SR-FINRA-2017-009

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) a proposed rule change to amend FINRA Rules 12402 and 12403 of the Code of Arbitration Procedure for Customer Disputes (“Customer Code”) and FINRA Rule 13403 of the Code of Arbitration Procedure for Industry Disputes (“Industry Code,” and together with the Customer Code, the “Codes”), to provide that the Director of FINRA’s Office of Dispute Resolution (“ODR Director”) will send the list or lists generated by the Neutral List Selection System (“NLSS”) to all parties at the same time, within approximately 30 days after the last answer is due, regardless of the parties’ agreement to extend any answer due date.

28724 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 120 / Friday, June 23, 2017 / Notices 12 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 3 See Exchange Act Release No. 80634 (May 9, 2017), 82 FR 22363 (May 15, 2017) (File No. SR– FINRA–2017–009) (‘‘Notice’’). 4 See Letters from Steven B. Caruso, Maddox Hargett Caruso, P.C., dated May 11, 2017 (‘‘Caruso Letter’’); Ryan K. Bakhtiari, Aidikoff, Uhl & Bakhtiari, dated May 15, 2017 (‘‘Bakhtiari Letter’’); Glenn S. Gitomer, McCausland Keen + Buckman, dated May 26, 2017 (‘‘Gitomer Letter’’); Marnie C. Lambert, President, Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (‘‘PIABA’’), dated June 1, 2017 (‘‘PIABA Letter’’); Andres Gomez III, Esquire, Executive Principal, AG Consultants, dated June 4, 2017 (‘‘Gomez Letter’’). Comment letters are available at www.sec.gov. change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic Comments • Use the Commission’s Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or • Send an email to rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– MRX–2017–09 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–MRX–2017–09. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission’s Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–MRX– 2017–09 and should be submitted on or before July 14, 2017. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.12 Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–13105 Filed 6–22–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [SEC File No. 270–1, OMB Control No. 3235– 0007] Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Upon Written Request Copies Available From: Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of FOIA Services, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–02736. Extension: Rule 13e–3 (Schedule 13E–3). Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget this request for extension of the previously approved collection of information discussed below. Rule 13e–3 (17 CFR 240.13e–3) and Schedule 13E–3 (17 CFR 240.13e– 100)—Rule 13e–3 prescribes the filing, disclosure and dissemination requirements in connection with a going private transaction by an issuer or an affiliate. Schedule 13E–3 provides shareholders and the marketplace with material information concerning a going private transaction. The information collected permits verification of compliance with securities laws requirements and ensures the public availability and dissemination of the collected information. This information is made available to the public. Information provided on Schedule 13E– 3 is mandatory. We estimate that Schedule 13E–3 is filed by approximately 77 issuers annually and it takes approximately 137.42 hours per response. We estimate that 25% of the 137.42 hours per response is prepared by the filer for a total annual reporting burden of 2,646 hours (34.36 hours per response × 77 responses). An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. The public may view the background documentation for this information collection at the following Web site, www.reginfo.gov . Comments should be directed to: (i) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, or by sending an email to: Shagufta_ Ahmed@omb.eop.gov; and (ii) Pamela Dyson, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Remi Pavlik-Simon, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549 or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@ sec.gov. Comments must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this notice. Dated: June 2017. Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–13141 Filed 6–22–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–80973; File No. SR–FINRA– 2017–009] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Expediting List Selection in Arbitration June 19, 2017. I. Introduction On April 26, 2017, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to provide that the Director of FINRA’s Office of Dispute Resolution (‘‘ODR Director’’) will send the list or lists or arbitrators generated by the Neutral List Selection System (‘‘NLSS’’) to all parties at the same time, within approximately 30 days after the last answer is due, regardless of the parties’ agreement to extend any answer due date. The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register on May 15, 2017. 3 The public comment period closed on June 5, 2017. The Commission received five comment letters in response to the Notice, all of which supported the proposed rule change. 4 This order approves the proposed rule change. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:21 Jun 22, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00107 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM 23JNN1asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES

28725 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 120 / Friday, June 23, 2017 / Notices 5 The subsequent description of the proposed rule change is substantially excerpted from FINRA’s description in the Notice. See Notice, 82 FR at 22363–22364. 6 See also FINRA Rule 13303. 7 If an amended claim adds a new party to the arbitration, the new party would be required to serve an answer on all other parties within 45 days of receipt of the claim. See FINRA Rules 12306, 12310, 13306, and 13310. 8 Unless the Codes provide that the ODR Director may not delegate a specific function, the term includes FINRA staff to whom the ODR Director has delegated authority. See FINRA Rules 12100(k) and 13100(k). See also FINRA Rules 12103 and 13103. 9 The answer due date for the last respondent added to the arbitration would be when the last answer is due for purposes of the Codes. 10 The Codes also state that the parties will receive employment history for the past 10 years and other background information for each arbitrator listed. See FINRA Rules 12402, 12403, and 13403. 11 FINRA stated that in 2015, parties requested an extension to answer in approximately 65 percent of arbitration cases served; in 2016, the figure was approximately 62 percent. See Notice at 22363 n.9. 12 See Notice at 22363. 13 See id. 14 See FINRA Rules 12402(d)(3), 12403(c)(3), and 13404(d). 15 See FINRA Rules 12500(c) and 13500(c); see Notice at 22363. 16 See Notice at 22363. 17 See id. at 22364. 18 See Caruso Letter, Bakhtiari Letter; Gitomer Letter; PIABA Letter; Gomez Letter. 19 Caruso Letter. 20 Gomez Letter. 21 See Gitomer Letter; PIABA Letter. 22 See Caruso Letter; Bakhtiari Letter; Gitomer Letter; PIABA Letter. 23 PIABA Letter at 2. 24 In approving this rule change, the Commission has considered the rule’s impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). 25 15 U.S.C. 78o–3(b)(6). 26 Notice at 22364. 27 Id. 28 Id. 29 See Caruso Letter, Bakhtiari Letter; Gitomer Letter; PIABA Letter; Gomez Letter. II. Description of the Proposed Rule Change 5 Under FINRA Rules 12402 (Cases with One Arbitrator) and 12403 (Cases with Three Arbitrators) of the Code of Arbitration Procedure for Customer Disputes (‘‘Customer Code’’) and FINRA Rule 13403 (Generating and Sending Lists to the Parties) of the Code of Arbitration Procedure for Industry Disputes (‘‘Industry Code,’’ and together with the Customer Code, the ‘‘Codes’’), a party must serve an answer on each other party to an arbitration within the timeframes specified under the applicable provisions of the Codes. For example, FINRA Rule 12303 requires a respondent to serve an answer specifying the relevant facts and available defenses to the statement of claim on each other party to the arbitration within 45 days of receipt of the statement of claim (the ‘‘answer due date’’). 6 If there are multiple respondents to an arbitration, and the respondents are added at different times, each respondent would have a different answer due date. 7 The Codes currently require the ODR Director 8 to wait until after the last answer is due9 to send the list or lists of arbitrators generated by NLSS to the parties. Specifically, the Codes provide that the ODR Director must send the list or lists of arbitrators to all parties at the same time within approximately 30 days after the last answer is due. 10 Currently, when parties to an arbitration agree to extend the deadline for when an answer is due, the ODR Director uses that new, agreed-upon extended answer due date as the last answer due date for sending the arbitrator list or lists to the parties. 11 FINRA believes that by sending the arbitrator list or lists after the original due date for the last answer, regardless of any extension, it can shorten the time it takes for an arbitration to conclude in those instances. 12 Party agreements to extend answer due dates would no longer affect the timing of providing the arbitrator list or lists to the parties. FINRA is therefore proposing to amend FINRA Rules 12402(c)(1), 12403(b)(1), and 13403(c)(1) to provide that the ODR Director will send the list or lists generated by NLSS to all parties at the same time, within approximately 30 days after the last answer is due, regardless of the parties’ agreement to extend any answer due date. 13 As parties must return the ranked arbitrator list or lists to the ODR Director no more than 20 days after the date upon which the ODR Director sent the list or lists to the parties, 14 sending the list or lists after the original due date for the last answer would give all parties the same amount of time to create their ranked arbitrator list or lists. Further, FINRA believes that sending the list or lists at this time would result in earlier arbitrator appointment and, therefore, an earlier initial prehearing conference at which the hearings are scheduled. 15 FINRA believes that in the many instances in which the parties agree to extend an answer due date, the proposed rule change would help arbitrations conclude in less time than they do under current rules. 16 FINRA further notes that, currently, parties often jointly request that the ODR Director send the list or lists to the parties before the last answe

22363 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 92 / Monday, May 15, 2017 / Notices 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 3 NLSS is a computer system that generates, on a random basis, a list or lists of arbitrators from FINRA’s rosters of arbitrators for the selected hearing location for each arbitration proceeding. The parties will select their panel through a process of striking and ranking the arbitrators on a list or lists generated by NLSS. 4 See also FINRA Rule 13303. 5 If an amended claim adds a new party to the arbitration, the new party would be required to serve an answer on all other parties within 45 days of receipt of the claim. See FINRA Rules 12306, 12310, 13306, and 13310. 6 Unless the Codes provide that the ODR Director may not delegate a specific function, the term includes FINRA staff to whom the ODR Director has delegated authority. See FINRA Rules 12100(k) and 13100(k). See also FINRA Rules 12103 and 13103. 7 The answer due date for the last respondent added to the arbitration would be when the last answer is due for purposes of the Codes. 8 The Codes also state that the parties will receive employment history for the past 10 years and other background information for each arbitrator listed. See FINRA Rules 12402, 12403, and 13403. 9 In 2015, parties requested an extension to answer in approximately 65 percent of arbitration cases served; in 2016, the figure was approximately 62 percent. 10 See FINRA Rules 12402(d)(3), 12403(c)(3), and 13404(d). 11 See FINRA Rules 12500(c) and 13500(c). technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted in writing within 60 days of this publication. Please direct your written comments to Pamela Dyson, Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, C/O Remi Pavlik-Simon, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549; or send an email to: PRA_ Mailbox@sec.gov. Dated: May 9, 2017. Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–09729 Filed 5–12–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–80634; File No. SR–FINRA– 2017–009] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change Relating To Expediting List Selection in Arbitration May 9, 2017. 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 April 26, 2017, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’) 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 FINRA. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change FINRA is proposing to amend FINRA Rules 12402 and 12403 of the Code of Arbitration Procedure for Customer Disputes (‘‘Customer Code’’) and FINRA Rule 13403 of the Code of Arbitration Procedure for Industry Disputes (‘‘Industry Code,’’ and together with the Customer Code, the ‘‘Codes’’), to provide that the Director of FINRA’s Office of Dispute Resolution (‘‘ODR Director’’) will send the list or lists generated by the Neutral List Selection System (‘‘NLSS’’) 3 to all parties at the same time, within approximately 30 days after the last answer is due, regardless of the parties’ agreement to extend any answer due date. The text of the proposed rule change is available on FINRA’s Web site at http://www.finra.org, at the principal office of FINRA and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, FINRA 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. FINRA has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose Background Under the Codes, a party must serve an answer on each other party to an arbitration within the timeframes specified under the applicable provisions of the Codes. For example, FINRA Rule 12303 requires a respondent to serve an answer specifying the relevant facts and available defenses to the statement of claim on each other party to the arbitration within 45 days of receipt of the statement of claim (the ‘‘answer due date’’). 4 If there are multiple respondents to an arbitration, and the respondents are added at different times, each respondent would have a different answer due date. 5 The Codes require the ODR Director 6 to wait until after the last answer is due 7 to send the list or lists of arbitrators generated by NLSS to the parties. Specifically, the Codes provide that the ODR Director must send the list or lists of arbitrators to all parties at the same time within approximately 30 days after the last answer is due. 8 Currently, when parties to an arbitration agree to extend the deadline for when an answer is due, the ODR Director uses that new, agreed-upon extended answer due date as the last answer due date for sending the arbitrator list or lists to the parties. 9 FINRA believes that by sending the arbitrator list or lists after the original due date for the last answer, regardless of any extension, it can shorten the time it takes for an arbitration to conclude in those instances. Party agreements to extend answer due dates would no longer affect the timing of providing the arbitrator list or lists to the parties. Proposed Rule Change FINRA is proposing to amend FINRA Rules 12402(c)(1), 12403(b)(1), and 13403(c)(1) to provide that the ODR Director will send the list or lists generated by NLSS to all parties at the same time, within approximately 30 days after the last answer is due, regardless of the parties’ agreement to extend any answer due date. As parties must return the ranked arbitrator list or lists to the ODR Director no more than 20 days after the date upon which the ODR Director sent the list or lists to the parties, 10 sending the list or lists after the original due date for the last answer would give all parties the same amount of time to create their ranked arbitrator list or lists. Further, FINRA believes that sending the list or lists at this time would result in earlier arbitrator appointment and, therefore, an earlier initial prehearing conference at which the hearings are scheduled. 11 In the many instances in which the parties agree to extend an answer due date, FINRA believes the proposed rule change would help arbitrations conclude in less time than they do under current rules. As noted in Item 2 of this filing, if the Commission approves the proposed rule change, FINRA will announce the effective date of the proposed rule change in a Regulatory Notice to be published no later than 60 days following Commission approval. The effective date will be no later than 30 VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:51 May 12, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\15MYN1.SGM 15MYN1jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

22364 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 92 / Monday, May 15, 2017 / Notices 12 15 U.S.C. 78o–3(b)(6). 13 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. days following publication of the Regulatory Notice announcing Commission approval. 2. Statutory Basis FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act, 12 which requires, among other things, that FINRA rules must be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. The proposed rule change is consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act. The proposal would enable the parties, or their counsel, to evaluate and rank the arbitrator list or lists at the same time that they prepare their responses in those circumstances where the parties request an extension to answer. Thus, the proposal would shorten the time it takes for such arbitrations to conclude and, thereby, make the forum more efficient and the case administration process more expeditious for investors. B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition FINRA does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Where parties agree to an extension or modification of any deadline for serving answers, the proposal would likely result in parties, or their counsels, evaluating the arbitrator list or lists and ranking their selections, while simultaneously preparing their responses. Currently, these activities occur serially. However, FINRA notes that parties often jointly request that the ODR Director send the list or lists before the last answer due date deadline. Therefore, FINRA believes that the proposed rule change would not be burdensome. As noted, the benefit to parties arises from concluding arbitrator selection earlier, thereby expediting the arbitration process. FINRA anticipates that this proposal would impose no significant costs to forum users. C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others Written comments were neither solicited nor received. III. 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. IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic Comments • Use the Commission’s Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or • Send an email to rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– FINRA–2017–009 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–FINRA–2017–009. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission’s Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of FINRA.