THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE LLC LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE, WAIVER AND CONSENT NO

Transcription

1 THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE LLC LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE, WAIVER AND CONSENT NO TO: RE: New York Stock Exchange LLC c/o Department of Enforcement Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") GTS Securities LLC, Respondent Broker-Dealer CRD No Pursuant to Rule 9216 of the New York Stock Exchange LLC (''NYSE" or the "Exchange") Code of Procedure, GTS Securities LLC (''GTSX", the "Firm" or Respondent) submits this Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent ("AWC") for the purpose of proposing a settlement of the alleged rule violations described below. This AWC is submitted on the condition that, if accepted, the NYSE will not bring any future actions against Respondent alleging violations based on the same factual findings described herein. I. ACCEPTANCE AND CONSENT A. Respondent hereby accepts and consents, without admitting or denying the findings, and solely for the purposes of this proceeding and any other proceeding brought by or on behalf of the NYSE, or to which the NYSE is a party, prior to a hearing and without an adjudication of any issue of law or fact, to the entry of the following findings by the NYSE: BACKGROUND 1. The Firm has been registered with NYSE since March 26, 2015, and with FINRA since April 23, 2014, and its registrations remain in effect. The Firm does not have a relevant disciplinary history. SUMMARY 1. In connection with this matter, the FINRA Department of Market Regulation's Trade Reporting Team (the "Staff') reviewed the Firm's compliance with inputting the correct capacity with respect to orders entered on the NYSE, as well as on several equity exchanges and the FINRA/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility ("FNTRF"), during the period between July 15, 2015 and May 12, 2016 (the "Review Period"). 2. Capacity codes are important because, among other things, their inaccuracy could impact certain cross-market surveillances. STAR No (SM)

2 3. Based on its review, Staff found that the Firm failed to comply with order marking requirements as set forth in NYSE Rules 132(a) and (9) and related supervision rules during the Review Period. Applicable Rules FACTS AND VIOLATIVE CONDUCT 4. During the Review Period, NYSE Rule 132(a) required, in pertinent part, that each party to a contract submit data regarding its side of the contract ("trade data") to a Fully-Interfaced Clearing Agency for comparison or settlement. NYSE Rule (9) required that each clearing member organization that is a party to such contract submit to a Fully-Interfaced or Qualified Clearing Agency certain trade data elements, which includes the capacity in which the member organization executed the transaction (e.g., agency, principal, or riskless principal). 5. During the Review Period, NYSE Rule 311 O(a) required that each member organization "establish and maintain a system to supervise the activities of each associated person that is reasonably designed to achieve compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations, and with applicable Exchange rules." Rule 31 lo(a) further provided that a member organization's supervisory system must include, among other things, "the establishment and maintenance of written procedures" and "[t)he designation, where applicable, of an appropriately registered principal(s) with authority to carry out the supervisory responsibilities of the member organization for each type of business in which it engages for which registration as a broker-dealer is required." Violative Conduct 6. During the Review Period, as a result of a coding error, the Firm submitted inaccurate information to the NYSE, as well as to multiple equity exchanges and the FNTRF, by entering "Principal" orders as ''Agency" orders in a total of approximately 22 million instances, of which approximately 1,476,823 orders were entered on the NYSE from the beginning of the Review Period through August 21, The conduct described in this paragraph constitutes separate and distinct violations of NYSE Rules l 32(a) and (9). 7. During the Review Period, the Firm failed to establish and maintain a supervisory system that was reasonably designed to achieve compliance with certain applicable securities laws and regulations, and NYSE rules, with respect to submission of accurate capacity codes on orders submitted to NYSE. In addition, the Firm's supervisory system did not include sufficient written supervisory procedures ("WSPs") to ensure submission of accurate capacity codes. Specifically, the Firm's supervisory system did not include WSPs that provided for: (i) the identification of 1 These inaccuracies impacted certain cross-market surveillances but there was no identified market impact or harm to market participants. 2

3 the person(s) responsible for supervision with respect to the applicable rules; (ii) a statement of the supervisory step(s) to be taken by the identified person(s); (iii) a statement as to how often such person(s) should take such step(s); and (iv) a statement as to how the completion of the step(s) included in the written supervisory procedures should be documented. The foregoing conduct constitutes a violation of NYSE Rule OTHER FACTORS 8. In determining to resolve this matter on the basis set forth herein, NYSE took into consideration the following: (i) the Firm self-reported a significant number ofthe capacity code violations; (ii) the Firm provided substantial assistance to Market Regulation staff, including providing the staff with data quantifying the number of violations; and (iii) the subsequent remedial measures implemented by the Firm. B. Respondent also consents to the imposition of the following sanctions: 1. A censure; and 2. A fine in the amount of$75,000, of which $5,000 is payable to NYSE.2 3. Acceptance of this A WC is conditioned upon acceptance of similar settlement agreements in related matters between GTSX and each of the following selfregulatory organizations: Bats BZX Exchange, Inc.; Bats BYX Exchange, Inc., The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, NYSE Arca, Inc., and FINRA. Respondent agrees to pay the monetary sanction(s) upon notice that this AWC has been accepted and that such payment(s) are due and payable. It has submitted a Method of Payment Confirmation fonn showing the method by which it will pay the fine imposed. Respondent specifically and voluntarily waives any right to claim that it is unable to pay, now or at any time hereafter, the monetary sanction(s) imposed in this matter. Respondent agrees that it shall not seek or accept, directly or indirectly, reimbursement or indemnification from any source, including but not limited to payment made pursuant to any insurance policy. with regard to any fine amounts that Respondent pays pursuant to this AWC, regardless of the use of the fine amounts. Respondent further agrees that it shall not claim, assert, or apply for a tax deduction or tax credit with regard to any federal, state, or local tax for any fine amounts that Respondent pays pursuant to this A WC, regardless of the use of the fine amounts. The sanctions imposed herein shall be effective on a date set by NYSE Regulation staff. 2 The balance of the sanction will be paid to the self-regulatory organizations listed in Paragraph B.3. 3

4 II. WAIVER OF PROCEDURAL RIGHTS Respondent specifically and voluntarily waives the following rights granted under the NYSE's Code of Procedure: A. To have a Formal Complaint issued specifying the allegations against Respondent; 8. To be notified of the Formal Complaint and have the opportunity to answer the allegations in writing; C. To defend against the allegations in a disciplinary hearing before a hearing panel, to have a written record of the hearing made and to have a written decision issued; and D. To appeal any such decision to the Exchange's Board of Directors and then to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and a U.S. Court of Appeals. Further, Respondent specifically and voluntarily waives any right to claim bias or prejudgment of the Chief Regulatory Officer of the NYSE; the Exchange's Board of Directors, Disciplinary Action Committee ( 0 DAC") and Committee for Review ("CFR"); any Director, DAC member or CFR member; Counsel to the Exchange Board of Directors or CFR; any other NYSE employee; or any Regulatory Staff as defined in Rule 9120 in connection with such person's or body's participation in discussions regarding the terms and conditions of this AWC, or other consideration of this A WC, including acceptance or rejection of this A WC. Respondent further specifically and voluntarily waives any right to claim that a person violated the ex parte prohibitions of Rule 9143 or the separation of functions prohibitions of Rule 9144, in connection with such person's or body's participation in discussions regarding the terms and conditions of this A WC, or other consideration of this A WC, including its acceptance or rejection. Respondent understands that: III. OTHER MATTERS A. Submission of this A WC is voluntary and will not resolve this matter unless and until it has been reviewed and accepted by FINRA's Department of Enforcement and the Chief Regulatory Officer of the NYSE, pursuant to NYSE Rule 9216; B. If this AWC is not accepted, its submission will not be used as evidence to prove any of the allegations against Respondent; and 4

5 C. If accepted: I. the A WC shall be sent to each Director and each member of the Committee for Review via courier, express delivery or electronic means, and shall be deemed final and shall constitute the complaint, answer, and decision in the matter, 25 days after it is sent to each Director and each member of the Committee for Review, unless review by the Exchange Board of Directors is requested pursuant to NYSE Rule 93 to(a)(l )(B); 2. this AWC will become part of the Respondent's permanent disciplinary record and may be considered in any future actions brought by the NYSE, or any other regulator against the Respondent; 3. the NYSE shalj publish a copy of the AWC on its website in accordance with NYSE Rule 8313; 4. the NYSE may make a public announcement concerning this agreement and the subject matter thereof in accordance with NYSE Rule 8313; and 5. Respondent may not take any action or make or permit to be made any public statement, including in regulatory filings or otherwise, denying, directly or indirectly, any finding in this A WC or create the impression that the A WC is without factual basis. Respondent may not take any position in any proceeding brought by or on behalf of the NYSE, or to which the NYSE is a party, that is inconsistent with any part of this A WC. Nothing in this provision affects the Respondent's (i) testimonial obligations; or (ii) right to take legal or factual positions in litigation or other legal proceedings in which the NYSE is not a party. D. A signed copy of this A WC and the accompanying Method of Payment Confirmation form delivered by , facsimile or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy. E. Respondent may attach a Corrective Action Statement to this A WC that is a statement of demonstrable corrective steps taken to prevent future misconduct. Respondent understands that it may not deny the charges or make any statement that is inconsistent with the A WC in this Statement. This Statement does not constitute factual or legal findings by the NYSE, nor does it reflect the views of NYSE Regulation or its staff. 5

6 The undersigned. on behalf of lhe Finn. cenifies that a person duly authorized to act on it'i behalf has read and understands all of the provisions of this AWC and has been given a full opportunity to ask questions about it: lhat it has agreed to the A WC's provisions voluntarily: and that no offer. threat. inducement. or promise of an}' kind. other than the terms set forth herein and the prospect of avoiding the issuance of a Complaint. has been made to induce the firm to submit it. f O/ '1 / 2011 Date Reviewed by: GTS Securities LLC Respondent~ By:':::t - -.-:::r--.. Ari M. Rubenste; Chief Executive Officer Counsel for Respondent Finn Name Address City/State/Zip Phone Number Accepted by FIN RA 10/ t(p // 7 Date - :::::2--~ r'f~ 4 'h=r Kenneth R. Bozza. Chief Counsel Depanment of Enforcement Signed on behalf of the NYSE. by delegated authorit) from the Chief Regulatory Officer of the NYSE. 6