SEC Division of Trading and Markets no-action letter: BRUT System

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January 6, 2005

William O'Brien BRUT LLC 55 Broadway New York, New York 10006

Re: BRUT System

Dear Mr. O'Brien:

This letter extends the temporary no-action position originally taken by the Division of Market Regulation ("Division") on November 13, 1998 until October 6, 2005. This letter also exends the no-action position taken by the Division on February 1, 2002 relating to exchange-listed securities, and the no-action position taken by the Division on July 3, 2003 relating to Nasdaq and exchange-listed securities for which a linkage between The BRUT ECN, LLC ("BRUT System" or "System") and a self-regulatory organization ("SRO") is operational. The November 13th, February 1st, and July 3rd letters confirmed that the BRUT System, formerly known as the Strike System Electronic Communications Network, operated by Strike Technologies LLC ("Strike Technologies") is an "electronic communications network" ("ECN") as defined in the amendments to the Quote Rule and the Limit Order Display Rule (cumulatively, "Order Execution Rules") and would be in compliance with the requirements applicable to the ECN Display Alternative set forth in the ECN Amendment with respect to Nasdaq securities and exchange-listed securities for which a linkage between the BRUT System and the SRO is operational. In the November 13th, February 1st, and July 3rd letters, the Division took the position that it would not recommend the Commission take enforcement action against Nasdaq market makers who are participants in the BRUT System, if those Nasdaq market makers enter orders into the BRUT System without modifying their public quotations in compliance with the ECN Amendment. These no-action positions were temporarily extended most recently in a letter dated April 6, 2004.

The Division continues to condition its position on compliance with the terms expressed in the November 13th and February 1st letters. These terms include compliance with the non-discrimination provisions of the Addendum to the Nasdaq Workstation II Subscriber Agreement and provisions of the ITS/CAES Addendum. The BRUT System should respond to orders entered into the System through access to an SRO no slower than the BRUT System responds to orders entered directly into the System, and in any event in no more than a few seconds.

The Division further conditions its position upon your representation that the BRUT System has sufficient capacity to handle the volume of trading reasonably anticipated in its System. Such capacity should be ensured through periodic review and testing to (1) ensure future capacity, (2) identify potential weaknesses, and (3) reduce the risks of system failures and threats to system integrity. The Division may request records from you regarding such reviews and tests.

The Division further conditions its position on the BRUT System providing brokers access to Nasdaq securities via either Nasdaq or the telephone for a charge of no more than the fee the BRUT System charges a substantial proportion of its active broker-dealer subscribers, and in any event, no more than $0.009 per share, 1 plus any fee charged to the BRUT System by Nasdaq. The Division further conditions its position on the BRUT System providing brokers the ability to effect transactions in exchange-listed securities with orders in the BRUT System via the CAES linkage or through a telephone desk staffed by employees who meet applicable NASD qualification standards without charging fees to non-subscriber broker-dealers for access to the System through the CAES/ITS linkage. In addition, the Division may request additional representations from you regarding the operation of the BRUT System. Further, the Division will consider extending, modifying, or revoking its temporary no-action position prior to October 6, 2005 based on its continuing experience with the BRUT System's compliance with the terms of this no-action letter and the operation of the ECN Display Alternative.

This no-action position regards enforcement action under Section 11A of the Exchange Act only, and does not express any legal conclusions regarding the applicability of Section 11A of the Exchange Act or other statutory or regulatory provisions of the federal securities laws. This no-action position is based solely on the representations you have made. Any different facts or conditions might require a different response. This no-action position is subject to changes in current law, regulation, and interpretations; any such change may require the Division to reevaluate and withdraw or modify this position.

Sincerely,

Robert L.D. Colby Deputy Director

Endnotes

1 The Division notes that the Commission has proposed, in Regulation NMS, to limit fees that any trading center could charge for accessing its protected quotations to no more than $0.003 per share. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 50870 (December 16, 2004), 69 FR 77424 (December 16, 2004). Depending on what action the Commission takes with respect to Regulation NMS, the Division may determine to modify or withdraw this no-action position. This no-action position in no way prejudges what action the Commission may take with respect to any part of the Regulation NMS proposal.

http://www.sec.gov/divisions/marketreg/mr-noaction/brut010605.htm

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Modified: 01/31/2005