[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 46042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17540]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-92637; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2021-007]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; 
Notice of Designation of a Longer Period for Commission Action on 
Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove a Proposed 
Rule Change To Adopt Additional Initial Listing Criteria for Companies 
Primarily Operating in Jurisdictions That Do Not Provide the PCAOB With 
the Ability To Inspect Public Accounting Firms

August 11, 2021.
    On February 1, 2021, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission''), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a 
proposed rule change to adopt additional initial listing criteria for 
companies primarily operating in jurisdictions that do not provide the 
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (``PCAOB'') with the ability 
to inspect public accounting firms. The proposed rule change was 
published for comment in the Federal Register on February 16, 2021.\3\ 
On March 26, 2021, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,\4\ the 
Commission designated a longer period within which to approve the 
proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute 
proceedings to determine whether to disapprove the proposed rule 
change.\5\ On May 17, 2021, the Commission instituted proceedings under 
Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act \6\ to determine whether to approve or 
disapprove the proposed rule change.\7\
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 91089 (February 9, 
2021), 86 FR 9549 (``Notice''). Comments on the proposed rule change 
can be found at: https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nasdaq-2021-007/srnasdaq2021007.htm.
    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 91413, 86 FR 17263 
(April 1, 2021). The Commission designated May 17, 2021 as the date 
by which the Commission shall approve or disapprove, or institute 
proceedings to determine whether to approve or disapprove, the 
proposed rule change.
    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 91904, 86 FR 27659 
(May 21, 2021).
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    Section 19(b)(2) of the Act \8\ provides that, after initiating 
disapproval proceedings, the Commission shall issue an order approving 
or disapproving the proposed rule change not later than 180 days after 
the date of publication of notice of filing of the proposed rule 
change. The Commission may extend the period for issuing an order 
approving or disapproving the proposed rule change, however, by not 
more than 60 days if the Commission determines that a longer period is 
appropriate and publishes the reasons for such determination. The date 
of publication of notice of filing of the proposed rule change was 
February 16, 2021. August 15, 2021 is 180 days from that date, and 
October 14, 2021 is 240 days from that date.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
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    The Commission finds it appropriate to designate a longer period 
within which to issue an order approving or disapproving the proposed 
rule change so that it has sufficient time to consider this proposed 
rule change. Accordingly, the Commission, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) 
of the Act,\9\ designates October 14, 2021, as the date by which the 
Commission shall either approve or disapprove the proposed rule change 
(File No. SR-NASDAQ-2021-007).
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    \9\ Id.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
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    \10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(57).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-17540 Filed 8-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


