Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Related to Extending the FLEX Exercise Settlement Values Pilot, 65023-65026 [2013-25645]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 210 / Wednesday, October 30, 2013 / Notices
annually, to determine whether the
purchases were influenced by the
investment by the Investing Fund in the
Fund. The Board will consider, among
other things: (i) Whether the purchases
were consistent with the investment
objectives and policies of the Fund; (ii)
how the performance of securities
purchased in an Affiliated Underwriting
compares to the performance of
comparable securities purchased during
a comparable period of time in
underwritings other than Affiliated
Underwritings or to a benchmark such
as a comparable market index; and (iii)
whether the amount of securities
purchased by the Fund in Affiliated
Underwritings and the amount
purchased directly from an
Underwriting Affiliate have changed
significantly from prior years. The
Board will take any appropriate actions
based on its review, including, if
appropriate, the institution of
procedures designed to assure that
purchases of securities in Affiliated
Underwritings are in the best interest of
shareholders of the Fund.
8. Each Fund will maintain and
preserve permanently in an easily
accessible place a written copy of the
procedures described in the preceding
condition, and any modifications to
such procedures, and will maintain and
preserve for a period of not less than six
years from the end of the fiscal year in
which any purchase in an Affiliated
Underwriting occurred, the first two
years in an easily accessible place, a
written record of each purchase of
securities in Affiliated Underwritings
once an investment by an Investing
Fund in the securities of the Fund
exceeds the limit of section
12(d)(1)(A)(i) of the Act, setting forth
from whom the securities were
acquired, the identity of the
underwriting syndicate’s members, the
terms of the purchase, and the
information or materials upon which
the Board’s determinations were made.
9. Before investing in a Fund in
excess of the limits in section
12(d)(1)(A), an Investing Fund will
execute a FOF Participation Agreement
with the Fund stating that their
respective boards of directors or trustees
and their investment advisers, or
Trustee and Sponsor, as applicable,
understand the terms and conditions of
the order, and agree to fulfill their
responsibilities under the order. At the
time of its investment in Shares of a
Fund in excess of the limit in section
12(d)(1)(A)(i), an Investing Fund will
notify the Fund of the investment. At
such time, the Investing Fund will also
transmit to the Fund a list of the names
of each Investing Fund Affiliate and
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Underwriting Affiliate. The Investing
Fund will notify the Fund of any
changes to the list as soon as reasonably
practicable after a change occurs. The
Fund and the Investing Fund will
maintain and preserve a copy of the
order, the FOF Participation Agreement,
and the list with any updated
information for the duration of the
investment and for a period of not less
than six years thereafter, the first two
years in an easily accessible place.
10. Before approving any advisory
contract under section 15 of the Act, the
board of directors or trustees of each
Investing Management Company,
including a majority of the independent
directors or trustees, will find that the
advisory fees charged under such
contract are based on services provided
that will be in addition to, rather than
duplicative of, the services provided
under the advisory contract(s) of any
Fund in which the Investing
Management Company may invest.
These findings and their basis will be
recorded fully in the minute books of
the appropriate Investing Management
Company.
11. Any sales charges and/or service
fees charged with respect to shares of an
Investing Fund will not exceed the
limits applicable to a fund of funds as
set forth in NASD Conduct Rule 2830.
12. No Fund relying on the section
12(d)(1) relief will acquire securities of
any investment company or company
relying on section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of
the Act in excess of the limits contained
in section 12(d)(1)(A) of the Act, except
to the extent permitted by exemptive
relief from the Commission permitting
the Fund to purchase shares of other
investment companies for short-term
cash management purposes.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Investment Management, under delegated
authority.
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
65023
(‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on October
11, 2013, the Chicago Board Options
Exchange, Incorporated (‘‘Exchange’’ or
‘‘CBOE’’) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the
‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared
by the Exchange. The Exchange has
designated the proposal as a ‘‘noncontroversial’’ proposed rule change
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the
Act 3 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6) thereunder.4
The Commission is publishing this
notice to 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 Exchange proposes to extend the
operation of its Flexible Exchange
Options (‘‘FLEX Options’’) pilot
program regarding permissible exercise
settlement values for FLEX Index
Options.5 The text of the proposed rule
change is available on the Exchange’s
Web site (https://www.cboe.com/
AboutCBOE/CBOELegalRegulatory
Home.aspx), at the Exchange’s Office of
the Secretary and at the Commission.
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
Exchange 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
Exchange has prepared summaries, set
forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
the most significant aspects of such
statements.
[FR Doc. 2013–25648 Filed 10–29–13; 8:45 am]
1 15
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
4 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
5 FLEX Options provide investors with the ability
to customize basic option features including size,
expiration date, exercise style, and certain exercise
prices. FLEX Options can be FLEX Index Options
or FLEX Equity Options. In addition, other products
are permitted to be traded pursuant to the FLEX
trading procedures. For example, credit options are
eligible for trading as FLEX Options pursuant to the
FLEX rules in Chapters XXIVA and XXIVB. See
CBOE Rules 24A.1(e) and (f), 24A.4(b)(1) and (c)(1),
24B.1(f) and (g), 24B.4(b)(1) and (c)(1), and 28.17.
The rules governing the trading of FLEX Options on
the FLEX Request for Quote (‘‘RFQ’’) System
platform are contained in Chapter XXIVA. The rules
governing the trading of FLEX Options on the FLEX
Hybrid Trading System platform are contained in
Chapter XXIVB.
2 17
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–70752; File No. SR–CBOE–
2013–099]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
Chicago Board Options Exchange,
Incorporated; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change Related to Extending the
FLEX Exercise Settlement Values Pilot
October 24, 2013.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
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1. Purpose
On January 28, 2010, the Exchange
received approval of a rule change that,
among other things, established a pilot
program regarding permissible exercise
settlement values for FLEX Index
Options. The pilot program is currently
set to expire on the earlier of November
2, 2013 or the date on which the pilot
program is approved on a permanent
basis.6 The purpose of this rule change
filing is to extend the pilot program
through the earlier of November 3, 2014
or the date on which the pilot program
is approved on a permanent basis. This
filing simply seeks to extend the
operation of the pilot program and does
not propose any substantive changes to
the pilot program.
Under Rules 24A.4, Terms of FLEX
Options, and 24B.4, Terms of FLEX
Options, a FLEX Option may expire on
any business day specified as to day,
month and year, not to exceed a
maximum term of fifteen years. In
addition, the exercise settlement value
for a FLEX Index Option can be
specified as the index value determined
by reference to the reported level of the
index as derived from the opening or
closing prices of the component
securities (‘‘a.m. settlement’’ or ‘‘p.m.
settlement,’’ respectively) or as a
specified average, provided that the
average index value must conform to the
averaging parameters established by the
Exchange.7 However, prior to the
6 At the same time the permissible exercise
settlement values pilot was established for FLEX
Index Options, the Exchange also established a pilot
program eliminating the minimum value size
requirements for all FLEX Options. See Securities
Exchange Act Release Nos. 61439 (January 28,
2010), 75 FR 5831 (February 4, 2010)(SR–CBOE–
2009–087)(Approval Order); 61676 (March 9, 2010),
75 FR 13191 (March 18, 2010)(SR–CBOE–2010–
026)(technical rule change to include original
pilots’ conclusion date of March 28, 2011 in the
rule text); 64110 (March 24, 2011), 76 FR17463
(March 29, 2011)(SR–CBOE–2011–024)(extending
the pilots through March 30, 2012), 77 FR 20673
(April 5, 2012)(SR–CBOE–2012–027)(extending the
pilots through the earlier of November 2, 2012 or
the date on which the respective pilot program is
approved on a permanent basis). The pilot program
eliminating the minimum value size requirements
was approved on a permanent basis in a separate
rule change filing. See Securities Exchange Act
Release No. 67624 (August 8, 2012), 77 FR 48580
(August 14, 2012)(SR–CBOE–2012–040). The
permissible exercise settlement values pilot,
however, has been extended. See Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 68145 (November 2,
2012), 77 FR 67044 (November 8, 2012)(SR–CBOE–
2012–102)(extending the pilot through the earlier of
November 2, 2013 or the date on which the pilot
program is approved on a permanent basis).
7 See Rules 24A.4(b)(3) and 24B.4(b)(3); see also
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 31920
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initiation of the exercise settlement
values pilot, only a.m. settlements were
permitted if a FLEX Index Option
expires on, or within two business days
of, a third Friday-of-the-month
expiration (‘‘Expiration Friday’’).8
Under the exercise settlement values
pilot, this restriction on p.m. and
specified average price settlements in
FLEX Index Options was eliminated.9
The exercise settlement values pilot is
currently set to expire on the earlier of
November 2, 2013 or the date on which
the pilot program is approved on a
permanent basis.
CBOE is proposing to extend the pilot
program through the earlier of
November 3, 2014 or the date on which
the pilot program is approved on a
permanent basis. CBOE believes the
pilot program has been successful and
well received by its membership and the
investing public for the period that it
has been in operation as a pilot. In
support of the proposed extension of the
pilot program, and as required by the
pilot program’s Approval Order, the
Exchange has submitted to the
Commission pilot program reports
regarding the pilot, which detail the
Exchange’s experience with the
program. Specifically, the Exchange
provided the Commission an annual
report analyzing volume and open
interest for each broad-based FLEX
Index Options class overlying an
Expiration Friday, p.m.-settled FLEX
(February 24, 1993), 58 FR 12280 (March 3,
1993)(SR–CBOE–92–17). The Exchange has
determined to limit the averaging parameters to
three alternatives: the average of the opening and
closing index values on the expiration date; the
average of intra-day high and low index values on
the expiration date; and the average of the opening,
closing, and intra-day high and low index values on
the expiration date. Any changes to the averaging
parameters established by the Exchange would be
announced to Trading Permit Holders via circular.
The Commission notes that its initial approval of
specified average exercise settlement values for
FLEX Index Options that expire on, or within two
business days of, a third Friday-of-the-month
expiration was based on the averaging parameters
being limited to these three alternatives. See
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61439 (January
28, 2010), 75 FR 5831, 5832 n.17 (February 4, 2010).
The Commission expects that, if the Exchange were
to seek to change these averaging parameters, it
would file a proposed rule change pursuant to
Section 19(b) under the Act. See Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 59417 (February 18,
2009), 74 FR 8591, 8593 n.21 (February 25, 2009).
8 For example, prior to the pilot, the exercise
settlement value of a FLEX Index Option that
expires on the Tuesday before Expiration Friday
could have an a.m., p.m. or specified average
settlement. However, the exercise settlement value
of a FLEX Index Option that expires on the
Wednesday before Expiration Friday could only
have an a.m. settlement.
9 No change was necessary or requested with
respect to FLEX Equity Options. Regardless of the
expiration date, FLEX Equity Options are settled by
physical delivery of the underlying.
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Index Options series.10 The annual
report also contained information and
analysis of FLEX Index Options trading
patterns. The Exchange also provided
the Commission, on a periodic basis,
interim reports of volume and open
interest. In providing the pilot reports to
the Commission, the Exchange has
requested confidential treatment of the
pilot reports under the Freedom of
Information Act (‘‘FOIA’’).11 The
confidentiality of the pilot reports is
subject to the provisions of FOIA.
The Exchange believes there is
sufficient investor interest and demand
in the pilot program to warrant its
extension. The Exchange believes that,
for the period that the pilot has been in
operation, the program has provided
investors with additional means of
managing their risk exposures and
carrying out their investment objectives.
Furthermore, the Exchange believes that
it has not experienced any adverse
market effects with respect to the pilot
program, including any adverse market
volatility effects that might occur as a
result of large FLEX exercises in FLEX
Option series that expire near NonFLEX expirations and use a p.m.
settlement (as discussed below).
In that regard, based on the
Exchange’s experience in trading FLEX
Options to date and over the pilot
period, CBOE continues to believe that
the restrictions on exercise settlement
values are no longer necessary to
insulate Non-FLEX expirations from the
potential adverse market impacts of
FLEX expirations.12 To the contrary,
10 The annual report also contained certain pilot
period and pre-pilot period analyses of volume and
open interest for Expiration Friday, a.m.-settled
FLEX Index series and Expiration Friday Non-FLEX
Index series overlying the same index as an
Expiration Friday, p.m.-settled FLEX Index option.
11 5 U.S.C. 552.
12 In further support, the Exchange also notes that
the p.m. and specified average price settlements are
already permitted for FLEX Index Options on any
other business day except on, or within two
business days of, Expiration Friday. The Exchange
is not aware of any market disruptions or problems
caused by the use of these settlement methodologies
on these expiration dates (or on the expiration dates
addressed under the pilot program). The Exchange
is also not aware of any market disruptions or
problems caused by the use of customized options
in the OTC markets that expire on or near
Expiration Friday and have a p.m. or specified
average exercise settlement value. In addition, the
Exchange believes the reasons for limiting
expirations to a.m. settlement, which is something
the SEC has imposed since the early 1990s for NonFLEX Options, revolved around a concern about
expiration pressure on the New York Stock
Exchange (‘‘NYSE’’) at the close that are no longer
relevant in today’s market. Today, however, the
Exchange believes stock exchanges are much better
able to handle volume. There are multiple primary
listing and unlisted trading privilege (‘‘UTP’’)
markets, and trading is dispersed among several
exchanges and alternative trading systems. In
addition, the Exchange believes that surveillance
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CBOE believes that the restriction
actually places the Exchange at a
competitive disadvantage to its OTC
counterparts in the market for
customized options, and unnecessarily
limits market participants’ ability to
trade in an exchange environment that
offers the added benefits of
transparency, price discovery, liquidity,
and financial stability.
The Exchange also notes that certain
position limit, aggregation and exercise
limit requirements continue to apply to
FLEX Index Options in accordance with
Rules 24A.7, Position Limits and
Reporting Requirements, 24A.8,
Exercise Limits, 24B.7, Position Limits
and Reporting Requirements, and 24B.8,
Exercise Limits. Additionally, all FLEX
Options remain subject to the position
reporting requirements in paragraph (a)
of CBOE Rule 4.13, Reports Related to
Position Limits.13 Moreover, the
Exchange and its Trading Permit Holder
organizations each have the authority,
pursuant to CBOE Rule 12.10, Margin
Required is Minimum, to impose
techniques are much more robust and automated.
In the early 1990s, it was also thought by some that
opening procedures allow more time to attract
contra-side interest to reduce imbalances. The
Exchange believes, however, that today order flow
is predominantly electronic and the ability to
smooth out openings and closes is greatly reduced
(e.g., market-on-close procedures work just as well
as openings). Also other markets, such as the
NASDAQ Stock Exchange, do not have the same
type of pre-opening imbalance disseminations as
the NYSE, so many stocks are not subject to the
same procedures on Expiration Friday. In addition,
the Exchange believes that the NYSE has reduced
the required time a specialist has to wait after
disseminating a pre-opening indication. So, in this
respect, the Exchange believes there is less time to
react in the opening than in the close. Moreover, to
the extent there may be a risk of adverse market
effects attributable to p.m. settled options (or
certain average price settled options related to the
closing price) that would otherwise be traded in a
non-transparent fashion in the OTC market, the
Exchange continues to believe that such risk would
be lessened by making these customized options
eligible for trading in an exchange environment
because of the added transparency, price discovery,
liquidity, and financial stability available.
13 CBOE Rule 4.13(a) provides that ‘‘[i]n a manner
and form prescribed by the Exchange, each Trading
Permit Holder shall report to the Exchange, the
name, address, and social security or tax
identification number of any customer who, acting
alone, or in concert with others, on the previous
business day maintained aggregate long or short
positions on the same side of the market of 200 or
more contracts of any single class of option
contracts dealt in on the Exchange. The report shall
indicate for each such class of options, the number
of option contracts comprising each such position
and, in the case of short positions, whether covered
or uncovered.’’ For purposes of this Rule, the term
‘‘customer’’ in respect of any Trading Permit Holder
includes ‘‘the Trading Permit Holder, any general
or special partner of the Trading Permit Holder, any
officer or director of the Trading Permit Holder, or
any participant, as such, in any joint, group or
syndicate account with the Trading Permit Holder
or with any partner, officer or director thereof.’’
Rule 4.13(d).
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additional margin as deemed advisable.
CBOE continues to believe these
existing safeguards serve sufficiently to
help monitor open interest in FLEX
Option series and significantly reduce
any risk of adverse market effects that
might occur as a result of large FLEX
exercises in FLEX Option series that
expire near Non-FLEX expirations and
use a p.m. settlement.
CBOE is also cognizant of the OTC
market, in which similar restrictions on
exercise settlement values do not apply.
CBOE continues to believe that the pilot
program is appropriate and reasonable
and provides market participants with
additional flexibility in determining
whether to execute their customized
options in an exchange environment or
in the OTC market. CBOE continues to
believe that market participants benefit
from being able to trade these
customized options in an exchange
environment in several ways, including,
but not limited to, enhanced efficiency
in initiating and closing out positions,
increased market transparency, and
heightened contra-party
creditworthiness due to the role of OCC
as issuer and guarantor of FLEX
Options.
If, in the future, the Exchange
proposes an additional extension of the
pilot program, or should the Exchange
propose to make the pilot program
permanent (which the Exchange
currently intends to do), the Exchange
will submit, along with any filing
proposing such amendments to the pilot
program, an additional pilot program
report covering the extended period
during which the pilot program was in
effect and including the details
referenced above and consistent with
the pilot program’s Approval Order. The
pilot program report would be
submitted to the Commission at least
two months prior to the new expiration
date of the pilot program. The Exchange
will also continue, on a periodic basis,
to submit interim reports of volume and
open interest consistent with the terms
of the exercise settlement values pilot
program as described in the pilot
program’s Approval Order. All such
pilot reports would continue to be
provided by the Exchange along with a
request for confidential treatment under
FOIA.14 As noted in the pilot program’s
Approval Order, any positions
established under the pilot program
14 See, note 11, supra, and surrounding
discussion. If the Exchange seeks permanent
approval of the pilot program, the Exchange
recognizes that certain information in the pilot
reports may need to be made available on a public
basis.
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65025
would not be impacted by the
expiration of the pilot program.15
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed
rule change is consistent with the Act
and the rules and regulations
thereunder applicable to the Exchange
and, in particular, the requirements of
Section 6(b) of the Act.16 Specifically,
the Exchange believes the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Section
6(b)(5) 17 requirements that the rules of
an exchange be designed to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, to foster cooperation
and coordination with persons engaged
in regulating, clearing, settling,
processing information with respect to,
and facilitating transactions in
securities, 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.
Additionally, the Exchange believes the
proposed rule change is consistent with
the Section 6(b)(5) 18 requirement that
the rules of an exchange not be designed
to permit unfair discrimination between
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
In particular, the Exchange believes
that the proposed extension of the pilot
program, which permits additional
exercise settlement values, would
provide greater opportunities for
investors to manage risk through the use
of FLEX Options. Further, the Exchange
believes that it has not experienced any
adverse effects from the operation of the
pilot program, including any adverse
market volatility effects that might occur
as a result of large FLEX exercises in
FLEX Option series that expire near
Non-FLEX expirations and use a p.m.
settlement. The Exchange also believes
that the extension of the exercise
settlement values pilot does not raise
any unique regulatory concerns. In
particular, although p.m. settlements
may raise questions with the
Commission, the Exchange believes
that, based on the Exchange’s
experience in trading FLEX Options to
date and over the pilot period, market
15 For example, a position in a pm-settled FLEX
Index Option series that expires on Expiration
Friday in January 2015 could be established during
the exercise settlement values pilot. If the pilot
program were not extended (or made permanent),
then the position could continue to exist. However,
the Exchange notes that any further trading in the
series would be restricted to transactions where at
least one side of the trade is a closing transaction.
See Approval Order, supra note 6, footnotes 9 and
10.
16 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
17 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
18 Id.
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impact and investor protection concerns
will not be raised by this rule change.
The Exchange also believes that the
proposed rule change would continue to
provide Trading Permit Holders and
investors with additional opportunities
to trade customized options in an
exchange environment (which offers the
added benefits of transparency, price
discovery, liquidity, and financial
stability as compared to the over-thecounter market) and subject to
exchange-based rules, and investors
would benefit as a result.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
CBOE does not believe that the
proposed rule change will impose any
burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act.
The Exchange believes there is
sufficient investor interest and demand
in the pilot program to warrant its
extension. The Exchange believes that,
for the period that the pilot has been in
operation, the program has provided
investors with additional means of
managing their risk exposures and
carrying out their investment objectives.
Furthermore, the Exchange believes that
it has not experienced any adverse
market effects with respect to the pilot
program, including any adverse market
volatility effects that might occur as a
result of large FLEX exercises in FLEX
Option series that expire near Non-Flex
expirations and use a p.m. settlement.
CBOE believes that the restriction
actually places the Exchange at a
competitive disadvantage to its OTC
counterparts in the market for
customized options, and unnecessarily
limits market participants’ ability to
trade in an exchange environment that
offers the added benefits of
transparency, price discovery, liquidity,
and financial stability. Therefore, the
Exchange does not believe that the
proposed rule change will impose any
burden on competition.
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C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange neither solicited nor
received comments on the proposed
rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the proposed rule change
does not: (i) Significantly affect the
protection of investors or the public
interest; (ii) impose any significant
burden on competition; and (iii) become
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operative prior to 30 days from the date
on which it was filed, or such shorter
time as the Commission may designate,
the proposed rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)
of the Act 19 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6)
thereunder.20
A proposed rule change filed
pursuant to Rule 19b–4(f)(6) under the
Act 21 normally does not become
operative for 30 days after the date of its
filing. However, Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii) 22
permits the Commission to designate a
shorter time if such action is consistent
with the protection of investors and the
public interest. The Exchange requested
that the Commission waive the 30-day
operative delay so that the proposed
rule change may become operative upon
filing. The Commission believes that
waiving the 30-day operative delay is
consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest. The
Commission notes that waiving the 30day operative delay would prevent the
expiration of the pilot program on
November 2, 2013, prior to the
extension of the pilot program becoming
operative. Therefore, the Commission
hereby waives the 30-day operative
delay and designates the proposal
operative upon filing.23
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of the proposed rule change, the
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend 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. If the
Commission takes such action, the
Commission will institute proceedings
to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or
disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
19 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b–
4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give
the Commission written notice of its intent to file
the proposed rule change, along with a brief
description and text of the proposed rule change,
at least five business days prior to the date of filing
of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time
as designated by the Commission. The Exchange
has satisfied this requirement.
21 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
22 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).
23 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day
operative delay, the Commission has considered the
proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition,
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
20 17
PO 00000
Frm 00120
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
CBOE–2013–099 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–CBOE–2013–099. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if email 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
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 Web site viewing and
printing in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, on official
business days between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
office of the Exchange. 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–CBOE–
2013–099 and should be submitted on
or before November 20, 2013.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.24
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013–25645 Filed 10–29–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
24 17
E:\FR\FM\30OCN1.SGM
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
30OCN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 210 (Wednesday, October 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65023-65026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25645]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-70752; File No. SR-CBOE-2013-099]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange,
Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change Related to Extending the FLEX Exercise Settlement Values
Pilot
October 24, 2013.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that
on October 11, 2013, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated
(``Exchange'' or ``CBOE'') filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described
in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the
Exchange. The Exchange has designated the proposal as a ``non-
controversial'' proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of
the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\4\ The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
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\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
\3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to extend the operation of its Flexible
Exchange Options (``FLEX Options'') pilot program regarding permissible
exercise settlement values for FLEX Index Options.\5\ The text of the
proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site (https://www.cboe.com/AboutCBOE/CBOELegalRegulatoryHome.aspx), at the Exchange's
Office of the Secretary and at the Commission.
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\5\ FLEX Options provide investors with the ability to customize
basic option features including size, expiration date, exercise
style, and certain exercise prices. FLEX Options can be FLEX Index
Options or FLEX Equity Options. In addition, other products are
permitted to be traded pursuant to the FLEX trading procedures. For
example, credit options are eligible for trading as FLEX Options
pursuant to the FLEX rules in Chapters XXIVA and XXIVB. See CBOE
Rules 24A.1(e) and (f), 24A.4(b)(1) and (c)(1), 24B.1(f) and (g),
24B.4(b)(1) and (c)(1), and 28.17. The rules governing the trading
of FLEX Options on the FLEX Request for Quote (``RFQ'') System
platform are contained in Chapter XXIVA. The rules governing the
trading of FLEX Options on the FLEX Hybrid Trading System platform
are contained in Chapter XXIVB.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Exchange 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 Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such
statements.
[[Page 65024]]
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
On January 28, 2010, the Exchange received approval of a rule
change that, among other things, established a pilot program regarding
permissible exercise settlement values for FLEX Index Options. The
pilot program is currently set to expire on the earlier of November 2,
2013 or the date on which the pilot program is approved on a permanent
basis.\6\ The purpose of this rule change filing is to extend the pilot
program through the earlier of November 3, 2014 or the date on which
the pilot program is approved on a permanent basis. This filing simply
seeks to extend the operation of the pilot program and does not propose
any substantive changes to the pilot program.
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\6\ At the same time the permissible exercise settlement values
pilot was established for FLEX Index Options, the Exchange also
established a pilot program eliminating the minimum value size
requirements for all FLEX Options. See Securities Exchange Act
Release Nos. 61439 (January 28, 2010), 75 FR 5831 (February 4,
2010)(SR-CBOE-2009-087)(Approval Order); 61676 (March 9, 2010), 75
FR 13191 (March 18, 2010)(SR-CBOE-2010-026)(technical rule change to
include original pilots' conclusion date of March 28, 2011 in the
rule text); 64110 (March 24, 2011), 76 FR17463 (March 29, 2011)(SR-
CBOE-2011-024)(extending the pilots through March 30, 2012), 77 FR
20673 (April 5, 2012)(SR-CBOE-2012-027)(extending the pilots through
the earlier of November 2, 2012 or the date on which the respective
pilot program is approved on a permanent basis). The pilot program
eliminating the minimum value size requirements was approved on a
permanent basis in a separate rule change filing. See Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 67624 (August 8, 2012), 77 FR 48580 (August
14, 2012)(SR-CBOE-2012-040). The permissible exercise settlement
values pilot, however, has been extended. See Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 68145 (November 2, 2012), 77 FR 67044 (November 8,
2012)(SR-CBOE-2012-102)(extending the pilot through the earlier of
November 2, 2013 or the date on which the pilot program is approved
on a permanent basis).
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Under Rules 24A.4, Terms of FLEX Options, and 24B.4, Terms of FLEX
Options, a FLEX Option may expire on any business day specified as to
day, month and year, not to exceed a maximum term of fifteen years. In
addition, the exercise settlement value for a FLEX Index Option can be
specified as the index value determined by reference to the reported
level of the index as derived from the opening or closing prices of the
component securities (``a.m. settlement'' or ``p.m. settlement,''
respectively) or as a specified average, provided that the average
index value must conform to the averaging parameters established by the
Exchange.\7\ However, prior to the initiation of the exercise
settlement values pilot, only a.m. settlements were permitted if a FLEX
Index Option expires on, or within two business days of, a third
Friday-of-the-month expiration (``Expiration Friday'').\8\
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\7\ See Rules 24A.4(b)(3) and 24B.4(b)(3); see also Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 31920 (February 24, 1993), 58 FR 12280
(March 3, 1993)(SR-CBOE-92-17). The Exchange has determined to limit
the averaging parameters to three alternatives: the average of the
opening and closing index values on the expiration date; the average
of intra-day high and low index values on the expiration date; and
the average of the opening, closing, and intra-day high and low
index values on the expiration date. Any changes to the averaging
parameters established by the Exchange would be announced to Trading
Permit Holders via circular. The Commission notes that its initial
approval of specified average exercise settlement values for FLEX
Index Options that expire on, or within two business days of, a
third Friday-of-the-month expiration was based on the averaging
parameters being limited to these three alternatives. See Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 61439 (January 28, 2010), 75 FR 5831, 5832
n.17 (February 4, 2010). The Commission expects that, if the
Exchange were to seek to change these averaging parameters, it would
file a proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b) under the Act.
See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59417 (February 18, 2009),
74 FR 8591, 8593 n.21 (February 25, 2009).
\8\ For example, prior to the pilot, the exercise settlement
value of a FLEX Index Option that expires on the Tuesday before
Expiration Friday could have an a.m., p.m. or specified average
settlement. However, the exercise settlement value of a FLEX Index
Option that expires on the Wednesday before Expiration Friday could
only have an a.m. settlement.
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Under the exercise settlement values pilot, this restriction on
p.m. and specified average price settlements in FLEX Index Options was
eliminated.\9\ The exercise settlement values pilot is currently set to
expire on the earlier of November 2, 2013 or the date on which the
pilot program is approved on a permanent basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ No change was necessary or requested with respect to FLEX
Equity Options. Regardless of the expiration date, FLEX Equity
Options are settled by physical delivery of the underlying.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBOE is proposing to extend the pilot program through the earlier
of November 3, 2014 or the date on which the pilot program is approved
on a permanent basis. CBOE believes the pilot program has been
successful and well received by its membership and the investing public
for the period that it has been in operation as a pilot. In support of
the proposed extension of the pilot program, and as required by the
pilot program's Approval Order, the Exchange has submitted to the
Commission pilot program reports regarding the pilot, which detail the
Exchange's experience with the program. Specifically, the Exchange
provided the Commission an annual report analyzing volume and open
interest for each broad-based FLEX Index Options class overlying an
Expiration Friday, p.m.-settled FLEX Index Options series.\10\ The
annual report also contained information and analysis of FLEX Index
Options trading patterns. The Exchange also provided the Commission, on
a periodic basis, interim reports of volume and open interest. In
providing the pilot reports to the Commission, the Exchange has
requested confidential treatment of the pilot reports under the Freedom
of Information Act (``FOIA'').\11\ The confidentiality of the pilot
reports is subject to the provisions of FOIA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ The annual report also contained certain pilot period and
pre-pilot period analyses of volume and open interest for Expiration
Friday, a.m.-settled FLEX Index series and Expiration Friday Non-
FLEX Index series overlying the same index as an Expiration Friday,
p.m.-settled FLEX Index option.
\11\ 5 U.S.C. 552.
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The Exchange believes there is sufficient investor interest and
demand in the pilot program to warrant its extension. The Exchange
believes that, for the period that the pilot has been in operation, the
program has provided investors with additional means of managing their
risk exposures and carrying out their investment objectives.
Furthermore, the Exchange believes that it has not experienced any
adverse market effects with respect to the pilot program, including any
adverse market volatility effects that might occur as a result of large
FLEX exercises in FLEX Option series that expire near Non-FLEX
expirations and use a p.m. settlement (as discussed below).
In that regard, based on the Exchange's experience in trading FLEX
Options to date and over the pilot period, CBOE continues to believe
that the restrictions on exercise settlement values are no longer
necessary to insulate Non-FLEX expirations from the potential adverse
market impacts of FLEX expirations.\12\ To the contrary,
[[Page 65025]]
CBOE believes that the restriction actually places the Exchange at a
competitive disadvantage to its OTC counterparts in the market for
customized options, and unnecessarily limits market participants'
ability to trade in an exchange environment that offers the added
benefits of transparency, price discovery, liquidity, and financial
stability.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ In further support, the Exchange also notes that the p.m.
and specified average price settlements are already permitted for
FLEX Index Options on any other business day except on, or within
two business days of, Expiration Friday. The Exchange is not aware
of any market disruptions or problems caused by the use of these
settlement methodologies on these expiration dates (or on the
expiration dates addressed under the pilot program). The Exchange is
also not aware of any market disruptions or problems caused by the
use of customized options in the OTC markets that expire on or near
Expiration Friday and have a p.m. or specified average exercise
settlement value. In addition, the Exchange believes the reasons for
limiting expirations to a.m. settlement, which is something the SEC
has imposed since the early 1990s for Non-FLEX Options, revolved
around a concern about expiration pressure on the New York Stock
Exchange (``NYSE'') at the close that are no longer relevant in
today's market. Today, however, the Exchange believes stock
exchanges are much better able to handle volume. There are multiple
primary listing and unlisted trading privilege (``UTP'') markets,
and trading is dispersed among several exchanges and alternative
trading systems. In addition, the Exchange believes that
surveillance techniques are much more robust and automated. In the
early 1990s, it was also thought by some that opening procedures
allow more time to attract contra-side interest to reduce
imbalances. The Exchange believes, however, that today order flow is
predominantly electronic and the ability to smooth out openings and
closes is greatly reduced (e.g., market-on-close procedures work
just as well as openings). Also other markets, such as the NASDAQ
Stock Exchange, do not have the same type of pre-opening imbalance
disseminations as the NYSE, so many stocks are not subject to the
same procedures on Expiration Friday. In addition, the Exchange
believes that the NYSE has reduced the required time a specialist
has to wait after disseminating a pre-opening indication. So, in
this respect, the Exchange believes there is less time to react in
the opening than in the close. Moreover, to the extent there may be
a risk of adverse market effects attributable to p.m. settled
options (or certain average price settled options related to the
closing price) that would otherwise be traded in a non-transparent
fashion in the OTC market, the Exchange continues to believe that
such risk would be lessened by making these customized options
eligible for trading in an exchange environment because of the added
transparency, price discovery, liquidity, and financial stability
available.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange also notes that certain position limit, aggregation
and exercise limit requirements continue to apply to FLEX Index Options
in accordance with Rules 24A.7, Position Limits and Reporting
Requirements, 24A.8, Exercise Limits, 24B.7, Position Limits and
Reporting Requirements, and 24B.8, Exercise Limits. Additionally, all
FLEX Options remain subject to the position reporting requirements in
paragraph (a) of CBOE Rule 4.13, Reports Related to Position
Limits.\13\ Moreover, the Exchange and its Trading Permit Holder
organizations each have the authority, pursuant to CBOE Rule 12.10,
Margin Required is Minimum, to impose additional margin as deemed
advisable. CBOE continues to believe these existing safeguards serve
sufficiently to help monitor open interest in FLEX Option series and
significantly reduce any risk of adverse market effects that might
occur as a result of large FLEX exercises in FLEX Option series that
expire near Non-FLEX expirations and use a p.m. settlement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ CBOE Rule 4.13(a) provides that ``[i]n a manner and form
prescribed by the Exchange, each Trading Permit Holder shall report
to the Exchange, the name, address, and social security or tax
identification number of any customer who, acting alone, or in
concert with others, on the previous business day maintained
aggregate long or short positions on the same side of the market of
200 or more contracts of any single class of option contracts dealt
in on the Exchange. The report shall indicate for each such class of
options, the number of option contracts comprising each such
position and, in the case of short positions, whether covered or
uncovered.'' For purposes of this Rule, the term ``customer'' in
respect of any Trading Permit Holder includes ``the Trading Permit
Holder, any general or special partner of the Trading Permit Holder,
any officer or director of the Trading Permit Holder, or any
participant, as such, in any joint, group or syndicate account with
the Trading Permit Holder or with any partner, officer or director
thereof.'' Rule 4.13(d).
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CBOE is also cognizant of the OTC market, in which similar
restrictions on exercise settlement values do not apply. CBOE continues
to believe that the pilot program is appropriate and reasonable and
provides market participants with additional flexibility in determining
whether to execute their customized options in an exchange environment
or in the OTC market. CBOE continues to believe that market
participants benefit from being able to trade these customized options
in an exchange environment in several ways, including, but not limited
to, enhanced efficiency in initiating and closing out positions,
increased market transparency, and heightened contra-party
creditworthiness due to the role of OCC as issuer and guarantor of FLEX
Options.
If, in the future, the Exchange proposes an additional extension of
the pilot program, or should the Exchange propose to make the pilot
program permanent (which the Exchange currently intends to do), the
Exchange will submit, along with any filing proposing such amendments
to the pilot program, an additional pilot program report covering the
extended period during which the pilot program was in effect and
including the details referenced above and consistent with the pilot
program's Approval Order. The pilot program report would be submitted
to the Commission at least two months prior to the new expiration date
of the pilot program. The Exchange will also continue, on a periodic
basis, to submit interim reports of volume and open interest consistent
with the terms of the exercise settlement values pilot program as
described in the pilot program's Approval Order. All such pilot reports
would continue to be provided by the Exchange along with a request for
confidential treatment under FOIA.\14\ As noted in the pilot program's
Approval Order, any positions established under the pilot program would
not be impacted by the expiration of the pilot program.\15\
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\14\ See, note 11, supra, and surrounding discussion. If the
Exchange seeks permanent approval of the pilot program, the Exchange
recognizes that certain information in the pilot reports may need to
be made available on a public basis.
\15\ For example, a position in a pm-settled FLEX Index Option
series that expires on Expiration Friday in January 2015 could be
established during the exercise settlement values pilot. If the
pilot program were not extended (or made permanent), then the
position could continue to exist. However, the Exchange notes that
any further trading in the series would be restricted to
transactions where at least one side of the trade is a closing
transaction. See Approval Order, supra note 6, footnotes 9 and 10.
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2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with
the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to the
Exchange and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the
Act.\16\ Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change
is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) \17\ requirements that the rules
of an exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts
and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to
foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating,
clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and
facilitating transactions in securities, 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.
Additionally, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is
consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) \18\ requirement that the rules of
an exchange not be designed to permit unfair discrimination between
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
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\16\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
\18\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In particular, the Exchange believes that the proposed extension of
the pilot program, which permits additional exercise settlement values,
would provide greater opportunities for investors to manage risk
through the use of FLEX Options. Further, the Exchange believes that it
has not experienced any adverse effects from the operation of the pilot
program, including any adverse market volatility effects that might
occur as a result of large FLEX exercises in FLEX Option series that
expire near Non-FLEX expirations and use a p.m. settlement. The
Exchange also believes that the extension of the exercise settlement
values pilot does not raise any unique regulatory concerns. In
particular, although p.m. settlements may raise questions with the
Commission, the Exchange believes that, based on the Exchange's
experience in trading FLEX Options to date and over the pilot period,
market
[[Page 65026]]
impact and investor protection concerns will not be raised by this rule
change. The Exchange also believes that the proposed rule change would
continue to provide Trading Permit Holders and investors with
additional opportunities to trade customized options in an exchange
environment (which offers the added benefits of transparency, price
discovery, liquidity, and financial stability as compared to the over-
the-counter market) and subject to exchange-based rules, and investors
would benefit as a result.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
CBOE does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any
burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
The Exchange believes there is sufficient investor interest and
demand in the pilot program to warrant its extension. The Exchange
believes that, for the period that the pilot has been in operation, the
program has provided investors with additional means of managing their
risk exposures and carrying out their investment objectives.
Furthermore, the Exchange believes that it has not experienced any
adverse market effects with respect to the pilot program, including any
adverse market volatility effects that might occur as a result of large
FLEX exercises in FLEX Option series that expire near Non-Flex
expirations and use a p.m. settlement. CBOE believes that the
restriction actually places the Exchange at a competitive disadvantage
to its OTC counterparts in the market for customized options, and
unnecessarily limits market participants' ability to trade in an
exchange environment that offers the added benefits of transparency,
price discovery, liquidity, and financial stability. Therefore, the
Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any
burden on competition.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the
proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect
the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to
30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as
the Commission may designate, the proposed rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \19\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\20\
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\19\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\20\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along
with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at
least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission.
The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A proposed rule change filed pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the
Act \21\ normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date
of its filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) \22\ permits the
Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent
with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange
requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay so that
the proposed rule change may become operative upon filing. The
Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is
consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest.
The Commission notes that waiving the 30-day operative delay would
prevent the expiration of the pilot program on November 2, 2013, prior
to the extension of the pilot program becoming operative. Therefore,
the Commission hereby waives the 30-day operative delay and designates
the proposal operative upon filing.\23\
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\21\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
\22\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
\23\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay,
the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C.
78c(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend 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. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission will institute proceedings to
determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or
disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change 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 email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-CBOE-2013-099 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-CBOE-2013-099. This file
number should be included on the subject line if email 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 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 Web site viewing and
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. 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-CBOE-2013-099 and should be
submitted on or before November 20, 2013.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\24\
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\24\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-25645 Filed 10-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P