Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Eliminate Transitional Rules That Have Expired Related to Compensation Committee Listing Standards

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 11 (Wednesday, January 17, 2018)

Federal Register Volume 83, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 17, 2018)

Notices

Pages 2474-2476

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2018-00636

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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Release No. 34-82481; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2017-133

Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Eliminate Transitional Rules That Have Expired Related to Compensation Committee Listing Standards

January 10, 2018.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that on December 27, 2017, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq'' or ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to

Page 2475

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

   The Exchange proposes to eliminate transitional rules that have expired related to compensation committee listing standards.

   The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's website at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

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

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

      1. Purpose

         Nasdaq proposes to delete the introductory language to Rule 5605(d), Rule 5605(d)(6), Rule 5605A and IM-5605A-6, and part of Rule 5615 to remove transitional rules that are no longer applicable to any companies and references to those transitional rules. These transitional rules were adopted in 2013 in connection with changes to the compensation committee requirements.\3\ Those changes to the compensation committee requirements were fully phased in on October 31, 2014 and the transitional rules no longer apply to any listed company.

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

         \3\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68640 (January 11, 2013), 78 FR 4554 (January 22, 2013) (approving SR-NASDAQ-2012-109).

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

      2. Statutory Basis

         The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,\4\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\5\ in particular, in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general to protect investors and the public interest. Nasdaq believes that it is in the public interest to eliminate the obsolete compensation committee requirements because the rules that replaced these provisions have been found to protect investors and the public interest \6\ and because eliminating these provisions, which were fully phased out in October 2014, will improve the readability of Nasdaq's rules.

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

         \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

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

         \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68640, supra.

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

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

      The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Nasdaq does not believe the proposed rule change, which merely eliminates obsolete provisions and does not make any substantive change to Nasdaq's rules, will impose any burden, nor have any impact, on competition.

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

      No written comments were either solicited or received.

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

   Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \7\ and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\8\

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

   \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

   \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.

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

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

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 email to email protected. Please include File Number SR-NASDAQ-2017-133 on the subject line.

   Paper Comments

   Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.

   All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2017-133. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's internet website (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 website viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2017-133, and should be submitted on or before February 7, 2018.

   Page 2476

   For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\9\

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

   \9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

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

   Eduardo A. Aleman,

   Assistant Secretary.

   FR Doc. 2018-00636 Filed 1-16-18; 8:45 am

   BILLING CODE 8011-01-P