The NYSE proposed a rule change on January 27 that would allow for the listing and trading of rights on the NYSE.  The term "rights" refers to rights offered to holders of record of issued equity securities to subscribe (usually on a pro rata basis) for additional securities of the same class.  To be listed on the NYSE, (i) rights must be issued to purchase or receive a security that is already listed on the NYSE or that will be listed concurrently with the rights, (ii) at least 400,000 rights must be issued and (iii) there must be at least 100 public holders of round lots.  Rights holders may not be entitled to any privileges of the holders of common stock (e.g., dividends, preemptive rights, or voting rights), and, if the rights are exercisable into listed common stock, the listing of the rights and the underlying common stock would be subject to the NYSE’s shareholder approval policy.  The implementation of the rule change would put the NYSE on equal footing with Nasdaq (which already allows for the listing and trading of rights).

Authors vary, but SECurities in a SECond is edited by Erin Reeves McGinnis and Wes Scott. 

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