Self-Regulatory Organizations: Miami International Securities Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend the MIAX Fee Schedule, 66094-66097 [2013-26269]

Download as PDF TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 66094 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 213 / Monday, November 4, 2013 / Notices 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), a Fund of Funds 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), a Fund of Funds will notify the Fund of the investment. At such time, the Fund of Funds will also transmit to the Fund a list of the names of each Fund of Funds Affiliate and Underwriting Affiliate. The Fund of Funds will notify the Fund of any changes to the list as soon as reasonably practicable after a change occurs. The Fund and the Fund of Funds 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 (or its respective Master 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 a Fund of Funds will not exceed the limits applicable to a fund of funds as set forth in NASD Conduct Rule 2830. 12. No Fund (or its respective Master Fund) will acquire securities of an 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 that (i) the Fund (or its respective Master Fund) acquires securities of another investment company pursuant to exemptive relief from the Commission permitting the Fund (or its respective Master Fund) to acquire securities of one or more investment companies for short-term VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:07 Nov 01, 2013 Jkt 232001 cash management purposes, or (ii) the Fund acquires securities of the Master Fund pursuant to the Master-Feeder Relief. Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, under delegated authority. Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change [FR Doc. 2013–26272 Filed 11–1–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–70769; File No. SR–MIAX– 2013–49] Self-Regulatory Organizations: Miami International Securities Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend the MIAX Fee Schedule October 29, 2013. Pursuant to the provisions of 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 23, 2013, Miami International Securities Exchange LLC (‘‘MIAX’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) a proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. 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 is filing a proposal to amend its Fee Schedule. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s Web site at https://www.miaxoptions.com/filter/ wotitle/rule_filing, at MIAX’s principal office, 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 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 1 15 2 17 PO 00000 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). CFR 240.19b–4. Frm 00135 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 1. Purpose The Exchange proposes to extend its current Priority Customer Rebate Program (the ‘‘Program’’) until November 30, 2013.3 The Program currently applies to the period beginning July 1, 2013 and ending October 31, 2013.4 The Program is based on the substantially similar fees of another competing options exchange.5 Under the Program, the Exchange shall credit each Member the per contract amount set forth in the table below resulting from each Priority Customer 6 order transmitted by that Member which is executed on the Exchange in all multiply-listed option classes (excluding mini-options and executions related to contracts that are routed to one or more exchanges in connection with the Options Order Protection and Locked/Crossed Market Plan referenced in Rule 1400), provided the Member meets certain volume thresholds in a month as described below. The volume thresholds are calculated based on the customer average daily volume over the course of the month. Volume will be recorded for and credits will be delivered to the Member Firm that submits the order to the Exchange. Percentage thresholds of national customer volume in multiply-listed options classes listed on MIAX (monthly) 0.00%–0.25% ....................... Above 0.25%–0.50% ............ Above 0.50%–1.00% ............ Above 1.00%–2.00% ............ Above 2.00% ........................ Per contract credit $0.00 0.10 0.11 0.12 0.14 3 The Exchange notes that at the end of the period, the Program will expire unless the Exchange files another 19b–4 Rule Filing to amend its fees. 4 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 70523 (September 26, 2013), 78 FR 60966 (October 2, 2013) (SR–MIAX–2013–47); 69947 (July 9, 2013), 78 FR 42138 (July 15, 2013) (SR–MIAX–2013–31). 5 See Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (‘‘CBOE’’) Fees Schedule, p. 4. See also Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 66054 (December 23, 2011), 76 FR 82332 (December 30, 2011) (SR–CBOE–2011–120); 68887 (February 8, 2013), 78 FR 10647 (February 14, 2013) (SR–CBOE– 2013–017). 6 The term ‘‘Priority Customer’’ means a person or entity that (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) does not place more than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a calendar month for its own beneficial accounts(s). See MIAX Rule 100. E:\FR\FM\04NON1.SGM 04NON1 TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 213 / Monday, November 4, 2013 / Notices The Exchange will aggregate the contracts resulting from Priority Customer orders transmitted and executed electronically on the Exchange from affiliated Members for purposes of the thresholds above, provided there is at least 75% common ownership between the firms as reflected on each firm’s Form BD, Schedule A. In the event of a MIAX System outage or other interruption of electronic trading on MIAX, the Exchange will adjust the national customer volume in multiplylisted options for the duration of the outage. A Member may request to receive its credit under the Priority Customer Rebate Program as a separate direct payment. In addition, the rebate payments will be calculated from the first executed contract at the applicable threshold per contract credit with the rebate payments made at the highest achieved volume tier for each contract traded in that month. For example, if Member Firm XYZ, Inc. (‘‘XYZ’’) has enough Priority Customer contracts to achieve 2.5% of the national customer volume in multiply-listed option contracts during the month of October, XYZ will receive a credit of $0.14 for each Priority Customer contract executed in the month of October. The purpose of the Program is to encourage Members to direct greater Priority Customer trade volume to the Exchange. Increased Priority Customer volume will provide for greater liquidity, which benefits all market participants. The practice of incentivizing increased retail customer order flow in order to attract professional liquidity providers (Market-Makers) is, and has been, commonly practiced in the options markets. As such, marketing fee programs,7 and customer posting incentive programs,8 are based on attracting public customer order flow. The Program similarly intends to attract Priority Customer order flow, which will increase liquidity, thereby providing greater trading opportunities and tighter spreads for other market participants and causing a corresponding increase in order flow from such other market participants. The specific volume thresholds of the Program’s tiers were set based upon business determinations and an analysis of current volume levels. The volume thresholds are intended to incentivize firms that route some Priority Customer 7 See MIAX Fee Schedule, Section 1(b). NYSE Arca, Inc. Fees Schedule, page 3 (section titled ‘‘Customer Monthly Posting Credit Tiers and Qualifications for Executions in Penny Pilot Issues’’). 8 See VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:07 Nov 01, 2013 Jkt 232001 orders to the Exchange to increase the number of orders that are sent to the Exchange to achieve the next threshold and to incent new participants to send Priority Customer orders as well. Increasing the number of orders sent to the Exchange will in turn provide tighter and more liquid markets, and therefore attract more business overall. Similarly, the different credit rates at the different tier levels were based on an analysis of revenue and volume levels and are intended to provide increasing ‘‘rewards’’ for increasing the volume of trades sent to the Exchange. The specific amounts of the tiers and rates were set in order to encourage suppliers of Priority Customer order flow to reach for higher tiers. The Exchange proposes limiting the Program to multiply-listed options classes on MIAX because MIAX does not compete with other exchanges for order flow in the proprietary, singlylisted products.9 In addition, the Exchange does not trade any singlylisted products at this time, but may develop such products in the future. If at such time the Exchange develops proprietary products, the Exchange anticipates having to devote a lot of resources to develop them, and therefore would need to retain funds collected in order to recoup those expenditures. The Exchange proposes excluding mini-options and executions related to contracts that are routed to one or more exchanges in connection with the Options Order Protection and Locked/ Crossed Market Plan referenced in Exchange Rule 1400 from the Program. The Exchange notes these exclusions are nearly identical to the ones made by CBOE.10 Mini-options contracts are excluded from the Program because the cost to the Exchange to process quotes, orders and trades in mini-options is the same as for standard options. This, coupled with the lower per-contract transaction fees charged to other market participants, makes it impractical to offer Members a credit for Priority Customer mini-option volume that they transact. Providing rebates to Priority Customer executions that occur on other trading venues would be inconsistent with the proposal. Therefore, routed away volume is excluded from the Program in order to promote the 9 If a multiply-listed options class is not listed on MIAX, then the trading volume in that options class will be omitted from the calculation of national customer volume in multiply-listed options classes. 10 See CBOE Fee Schedule, page 4. CBOE also excludes QCC trades from their rebate program. CBOE excluded QCC trades because a bulk of those trades on CBOE are facilitation orders which are charged at the $0.00 fee rate on their exchange. PO 00000 Frm 00136 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 66095 underlying goal of the proposal, which is to increase liquidity and execution volume on the Exchange. The credits paid out as part of the program will be drawn from the general revenues of the Exchange.11 The Exchange calculates volume thresholds on a monthly basis. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that its proposal to amend its fee schedule is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act 12 in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act 13 in particular, in that it is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees and other charges among Exchange members. The Exchange believes that the proposed Priority Customer Rebate Program is fair, equitable and not unreasonably discriminatory. The Program is reasonably designed because it will incent providers of Priority Customer order flow to send that Priority Customer order flow to the Exchange in order to receive a credit in a manner that enables the Exchange to improve its overall competitiveness and strengthen its market quality for all market participants. The proposed rebate program is fair and equitable and not unreasonably discriminatory because it will apply equally to all Priority Customer orders. All similarly situated Priority Customer orders are subject to the same rebate schedule, and access to the Exchange is offered on terms that are not unfairly discriminatory. In addition, the Program is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because, while only Priority Customer order flow qualifies for the Program, an increase in Priority Customer order flow will bring greater volume and liquidity, which benefit all market participants by providing more trading opportunities and tighter spreads. Similarly, offering increasing credits for executing higher percentages of total national customer volume (increased credit rates at increased volume tiers) is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because such increased rates and tiers encourage Members to direct increased amounts of Priority Customer contracts to the Exchange. The resulting increased volume and liquidity will benefit those Members who receive the lower tier levels, or do not qualify for the Program 11 Despite providing credits under the Program, the Exchange represents that it will continue to have adequate resources to fund its regulatory program and fulfill its responsibilities as a selfregulatory organization while the Program will be in effect. 12 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). 13 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4). E:\FR\FM\04NON1.SGM 04NON1 66096 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 213 / Monday, November 4, 2013 / Notices TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES at all, by providing more trading opportunities and tighter spreads. Limiting the Program to multiplylisted options classes listed on MIAX is reasonable because those parties trading heavily in multiply-listed classes will now begin to receive a credit for such trading, and is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because the Exchange does not trade any singlylisted products at this time. If at such time the Exchange develops proprietary products, the Exchange anticipates having to devote a lot of resources to develop them, and therefore would need to retain funds collected in order to recoup those expenditures. B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange believes that the proposed change would increase both intermarket and intramarket competition by incenting Members to direct their Priority Customer orders to the Exchange, which will enhance the quality of quoting and increase the volume of contracts traded here. To the extent that there is additional competitive burden on non-Priority Customers, the Exchange believes that this is appropriate because the rebate program should incent Members to direct additional order flow to the Exchange and thus provide additional liquidity that enhances the quality of its markets and increases the volume of contracts traded here. To the extent that this purpose is achieved, all the Exchange’s market participants should benefit from the improved market liquidity. Enhanced market quality and increased transaction volume that results from the anticipated increase in order flow directed to the Exchange will benefit all market participants and improve competition on the Exchange. The Exchange notes that it operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily favor competing venues if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be excessive. In such an environment, the Exchange must continually adjust its fees to remain competitive with other exchanges and to attract order flow to the Exchange. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change reflects this competitive environment because it reduces the Exchange’s fees in a manner that encourages market participants to direct their customer order flow, to provide liquidity, and to attract additional transaction volume to the VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:07 Nov 01, 2013 Jkt 232001 Exchange. Given the robust competition for volume among options markets, many of which offer the same products, implementing a volume based customer rebate program to attract order flow like the one being proposed in this filing is consistent with the above-mentioned goals of the Act. This is especially true for the smaller options markets, such as MIAX, which is competing for volume with much larger exchanges that dominate the options trading industry. As a new exchange, MIAX has a nominal percentage of the average daily trading volume in options, so it is unlikely that the customer rebate program could cause any competitive harm to the options market or to market participants. Rather, the customer rebate program is a modest attempt by a small options market to attract order volume away from larger competitors by adopting an innovative pricing strategy. The Exchange notes that if the rebate program resulted in a modest percentage increase in the average daily trading volume in options executing on MIAX, while such percentage would represent a large volume increase for MIAX, it would represent a minimal reduction in volume of its larger competitors in the industry. The Exchange believes that the proposal will help further competition, because market participants will have yet another additional option in determining where to execute orders and post liquidity if they factor the benefits of a customer rebate program into the determination. C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others Written comments were neither solicited nor received. 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)(A)(ii) of the Act.14 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 shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved. 14 15 PO 00000 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii). Frm 00137 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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– MIAX–2013–49 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–MIAX–2013–49. 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–MIAX–2013–49 and should be submitted on or before November 25, 2013. For the Commission, by the E:\FR\FM\04NON1.SGM 04NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 213 / Monday, November 4, 2013 / Notices Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.15 Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2013–26269 Filed 11–1–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [ File No. 500–1] In the Matter of Heritage Worldwide, Inc., Impala Mineral Exploration Corp., Klondike Star Mineral Corporation, MIV Therapeutics Inc., Most Home Corp., Moventis Capital, Inc., and OrganiTECH USA, Inc.; Order of Suspension of Trading TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES October 31, 2013. CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:07 Nov 01, 2013 By the Commission. Jill M. Peterson, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2013–26446 Filed 10–31–13; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of Heritage Worldwide, Inc. because it has not filed any periodic reports since the period ended December 31, 2008. It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of Impala Mineral Exploration Corp. because it has not filed any periodic reports since the period ended March 31, 2009. It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of Klondike Star Mineral Corporation because it has not filed any periodic reports since the period ended May 31, 2008. It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of MIV Therapeutics Inc. because it has not filed any periodic reports since the period ended November 30, 2008. It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of Most Home Corp. because it has not filed any periodic reports since the period ended April 30, 2008. It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of Moventis Capital, Inc. because it has not filed any periodic reports since the period ended March 31, 2007. It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information 15 17 concerning the securities of OrganiTECH USA, Inc. because it has not filed any periodic reports since the period ended September 30, 2008. The Commission is of the opinion that the public interest and the protection of investors require a suspension of trading in the securities of the above-listed companies. Therefore, it is ordered, pursuant to Section 12(k) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that trading in the securities of the abovelisted companies is suspended for the period from 9:30 a.m. EDT on October 31, 2013, through 11:59 p.m. EST on November 13, 2013. Jkt 232001 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [File No. 500–1] Acies Corporation, Immtech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., MRU Holdings, Inc., MSTI Holdings, Inc., Nestor, Inc., New Generation Holdings, Inc., and Nuevo Financial Center, Inc.; Order of Suspension of Trading 66097 reports since the period ended September 30, 2008. It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of New Generation Holdings, Inc. because it has not filed any periodic reports since the period ended June 30, 2009. It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of Nuevo Financial Center, Inc. because it has not filed any periodic reports since the period ended September 30, 2007. The Commission is of the opinion that the public interest and the protection of investors require a suspension of trading in the securities of the above-listed companies. Therefore, it is ordered, pursuant to Section 12(k) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that trading in the securities of the abovelisted companies is suspended for the period from 9:30 a.m. EDT on October 31, 2013, through 11:59 p.m. EST on November 13, 2013. By the Commission. Jill M. Peterson, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2013–26447 Filed 10–31–13; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P October 31, 2013. It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of Acies Corporation because it has not filed any periodic reports since the period ended June 30, 2010. It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of Immtech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. because it has not filed any periodic reports since the period ended March 31, 2009. It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of MRU Holdings, Inc. because it has not filed any periodic reports since the period ended September 30, 2008. It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of MSTI Holdings, Inc. because it has not filed any periodic reports since the period ended September 30, 2008. It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of Nestor, Inc. because it has not filed any periodic PO 00000 Frm 00138 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of New Approval of Information Collection: Safety Awareness, Feedback, and Evaluation (SAFE) Program Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a new information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on April 12, 2013, vol. 78, no. 71, pages 22020– 22021. The information collected will be used by FAA Flight Standards Service to improve the quality and delivery of the services and products provided to their stakeholders. DATES: Written comments should be submitted by December 4, 2013. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\04NON1.SGM 04NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 213 (Monday, November 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66094-66097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26269]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-70769; File No. SR-MIAX-2013-49]


Self-Regulatory Organizations: Miami International Securities 
Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a 
Proposed Rule Change To Amend the MIAX Fee Schedule

October 29, 2013.
    Pursuant to the provisions of 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 23, 2013, Miami International 
Securities Exchange LLC (``MIAX'' or ``Exchange'') filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') a proposed rule 
change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have 
been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice 
to 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 Exchange is filing a proposal to amend its Fee Schedule.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at https://www.miaxoptions.com/filter/wotitle/rule_filing, at 
MIAX's principal office, 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 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.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to extend its current Priority Customer 
Rebate Program (the ``Program'') until November 30, 2013.\3\ The 
Program currently applies to the period beginning July 1, 2013 and 
ending October 31, 2013.\4\ The Program is based on the substantially 
similar fees of another competing options exchange.\5\ Under the 
Program, the Exchange shall credit each Member the per contract amount 
set forth in the table below resulting from each Priority Customer \6\ 
order transmitted by that Member which is executed on the Exchange in 
all multiply-listed option classes (excluding mini-options and 
executions related to contracts that are routed to one or more 
exchanges in connection with the Options Order Protection and Locked/
Crossed Market Plan referenced in Rule 1400), provided the Member meets 
certain volume thresholds in a month as described below. The volume 
thresholds are calculated based on the customer average daily volume 
over the course of the month. Volume will be recorded for and credits 
will be delivered to the Member Firm that submits the order to the 
Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The Exchange notes that at the end of the period, the 
Program will expire unless the Exchange files another 19b-4 Rule 
Filing to amend its fees.
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 70523 (September 
26, 2013), 78 FR 60966 (October 2, 2013) (SR-MIAX-2013-47); 69947 
(July 9, 2013), 78 FR 42138 (July 15, 2013) (SR-MIAX-2013-31).
    \5\ See Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (``CBOE'') 
Fees Schedule, p. 4. See also Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 
66054 (December 23, 2011), 76 FR 82332 (December 30, 2011) (SR-CBOE-
2011-120); 68887 (February 8, 2013), 78 FR 10647 (February 14, 2013) 
(SR-CBOE-2013-017).
    \6\ The term ``Priority Customer'' means a person or entity that 
(i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) does not place 
more than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a 
calendar month for its own beneficial accounts(s). See MIAX Rule 
100.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Percentage thresholds of  national customer volume  in
     multiply-listed options  classes listed on MIAX       Per contract
                        (monthly)                             credit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.00%-0.25%.............................................           $0.00
Above 0.25%-0.50%.......................................            0.10
Above 0.50%-1.00%.......................................            0.11
Above 1.00%-2.00%.......................................            0.12
Above 2.00%.............................................            0.14
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 66095]]

    The Exchange will aggregate the contracts resulting from Priority 
Customer orders transmitted and executed electronically on the Exchange 
from affiliated Members for purposes of the thresholds above, provided 
there is at least 75% common ownership between the firms as reflected 
on each firm's Form BD, Schedule A. In the event of a MIAX System 
outage or other interruption of electronic trading on MIAX, the 
Exchange will adjust the national customer volume in multiply-listed 
options for the duration of the outage. A Member may request to receive 
its credit under the Priority Customer Rebate Program as a separate 
direct payment.
    In addition, the rebate payments will be calculated from the first 
executed contract at the applicable threshold per contract credit with 
the rebate payments made at the highest achieved volume tier for each 
contract traded in that month. For example, if Member Firm XYZ, Inc. 
(``XYZ'') has enough Priority Customer contracts to achieve 2.5% of the 
national customer volume in multiply-listed option contracts during the 
month of October, XYZ will receive a credit of $0.14 for each Priority 
Customer contract executed in the month of October.
    The purpose of the Program is to encourage Members to direct 
greater Priority Customer trade volume to the Exchange. Increased 
Priority Customer volume will provide for greater liquidity, which 
benefits all market participants. The practice of incentivizing 
increased retail customer order flow in order to attract professional 
liquidity providers (Market-Makers) is, and has been, commonly 
practiced in the options markets. As such, marketing fee programs,\7\ 
and customer posting incentive programs,\8\ are based on attracting 
public customer order flow. The Program similarly intends to attract 
Priority Customer order flow, which will increase liquidity, thereby 
providing greater trading opportunities and tighter spreads for other 
market participants and causing a corresponding increase in order flow 
from such other market participants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See MIAX Fee Schedule, Section 1(b).
    \8\ See NYSE Arca, Inc. Fees Schedule, page 3 (section titled 
``Customer Monthly Posting Credit Tiers and Qualifications for 
Executions in Penny Pilot Issues'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The specific volume thresholds of the Program's tiers were set 
based upon business determinations and an analysis of current volume 
levels. The volume thresholds are intended to incentivize firms that 
route some Priority Customer orders to the Exchange to increase the 
number of orders that are sent to the Exchange to achieve the next 
threshold and to incent new participants to send Priority Customer 
orders as well. Increasing the number of orders sent to the Exchange 
will in turn provide tighter and more liquid markets, and therefore 
attract more business overall. Similarly, the different credit rates at 
the different tier levels were based on an analysis of revenue and 
volume levels and are intended to provide increasing ``rewards'' for 
increasing the volume of trades sent to the Exchange. The specific 
amounts of the tiers and rates were set in order to encourage suppliers 
of Priority Customer order flow to reach for higher tiers.
    The Exchange proposes limiting the Program to multiply-listed 
options classes on MIAX because MIAX does not compete with other 
exchanges for order flow in the proprietary, singly-listed products.\9\ 
In addition, the Exchange does not trade any singly-listed products at 
this time, but may develop such products in the future. If at such time 
the Exchange develops proprietary products, the Exchange anticipates 
having to devote a lot of resources to develop them, and therefore 
would need to retain funds collected in order to recoup those 
expenditures.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ If a multiply-listed options class is not listed on MIAX, 
then the trading volume in that options class will be omitted from 
the calculation of national customer volume in multiply-listed 
options classes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange proposes excluding mini-options and executions related 
to contracts that are routed to one or more exchanges in connection 
with the Options Order Protection and Locked/Crossed Market Plan 
referenced in Exchange Rule 1400 from the Program. The Exchange notes 
these exclusions are nearly identical to the ones made by CBOE.\10\ 
Mini-options contracts are excluded from the Program because the cost 
to the Exchange to process quotes, orders and trades in mini-options is 
the same as for standard options. This, coupled with the lower per-
contract transaction fees charged to other market participants, makes 
it impractical to offer Members a credit for Priority Customer mini-
option volume that they transact. Providing rebates to Priority 
Customer executions that occur on other trading venues would be 
inconsistent with the proposal. Therefore, routed away volume is 
excluded from the Program in order to promote the underlying goal of 
the proposal, which is to increase liquidity and execution volume on 
the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See CBOE Fee Schedule, page 4. CBOE also excludes QCC 
trades from their rebate program. CBOE excluded QCC trades because a 
bulk of those trades on CBOE are facilitation orders which are 
charged at the $0.00 fee rate on their exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The credits paid out as part of the program will be drawn from the 
general revenues of the Exchange.\11\ The Exchange calculates volume 
thresholds on a monthly basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ Despite providing credits under the Program, the Exchange 
represents that it will continue to have adequate resources to fund 
its regulatory program and fulfill its responsibilities as a self-
regulatory organization while the Program will be in effect.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal to amend its fee schedule 
is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act \12\ in general, and 
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \13\ in 
particular, in that it is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees 
and other charges among Exchange members.
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    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that the proposed Priority Customer Rebate 
Program is fair, equitable and not unreasonably discriminatory. The 
Program is reasonably designed because it will incent providers of 
Priority Customer order flow to send that Priority Customer order flow 
to the Exchange in order to receive a credit in a manner that enables 
the Exchange to improve its overall competitiveness and strengthen its 
market quality for all market participants. The proposed rebate program 
is fair and equitable and not unreasonably discriminatory because it 
will apply equally to all Priority Customer orders. All similarly 
situated Priority Customer orders are subject to the same rebate 
schedule, and access to the Exchange is offered on terms that are not 
unfairly discriminatory. In addition, the Program is equitable and not 
unfairly discriminatory because, while only Priority Customer order 
flow qualifies for the Program, an increase in Priority Customer order 
flow will bring greater volume and liquidity, which benefit all market 
participants by providing more trading opportunities and tighter 
spreads. Similarly, offering increasing credits for executing higher 
percentages of total national customer volume (increased credit rates 
at increased volume tiers) is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory 
because such increased rates and tiers encourage Members to direct 
increased amounts of Priority Customer contracts to the Exchange. The 
resulting increased volume and liquidity will benefit those Members who 
receive the lower tier levels, or do not qualify for the Program

[[Page 66096]]

at all, by providing more trading opportunities and tighter spreads.
    Limiting the Program to multiply-listed options classes listed on 
MIAX is reasonable because those parties trading heavily in multiply-
listed classes will now begin to receive a credit for such trading, and 
is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because the Exchange does 
not trade any singly-listed products at this time. If at such time the 
Exchange develops proprietary products, the Exchange anticipates having 
to devote a lot of resources to develop them, and therefore would need 
to retain funds collected in order to recoup those expenditures.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange believes that the 
proposed change would increase both intermarket and intramarket 
competition by incenting Members to direct their Priority Customer 
orders to the Exchange, which will enhance the quality of quoting and 
increase the volume of contracts traded here. To the extent that there 
is additional competitive burden on non-Priority Customers, the 
Exchange believes that this is appropriate because the rebate program 
should incent Members to direct additional order flow to the Exchange 
and thus provide additional liquidity that enhances the quality of its 
markets and increases the volume of contracts traded here. To the 
extent that this purpose is achieved, all the Exchange's market 
participants should benefit from the improved market liquidity. 
Enhanced market quality and increased transaction volume that results 
from the anticipated increase in order flow directed to the Exchange 
will benefit all market participants and improve competition on the 
Exchange. The Exchange notes that it operates in a highly competitive 
market in which market participants can readily favor competing venues 
if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be excessive. In such 
an environment, the Exchange must continually adjust its fees to remain 
competitive with other exchanges and to attract order flow to the 
Exchange. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change reflects 
this competitive environment because it reduces the Exchange's fees in 
a manner that encourages market participants to direct their customer 
order flow, to provide liquidity, and to attract additional transaction 
volume to the Exchange. Given the robust competition for volume among 
options markets, many of which offer the same products, implementing a 
volume based customer rebate program to attract order flow like the one 
being proposed in this filing is consistent with the above-mentioned 
goals of the Act. This is especially true for the smaller options 
markets, such as MIAX, which is competing for volume with much larger 
exchanges that dominate the options trading industry. As a new 
exchange, MIAX has a nominal percentage of the average daily trading 
volume in options, so it is unlikely that the customer rebate program 
could cause any competitive harm to the options market or to market 
participants. Rather, the customer rebate program is a modest attempt 
by a small options market to attract order volume away from larger 
competitors by adopting an innovative pricing strategy. The Exchange 
notes that if the rebate program resulted in a modest percentage 
increase in the average daily trading volume in options executing on 
MIAX, while such percentage would represent a large volume increase for 
MIAX, it would represent a minimal reduction in volume of its larger 
competitors in the industry. The Exchange believes that the proposal 
will help further competition, because market participants will have 
yet another additional option in determining where to execute orders 
and post liquidity if they factor the benefits of a customer rebate 
program into the determination.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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)(A)(ii) of the Act.\14\ 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 shall institute proceedings to determine whether the 
proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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-MIAX-2013-49 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-MIAX-2013-49. 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-MIAX-2013-49 and 
should be submitted on or before November 25, 2013. For the Commission, 
by the

[[Page 66097]]

Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\15\
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    \15\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-26269 Filed 11-1-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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