Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-2736
Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (“PRA”) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) is soliciting comments on the existing collection of information provided for in Rule 302 (17 CFR 242.302) of Regulation ATS (17 CFR 242.300 et seq.) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.). The Commission plans to submit this existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) for extension and approval.
Regulation ATS sets forth a regulatory regime for “alternative trading systems” (“ATSs”). An entity that meets the definition of an exchange must register, pursuant to Section 5 of the Exchange Act, as a national securities exchange under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or operate pursuant to an appropriate exemption. One of the available exemptions is for ATSs. Exchange Act Rule 3a1-1(a)(2) exempts from the definition of “exchange” under Section 3(a)(1) an organization, association, or group of persons that complies with Regulation ATS. Regulation ATS requires an ATS to, among other things, register as a broker-dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), file a Form ATS with the Commission to notice its operations, and establish written safeguards and procedures to protect subscribers' confidential trading information. An ATS that complies with Regulation ATS and operates pursuant to the Rule 3a1- 1(a)(2) exemption would not be required by Section 5 to register as a national securities exchange.
See15 U.S.C. 78e and 78f. A “national securities exchange” is an exchange registered as such under Section 6 of the Exchange Act.
15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.
Rule 300(a) of Regulation ATS provides that an ATS is “any organization, association, person, group of persons, or system: (1) [t]hat constitutes, maintains, or provides a market place or facilities for bringing together purchasers and sellers of securities or for otherwise performing with respect to securities the functions commonly performed by a stock exchange within the meaning of [Exchange Act Rule 3b-16]; and (2) [t]hat does not: (i) [s]et rules governing the conduct of subscribers other than the conduct of subscribers' trading on such [ATS]; or (ii) [d]iscipline subscribers other than by exclusion from trading.”
See17 CFR 240.3a1-1(a)(2).
Rule 302 of Regulation ATS (17 CFR 242.302) describes the recordkeeping requirements for ATSs. Under Rule 302, ATSs are required to, among other things, make a record of subscribers to the ATS, daily summaries of trading in the ATS, and time-sequenced records of order information in the ATS.
The information required to be collected under Rule 302 should increase the abilities of the Commission, state securities regulatory authorities, and the self-regulatory organizations to ensure that ATSs are in compliance with Regulation ATS as well as other applicable rules and regulations. If the information is not collected or collected less frequently, the regulators would be limited in their ability to comply with their statutory obligations, provide for the protection of investors, and promote the maintenance of fair and orderly markets.
Respondents consist of ATSs that choose to operate pursuant to the exemption provided by Regulation ATS from registration as national securities exchanges. There are currently 101 respondents. These respondents will spend a total of approximately 4,545 hours per year (101 respondents at 45 burden hours/respondent) to comply with the recordkeeping requirements of Rule 302. At an average cost per burden hour of $83, the resultant total related total internal cost of compliance for these respondents is approximately $377,235 per year (4,545 burden hours multiplied by $83/hour).
Written comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted by November 25, 2022.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information under the PRA unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Please direct your written comment to David Bottom, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o John Pezzullo, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549 or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.
Dated: September 20, 2022.
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-20726 Filed 9-23-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P