchange (the ``Exchange Operating Agreement''), currently provides that (1) A majority of the members of the Exchange's board of directors must be U.S. persons and members of the board of directors of NYSE Euronext who satisfy the independence requirements of the NYSE Euronext board, and (2) at least 20% of the Exchange's board members must be persons who are not board members of NYSE Euronext but who qualify as independent under the independence policy of the NYSE

      Euronext board of directors (the ``Non-Affiliated Exchange

      Directors'').\64\ The nominating and governance committee of the NYSE

      Euronext board of directors is required to designate as Non-Affiliated

      Exchange Directors the candidates recommended jointly by the Director

      Candidate Recommendation Committees of each of NYSE Market and

      Page 65245

      NYSE Regulation or, in the event there are Petition Candidates (as such term is defined in the Exchange Operating Agreement), the candidates that emerge from a specified process will be designated as the Non-

      Affiliated Exchange Directors.\65\

      \64\ See Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of New

      York Stock Exchange LLC, Section 2.03(a).

      \65\ See id.

      Under the Proposed Rule Change, these provisions would be amended

      (1) To provide that the independent members of the Exchange's board of directors, rather than the nominating and governance committee of the

      NYSE Euronext board of directors, will designate the Non-Affiliated

      Exchange Directors and make the other related determinations that were previously to be made by the nominating and governance committee of the

      NYSE Euronext board of directors; (2) to provide that instead of using the independence policy of the NYSE Euronext board of directors to assess the independence of the Exchange's board members, the Exchange will have its own independence policy in the form attached to this

      Proposed Rule Change as Exhibit 5K (the ``SRO Director Independence

      Policy''); (3) in light of the fact that the board of directors of NYSE

      Euronext will be decreased in size once it becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco, the requirement that a majority of the members of the Exchange's board of directors must be members of the board of directors of NYSE Euronext would be eliminated; and (4) to provide that at least 20% of the Exchange's directors must be persons who are not members of the board of directors of Holdco (rather than referring to the board of directors of NYSE Euronext). Substantially the same revisions would be made to the analogous provisions of the Amended and

      Restated Operating Agreement of NYSE Amex,\66\ the Amended and Restated

      Bylaws of NYSE Market \67\ and the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of

      NYSE Regulation.\68\

      \66\ See Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of NYSE Amex

      LLC, Section 2.03(a).

      \67\ See Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE Market, Inc.,

      Article III Section 1.

      \68\ See Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE Regulation,

      Inc., Article III Section 1.

      The Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE Market and the Third

      Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE Regulation would also be amended to change the registered office of these entities from National Registered

      Agents to The Corporation Trust Company and CT Corporation, respectively. In addition, references to NYSE Alternext US LLC in the

      Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of NYSE Regulation would be changed to refer instead to NYSE Amex.

      The SRO Director Independence Policy to be adopted by each of the

      Exchange, NYSE Market, NYSE Regulation and NYSE Amex under the Proposed

      Rule Change would be substantially similar to the current Independence

      Policy of the NYSE Euronext board of directors, except that certain conforming changes would be made, including the deletion of provisions that currently apply only to NYSE Euronext directors and expressly do not apply to directors of these NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries. In particular, (1) References to NYSE Euronext would refer instead to the relevant NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiary or Holdco, as applicable; (2) the requirement that at least three-fourths of the directors must be independent would be deleted, since the organizational documents of these NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries contain the independence and other qualification requirements for directors; (3) the requirement in the Independence Policy of NYSE Euronext that the board consider the special responsibilities of a director in light of NYSE Euronext's ownership of NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries and European regulated entities would be deleted, because unlike NYSE Euronext, these NYSE

      U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries are not holding companies; (4) the requirement for directors to inform the Chairman of the Nominating and

      Governance Committee of certain relationships and interests would be deleted, since the boards of these NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries do not have a Nominating and Governance Committee, except that in the SRO

      Director Independence Policy to be adopted by NYSE Regulation, this provision would reference the Nominating and Governance Committee of

      NYSE Regulation, Inc.; (5) references to NYSE Alternext, Inc. would refer instead to NYSE Amex, because of this entity's name change; (6) because the current Independence Policy of NYSE Euronext provides that a director of an affiliate of a Member Organization cannot qualify as an independent director of these NYSE U.S Regulated Subsidiaries, the conflicting language stating that a director of an affiliate of a

      Member Organization shall not per se fail to be independent would be deleted; and (7) because language in the current Independence Policy of

      NYSE Euronext provides that an executive officer of an issuer whose securities are listed on a NYSE Exchange cannot qualify as an independent director of these NYSE U.S Regulated Subsidiaries, the conflicting language providing an exception applicable only to NYSE

      Euronext directors would be deleted. In addition, the ``additional independence requirements'' at the end of the current Independence

      Policy of NYSE Euronext, which provides that executive officers of foreign private issuers, executive officers of NYSE Euronext and directors of affiliates of member organizations must together comprise no more than a minority of the total board, would be eliminated. This provision is designed to ensure that although persons who are directors of an affiliate of a Member Organization or who are executive officers of a ``foreign private issuer'' listed on a NYSE Exchange may in some circumstances qualify as independent for purposes of NYSE Euronext board membership, such persons may not, together with executive officers of NYSE Euronext, constitute more than a minority of the total

      NYSE Euronext directors. Under the proposed SRO Director Independence

      Policy, such persons could not be deemed to be independent directors of the relevant NYSE U.S. Regulated Subsidiary and, accordingly, this limitation on the number of such persons who may serve on the board is unnecessary. 9. Proposed Amendments to the Exchange Rules, NYSE Amex Rules and NYSE

      Arca Equities Rules

      Under the Proposed Rule Change, certain technical amendments would be made to the Exchange Rules, as summarized below:

      References therein to ``NYSE Euronext'' would be replaced with references to Holdco, except that references to NYSE Euronext in

      Rule 22 and Rule 422 would be retained and references to Holdco would be added; and

      Rule 2 would be revised to delete the definitions of

      ``member'' and ``member organization'' relating to NYSE Amex which are set forth in Rule 2 for purposes of Section 1(L) of Article 5 of the

      NYSE Euronext Certificate, because under the Proposed Rule Change, that section of the NYSE Euronext Certificate will be revised to incorporate this language [sic]

      In addition, certain technical amendments would be made to the NYSE

      Amex Rules and NYSE Arca Equities Rules to replace references therein to ``NYSE Euronext'' with references to Holdco. 10. Proposed Technical Amendment to the NYSE Trust Agreement

      Following completion of the Combination, NYSE Euronext will become a wholly owned subsidiary of

      Page 65246

      Holdco and, as such, its board of directors will likely be reduced in size and may not include directors who satisfy the independence criteria that are currently applicable. Accordingly, under the Proposed

      Rule Change, the functions currently performed by the nominating and governance committee of NYSE Euronext in connection with reviewing and appointing trustees pursuant to the Trust Agreement, dated as of April 4, 2007, by and among NYSE Euronext, NYSE Group and the other parties thereto, would be transferred to the Holdco Nominating, Governance and

      Corporate Responsibility Committee. References in such trust agreement to the nominating and governance committee of NYSE Euronext would be replaced with references to the Holdco Nominating, Governance and

      Corporate Responsibility Committee, as indicated in Exhibit 5O attached to this Proposed Rule Change. 11. Statutory Basis

      NYSE Arca believes that this filing is consistent with Section 6(b)

      \69\ of the Exchange Act in general, and furthers the objectives of

      Section 6(b)(1) \70\ in particular, in that it enables NYSE Arca to be so organized as to have the capacity to be able to carry out the purposes of the Exchange Act and to comply, and to enforce compliance by its exchange members and persons associated with its exchange members, with the provisions of the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and the rules of NYSE Arca. With respect to the ability of the Commission to enforce the Exchange Act as it applies to the U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries after the Combination, the U.S.

      Regulated Subsidiaries will operate in the same manner following the

      Combination as they operate today. Thus, the Commission will continue to have plenary regulatory authority over the U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiaries, as is the case currently with these entities. The

      Proposed Rule Change is consistent with and will facilitate an ownership structure that will provide the Commission with appropriate oversight tools to ensure that the Commission will have the ability to enforce the Exchange Act with respect to each U.S. Regulated

      Subsidiary, its direct and indirect parent entities and its directors, officers, employees and agents to the extent they are involved in the activities of such U.S. Regulated Subsidiary.

      \69\ 15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b).

      \70\ 15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b)(1).

      NYSE Arca also believes that this filing furthers the objectives of

      Section 6(b)(5) \71\ of the Exchange Act because the Proposed Rule

      Change summarized herein would be consistent with and facilitate a governance and regulatory structure that is 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. NYSE Arca expects that the

      Combination will position the Holdco Group to be a leader in a diverse set of large and growing businesses, including derivatives, listings, cash equities, post-trade settlement and asset servicing, market data and technology servicing. NYSE Arca believes this will enable the

      Holdco Group to leverage technology and a unique collection of markets to create a mutually reinforcing capital markets community driving efficiencies and innovation for clients and efficient, transparent and well-regulated markets for issuers and clients. As a true pacesetter across the spectrum of capital markets services, the Holdco Group would be positioned to offer clients global scale, product innovation, operational and capital efficiencies and an enhanced range of technology and market information solutions.

      \71\ 15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b)(5).

      In addition, NYSE Arca expects that the Holdco Group would be positioned to serve as a benchmark regulatory model, facilitating transparency and standardization in capital markets globally, while continuing to operate all national exchanges under local regulatory frameworks.

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

      NYSE Arca does not believe that the Proposed Rule Change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Exchange Act.

    3. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed

      Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others

      NYSE Arca has neither solicited nor received written comments on the Proposed Rule Change.

  3. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for

    Commission Action

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the

    Federal Register or within such longer period (i) As the Commission may designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:

    (A) By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change, or

    (B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved.

  4. 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-NYSEArca-2011-72 on the subject line.

    Paper Comments

    Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,

    Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE.,

    Washington, DC 20549-1090.

    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2011-72. 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 Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F

    Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official

    Page 65247

    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-NYSEArca-2011-72 and should be submitted on or before

    November 10, 2011.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\72\

    \72\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    Elizabeth M. Murphy,

    Secretary.

    FR Doc. 2011-27197 Filed 10-19-11; 8:45 am

    BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

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