Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Schedule of Fees, 28985-28987 [2014-11570]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 97 / Tuesday, May 20, 2014 / Notices
investment company. Applicants further
state that, in the event it imposes
CDSCs, the Fund will apply the CDSCs
(and any waivers or scheduled
variations of the CDSCs) uniformly to all
Members of a given class and
consistently with the requirements of
rule 22d–1 under the Act. Finally, to the
extent the Fund determines to waive,
impose scheduled variations of, or
eliminate the Early Repurchase Fee, it
will do so consistently with the
requirements of Rule 22d–1 under the
1940 Act and the Fund’s waiver of,
scheduled variation in, or elimination
of, the Early Repurchase Fee will apply
uniformly to all classes of shares of the
Fund.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Asset-based Service and Distribution
Fees
1. Section 17(d) of the Act and rule
17d–1 under the Act prohibit an
affiliated person of a registered
investment company or an affiliated
person of such person, acting as
principal, from participating in or
effecting any transaction in connection
with any joint enterprise or joint
arrangement in which the investment
company participates unless the
Commission issues an order permitting
the transaction. In reviewing
applications submitted under section
17(d) and rule 17d–1, the Commission
considers whether the participation of
the investment company in a joint
enterprise or joint arrangement is
consistent with the provisions, policies
and purposes of the Act, and the extent
to which the participation is on a basis
different from or less advantageous than
that of other participants.
2. Rule 17d–3 under the Act provides
an exemption from section 17(d) and
rule 17d–1 to permit open-end
investment companies to enter into
distribution arrangements pursuant to
rule 12b–1 under the Act. Applicants
request an order pursuant to Section
17(d) of the Act and Rule 17d–1
thereunder to the extent necessary for
the Fund to pay asset-based distribution
and/or service fees. Applicants have
agreed to comply with rules 12b–1 and
17d–3 as if those rules applied to
closed-end investment companies.
Applicants’ Condition
Applicants agree that any order
granting the requested relief will be
subject to the following condition:
Applicants will comply with the
provisions of rules 6c–10, 12b–1, 17d–
3, 18f–3, and 22d–1 under the Act, as
amended from time to time or replaced,
as if those rules applied to closed-end
management investment companies,
and will comply with NASD Conduct
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Rule 2830, as amended from time to
time or replaced, as if that rule applied
to all closed-end management
investment companies.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Investment Management, under delegated
authority.
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–11571 Filed 5–19–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Sunshine Act Meeting
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to
the provisions of the Government in the
Sunshine Act, Public Law 94–409, that
the Securities and Exchange
Commission will hold a Closed Meeting
on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10 a.m.
Commissioners, Counsel to the
Commissioners, the Secretary to the
Commission, and recording secretaries
will attend the Closed Meeting. Certain
staff members who have an interest in
the matters also may be present.
The General Counsel of the
Commission, or her designee, has
certified that, in her opinion, one or
more of the exemptions set forth in 5
U.S.C. 552b(c)(3), (5), (7), 9(B) and (10)
and 17 CFR 200.402(a)(3), (5), (7), 9(ii)
and (10), permit consideration of the
scheduled matter at the Closed Meeting.
Commissioner Stein, as duty officer,
voted to consider the items listed for the
Closed Meeting in closed session, and
determined that no earlier notice thereof
was possible.
The subject matter of the Closed
Meeting will be:
Institution and settlement of
injunctive actions;
institution and settlement of
administrative proceedings;
an adjudicatory matter; and
other matters relating to enforcement
proceedings.
At times, changes in Commission
priorities require alterations in the
scheduling of meeting items.
For further information and to
ascertain what, if any, matters have been
added, deleted or postponed, please
contact the Office of the Secretary at
(202) 551–5400.
Dated: May 15, 2014.
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–72163; File No. SR–ISE–
2014–27]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule
Change To Amend the Schedule of
Fees
May 14, 2014.
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 May 2,
2014, the International Securities
Exchange, LLC (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or the
‘‘ISE’’) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission the proposed
rule change, as described in Items I, II,
and III below, which items have been
prepared by the self-regulatory
organization. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The ISE proposes to amend its
Schedule of Fees to introduce a new
Market Maker Plus rebate for Market
Makers that quote certain symbols in
size, and to update the definition of
Mini Option to reflect the recent Google
stock split. The text of the proposed rule
change is available on the Exchange’s
Web site (https://www.ise.com), at the
principal office of the Exchange, and at
the Commission’s Public Reference
Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
self-regulatory organization included
statements concerning the purpose of,
and basis for, the proposed rule change
and discussed any comments it received
on the proposed rule change. The text
of these statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below.
The self-regulatory organization has
prepared summaries, set forth in
sections A, B and C below, of the most
significant aspects of such statements.
[FR Doc. 2014–11706 Filed 5–16–14; 11:15 am]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 97 / Tuesday, May 20, 2014 / Notices
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 Schedule of Fees
to introduce a new Market Maker Plus
rebate for Market Makers that quote
certain symbols in size, and to update
the definition of Mini Option to reflect
the recent Google stock split. The fee
changes discussed apply to both
Standard Options and Mini Options
traded on the Exchange. The Exchange’s
Schedule of Fees has separate tables for
fees applicable to Standard Options and
Mini Options. The Exchange notes that
while the discussion below relates to
fees for Standard Options, the fees for
Mini Options, which are not discussed
below, are and shall continue to be 1/
10th of the fees for Standard Options.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
1. Market Maker Plus: BAC, SPY, IWM
In order to promote and encourage
liquidity in symbols that are in the
penny pilot program (‘‘Select
Symbols’’), the Exchange currently
offers Market Makers 3 who meet the
quoting requirements for Market Maker
Plus 4 a rebate of $0.20 per contract for
adding liquidity in those symbols. In
addition, the Exchange pays a higher
rebate of $0.22 per contract to Market
Makers who meet the quoting
requirements for Market Maker Plus and
are affiliated with an Electronic Access
Member (‘‘EAM’’) that executes a total
affiliated Priority Customer 5 average
daily volume (‘‘ADV’’) of 200,000
contracts or more in a calendar month.
The Exchange now proposes to
introduce an additional higher Market
Maker Plus rebate for members that
meet specified quotation size
requirements on a trade by trade basis
3 The term ‘‘Market Makers’’ refers to
‘‘Competitive Market Makers’’ and ‘‘Primary Market
Makers’’ collectively. See ISE Rule 100(a)(25).
4 A Market Maker Plus is a Market Maker who is
on the National Best Bid or National Best Offer at
least 80% of the time for series trading between
$0.03 and $3.00 (for options whose underlying
stock’s previous trading day’s last sale price was
less than or equal to $100) and between $0.10 and
$3.00 (for options whose underlying stock’s
previous trading day’s last sale price was greater
than $100) in premium in each of the front two
expiration months. A Market Maker’s single best
and single worst quoting days each month based on
the front two expiration months, on a per symbol
basis, will be excluded in calculating whether a
Market Maker qualifies for this rebate, if doing so
will qualify a Market Maker for the rebate.
5 A Priority Customer is defined in ISE Rule
100(a)(37A) as a person or entity that is not a
broker/dealer in securities, and does not place more
than 390 orders in listed options per day on average
during a calendar month for its own beneficial
account(s).
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in three actively traded Select Symbols:
Bank of America Corp (‘‘BAC’’), SPDR
S&P 500 ETF Trust (‘‘SPY’’), and the
iShares Russell 2000 ETF (‘‘IWM’’).6 In
particular, Market Makers who qualify
as Market Maker Plus in BAC, SPY, and
IWM will earn a rebate of $0.25 per
contract if at the time of the trade their
displayed quantity, 7 in the traded
series, 8 is at least 1,000 contracts.9
Market Makers that achieve Market
Maker Plus will continue to receive the
current rebate amounts when the Market
Maker does not have a displayed size of
1,000 contracts or more at the time of
the trade. If a Market Maker that
qualifies for the $0.22 per contract
Market Maker Plus rebate based on total
affiliated Priority Customer ADV also
qualifies for the new rebate that Market
Maker will receive the higher $0.25 per
contract rebate.
2. Mini Option Definition: Google Stock
Split
The ISE recently amended
Supplementary Material .13 to Rule 504,
listing standards for Mini Options, to
enable the continued trading of Mini
Options on Google Class A shares,
which were assigned a new symbol,
‘‘GOOGL’’, in connection with Google’s
recent stock split.10 The Exchange now
proposes to similarly update the
definition of ‘‘Mini Option’’ in its
Schedule of Fees to indicate that Mini
Options include options overlying ten
shares of ‘‘GOOGL’’. As proposed,
‘‘Mini Options’’ are options overlying
ten (10) shares of AAPL, AMZN, GLD,
GOOGL and SPY.11
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,12
in general, and Section 6(b)(4) of the
Act, 13 in particular, in that it is
designed to provide for the equitable
allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and
other charges among its members and
other persons using its facilities.
6 The new rebate will only apply to Mini Options
on SPY as the ISE does not offer Mini Options on
BAC or IWM.
7 There is no trade quantity minimum.
8 There is no requirement that the Market Maker
maintain a quote size of 1,000 contracts in all series
in order to qualify for the higher rebate.
9 1,000 contract size requirement applies to both
Standard Options and Mini Options.
10 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 71932
(April 11, 2014), 79 FR 21816 (April 17, 2014) (SR–
ISE–2014–21).
11 For purposes of the Schedule of Fees, AAPL,
AMZN, GLD and SPY are Select Symbols and
GOOGL is a Non-Select Symbol.
12 15 U.S.C. 78f.
13 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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1. Market Maker Plus: BAC, SPY, IWM
The Exchange believes that it is
reasonable, equitable, and not unfairly
discriminatory to introduce a higher
Market Maker Plus rebate for Market
Makers that meet the specified
quotation size requirements in BAC,
SPY, and IWM as the higher rebates will
encourage Market Makers to post deep
markets in these actively traded
symbols, which will benefit all market
participants that trade on the ISE. The
Market Maker Plus rebate is competitive
with incentives provided by other
exchanges, and has proven to be an
effective incentive for Market Makers to
provide liquidity in Select Symbols. The
Exchange believes that the new rebate
will similarly be effective in
encouraging Market Makers to post
tighter markets, in size, in BAC, SPY,
and IWM. Furthermore, the Exchange
believes that the new Market Maker Plus
rebate for these symbols is not unfairly
discriminatory because all Market
Makers can achieve the new higher
rebate by satisfying the current quoting
requirements and maintaining quotes of
1,000 contracts or more (at the time of
the trade) in these symbols.
2. Mini Option Definition: Google Stock
Split
As part of Google’s recent stock split,
the symbol ‘‘GOOG’’ was assigned to the
new Google Class C shares, while
Google Class A shares were assigned the
symbol ‘‘GOOGL’’. The Exchange
recently updated its Mini Options rules
to clarify that it will continue listing
Mini Options on the Google Class A
shares, i.e., GOOGL, and believes that it
is reasonable, equitable, and not
unfairly discriminatory to update the
definition of ‘‘Mini Option’’ in the
Schedule of Fees in order to eliminate
investor confusion about which options
classes are tradable as Mini Options on
the Exchange.
The Exchange notes that it has
determined to charge fees and provide
rebates in Mini Options at a rate that is
1/10th the rate of fees and rebates the
Exchange provides for trading in
Standard Options. The Exchange
believes it is reasonable and equitable
and not unfairly discriminatory to
assess lower fees and rebates to provide
market participants an incentive to trade
Mini Options on the Exchange. The
Exchange believes the proposed fees
and rebates are reasonable and equitable
in light of the fact that Mini Options
have a smaller exercise and assignment
value, specifically 1/10th that of a
standard option contract, and, as such,
is providing fees and rebates for Mini
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 97 / Tuesday, May 20, 2014 / Notices
Options that are 1/10th of those
applicable to Standard Options.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of
the Act, 14 the Exchange does not
believe that the proposed rule change
will impose any burden on intermarket
or intramarket competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act. To the
contrary, the Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is pro-competitive
as it provides an additional incentive for
Market Makers to make deep markets in
three actively traded Select Symbols,
which will benefit all market
participants that trade on the ISE. In
addition, the proposed change to the
definition of Mini Option is a technical
change that will have no competitive
impact. The Exchange operates in a
highly competitive market in which
market participants can readily direct
their order flow to competing venues. In
such an environment, the Exchange
must continually review, and consider
adjusting, its fees to remain competitive
with other exchanges. For the reasons
described above, the Exchange believes
that the proposed fee changes reflect
this competitive environment.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants or Others
The Exchange has not solicited, and
does not intend to solicit, comments on
this proposed rule change. The
Exchange has not received any
unsolicited written comments from
members or other interested parties.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act 15 and
subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b–4
thereunder, 16 because it establishes a
due, fee, or other charge imposed by
ISE.
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of such 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
14 15
U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
16 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
15 15
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Commission shall institute proceedings
to determine whether the proposed rule
should be approved or disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
28987
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.17
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
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:
[FR Doc. 2014–11570 Filed 5–19–14; 8:45 am]
Electronic Comments
Fusion Pharm, Inc.; Order of
Suspension of Trading
• 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 No. SR–ISE–
2014–27 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–ISE–2014–27. 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 ISE. All comments received
will be posted without change; the
Commission does not edit personal
identifying information from
submissions. You should submit only
information that you wish to make
available publicly. All submissions
should refer to File Number SR–ISE–
2014–27 and should be submitted by
June 10, 2014.
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BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[File No. 500–1]
May 16, 2014.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of
FusionPharm, Inc. (‘‘FusionPharm’’)
because of questions regarding the
accuracy of assertions by FusionPharm
and by others, in filings and disclosures
made by FusionPharm on OTC Link
(previously ‘‘Pink Sheets’’) operated by
OTC Markets Group. Inc. and press
releases to investors concerning, among
other things: (1) The company’s assets;
(2) the company’s revenues; (3) the
company’s financial statements; (4) the
company’s business transactions; and
(5) the company’s current financial
condition.
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
company.
Therefore, it is ordered, pursuant to
Section 12(k) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, that trading in the abovelisted company is suspended from the
period 9:30 a.m. EDT, on May 16, 2014,
through 11:59 p.m. EDT, on May 30,
2014.
By the Commission.
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–11739 Filed 5–16–14; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[File No. 500–1]
Global Stevia Corp.; Order of
Suspension of Trading
May 16, 2014.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of complete and accurate
information concerning the securities of
17 17
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CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
20MYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28985-28987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11570]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-72163; File No. SR-ISE-2014-27]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule
Change To Amend the Schedule of Fees
May 14, 2014.
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 May 2, 2014, the International Securities Exchange, LLC
(the ``Exchange'' or the ``ISE'') filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission the proposed rule change, as described in Items I,
II, and III below, which items have been prepared by the self-
regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The ISE proposes to amend its Schedule of Fees to introduce a new
Market Maker Plus rebate for Market Makers that quote certain symbols
in size, and to update the definition of Mini Option to reflect the
recent Google stock split. The text of the proposed rule change is
available on the Exchange's Web site (https://www.ise.com), at the
principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public
Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below. The self-regulatory organization
has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B and C below, of the
most significant aspects of such statements.
[[Page 28986]]
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 Schedule of
Fees to introduce a new Market Maker Plus rebate for Market Makers that
quote certain symbols in size, and to update the definition of Mini
Option to reflect the recent Google stock split. The fee changes
discussed apply to both Standard Options and Mini Options traded on the
Exchange. The Exchange's Schedule of Fees has separate tables for fees
applicable to Standard Options and Mini Options. The Exchange notes
that while the discussion below relates to fees for Standard Options,
the fees for Mini Options, which are not discussed below, are and shall
continue to be 1/10th of the fees for Standard Options.
1. Market Maker Plus: BAC, SPY, IWM
In order to promote and encourage liquidity in symbols that are in
the penny pilot program (``Select Symbols''), the Exchange currently
offers Market Makers \3\ who meet the quoting requirements for Market
Maker Plus \4\ a rebate of $0.20 per contract for adding liquidity in
those symbols. In addition, the Exchange pays a higher rebate of $0.22
per contract to Market Makers who meet the quoting requirements for
Market Maker Plus and are affiliated with an Electronic Access Member
(``EAM'') that executes a total affiliated Priority Customer \5\
average daily volume (``ADV'') of 200,000 contracts or more in a
calendar month. The Exchange now proposes to introduce an additional
higher Market Maker Plus rebate for members that meet specified
quotation size requirements on a trade by trade basis in three actively
traded Select Symbols: Bank of America Corp (``BAC''), SPDR S&P 500 ETF
Trust (``SPY''), and the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (``IWM'').\6\ In
particular, Market Makers who qualify as Market Maker Plus in BAC, SPY,
and IWM will earn a rebate of $0.25 per contract if at the time of the
trade their displayed quantity, \7\ in the traded series, \8\ is at
least 1,000 contracts.\9\ Market Makers that achieve Market Maker Plus
will continue to receive the current rebate amounts when the Market
Maker does not have a displayed size of 1,000 contracts or more at the
time of the trade. If a Market Maker that qualifies for the $0.22 per
contract Market Maker Plus rebate based on total affiliated Priority
Customer ADV also qualifies for the new rebate that Market Maker will
receive the higher $0.25 per contract rebate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The term ``Market Makers'' refers to ``Competitive Market
Makers'' and ``Primary Market Makers'' collectively. See ISE Rule
100(a)(25).
\4\ A Market Maker Plus is a Market Maker who is on the National
Best Bid or National Best Offer at least 80% of the time for series
trading between $0.03 and $3.00 (for options whose underlying
stock's previous trading day's last sale price was less than or
equal to $100) and between $0.10 and $3.00 (for options whose
underlying stock's previous trading day's last sale price was
greater than $100) in premium in each of the front two expiration
months. A Market Maker's single best and single worst quoting days
each month based on the front two expiration months, on a per symbol
basis, will be excluded in calculating whether a Market Maker
qualifies for this rebate, if doing so will qualify a Market Maker
for the rebate.
\5\ A Priority Customer is defined in ISE Rule 100(a)(37A) as a
person or entity that is not a broker/dealer in securities, and does
not place more than 390 orders in listed options per day on average
during a calendar month for its own beneficial account(s).
\6\ The new rebate will only apply to Mini Options on SPY as the
ISE does not offer Mini Options on BAC or IWM.
\7\ There is no trade quantity minimum.
\8\ There is no requirement that the Market Maker maintain a
quote size of 1,000 contracts in all series in order to qualify for
the higher rebate.
\9\ 1,000 contract size requirement applies to both Standard
Options and Mini Options.
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2. Mini Option Definition: Google Stock Split
The ISE recently amended Supplementary Material .13 to Rule 504,
listing standards for Mini Options, to enable the continued trading of
Mini Options on Google Class A shares, which were assigned a new
symbol, ``GOOGL'', in connection with Google's recent stock split.\10\
The Exchange now proposes to similarly update the definition of ``Mini
Option'' in its Schedule of Fees to indicate that Mini Options include
options overlying ten shares of ``GOOGL''. As proposed, ``Mini
Options'' are options overlying ten (10) shares of AAPL, AMZN, GLD,
GOOGL and SPY.\11\
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\10\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 71932 (April 11,
2014), 79 FR 21816 (April 17, 2014) (SR-ISE-2014-21).
\11\ For purposes of the Schedule of Fees, AAPL, AMZN, GLD and
SPY are Select Symbols and GOOGL is a Non-Select Symbol.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,\12\ in general, and
Section 6(b)(4) of the Act, \13\ in particular, in that it is designed
to provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and
other charges among its members and other persons using its facilities.
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\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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1. Market Maker Plus: BAC, SPY, IWM
The Exchange believes that it is reasonable, equitable, and not
unfairly discriminatory to introduce a higher Market Maker Plus rebate
for Market Makers that meet the specified quotation size requirements
in BAC, SPY, and IWM as the higher rebates will encourage Market Makers
to post deep markets in these actively traded symbols, which will
benefit all market participants that trade on the ISE. The Market Maker
Plus rebate is competitive with incentives provided by other exchanges,
and has proven to be an effective incentive for Market Makers to
provide liquidity in Select Symbols. The Exchange believes that the new
rebate will similarly be effective in encouraging Market Makers to post
tighter markets, in size, in BAC, SPY, and IWM. Furthermore, the
Exchange believes that the new Market Maker Plus rebate for these
symbols is not unfairly discriminatory because all Market Makers can
achieve the new higher rebate by satisfying the current quoting
requirements and maintaining quotes of 1,000 contracts or more (at the
time of the trade) in these symbols.
2. Mini Option Definition: Google Stock Split
As part of Google's recent stock split, the symbol ``GOOG'' was
assigned to the new Google Class C shares, while Google Class A shares
were assigned the symbol ``GOOGL''. The Exchange recently updated its
Mini Options rules to clarify that it will continue listing Mini
Options on the Google Class A shares, i.e., GOOGL, and believes that it
is reasonable, equitable, and not unfairly discriminatory to update the
definition of ``Mini Option'' in the Schedule of Fees in order to
eliminate investor confusion about which options classes are tradable
as Mini Options on the Exchange.
The Exchange notes that it has determined to charge fees and
provide rebates in Mini Options at a rate that is 1/10th the rate of
fees and rebates the Exchange provides for trading in Standard Options.
The Exchange believes it is reasonable and equitable and not unfairly
discriminatory to assess lower fees and rebates to provide market
participants an incentive to trade Mini Options on the Exchange. The
Exchange believes the proposed fees and rebates are reasonable and
equitable in light of the fact that Mini Options have a smaller
exercise and assignment value, specifically 1/10th that of a standard
option contract, and, as such, is providing fees and rebates for Mini
[[Page 28987]]
Options that are 1/10th of those applicable to Standard Options.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act, \14\ the Exchange
does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden
on intermarket or intramarket competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. To the contrary,
the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is pro-competitive
as it provides an additional incentive for Market Makers to make deep
markets in three actively traded Select Symbols, which will benefit all
market participants that trade on the ISE. In addition, the proposed
change to the definition of Mini Option is a technical change that will
have no competitive impact. The Exchange operates in a highly
competitive market in which market participants can readily direct
their order flow to competing venues. In such an environment, the
Exchange must continually review, and consider adjusting, its fees to
remain competitive with other exchanges. For the reasons described
above, the Exchange believes that the proposed fee changes reflect this
competitive environment.
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\14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
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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 has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit,
comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received
any unsolicited written comments from members or other interested
parties.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act \15\ and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4
thereunder, \16\ because it establishes a due, fee, or other charge
imposed by ISE.
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\15\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
\16\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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.
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 No. SR-ISE-2014-27 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ISE-2014-27. 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 ISE. All
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File Number SR-ISE-2014-27 and should be
submitted by June 10, 2014.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\17\
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\17\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-11570 Filed 5-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P