Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Related to Fees for Use of BATS Exchange, Inc., 69470-69472 [2013-27619]
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69470
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 19, 2013 / Notices
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–70853; File No. SR–BATS–
2013–058]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS
Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change Related to Fees for Use
of BATS Exchange, Inc.
November 13, 2013.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on October
31, 2013, BATS Exchange, Inc. (the
‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BATS’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I, II, and
III below, which Items have been
prepared by the Exchange. The
Exchange has designated the proposed
rule change as one establishing or
changing a member due, fee, or other
charge imposed by the Exchange under
Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act 3 and
Rule 19b–4(f)(2) thereunder,4 which
renders the proposed rule change
effective upon filing with the
Commission. 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 the Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange filed a proposal to
amend the fee schedule applicable to
Members 5 and non-members of the
Exchange pursuant to BATS Rules
15.1(a) and (c). While changes to the fee
schedule pursuant to this proposal will
be effective upon filing, the proposed
changes will become operative on
November 1, 2013.
The text of the proposed rule change
is available at the Exchange’s Web site
at https://www.batstrading.com, at the
principal office of the Exchange, and at
the Commission’s Public Reference
Room.
TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
4 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
5 A Member is any registered broker or dealer that
has been admitted to membership in the Exchange.
2 17
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17:21 Nov 18, 2013
Jkt 232001
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 parts 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 modify its
fee schedule applicable to use of the
Exchange effective November 1, 2013, in
order to: (1) Modify the fees applicable
to executions occurring through certain
routing strategies at the Exchange’s
affiliate, BATS Y-Exchange, Inc.
(‘‘BYX’’); and (2) modify the way that,
for purposes of tiered pricing on the
Exchange’s equities trading platform
(‘‘BATS Equities’’), the Exchange
calculates ADV, ADAV, and TCV (as
such terms are defined below).
Routing Strategies to BYX
BYX currently provides a base rebate
of $0.0001 per share when removing
liquidity. To create a direct pass through
of the applicable economics of
executions at BYX through the
Destination Specific,6 TRIM (including
TRIM2 and TRIM3),7 and SLIM 8 routing
strategies, the Exchange proposes to
rebate $0.0001 per share for orders
routed through such strategies and
executed on BYX, rather than the
$0.0002 per share that it currently
rebates for such orders. The Exchange is
not proposing any other changes to its
routing fees at this time.
Modifications to Definitions Used for
Equities Pricing Tiers
The Exchange proposes to modify its
fee schedule in order to amend the way
that the Exchange calculates rebates for
removing liquidity from and fees for
adding liquidity to the Exchange.
Specifically, the Exchange is proposing
to amend the methodology by which it
determines the rebate that it will
provide to Members based on the
Exchange’s tiered pricing structure by
excluding from the calculation of ADV,9
6 As
defined in BATS Rule 11.9(c)(12).
defined in BATS Rule 11.13(a)(3)(G).
8 As defined in BATS Rule 11.13(a)(3)(H).
9 As provided in the fee schedule, ‘‘ADV’’ means
average daily volume calculated as the number of
shares added or removed, combined, per day on a
monthly basis; routed shares are not included in
ADV calculation.
7 As
PO 00000
Frm 00109
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
ADAV,10, and average daily TCV 11 any
day that trading is not available on the
Exchange for more than sixty (60)
minutes during regular trading hours
(i.e., 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Time) but continues on other markets
during such time (an ‘‘Exchange
Outage’’).
The Exchange currently offers a tiered
structure for determining the rebates
that Members receive for executions that
add liquidity to the Exchange. Under
the tiered pricing structure, the
Exchange provides different rebates to
Members based on a Member’s ADV or
ADAV as a percentage of average daily
TCV. The Exchange notes that it is not
proposing to modify any of the existing
rebates or the percentage thresholds at
which a Member may qualify for certain
rebates pursuant to the tiered pricing
structure. Rather, as mentioned above,
the Exchange is proposing to modify its
fee schedule in order to exclude trading
activity occurring on any day that the
Exchange experiences an Exchange
Outage, defined as an outage lasting for
more than sixty (60) minutes, from the
calculation of ADV, ADAV and average
daily TCV. The Exchange believes that
including trading activity on days when
trading on the Exchange is unavailable
for a significant portion of the day can
unfairly skew the calculation of ADV,
ADAV and TCV. Thus, the Exchange
believes that the most accurate and fair
implementation of its tiered pricing
structure is to exclude from the
calculation of ADV, ADAV and TCV all
days where the Exchange experiences
an Exchange Outage.
The Exchange believes that
eliminating days where the Exchange
experiences an Exchange Outage from
the definition of ADV, ADAV and TCV,
and thereby eliminating that day from
the calculation as it relates to rebates
and fees based on trading activity on the
Exchange, will help to eliminate
significant uncertainty faced by
Members as to their monthly ADV or
ADAV as a percentage of average daily
TCV and the rebates that this percentage
will qualify for, providing Members
with an increased certainty as to their
monthly cost for trades executed on the
Exchange.
The Exchange notes that it recently
adopted changes to exclude the last
Friday of June from the calculation of
10 As provided in the fee schedule, ‘‘ADAV’’
means average daily volume calculated as the
number of shares added per day on a monthly basis;
routed shares are not included in ADV calculation.
11 As provided in the fee schedule ‘‘TCV’’ means
total consolidated volume calculated as the volume
reported by all exchanges and trade reporting
facilities to a consolidated transaction reporting
plan for the month for which the fees apply.
E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 19, 2013 / Notices
ADV and average daily TCV.12 The last
day of June is the day that Russell
Investments reconstitutes its family of
indexes (‘‘Russell Reconstitution’’),
resulting in particularly high trading
volumes, much of which the Exchange
believes derives from market
participants who are not generally as
active entering the market to rebalance
their holdings in-line with the Russell
Reconstitution. The Exchange also notes
that its affiliate, BYX, recently
implemented a similar change to its
definitions of ADV and TCV for
purposes of BYX tiered pricing.13
TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
the requirements of the Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder that
are applicable to a national securities
exchange, and, in particular, with the
requirements of Section 6 of the Act.14
Specifically, the Exchange believes that
the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,15 in that
it provides for the equitable allocation
of reasonable dues, fees and other
charges among members and other
persons using any facility or system
which the Exchange operates or
controls. The Exchange notes that it
operates in a highly competitive market
in which market participants can
readily direct order flow to competing
venues if they deem fee levels at a
particular venue to be excessive.
The Exchange believes that the
proposed changes to the Exchange’s
rebate for TRIM (including TRIM2 and
TRIM3), SLIM and Destination Specific
Orders executed on BYX are equitably
allocated, fair and reasonable, and nondiscriminatory in that they are equally
applicable to all Members and are
designed to mirror the rebate applicable
12 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 69793
(June 18, 2013), 78 FR 37865 (SR–BATS–2013–034)
(notice of filing and immediate effectiveness of
proposed rule change to exclude the Russell
Reconstitution day from the calculation of ADV and
TCV for purposes of BATS Equities tiered pricing).
The Exchange notes that while it did not have a
definition of ADAV in its fee schedule at the time
the Russell Reconstitution exclusion was added, the
exclusion does apply to ADAV pursuant to the fee
schedule, as amended. See Securities Exchange Act
Release No. 70664 (October 11, 2013), 78 FR 68204
(October 22, 2013) (SR–BATS–2013–054) (notice of
filing and immediate effectiveness to modify the
fees of BATS Exchange, Inc., including the addition
of a definition of ADAV).
13 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 70666
(October 11, 2013), 78 FR 37865 [sic] (October 22,
2013) (SR–BYX–2013–034) (notice of filing and
immediate effectiveness of proposed rule change to
exclude from the definition of ADV and TCV days
that BATS Y-Exchange, Inc. experiences an outage
lasting more than 60 minutes).
14 15 U.S.C. 78f.
15 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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17:21 Nov 18, 2013
Jkt 232001
to the execution if such routed orders
were executed directly by the Member
at BYX.
With respect to the proposed changes
to the tiered pricing structure for
removing liquidity from the Exchange
and adding liquidity to the Exchange,
the Exchange believes that its proposal
is reasonable because, as explained
above, it will help provide Members
with a greater level of certainty as to
their level of rebates and costs for
trading in any month where the
Exchange experiences an Exchange
Outage on one or more trading days.
The Exchange also believes that its
proposal is reasonable because it is not
changing the thresholds to become
eligible or the dollar value associated
with the tiered rebates or fees and,
moreover, by eliminating the inclusion
of a trading day that would almost
certainly lower a Member’s ADV or
ADAV as a percentage of average daily
TCV, it will make the majority of
Members more likely to meet the
minimum or higher tier thresholds,
which will provide additional incentive
to Members to increase their
participation on the Exchange in order
to meet the next tier. In addition, the
Exchange believes that the proposed
changes to fees are equitably allocated
among Exchange constituents as the
methodology for calculating ADV,
ADAV and TCV will apply equally to all
Members. While, although unlikely,
certain Members may have a higher
ADV or ADAV as a percentage of
average daily TCV with their activity
included from days where the Exchange
has an Exchange Outage, the proposal
will make all Members’ cost of trading
on the Exchange more predictable,
regardless of how the proposal affects
their ADV or ADAV as a percentage of
average daily TCV. The Exchange also
notes that its affiliate, BYX, recently
made a similar change.16
Volume-based tiers such as the
liquidity adding tiers maintained by the
Exchange have been widely adopted,
and are equitable and not unfairly
discriminatory because they are open to
all members on an equal basis and
provide higher rebates or lower fees that
are reasonably related to the value to an
exchange’s market quality associated
with higher levels of market activity,
such as higher levels of liquidity
provision and introduction of higher
volumes of orders into the price and
volume discovery process. Accordingly,
the Exchange believes that the proposal
is equitably allocated and not unfairly
discriminatory because it is consistent
with the overall goals of enhancing
market quality. Further, the Exchange
believes that a tiered pricing model not
significantly altered by a day of atypical
trading behavior which allows Members
to predictably calculate what their costs
associated with trading activity on the
Exchange will be is reasonable, fair and
equitable and not unreasonably
discriminatory as it is uniform in
application amongst Members and
should enable such participants to
operate their business without concern
of unpredictable and potentially
significant changes in expenses.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will result in
any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act, as amended.
Because the market for order execution
is extremely competitive, Members may
readily opt to disfavor the Exchange’s
routing services if they believe that
alternatives offer them better value. For
orders routed through the Exchange and
executed at BYX through the TRIM
(including TRIM2 and TRIM3), SLIM
and Destination Specific Order
strategies, the proposed fee change is
designed to equal the rebate that a
Member would have received if such
routed orders would have been executed
directly by a Member at BYX. Further,
the proposed changes will help to
promote intramarket competition by
avoiding a penalty to Members for days
when trading on the Exchange is
unavailable for a significant portion of
the day. As stated above, the Exchange
notes that it operates in a highly
competitive market in which market
participants can readily direct order
flow to competing venues if the deem
fee structures to be unreasonable or
excessive.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange has neither solicited
nor received written comments on the
proposed rule change.
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)
of the Act 17 and paragraph (f) of Rule
19b–4 thereunder.18 At any time within
60 days of the filing of the proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may
17 15
16 See
PO 00000
supra note 13.
Frm 00110
Fmt 4703
18 17
Sfmt 4703
69471
E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f).
19NON1
69472
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 19, 2013 / Notices
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.
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–
BATS–2013–058 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
• 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–BATS–2013–058. 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 such
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–BATS–
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:21 Nov 18, 2013
Jkt 232001
2013–058 and should be submitted on
or before December 10, 2013.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.19
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013–27619 Filed 11–18–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–70866; File No. SR–Phlx–
2013–113]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
Proposed Rule Change To Offer a
Customer Rebate
November 13, 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
31, 2013, NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC
(‘‘Phlx’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the 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 proposes to amend
Section B of the Exchange’s Pricing
Schedule, entitled ‘‘Customer Rebate
Program’’, to offer its market
participants an additional rebate.
While changes to the Pricing
Schedule pursuant to this proposal are
effective upon filing, the Exchange has
designated the proposed amendment to
be operative on November 1, 2013.
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on the Exchange’s Web site
at https://
nasdaqomxphlx.cchwallstreet.com/, at
the principal office of the Exchange, and
at the Commission’s Public Reference
Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
Exchange included statements
19 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
1 15
PO 00000
Frm 00111
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 purpose of the proposed rule
change is to amend the Customer Rebate
Program in Section B of the Pricing
Schedule to increase Customer rebates
available to market participants that
transact Customer-denominated orders
on Phlx. Specifically, Phlx proposes to
offer its members the opportunity to
increase the Customer rebates offered in
Section B of the Pricing Schedule for
transactions on Phlx if the aggregate
volumes of Customer orders transacted
by a member organization and its
affiliates on Phlx, The NASDAQ
Options Market LLC (‘‘NOM’’) and/or
NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (‘‘BX Options’’)
(collectively ‘‘NASDAQ OMX
exchanges’’) exceed a specified volume.
The Exchange would increase the
applicable Phlx Customer rebate for
which the member organization
qualified in the Customer Rebate
Program by $0.02 per contract, in any
category, provided the member
organization, together with any affiliate
under Common Ownership,3 transacts
Customer volume on Phlx, NOM and/or
BX in multiply-listed options that is
electronically delivered and executed
equal to or greater than 2.5% of national
customer volume in multiply-listed
options during the month.
Today, the Exchange pays Customer
Rebates based on a four-tier structure
comprised of percentage thresholds of
Customer Orders in multiply-listed
options based on national volume.
There are two Categories, A and B, of
transactions eligible for rebates. In
Category A, rebates are paid to members
executing electronically-delivered
Customer Simple Orders in Penny Pilot
Options and Customer Simple Orders in
Non-Penny Pilot Options in Section II
symbols.4 In Category B, rebates are
3 Common ownership is defined in the Preface to
the Pricing Schedule as [sic] member organizations
under 75% common ownership or control.
4 Rebates are paid on PIXL Orders in Section II
symbols that execute against non-Initiating Order
interest, except in the case of Customer PIXL Orders
that are greater than 999 contracts. All Customer
E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM
19NON1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69470-69472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27619]
[[Page 69470]]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-70853; File No. SR-BATS-2013-058]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Exchange, Inc.; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Related to
Fees for Use of BATS Exchange, Inc.
November 13, 2013.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given
that on October 31, 2013, BATS Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or
``BATS'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II,
and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The
Exchange has designated the proposed rule change as one establishing or
changing a member due, fee, or other charge imposed by the Exchange
under Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(2)
thereunder,\4\ which renders the proposed rule change effective upon
filing with the Commission. 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.
\3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
\4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange filed a proposal to amend the fee schedule applicable
to Members \5\ and non-members of the Exchange pursuant to BATS Rules
15.1(a) and (c). While changes to the fee schedule pursuant to this
proposal will be effective upon filing, the proposed changes will
become operative on November 1, 2013.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ A Member is any registered broker or dealer that has been
admitted to membership in the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange's
Web site at https://www.batstrading.com, at the principal office of the
Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the 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 parts 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 modify its fee schedule applicable to use
of the Exchange effective November 1, 2013, in order to: (1) Modify the
fees applicable to executions occurring through certain routing
strategies at the Exchange's affiliate, BATS Y-Exchange, Inc.
(``BYX''); and (2) modify the way that, for purposes of tiered pricing
on the Exchange's equities trading platform (``BATS Equities''), the
Exchange calculates ADV, ADAV, and TCV (as such terms are defined
below).
Routing Strategies to BYX
BYX currently provides a base rebate of $0.0001 per share when
removing liquidity. To create a direct pass through of the applicable
economics of executions at BYX through the Destination Specific,\6\
TRIM (including TRIM2 and TRIM3),\7\ and SLIM \8\ routing strategies,
the Exchange proposes to rebate $0.0001 per share for orders routed
through such strategies and executed on BYX, rather than the $0.0002
per share that it currently rebates for such orders. The Exchange is
not proposing any other changes to its routing fees at this time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ As defined in BATS Rule 11.9(c)(12).
\7\ As defined in BATS Rule 11.13(a)(3)(G).
\8\ As defined in BATS Rule 11.13(a)(3)(H).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modifications to Definitions Used for Equities Pricing Tiers
The Exchange proposes to modify its fee schedule in order to amend
the way that the Exchange calculates rebates for removing liquidity
from and fees for adding liquidity to the Exchange. Specifically, the
Exchange is proposing to amend the methodology by which it determines
the rebate that it will provide to Members based on the Exchange's
tiered pricing structure by excluding from the calculation of ADV,\9\
ADAV,\10\, and average daily TCV \11\ any day that trading is not
available on the Exchange for more than sixty (60) minutes during
regular trading hours (i.e., 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) but
continues on other markets during such time (an ``Exchange Outage'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ As provided in the fee schedule, ``ADV'' means average daily
volume calculated as the number of shares added or removed,
combined, per day on a monthly basis; routed shares are not included
in ADV calculation.
\10\ As provided in the fee schedule, ``ADAV'' means average
daily volume calculated as the number of shares added per day on a
monthly basis; routed shares are not included in ADV calculation.
\11\ As provided in the fee schedule ``TCV'' means total
consolidated volume calculated as the volume reported by all
exchanges and trade reporting facilities to a consolidated
transaction reporting plan for the month for which the fees apply.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange currently offers a tiered structure for determining
the rebates that Members receive for executions that add liquidity to
the Exchange. Under the tiered pricing structure, the Exchange provides
different rebates to Members based on a Member's ADV or ADAV as a
percentage of average daily TCV. The Exchange notes that it is not
proposing to modify any of the existing rebates or the percentage
thresholds at which a Member may qualify for certain rebates pursuant
to the tiered pricing structure. Rather, as mentioned above, the
Exchange is proposing to modify its fee schedule in order to exclude
trading activity occurring on any day that the Exchange experiences an
Exchange Outage, defined as an outage lasting for more than sixty (60)
minutes, from the calculation of ADV, ADAV and average daily TCV. The
Exchange believes that including trading activity on days when trading
on the Exchange is unavailable for a significant portion of the day can
unfairly skew the calculation of ADV, ADAV and TCV. Thus, the Exchange
believes that the most accurate and fair implementation of its tiered
pricing structure is to exclude from the calculation of ADV, ADAV and
TCV all days where the Exchange experiences an Exchange Outage.
The Exchange believes that eliminating days where the Exchange
experiences an Exchange Outage from the definition of ADV, ADAV and
TCV, and thereby eliminating that day from the calculation as it
relates to rebates and fees based on trading activity on the Exchange,
will help to eliminate significant uncertainty faced by Members as to
their monthly ADV or ADAV as a percentage of average daily TCV and the
rebates that this percentage will qualify for, providing Members with
an increased certainty as to their monthly cost for trades executed on
the Exchange.
The Exchange notes that it recently adopted changes to exclude the
last Friday of June from the calculation of
[[Page 69471]]
ADV and average daily TCV.\12\ The last day of June is the day that
Russell Investments reconstitutes its family of indexes (``Russell
Reconstitution''), resulting in particularly high trading volumes, much
of which the Exchange believes derives from market participants who are
not generally as active entering the market to rebalance their holdings
in-line with the Russell Reconstitution. The Exchange also notes that
its affiliate, BYX, recently implemented a similar change to its
definitions of ADV and TCV for purposes of BYX tiered pricing.\13\
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\12\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 69793 (June 18, 2013),
78 FR 37865 (SR-BATS-2013-034) (notice of filing and immediate
effectiveness of proposed rule change to exclude the Russell
Reconstitution day from the calculation of ADV and TCV for purposes
of BATS Equities tiered pricing). The Exchange notes that while it
did not have a definition of ADAV in its fee schedule at the time
the Russell Reconstitution exclusion was added, the exclusion does
apply to ADAV pursuant to the fee schedule, as amended. See
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 70664 (October 11, 2013), 78 FR
68204 (October 22, 2013) (SR-BATS-2013-054) (notice of filing and
immediate effectiveness to modify the fees of BATS Exchange, Inc.,
including the addition of a definition of ADAV).
\13\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 70666 (October 11,
2013), 78 FR 37865 [sic] (October 22, 2013) (SR-BYX-2013-034)
(notice of filing and immediate effectiveness of proposed rule
change to exclude from the definition of ADV and TCV days that BATS
Y-Exchange, Inc. experiences an outage lasting more than 60
minutes).
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2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder that are applicable to a national securities exchange, and,
in particular, with the requirements of Section 6 of the Act.\14\
Specifically, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is
consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,\15\ in that it provides for
the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges
among members and other persons using any facility or system which the
Exchange operates or controls. The Exchange notes that it operates in a
highly competitive market in which market participants can readily
direct order flow to competing venues if they deem fee levels at a
particular venue to be excessive.
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\14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
\15\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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The Exchange believes that the proposed changes to the Exchange's
rebate for TRIM (including TRIM2 and TRIM3), SLIM and Destination
Specific Orders executed on BYX are equitably allocated, fair and
reasonable, and non-discriminatory in that they are equally applicable
to all Members and are designed to mirror the rebate applicable to the
execution if such routed orders were executed directly by the Member at
BYX.
With respect to the proposed changes to the tiered pricing
structure for removing liquidity from the Exchange and adding liquidity
to the Exchange, the Exchange believes that its proposal is reasonable
because, as explained above, it will help provide Members with a
greater level of certainty as to their level of rebates and costs for
trading in any month where the Exchange experiences an Exchange Outage
on one or more trading days. The Exchange also believes that its
proposal is reasonable because it is not changing the thresholds to
become eligible or the dollar value associated with the tiered rebates
or fees and, moreover, by eliminating the inclusion of a trading day
that would almost certainly lower a Member's ADV or ADAV as a
percentage of average daily TCV, it will make the majority of Members
more likely to meet the minimum or higher tier thresholds, which will
provide additional incentive to Members to increase their participation
on the Exchange in order to meet the next tier. In addition, the
Exchange believes that the proposed changes to fees are equitably
allocated among Exchange constituents as the methodology for
calculating ADV, ADAV and TCV will apply equally to all Members. While,
although unlikely, certain Members may have a higher ADV or ADAV as a
percentage of average daily TCV with their activity included from days
where the Exchange has an Exchange Outage, the proposal will make all
Members' cost of trading on the Exchange more predictable, regardless
of how the proposal affects their ADV or ADAV as a percentage of
average daily TCV. The Exchange also notes that its affiliate, BYX,
recently made a similar change.\16\
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\16\ See supra note 13.
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Volume-based tiers such as the liquidity adding tiers maintained by
the Exchange have been widely adopted, and are equitable and not
unfairly discriminatory because they are open to all members on an
equal basis and provide higher rebates or lower fees that are
reasonably related to the value to an exchange's market quality
associated with higher levels of market activity, such as higher levels
of liquidity provision and introduction of higher volumes of orders
into the price and volume discovery process. Accordingly, the Exchange
believes that the proposal is equitably allocated and not unfairly
discriminatory because it is consistent with the overall goals of
enhancing market quality. Further, the Exchange believes that a tiered
pricing model not significantly altered by a day of atypical trading
behavior which allows Members to predictably calculate what their costs
associated with trading activity on the Exchange will be is reasonable,
fair and equitable and not unreasonably discriminatory as it is uniform
in application amongst Members and should enable such participants to
operate their business without concern of unpredictable and potentially
significant changes in expenses.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act, as amended.
Because the market for order execution is extremely competitive,
Members may readily opt to disfavor the Exchange's routing services if
they believe that alternatives offer them better value. For orders
routed through the Exchange and executed at BYX through the TRIM
(including TRIM2 and TRIM3), SLIM and Destination Specific Order
strategies, the proposed fee change is designed to equal the rebate
that a Member would have received if such routed orders would have been
executed directly by a Member at BYX. Further, the proposed changes
will help to promote intramarket competition by avoiding a penalty to
Members for days when trading on the Exchange is unavailable for a
significant portion of the day. As stated above, the Exchange notes
that it operates in a highly competitive market in which market
participants can readily direct order flow to competing venues if the
deem fee structures to be unreasonable or excessive.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange has neither solicited nor received written comments on
the proposed rule change.
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) of the Act \17\ and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b-4
thereunder.\18\ At any time within 60 days of the filing of the
proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may
[[Page 69472]]
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.
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\17\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\18\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f).
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IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the 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-BATS-2013-058 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-BATS-2013-058. 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 such 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-BATS-2013-058 and should be
submitted on or before December 10, 2013.
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\19\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\19\
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-27619 Filed 11-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P