SEC Division of Trading and Markets no-action letter: Trading System Operated by OnTrade, Inc.

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January 6, 2005

Mr. John M. Schaible OnTrade, Inc. 301 S. Missouri Avenue, Second Floor Clearwater, Florida 33756

Re: Trading System Operated by OnTrade, Inc.

Dear Mr. Schaible:

This letter extends the temporary no-action position taken by the Division of Market Regulation ("Division") on April 2, 2004 until October 6, 2005. The April 2nd letter confirmed that the NexTrade ECN ("Trading System" or "System") operated by OnTrade, Inc. ("OnTrade") 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 for which a linkage between the Trading System and a self-regulatory organization ("SRO") is operational. In the April 2nd letter, the Division took the position that it would not recommend the Commission take enforcement action against OTC market makers or exchange market makers who are participants in the Trading System, if those market makers enter orders into the Trading System without modifying their public quotations in compliance with the ECN Amendment.

The Division continues to condition its position on compliance with the terms expressed in the April 2nd letter. These terms include, but are not limited to, compliance with the requirement that the Trading System respond to orders entered into the Trading System through access to the SRO no slower than the Trading 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 Trading 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 OnTrade regarding such reviews and tests.

The Division further conditions its position on OnTrade providing brokers access via either an SRO or the telephone for a charge of no more than the fee OnTrade 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 OnTrade by an SRO for trades. In addition, the Division may request additional representations from you regarding the operation of the Trading 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 OnTrade's compliance with the terms of this no-action letter and the operation of the ECN Display Alternative.

As noted above, this no-action letter is conditioned upon OnTrade's compliance with the representations made in the April 2nd letter, and upon OnTrade's compliance with all applicable rules of the Commission and any applicable SRO. The Division also notes the letter dated June 2, 2000 to NexTrade from Annette Nazareth, Director of the Division, and Lori Richards, Director of the Commission's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations.

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/ontrade010605.htm

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Modified: 01/31/2005