[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 210 (Wednesday, November 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60730-60732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23920]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-93444; File No. SR-BOX-2021-25]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; BOX Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Make Juneteenth 
National Independence Day a Holiday of the Exchange

October 28, 2021.
    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 October 15, 2021, BOX Exchange LLC (``Exchange'') filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule 
change as described in Items I and II, below, which Items have been 
prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to 
solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend BOX Rule 7020(e) (Days and Hours of 
Business) to make Juneteenth National Independence Day a holiday of the 
Exchange. The text of the proposed rule change is available from the 
principal office of the Exchange, at the Commission's Public Reference 
Room and also on the Exchange's internet website at http://boxoptions.com.

II. 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

[[Page 60731]]

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
    The Exchange proposes to amend BOX Rule 7020(e) (Days and Hours of 
Business) to make Juneteenth National Independence Day a holiday of the 
Exchange. This is a filing that is based on a proposal recently 
submitted by the New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE'').\3\
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    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 93183 (September 30, 
2021), 86 FR 55068 (October 5, 2021) (Notice of Filing and Immediate 
Effectiveness SR-NYSE-2021-56).
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    On June 17, 2021, Juneteenth National Independence Day was 
designated a legal public holiday.\4\ Consistent with broad industry 
sentiment \5\ and the approach recommended by the Securities Industry 
and Financial Markets Association (``SIFMA''),\6\ the Exchange proposes 
to add ``Juneteenth National Independence Day'' to the existing list of 
holidays in BOX Rule 7020(e). As a result, the Exchange will not be 
open for business on Juneteenth National Independence Day, which falls 
on June 19 of each year. In accordance with BOX Rule 7020(e), when the 
holiday falls on a Saturday, the Exchange will not be open for business 
on the preceding Friday, and when it falls on a Sunday, the Exchange 
will not be open for business on the succeeding Monday.\7\
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    \4\ Public Law 117-17.
    \5\ See, e.g., https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-18/bofa-makes-juneteenth-a-holiday-joining-jpmorgan-wells-fargo?sref=Hhue1scO.
    \6\ SIFMA recommends a full market close in observance of 
Juneteenth National Independence Day. See https://www.sifma.org/resources/general/holidayschedule/. See also https://www.sifma.org/resources/news/sifma-revises-2022-fixed-income-market-close-recommendations-in-the-u-s-to-include-full-close-forjuneteenth-national-independence-day/.
    \7\ See BOX Rule 7020(e). There is an exception to the practice 
if unusual business conditions exist at the time. Id.
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the 
requirements of Section 6(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(the ``Act''),\8\ in general, and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\9\ in 
particular, in that it 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 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. In particular, the Exchange believes that the proposed 
change would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free 
and open market and a national market system and, in general, protect 
investors and the public interest because the proposed amended rule 
would clearly state that the Exchange will not be open for business on 
Juneteenth National Independence Day, which is a federal holiday, and 
would address what day would be taken off if June 19 fell on a Saturday 
or Sunday. The change would thereby promote clarity and transparency in 
the Exchange rules by updating the list of holidays of the Exchange.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. 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. In this regard and as indicated 
above, the Exchange notes that the rule change is being proposed in 
response to a filing recently submitted by NYSE.\10\ The proposed 
change is not designed to address any competitive issue but rather to 
amend the Exchange rule regarding holidays.
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    \10\ See supra, note 3.
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C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    The Exchange has neither solicited nor received comments on the 
proposed rule change.

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

    The Exchange filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \11\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \12\ thereunder. 
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) of the Act \13\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \14\ 
thereunder.
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    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \12\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \14\ 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 requested the Commission waive the standard five-
day pre-filing requirement. The Commission grants the waiver.
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    A proposed rule changed filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \15\ normally 
does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of filing. 
However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6),\16\ the Commission may designate 
a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of 
investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the 
Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may 
become operative immediately upon filing. The Commission believes that 
waiver of the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection 
of investors and the public interest. The proposal raises no new or 
novel issues. Accordingly, the Commission hereby waives the operative 
delay and designates the proposed rule change operative upon 
filing.\17\
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    \15\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \16\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \17\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission also has considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
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    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 necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
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 change should be approved or 
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 [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-BOX-2021-25 on the subject line.

[[Page 60732]]

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-BOX-2021-25. 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-BOX-2021-25 and should be submitted on 
or before November 24, 2021.
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    \18\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\18\
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-23920 Filed 11-2-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


