Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Fee Changes, 43194-43196 [E9-20543]
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43194
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 164 / Wednesday, August 26, 2009 / Notices
to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Act’’) 2 and
Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3 a proposed rule
change to amend the Bylaws of its
ultimate parent, NYSE Euronext
(‘‘Corporation’’),4 and the Corporation’s
Director Independence Policy to require
that at least three-fourths of the
members of the Corporation’s Board of
Directors (‘‘Board’’) satisfy
independence requirements. The
proposed rule change was published for
comment in the Federal Register on July
16, 2009.5 The Commission received no
comments regarding the proposal. This
order approves the proposed rule
change.
II. Description of the Proposal
Section 10.10(C) of the Corporation’s
Bylaws provides, among other things,
that for so long as the Corporation shall
control, directly or indirectly, any U.S.
Regulated Subsidiaries,6 before any
amendment or repeal of any provision
of the Bylaws shall be effective, such
amendment or repeal shall be filed with
or filed with and approved by the
Commission under Section 19 of the Act
and the rules promulgated thereunder.
Consistent with this requirement, NYSE
filed this proposed rule change.
Currently, the Corporation’s Bylaws and
Director Independence Policy require
that all members of the Board, other
than the Chief Executive Officer and the
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, must
satisfy the independence requirements
for directors of the Corporation.7 The
proposed rule change would permit the
Corporation to amend its Bylaws and
Director Independence Policy to require
that at least three-fourths of the
members of the Board satisfy the
independence requirements for
directors of the Corporation.
The Exchange stated that the
proposed amendment to the Bylaws and
Director Independence Policy would not
alter or amend the standards by which
the Corporation determines whether an
individual director is independent;
would not affect the independence
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
4 The NYSE, a New York limited liability
company, is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of
NYSE Euronext.
5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60261
(July 8, 2009), 74 FR 34609 (‘‘Notice’’).
6 Section 7.3(G) of the Corporation’s Bylaws
defines ‘‘U.S. Regulated Subsidiaries’’ as New York
Stock Exchange LLC, NYSE Market, Inc., NYSE
Regulation, Inc., NYSE Arca, LLC, NYSE Arca, Inc.,
NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. and NYSE Alternext US
LLC or their successors, in each case to the extent
that such entities continue to be controlled, directly
or indirectly, by the Corporation.
7 See Section 3.4 of the Amended and Restated
Bylaws of NYSE Euronext (‘‘Bylaws’’).
requirements of the Exchange with
respect to its directors or the director
independence requirements of any of
the other self-regulatory organizations
for which the Corporation is the
ultimate parent or of NYSE Group, Inc.,
the intermediate holding company,
including in each case the number of
required independent directors; and
would not affect other director
qualification requirements set forth in
the Bylaws of the Corporation.8
The Exchange further stated that the
current board independence
requirement eliminates from
consideration as potential directors of
the Corporation a substantial number of
individuals who could contribute
significantly to the deliberations of the
Corporation’s Board by virtue of their
knowledge, ability, and experience. The
Exchange believes that the proposed
rule change would continue to protect
the independent judgment of the Board,
while permitting the Corporation to
consider a broader range of experienced
and knowledgeable individuals as
directors.9
III. Discussion
After careful review, the Commission
finds that the proposed rule change is
consistent with the requirements of the
Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder applicable to a national
securities exchange. Specifically, the
Commission finds that the proposed
rule change is consistent with Section
6(b)(1) of the Act,10 which requires,
among other things, that an exchange be
so organized and have the capacity to be
able to carry out the purposes of the Act.
The Commission also finds that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,11 which
requires, among other things, that the
rules of a national securities exchange
be designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to
promote just and equitable principles of
trade, 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.12
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
2 15
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8 See e.g., Section 3.2 of the Bylaws (Certain
Qualifications for the Board of Directors).
9 There are currently 18 directors on the Board,
including the Chief Executive Officer and the
Deputy Chief Executive Officer. The Bylaws
currently require 16 of the directors (i.e., all but the
two aforementioned employees) to be independent.
The proposed amendment to the Bylaws would
require a minimum of 14 of the directors to be
independent.
10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1).
11 15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b)(5).
12 In approving this proposed rule change, the
Commission has considered the proposed rule’s
impact on efficiency, competition and capital
formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
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The Bylaws currently require that 16
of the 18 directors of the Corporation’s
Board (all the directors except the Chief
Executive Officer and the Deputy Chief
Executive Officer) must satisfy the
Corporation’s independence
requirements. The Commission notes
that the proposed rule change, which
would require that at least three-fourths
of the Board to be independent, would
still require a minimum of 14 directors
to satisfy the Corporation’s
independence requirements. The
Commission also notes that the proposal
would not alter the Corporation’s
standards for determining director
independence. The Commission
believes that the proposal strikes a
reasonable balance between the goals of
retaining highly qualified and
experienced directors for Board service
and protecting the exercise of
independent judgment by the
Corporation’s Board.
IV. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,13 that the
proposed rule change (SR–NYSE–2009–
60) be, and hereby is, approved.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.14
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–20544 Filed 8–25–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–60537; File No. SR–ISE–
2009–63]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule
Change Relating to Fee Changes
August 19, 2009.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on August 7,
2009, the International Securities
Exchange, LLC (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or the
‘‘ISE’’) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’)
the proposed rule change, as described
in Items I, II, and III below, which items
have been prepared by the selfregulatory organization. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
13 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
14 17
E:\FR\FM\26AUN1.SGM
26AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 164 / Wednesday, August 26, 2009 / Notices
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The ISE is proposing to amend its
Schedule of Fees to establish fees for
transactions in options on a narrow
based index. The text of the proposed
rule change is available on the
Exchange’s Web site (https://
www.ise.com), at the principal office of
the Exchange, and at the Commission’s
Public Reference Room.
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
self-regulatory organization 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 self-regulatory organization has
prepared summaries, set forth in
sections A, B and C below, of the most
significant aspects of such statements.
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose—The Exchange is
proposing to amend its Schedule of Fees
to establish fees for transactions in
options on the Morgan Stanley Retail
Index (‘‘MVR’’).3 The Exchange is
proposing to adopt an execution fee for
all transactions in options on MVR.4
There will be no execution fee for
Public Customer Orders 5 in MVR. All
Firm Proprietary orders will be charged
$0.20 per contract. The amount of the
execution fee for all ISE Market Maker
transactions shall be equal to the
3 The Exchange represents that MVR is eligible for
options trading because it meets the standards of
ISE Rule 2002(d), which allows the ISE to begin
trading this product by filing Form 19b–4(e) at least
[sic] five business days after commencement of
trading pursuant to Rule 19b–4(e) of the Act.
4 These fees will be charged only to Exchange
members. Under a pilot program that is set to expire
on July 31, 2010, these fees will also be charged to
Linkage Principal Orders (‘‘Linkage P Orders’’) and
Linkage Principal Acting as Agent Orders (‘‘Linkage
P/A Orders’’). The amount of the execution fee
charged by the Exchange for Linkage P Orders and
Linkage P/A Orders is $0.27 per contract side and
$0.18 per contract side, respectively. See Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 60175 (June 25, 2009), 74
FR 32026 (July 6, 2009) (SR–ISE–2009–36).
5 Public Customer Order is defined in Exchange
Rule 100(a)(39) as an order for the account of a
Public Customer. Public Customer is defined in
Exchange Rule 100(a)(38) as a person or entity that
is not a broker or dealer in securities.
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17:05 Aug 25, 2009
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execution fee currently charged by the
Exchange for ISE Market Maker
transactions in equity options.6 Finally,
the amount of the execution fee for all
non-ISE Market Maker transactions shall
be $0.45 per contract.7
Additionally, the Exchange has
entered into a license agreement with
Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. in
connection with the listing and trading
of options on MVR. As with certain
other licensed options, to defray the
licensing costs, the Exchange is
adopting a surcharge fee of fifteen (15)
cents per contract for trading in options
on MVR. The Exchange believes
charging the participants that trade this
instrument is the most equitable means
of recovering the costs of the license.
However, because of competitive
pressures in the industry, the Exchange
proposes to exclude Public Customer
Orders from this surcharge fee.
Accordingly, this surcharge fee will
only be charged to Exchange members
with respect to non-Public Customer
Orders (e.g., ISE Market Maker, non-ISE
Market Maker & Firm Proprietary
orders) and Linkage Orders. The
Exchange believes the proposed rule
change will further ISE’s goal of
introducing new products to the
marketplace at a competitive price.
2. Basis—The Exchange believes that
the proposed rule change is consistent
with the objectives of Section 6 of the
Act,8 in general, and furthers the
objectives of Section 6(b)(4),9 in
particular, in that it is designed to
provide for the equitable allocation of
reasonable dues, fees and other charges
among its members and other persons
using its facilities. In particular, the
Exchange believes the proposed rule
change will further the Exchange’s goal
of introducing new products to the
marketplace at a competitive priced.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The proposed rule change does not
impose any burden on competition that
is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
6 The Exchange applies a sliding scale, between
$0.01 and $0.18 per contract side, based on the
number of contracts an ISE market maker trades in
a month.
7 The amount of the execution fee for non-ISE
Market Maker transactions executed in the
Exchange’s Facilitation and Solicitation
Mechanisms is $0.19 [sic] per contract.
8 15 U.S.C. 78f.
9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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43195
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants or Others
The Exchange has not solicited, and
does not intend to solicit, comments on
this proposed rule change. The
Exchange has not received any
unsolicited written comments from
members or other interested parties.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3) of
the Act 10 and Rule 19b–4(f)(2) 11
thereunder. At any time within 60 days
of the filing of such proposed rule
change, the Commission may summarily
abrogate 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.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposal is
consistent with the Act. Comments may
be submitted by any of the following
methods:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–ISE–2009–63 on the subject
line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC
20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–ISE–2009–63. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if e-mail 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 Web site (https://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
10 15
11 17
E:\FR\FM\26AUN1.SGM
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). [sic]
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
26AUN1
43196
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 164 / Wednesday, August 26, 2009 / Notices
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 inspection and copying in
the Commission’s Public Reference
Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington,
DC 20549, on official business days
between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Copies of such filing also will be
available for inspection and copying at
the principal office of ISE. All
comments received will be posted
without change; the Commission does
not edit personal identifying
information from submissions. You
should submit only information that
you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File
Number SR–ISE–2009–63 and should be
submitted on or before September 16,
2009.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.12
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–20543 Filed 8–25–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–60551; File No. SR–CBOE–
2009–040]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
Chicago Board Options Exchange,
Incorporated; Order Granting Approval
of a Proposed Rule Change To Adopt
Rules Implementing the Options Order
Protection and Locked/Crossed Market
Plan
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
August 20, 2009.
I. Introduction
On June 24, 2009, the Chicago Board
Options Exchange, Incorporated
(‘‘CBOE’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to Section
19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4
thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to
amend and adopt rules to implement
the Options Order Protection and
Locked/Crossed Market Plan. The
proposed rule change was published for
comment in the Federal Register on July
8, 2009.3 The Commission received no
12 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60187
(June 29, 2009), 74 FR 32664 (‘‘Notice’’).
1 15
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17:05 Aug 25, 2009
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comments on the proposal. This order
approves the proposed rule change.
II. Description of the Proposal
The Exchange proposes to amend and
adopt new CBOE rules to implement the
Options Order Protection and Locked/
Crossed Market Plan (‘‘Plan’’).4
Specifically, the Exchange proposes to
completely replace its current
Intermarket Linkage Rules (Rules 6.80—
6.85) with new rules implementing the
Plan, amend other Exchange rules to
reflect the Plan, and delete rules
rendered unnecessary by the Plan.
The Old Plan
Each of the Participating Options
Exchanges are signatories to the Plan for
the Purpose of Creating and Operating
an Intermarket Option Linkage (‘‘Old
Plan’’).5 In pertinent part, the Old Plan
generally requires its participants to
avoid trading at a price inferior to the
national best bid or offer (‘‘tradethrough’’), although it provides for a
number of exceptions to trade-through
liability.6 The Participating Options
Exchanges comply with this
requirement of the Old Plan by utilizing
a stand alone system (‘‘Linkage Hub’’) to
send and receive specific order types,7
namely Principal Acting as Agent
Orders (‘‘P/A Orders’’), Principal
Orders, and Satisfaction Orders.8 The
4 The Plan is a national market system plan
proposed by the seven existing options exchanges
and approved by the Commission. See Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 59647 (March 30, 2009),
74 FR 15010 (April 2, 2009) (File No. 4–546) (‘‘Plan
Notice’’) and 60405 (July 30, 2009), 74 FR 39362
(August 6, 2009) (File No. 4–546) (‘‘Plan
Approval’’). The seven options exchanges are:
International Securities Exchange LLC (‘‘ISE’’); The
NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (‘‘NASDAQ’’);
NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (‘‘BOX’’); NASDAQ OMX
PHLX, Inc. (‘‘Phlx’’); NYSE Amex LLC (‘‘NYSE
Amex’’); NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE Arca’’); and
CBOE (each exchange individually a ‘‘Participant’’
and, together, the ‘‘Participating Options
Exchanges’’).
5 On July 28, 2000, the Commission approved the
Old Plan as a national market system plan for the
purpose of creating and operating an intermarket
options market linkage proposed by the American
Stock Exchange LLC (n/k/a NYSE Amex), CBOE,
and ISE. See Securities Exchange Act Release No.
43086 (July 28, 2000), 65 FR 48023 (August 4,
2000). Subsequently, Philadelphia Stock Exchange,
Inc. (n/k/a Phlx), Pacific Exchange, Inc. (n/k/a
NYSE Arca), Boston Stock Exchange, Inc. (n/k/a
BOX), and Nasdaq joined the Linkage Plan. See
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 43573
(November 16, 2000), 65 FR 70851 (November 28,
2000); 43574 (November 16, 2000), 65 FR 70850
(November 28, 2000); 49198 (February 5, 2004), 69
FR 7029 (February 12, 2004); and 57545 (March 21,
2008), 73 FR 16394 (March 27, 2008).
6 Section 8(c) of the Old Plan.
7 The Linkage Hub is a centralized data
communications network that electronically links
the Participating Options Exchanges to one another.
The Options Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) operates
the Linkage Hub.
8 Section 2(16) of the Old Plan.
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Old Plan also provided that
dissemination of ‘‘locked’’ or ‘‘crossed’’
markets should be avoided, and
remedial actions that should be taken to
unlock or uncross such market.9 Each of
the Participating Options Exchanges,
including the Exchange, has submitted
an amendment to the Old Plan to
withdraw from such Plan.10 The
withdrawals will be effective upon
approval by the Commission of such
amendments pursuant to Rule 608 of
Regulation NMS under the Act
(‘‘Regulation NMS’’).11
The Plan
The Plan does not require a central
linkage mechanism akin to the Old
Plan’s Linkage Hub. Instead, the Plan
includes the framework for routing
orders via private linkages that exist for
NMS stocks under Regulation NMS.12
The Plan requires the Participating
Options Exchanges to adopt rules
‘‘reasonably designed to prevent TradeThroughs.’’ 13 Participating Options
Exchanges are also required to conduct
surveillance of their respective markets
on a regular basis to ascertain the
effectiveness of the policies and
procedures to prevent Trade-Throughs
and to take prompt action to remedy
deficiencies in such policies and
procedures.14 As further described
below, the Plan incorporates a number
of exceptions to trade-through
liability.15 Some of these exceptions are
carried over from the Old Plan,
including exceptions for trading
rotations, non-firm quotes, and complex
trades.16 Others are substantially similar
to exceptions available for NMS stocks
9 Section
7(a)(i)(C) of the Old Plan.
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60360
(July 21, 2009) 74 FR 37265 (July 28, 2009) (File No.
4–429).
11 17 CFR 242.608.
12 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808
(June 9, 2005), 70 FR 37496 (June 29, 2005) (File
No. S7–10–04); 17 CFR 242.600 et seq. For
discussions of the similarities between the
provisions of Regulation NMS and the provisions in
the Plan, see the Plan Notice and Plan Approval,
supra note 4.
13 Under the Plan, a ‘‘Trade-Through’’ is generally
defined as a transaction in an option series, either
as principal or agent, at a price that is lower than
a Protected Bid or higher than a Protected Offer.’’
See Section 2(21) of the Plan. A ‘‘Protected Bid’’
and ‘‘Protected Offer’’ generally means a bid or offer
in an option series, respectively, that is displayed
by a Participant, is disseminated pursuant to the
Options Price Reporting Authority (‘‘OPRA’’) Plan,
and is the Best Bid or Best Offer. See Section 2(17)
of the Plan. A ‘‘Best Bid’’ or ‘‘Best Offer’’ means the
highest bid price and the lowest offer price. Section
(2)(1) of the Plan. ‘‘Protected Bid’’ and ‘‘Protected
Offer,’’ together are referred to herein as ‘‘Protected
Quotation.’’ See Section 2(18) of the Plan.
14 Section 5(a)(ii) of the Plan.
15 Section 5(b) of the Plan.
16 Subparagraphs (ii), (vii), and (viii),
respectively, of Section 5(b) of the Plan.
10 See
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43194-43196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20543]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-60537; File No. SR-ISE-2009-63]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule
Change Relating to Fee Changes
August 19, 2009.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given
that on August 7, 2009, the International Securities Exchange, LLC (the
``Exchange'' or the ``ISE'') filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change, as described in
Items I, II, and III below, which items have been prepared by the self-
regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to
[[Page 43195]]
solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The ISE is proposing to amend its Schedule of Fees to establish
fees for transactions in options on a narrow based index. The text of
the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site
(https://www.ise.com), at the principal office of the Exchange, and at
the Commission's Public Reference Room.
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 self-regulatory organization
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 self-regulatory organization
has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B and C below, of 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 is proposing to amend its Schedule of Fees
to establish fees for transactions in options on the Morgan Stanley
Retail Index (``MVR'').\3\ The Exchange is proposing to adopt an
execution fee for all transactions in options on MVR.\4\ There will be
no execution fee for Public Customer Orders \5\ in MVR. All Firm
Proprietary orders will be charged $0.20 per contract. The amount of
the execution fee for all ISE Market Maker transactions shall be equal
to the execution fee currently charged by the Exchange for ISE Market
Maker transactions in equity options.\6\ Finally, the amount of the
execution fee for all non-ISE Market Maker transactions shall be $0.45
per contract.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The Exchange represents that MVR is eligible for options
trading because it meets the standards of ISE Rule 2002(d), which
allows the ISE to begin trading this product by filing Form 19b-4(e)
at least [sic] five business days after commencement of trading
pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) of the Act.
\4\ These fees will be charged only to Exchange members. Under a
pilot program that is set to expire on July 31, 2010, these fees
will also be charged to Linkage Principal Orders (``Linkage P
Orders'') and Linkage Principal Acting as Agent Orders (``Linkage P/
A Orders''). The amount of the execution fee charged by the Exchange
for Linkage P Orders and Linkage P/A Orders is $0.27 per contract
side and $0.18 per contract side, respectively. See Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 60175 (June 25, 2009), 74 FR 32026 (July 6,
2009) (SR-ISE-2009-36).
\5\ Public Customer Order is defined in Exchange Rule 100(a)(39)
as an order for the account of a Public Customer. Public Customer is
defined in Exchange Rule 100(a)(38) as a person or entity that is
not a broker or dealer in securities.
\6\ The Exchange applies a sliding scale, between $0.01 and
$0.18 per contract side, based on the number of contracts an ISE
market maker trades in a month.
\7\ The amount of the execution fee for non-ISE Market Maker
transactions executed in the Exchange's Facilitation and
Solicitation Mechanisms is $0.19 [sic] per contract.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additionally, the Exchange has entered into a license agreement
with Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. in connection with the listing and
trading of options on MVR. As with certain other licensed options, to
defray the licensing costs, the Exchange is adopting a surcharge fee of
fifteen (15) cents per contract for trading in options on MVR. The
Exchange believes charging the participants that trade this instrument
is the most equitable means of recovering the costs of the license.
However, because of competitive pressures in the industry, the Exchange
proposes to exclude Public Customer Orders from this surcharge fee.
Accordingly, this surcharge fee will only be charged to Exchange
members with respect to non-Public Customer Orders (e.g., ISE Market
Maker, non-ISE Market Maker & Firm Proprietary orders) and Linkage
Orders. The Exchange believes the proposed rule change will further
ISE's goal of introducing new products to the marketplace at a
competitive price.
2. Basis--The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is
consistent with the objectives of Section 6 of the Act,\8\ in general,
and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4),\9\ in particular, in
that it is designed to provide for the equitable allocation of
reasonable dues, fees and other charges among its members and other
persons using its facilities. In particular, the Exchange believes the
proposed rule change will further the Exchange's goal of introducing
new products to the marketplace at a competitive priced.
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\8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The proposed rule change does not impose any burden on competition
that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of
the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others
The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit,
comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received
any unsolicited written comments from members or other interested
parties.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3) of the Act \10\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) \11\ thereunder. At any
time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule change, the
Commission may summarily abrogate 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.
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\10\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). [sic]
\11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposal is
consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the
following methods:
Electronic Comments
Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-ISE-2009-63 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ISE-2009-63. This file
number should be included on the subject line if e-mail 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 Web site (https://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
[[Page 43196]]
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 inspection and copying in the Commission's Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official
business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such
filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the
principal office of ISE. All comments received will be posted without
change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information
from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to
make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number
SR-ISE-2009-63 and should be submitted on or before September 16, 2009.
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\12\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\12\
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-20543 Filed 8-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P