Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Regarding Fees and Rebates and Tiers Related to BX Options, 80432-80440 [2015-32388]

Download as PDF 80432 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Notices believes the proposed price collar thresholds, which would be based on the numerical guidelines set forth in Rule 7.10(c)(1), would also remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a fair and orderly market and protect investors and the public interest because they would reduce the potential for a Trading Halt Auction to be a clearly erroneous execution. To this end, the Exchange’s proposal is similar to how BATS prices its Halt Auctions, which are also subject to collar price ranges that are based on the numerical guidelines for clearly erroneous executions. The Exchange further believes that using the last consolidated sale price as the reference price for the Trading Halt Auction price collar thresholds would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a fair and orderly market because determinations of whether an execution is clearly erroneous are also based on price movements away from the consolidated last sale prices. 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 that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed change is not designed to address any competitive issue but rather to provide for a price protection mechanism to prevent Trading Halt Auctions from occurring at prices that could be a clearly erroneous execution. C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will: (A) By order approve or disapprove the proposed rule change, or (B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:57 Dec 23, 2015 Jkt 238001 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: • 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– NYSEARCA–2015–121 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–NYSEARCA–2015–121. 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 will also be available for inspection and copying at the NYSE’s principal office and on its Internet Web site at www.nyse.com. 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– NYSEARCA–2015–121 and should be submitted on or before January 14, 2016. Frm 00121 Fmt 4703 [FR Doc. 2015–32386 Filed 12–23–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Electronic Comments PO 00000 For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.10 Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary. Sfmt 4703 [Release No. 34–76692; File No. SR–BX– 2015–081] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Regarding Fees and Rebates and Tiers Related to BX Options December 18, 2015. 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 December 11, 2015, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (‘‘BX’’ 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 its Options Pricing at Chapter XV Section 2, entitled ‘‘BX Options Market—Fees and Rebates,’’ which governs pricing for BX members using the BX Options Market (‘‘BX Options’’). The Exchange proposes to modify certain fees and rebates (per executed contract) and to adopt tiers applicable to fees and rebates (each a ‘‘Tier’’ and together the ‘‘Tiers’’). The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s Web site at https://nasdaqomxbx.cchwall street.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 10 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 1 15 E:\FR\FM\24DEN1.SGM 24DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Notices 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 amend its Chapter XV, Section 2 to modify subsection (1) regarding certain fees and rebates 3 (known as ‘‘fees and rebates’’) and to adopt Tiers applicable to certain fees and rebates. The proposed modified fees and rebates (per executed contract) and new Tiers would apply to Customers,4 BX Options Market Makers,5 and Non-Customers.6 One proposed new Tier schedule, consisting of three Tiers, would apply to Penny Pilot Options; and one proposed new Tier schedule, consisting of three Tiers, would apply to Non-Penny Pilot Options.7 Currently, Chapter XV, Section 2 subsection (1) reads as follows: 80433 Sec. 2 BX Options Market—Fees and Rebates The following charges shall apply to the use of the order execution and routing services of the BX Options market for all securities. (1) Fees for Execution of Contracts on the BX Options Market FEES AND REBATES [Per executed contract] BX Options Market Maker Customer Penny Pilot Options: Rebate to Add Liquidity .................................................................................................... Fee to Add Liquidity ......................................................................................................... Rebate to Remove Liquidity ............................................................................................. Fee to Remove Liquidity .................................................................................................. Non-Penny Pilot Options: Fee to Add Liquidity ......................................................................................................... Rebate to Remove Liquidity ............................................................................................. Fee to Remove Liquidity .................................................................................................. 2 $0.00 2 $0.10 3 0.39 3 0.39 0.34 N/A N/A 0.46 5 0.25/$0.85 5 0.50/$0.85 0.70 N/A N/A 0.89 Non-Customer 1 N/A $0.45 N/A 0.46 0.88 N/A 0.89 1A Non-Customer includes a Professional, Firm, Broker-Dealer and Non-BX Options Market Maker. Rebate to Add Liquidity will be paid to a Customer or BX Options Market Maker only when the Customer or BX Options Market Maker is contra to a Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker. 3 The Fee to Add Liquidity will be assessed to a Customer or BX Options Market Maker only when the Customer or BX Options Market Maker is contra to a Customer. 4 Reserved 5 The higher Fee to Add Liquidity will be assessed to a Customer or BX Options Market Maker only when the Customer or BX Options Market Maker is contra to a Customer. 2 The mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES The Exchange proposes modifications to its fees and rebates for Penny Pilot Options and for Non-Penny Pilot Options as follows: 8 Change 1. For Penny Pilot Options, the Exchange proposes to modify fees and rebates to add Tiers for: (1) Customer Rebates to Add Liquidity; (2) Customer Fees to Add Liquidity; (3) Customer Rebates to Remove Liquidity; and (4) BX Options Market Maker Fees to Remove Liquidity. Change 2. For Non-Penny Pilot Options, the Exchange proposes to modify fees and rebates to add Tiers for: (1) Customer Rebates to Add Liquidity; (2) Customer Fees to Add Liquidity; (3) Customer Rebates to Remove Liquidity; (4) BX Options Marker Maker Fees to Remove Liquidity. The Exchange also proposes to increase the Fee to Add Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker and for Non-Customer. 3 Fees and rebates are per executed contract. Chapter XV, Section 2(1). 4 The term ‘‘Customer’’ or (‘‘C’’) applies to any transaction that is identified by a Participant for clearing in the Customer range at The Options Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) which is not for the account of broker or dealer or for the account of a ‘‘Professional’’ (as that term is defined in Chapter I, Section 1(a)(48)). BX Chapter XV. 5 BX Options Market Makers may also be referred to as ‘‘Market Makers’’. The term ‘‘BX Options Market Maker’’ or (‘‘M’’) means a Participant that has registered as a Market Maker on BX Options pursuant to Chapter VII, Section 2, and must also remain in good standing pursuant to Chapter VII, Section 4. In order to receive Market Maker pricing in all securities, the Participant must be registered as a BX Options Market Maker in at least one security. 6 Note 1 to Chapter XV, Section 2 states: ‘‘1A NonCustomer includes a Professional, Firm, BrokerDealer and Non-BX Options Market Maker.’’ 7 The Penny Pilot was established in June 2012 and extended in 2015. See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 67256 (June 26, 2012), 77 FR 39277 (July 2, 2012) (SR–BX–2012–030) (order approving BX option rules and establishing Penny Pilot); and 75326 (June 29, 2015), 80 FR 38481 (July 6, 2015) (SR–BX–2015–037) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness extending the Penny Pilot through June 30, 2016). 8 The greatest volume options traded on the Exchange and in the options market are Penny Pilot Options, and the Exchange has taken this into VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:57 Dec 23, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00122 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Each specific change is described in detail below. Change 1—Penny Pilot Options: Modify Fees and Rebates To Add Tiers For Penny Pilot Options, the Exchange is proposing to modify fees and rebates for Customer and BX Options Market Maker.9 Specifically, the Exchange is proposing to add Tiers for Rebate to Add Liquidity for Customer,10 Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer,11 and Rebate to Remove account when structuring and modifying its fee and rebate schedule. 9 The Non-Customer Penny Pilot Options pricing will remain unchanged. 10 The addition of Tiers to Rebate to Add Liquidity for Customer replaces the current fee [sic] ($0.00) and reference to note 2 which are removed. Note 2 will continue to apply to Rebate to Add Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker, but without reference to the note applying to a Customer. Today, Customers do not receive a Rebate to Add Liquidity. 11 The addition of Tiers to Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer replaces the current fee ($0.39) and reference to note 3 which are removed. Note 3 will continue to apply to Fee to Add Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker, but without reference to the note applying to a Customer. E:\FR\FM\24DEN1.SGM 24DEN1 80434 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Liquidity for Customer. The Exchange is also proposing to add Tiers for Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker.12 The three new Tiers, described below, together make up the ‘‘Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule’’. Proposed Tier 1 (‘‘Penny Pilot Tier 1’’) will be where a BX Participant (‘‘Participant’’) executes less than 0.05% of total industry customer equity and exchange traded fund (‘‘ETF’’) option average daily volume (‘‘ADV’’) contracts per month. Proposed Penny Pilot Tier 1 will range from $0.00 rebate to $0.46 fee: —the Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.00 (no rebate will be paid); —the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.39;‘‘13 —the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.00; —the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Market Maker trading with Customer will be $0.39; and —the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.46.14 Proposed Tier 2 (‘‘Penny Pilot Tier 2’’) will be where Participant executes 0.05% to less than 0.15% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month. Proposed Penny Pilot Tier 2 will range from $0.10 rebate to $0.46 fee: —the Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.10; —the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.39; —the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.25; —the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Customer will be $0.39; and —the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.46. 12 The addition of tiers to the Fee to Remove Liquidity for the BX Options Market Maker replaces the current per contract fee of 0.46. 13 For Penny Pilot Options, this $0.39 Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer is the same in all three Tiers. 14 For Penny Pilot Options, this $0.46 Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be the same in all Tiers. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:57 Dec 23, 2015 Jkt 238001 Proposed Tier 3 (‘‘Penny Pilot Tier 3’’) will be where Participant executes 0.15% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month. Proposed Penny Pilot Tier 3 will range from $0.20 rebate to $0.46 fee: —the Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.20; —the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.39; —the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.35; —the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Customer will be $0.30; and —the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.46. Change 2—Non-Penny Pilot Options: Modify Fees and Rebates To Add Tiers, Increase Fee To Add Liquidity For Non-Penny Pilot Options, the Exchange is proposing to modify fees and rebates for Customer, BX Options Market Maker, and Non-Customer. Specifically, the Exchange is proposing to add Tiers for Rebate to Add Liquidity for Customer,15 Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer,16 and Rebate to Remove Liquidity for Customer.17 The Exchange is proposing to add Tiers for Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX Market Maker.18 The three new Tiers, described below, together make up the ‘‘NonPenny Pilot Options Tier Schedule’’. The Exchange is also proposing a modest ten cent increase to the Fee to Add Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker from $0.50/$0.85 to $0.50/ 15 The addition of Rebate to Add Liquidity of the Non-Penny Pilot Options part of the fees and rebates schedule is so that the Non-Penny and Penny parts of the schedule both have Rebate to Add Liquidity. The addition of Tiers to Rebate to Add Liquidity in the Non-Penny category applies to Customer only. 16 The addition of Tiers to Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer replaces the current fee ($0.25/$0.85) and reference to note 5 which are taken out. Note 5 will continue to apply to Fee to Add Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker, but without reference to the note applying to a Customer. The Exchange notes that for Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer the Exchange is replacing a fee ($0.25/$0.85) with Tiers that include Fee to Add Liquidity as well as Rebate to Add Liquidity. 17 The addition of Tiers to Rebate to Remove Liquidity for Customer replaces the current fee [sic] ($0.70) and reference to it is taken out. 18 The addition of Tiers to Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker replaces the current fee ($0.89) and reference to it is taken out. PO 00000 Frm 00123 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 $0.95,19 and for Non-Customer from $0.88 to $0.98. Proposed Tier 1 (‘‘Non-Penny Pilot Tier 1’’) will be where Participant executes less than 0.05% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month. Proposed Non-Penny Pilot Tier 1 will range from $0.00 rebate to $0.89 fee: —the Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.00 (no rebate will be paid); —the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.85; 20 —the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.80; —the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Market Maker trading with Customer will be $0.89; and —the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.89.21 Proposed Tier 2 (‘‘Non-Penny Pilot Tier 2’’) will be where Participant executes 0.05% to less than 0.15% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month. Proposed Non-Penny Pilot Tier 2 will range from $0.10 rebate to $0.89 fee: —the Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.10; —the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.85; —the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.80; —the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Customer will be $0.89; and —the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.89. Proposed Tier 3 (‘‘Non-Penny Pilot Tier 3’’) will be where Participant executes 0.15% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month. Proposed NonPenny Pilot Tier 3 will range from $0.20 rebate to $0.89 fee: 19 Per note 5 as modified, the higher Fee to Add Liquidity will be assessed to a BX Options Market Maker only when the BX Options Market Maker is contra to a Customer. 20 For Non-Penny Pilot Options, this $0.85 Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer is the same in all three Tiers. 21 For Non-Penny Pilot Options, this $0.89 Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be the same in all Tiers. E:\FR\FM\24DEN1.SGM 24DEN1 80435 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Notices —the Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.20; —the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.85; —the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.80; —the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Customer will be $0.60; and —the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.89. Sec. 2 BX Options Market—Fees and Rebates The following charges shall apply to the use of the order execution and routing services of the BX Options market for all securities. (1) Fees for Execution of Contracts on the BX Options Market As proposed, Chapter XV, Section 2 subsection (1) will read as follows: FEES AND REBATES [Per executed contract] BX Options Market Maker Customer Penny Pilot Options: Rebate to Add Liquidity .................................................................................................... Fee to Add Liquidity ......................................................................................................... Rebate to Remove Liquidity ............................................................................................. Fee to Remove Liquidity .................................................................................................. Non-Penny Pilot Options: Rebate to Add Liquidity .................................................................................................... Fee to Add Liquidity ......................................................................................................... Rebate to Remove Liquidity ............................................................................................. Fee to Remove Liquidity .................................................................................................. # # # N/A * * * N/A Non-Customer 1 2 $0.10 N/A $0.45 N/A 0.46 3 0.39 N/A # N/A N/A 0.98 N/A 0.89 5 0.50/$0.95 N/A * 1A Non-Customer includes a Professional, Firm, Broker-Dealer and Non-BX Options Market Maker. Rebate to Add Liquidity will be paid to a BX Options Market Maker only when the BX Options Market Maker is contra to a Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker. 3 The Fee to Add Liquidity will be assessed to a BX Options Market Maker only when the BX Options Market Maker is contra to a Customer. 4 Reserved. 5 The higher Fee to Add Liquidity will be assessed to a BX Options Market Maker only when the BX Options Market Maker is contra to a Customer. 2 The # PENNY PILOT OPTIONS TIER SCHEDULE Rebate to add liquidity Fee to add liquidity Rebate to remove liquidity Fee to remove liquidity Fee to remove liquidity When ................................................... Customer ............. Customer ............. Customer .............. Trading with ........................................ Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker. Customer .............. Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer. BX Options Market Maker. Customer .............. BX Options Market Maker. Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker. $0.00 .................... $0.39 .................... $0.00 .................... $0.39 .................... $0.46. $0.10 .................... $0.39 .................... $0.25 .................... $0.39 .................... $0.46. $0.20 .................... $0.39 .................... $0.35 .................... $0.30 .................... $0.46. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Tier 1: Participant executes less than 0.05% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month. Tier 2: Participant executes 0.05% to less than 0.15% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month. Tier 3: Participant executes 0.15% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month. # PENNY PILOT OPTIONS TIER SCHEDULE * NON-PENNY PILOT OPTIONS TIER SCHEDULE Rebate to add liquidity When ................................................... VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:57 Dec 23, 2015 Fee to add liquidity Rebate to remove liquidity Fee to remove liquidity Fee to remove liquidity Customer ............. Customer ............. Customer .............. BX Options Market Maker. BX Options Market Maker. Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00124 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24DEN1.SGM 24DEN1 80436 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Notices # PENNY PILOT OPTIONS TIER SCHEDULE—Continued * NON-PENNY PILOT OPTIONS TIER SCHEDULE Rebate to add liquidity Trading with ........................................ Tier 1: Participant executes less than 0.05% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month. Tier 2: Participant executes 0.05% to less than 0.15% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month. Tier 3: Participant executes 0.15% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month. Fee to add liquidity Rebate to remove liquidity Fee to remove liquidity Fee to remove liquidity Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker. Customer .............. Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer. Customer .............. Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker. $0.00 .................... $0.85 .................... $0.80 .................... $0.89 .................... $0.89. $0.10 .................... $0.85 .................... $0.80 .................... $0.89 .................... $0.89. $0.20 .................... $0.85 .................... $0.80 .................... $0.60 .................... $0.89. The Exchange is adopting these fees and rebates at this time because it believes that they will provide incentives for execution of contracts on the BX Options Market. The Exchange believes that its proposal should provide increased opportunities for participation in executions on the Exchange, facilitating the ability of the Exchange to bring together participants and encourage more robust competition for orders. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,22 in general, and with Section 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,23 in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any facility or system which the Exchange operates or controls, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. The Commission and the courts have repeatedly expressed their preference for competition over regulatory intervention in determining prices, products, and services in the securities markets. In Regulation NMS, for example, the Commission indicated that market forces should generally determine the price of non-core market data because national market system regulation ‘‘has been remarkably successful in promoting market 22 15 23 15 U.S.C. 78f. U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:57 Dec 23, 2015 Jkt 238001 competition in its broader forms that are most important to investors and listed companies.’’ 24 Likewise, in NetCoalition v. NYSE Arca, Inc., 615 F.3d 525 (D.C. Cir. 2010), the D.C. Circuit upheld the Commission’s use of a market-based approach in evaluating the fairness of market data fees against a challenge claiming that Congress mandated a cost-based approach.25 As the court emphasized, the Commission ‘‘intended in Regulation NMS that ‘market forces, rather than regulatory requirements’ play a role in determining the market data . . . to be made available to investors and at what cost.’’ 26 Further, ‘‘[n]o one disputes that competition for order flow is ‘fierce.’ . . . As the SEC explained, ‘[i]n the U.S. national market system, buyers and sellers of securities, and the brokerdealers that act as their order-routing agents, have a wide range of choices of where to route orders for execution’; [and] ‘no exchange can afford to take its market share percentages for granted’ because ‘no exchange possesses a monopoly, regulatory or otherwise, in the execution of order flow from broker dealers’. . . .’’ 27 Although the Court and the SEC were discussing the cash equities markets, the Exchange believes that, as discussed above, these views 24 Exchange Act Release No. 34–51808 (June 9, 2005) (‘‘Regulation NMS Adopting Release’’). 25 See NetCoalition, 615 F.3d at 534. 26 Id. at 537. 27 NetCoalition I, 615 F.3d at 539 (quoting ArcaBook Order, 73 FR at 74782–74783). PO 00000 Frm 00125 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 apply with equal force to the options markets. The Exchange believes that its proposal should provide increased opportunities for participation in executions on the Exchange, facilitating the ability of the Exchange to bring together participants and encourage more robust competition for orders. Change 1—Penny Pilot Options: Modify Fees and Rebates For Penny Pilot Options, the Exchange is proposing to modify fees and rebates for Customer and BX Options Market Maker. Specifically, the Exchange is proposing to add Tiers for Rebate to Add Liquidity for Customer, Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer, and Rebate to Remove Liquidity for Customer. The Exchange is also proposing to add Tiers for Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX Market Maker. The three new Tiers make up the Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule. In particular, proposed Penny Pilot Tier 1 will be where a Participant executes less than 0.05% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month, and will range from $0.00 rebate to $0.46 fee.28 Proposed Penny Pilot Tier 2 will 28 The Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.00; the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.39 (same across all tiers); the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with NonCustomer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.00; the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Market Maker trading with Customer will be $0.39; and the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer E:\FR\FM\24DEN1.SGM 24DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES be where Participant executes 0.05% to less than 0.15% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month, and will range from $0.10 rebate to $0.46 fee.29 Proposed Penny Pilot Tier 3 will be where Participant executes 0.15% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month, and will range from $0.20 rebate to $0.46 fee.30 In adding the new Tiers in the Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule, the current pricing will be replaced with the proposed Tier Schedule and is no longer used. Tiers replace the current rebate ($0.00) in Rebate to Add Liquidity for Customer (no rebate is offered today), and reference to note 2 is removed.31 Tiers replace the current fee ($0.39) to Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer and reference to note 3 is removed and will not apply with this proposal.32 Certain references in Notes 2 and 3 to Customer are removed, and as such the notes no longer make sense for Rebate to Add Liquidity and for Customer Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer.33 The Exchange is also substituting the current fee ($0.46) to Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker by putting it in the tier schedule. Deleting the rebates and fees from the fees and rebates structure for Penny Pilot Options is reasonable where they have been replaced by the new Tiers structure to incentivize Participants to send order flow to the Exchange. or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.46 (same across all Tiers). 29 The Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.10; the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.39; the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.25; the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Customer will be $0.39; and the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.46. 30 The Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.20; the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.39; the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.35; the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Customer will be $0.30; and the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.46. 31 The rule text of note 2 is amended to reflect the removal of certain references to Customer. 32 The rule text of note 3 is amended to reflect the removal of certain references to Customer. 33 Notes 2 and 3 continue to apply, to Rebate to Add Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker and to Fee to Add Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker, respectively, but without deleted references to Customer. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:57 Dec 23, 2015 Jkt 238001 The Exchange believes that the proposed Tiers in the Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule are reasonable in that they reflect a structure that is not novel in the options markets but rather is similar to that of other options markets and competitive with what is offered by other exchanges.34 In addition, the Exchange believes that making changes to add Tiers applicable to the Customer in terms of Rebate to Add Liquidity, Fee to Add Liquidity, and Rebate to Remove Liquidity, is reasonable because it encourages the desired Customer behavior by attracting Customer interest to the Exchange. Customer activity enhances liquidity on the Exchange for the benefit of all market participants and benefits all market participants by providing more trading opportunities, which attracts market makers. An increase in the activity of these market participants in turn facilitates tighter spreads, which may cause an additional corresponding increase in order flow from other market participants. Establishing Penny Pilot Tiers for Rebate to Add Liquidity for Customer, Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer, and Rebate to Remove Liquidity for Customer, and Penny Pilot Tiers for Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker is reasonable. It encourages market participant behavior through progressive tiered fees and rebates using an accepted methodology among options exchanges.35 The proposed Tiers in the Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule, which have been discussed at length, clearly reflect the progressively increasing nature of Participant executions structured for the purpose of attracting order flow to the Exchange. The Penny Pilot Tiers are reasonable in that they are set up to incentivize Participants to direct liquidity to the Exchange. That is, as Participants execute more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month on the Exchange, they can in certain categories earn higher rebates and be assessed lower fees. For example, the Penny Pilot Tier 3 Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker is higher ($0.20) that [sic] the Penny Pilot Tier 1 Rebate 34 See, e.g., the MIAX fee schedule at https:// www.miaxoptions.com/sites/default/files/feeschedules/MIAX_Options_Fee_Schedule_ 10012015.pdf and the BOX fee schedule at https:// boxexchange.com/assets/BOX_Fee_Schedule1.pdf. 35 See, e.g., fee and rebate schedules of other options exchanges, including, but not limited to, NASDAQ Options Market (‘‘NOM’’), NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’), and Chicago Board Options Exchange (‘‘CBOE’’). PO 00000 Frm 00126 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 80437 to Add Liquidity ($0.00), which offer [sic] no rebate today. The Penny Pilot Tiers are set up in a similar progressive manner for Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with NonCustomer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer. And, the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Option Market Maker trading with Customer is lesser for Tier 3 ($0.30) than for Tier 1 ($0.39).36 For Penny Pilot Options, establishing the Customer-related and BX Options Market Maker-related fee and rebate changes, which includes the new Tiers, is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory. This is because the Exchange’s proposal to assess fees and pay rebates according to Penny Pilot Tiers 1, 2, and 3 will apply uniformly to all similarly situated Participants. BX Options Market Makers would be assessed a Fee to Remove Liquidity according to the Penny Pilot Tiers, and Customers would earn a Rebate to Add Liquidity and a Rebate to Remove Liquidity according to the same Tiers per the Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule . The fee and rebate schedule as proposed continues to reflect differentiation among different market participants. The Exchange believes that the differentiation is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory, as well as reasonable, and notes that unlike others (e.g. Non-Customers) some market participants like BX Options Market Makers commit to various obligations. For example, transactions of a BX Options Market Maker must constitute a course of dealings reasonably calculated to contribute to the maintenance of a fair and orderly market, and BX Options Market Makers should not make bids or offers or enter into transactions that are inconsistent with such course of dealings. Further, all BX Options Market Makers are designated as specialists on BX for all purposes under the Act or rules thereunder.37 The Exchange believes that by making the proposed Penny Pilot Options changes, it is incentivizing Participants to execute more volume on the Exchange to further enhance liquidity in this market. 36 The remaining categories of Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer and Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker reflect the same fee in each Penny Pilot Tier, whether 1, 2, or 3 ($0.39 and $0.46, respectively). 37 See Chapter VII, Section 5, entitled ‘‘Obligations of Market Makers’’. E:\FR\FM\24DEN1.SGM 24DEN1 80438 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Change 2—Non-Penny Pilot Options: Modify Fees and Rebates For Non-Penny Pilot Options, the Exchange is proposing to modify fees and rebates for Customer and BX Options Market Maker. Specifically, the Exchange is proposing to add Tiers for Rebate to Add Liquidity for Customer, Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer,38 and Rebate to Remove Liquidity for Customer. The Exchange is also proposing to add Tiers for Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX Market Maker. The three new Tiers make up the NonPenny Pilot Options Tier Schedule. In particular, proposed Non-Penny Pilot Tier 1 will be where Participant executes less than 0.05% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month, and will range from $0.00 rebate to $0.89 fee.39 The Proposed Non-Penny Pilot Tier 2 will be where Participant executes 0.05% to less than 0.15% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month, and will range from $0.10 rebate to $0.89 fee.40 Proposed Non-Penny Pilot Tier 3 will be where Participant executes 0.15% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month, and will range from $0.20 rebate to $0.89 fee.41 38 The addition of Rebate to Add Liquidity of the Non-Penny Pilot Options part of the fees and rebates schedule is so that the Non-Penny and Penny parts of the schedule both have Rebate to Add Liquidity. The addition of Tiers to Rebate to Add Liquidity in the Non-Penny category applies to Customer only. 39 The Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.00 ; the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.85 (same across all Tiers); the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with NonCustomer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.80; the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Market Maker trading with Customer will be $0.89; and the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.89 (same across all Tiers). 40 The Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.10; the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.85; the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.80; the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Customer will be $0.89; and the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.89. 41 The Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.20; the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.85; the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.80; the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Customer will be $0.60; and the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:57 Dec 23, 2015 Jkt 238001 In adding the new Tiers in the NonPenny Pilot Options Tier Schedule, the current pricing will be replaced with the proposed Tier Schedule and is no longer used. Tiers replace the current fee ($0.25/$0.85) to Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer 42 and reference to note 5 is removed.43 Certain references in note 5 to Customer are removed as they are no longer needed.44 Tiers replace the current Rebate to Remove Liquidity for Customer and the current rebate ($0.70) is removed. Tiers replace the current Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker and the current fee ($0.89) is removed. Deleting the rebates and fees from the fees and rebates structure for Non-Penny Pilot Options is reasonable where they have been replaced by the new Tiers structure to incentivize Participants bringing flow to the Exchange. The Exchange is also reasonably increasing by ten cents (to $0.95) the Fee to Add Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker when the BX Options market maker is contra to a Customer, and increasing by ten cents (to $0.98) the Fee to Add Liquidity for Non-Customer. The Exchange believes that the proposed Tiers in the Non-Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule are reasonable in that they reflect a structure that is not novel in the options markets but rather is similar to and competitive with what is offered by other exchanges.45 In addition, the Exchange believes that making changes to add Tiers applicable to the Customer in terms of Rebate to Add Liquidity, Fee to Add Liquidity, and Rebate to Remove Liquidity, is reasonable because it encourages the desired Customer behavior by attracting Customer interest to the Exchange. Customer activity enhances liquidity on the Exchange for the benefit of all market participants and benefits all market participants by providing more trading opportunities, which attracts market makers. An increase in the activity of these market participants in turn facilitates tighter spreads, which may cause an additional corresponding with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.89. 42 The Exchange notes that for Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer the Exchange is replacing a fee ($0.25/$0.85) with Tiers that include Fee to Add Liquidity as well as Rebate to Add Liquidity. 43 The rule text of note 5 is amended to reflect the removal of certain references to Customer. 44 Note 5 continues to apply, however, to Fee to Add Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker, but without reference to the note applying to a Customer. 45 See, e.g., the MIAX fee schedule at https:// www.miaxoptions.com/sites/default/files/feeschedules/MIAX_Options_Fee_Schedule_ 10012015.pdf and the BOX fee schedule at https:// boxexchange.com/assets/BOX_Fee_Schedule1.pdf. PO 00000 Frm 00127 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 increase in order flow from other market participants. Establishing Non-Penny Pilot Tiers for Rebate to Add Liquidity for Customer, Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer, and Rebate to Remove Liquidity for Customer, and Non-Penny Pilot Tiers for Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker is reasonable. It encourages market participant behavior through progressive tiered fees and rebates using an accepted methodology among options exchanges.46 The proposed Tiers in the Non-Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule, which have been discussed at length, clearly reflect the progressively increasing nature of Participant executions structured for the purpose of attracting flow to the Exchange. The Non-Penny Pilot Tiers are reasonable in that they are set up to incentivize Participants to direct liquidity to the Exchange. That is, as Participants execute more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month on the Exchange, they can in certain categories earn higher rebates and be assessed lower fees. For example, the Non-Penny Pilot Tier 3 Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with NonCustomer or BX Options Market Maker is, similarly to the equivalent Penny Pilot Tier category, higher ($0.20) that [sic] the Non-Penny Pilot Tier 1 Rebate to Add Liquidity ($0.00). The NonPenny Pilot Tiers are set up in a similar progressive manner for Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Customer being assessed a lesser fee for Tier 3 ($0.60) than for Tier 1 ($0.89).47 For Non-Penny Pilot Options, establishing the Customer-related and BX Options Market Maker-related fee and rebate changes, which includes the new Tiers, is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory. This is because the Exchange’s proposal to assess fees and pay rebates according to Non-Penny Pilot Tiers 1, 2, and 3 will apply similarly to all similarly situated Participants. BX Options Market Makers would be assessed a Fee to Remove Liquidity according to the Non-Penny Pilot Tiers, and Customers would earn a Rebate to Add Liquidity and a Rebate 46 See, e.g., fee and rebate schedules of other options exchanges, including, but not limited to, NOM, Phlx, and CBOE. 47 The remaining categories of Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer, Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer, and Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker reflect the same rates in each Non-Penny Pilot Tier, whether 1, 2, or 3 ($0.85, $0.80, and $0.89, respectively). E:\FR\FM\24DEN1.SGM 24DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES to Remove Liquidity and be assessed a Fee to Add Liquidity according to the same Tiers per the Non-Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule. The fee and rebate schedule as proposed continues to reflect differentiation among different market participants. The Exchange believes that the differentiation is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory, as well as reasonable, and notes that unlike others (e.g. Non-Customers) some market participants like BX Options Market Makers commit to various obligations. For example, transactions of a BX Market Maker must constitute a course of dealings reasonably calculated to contribute to the maintenance of a fair and orderly market, and Market Makers should not make bids or offers or enter into transactions that are inconsistent with such course of dealings. Further, all Market Makers are designated as specialists on BX for all purposes under the Act or rules thereunder.48 The Exchange believes that by making the proposed Non-Penny Pilot Options changes, it is incentivizing Participants to execute more volume on the Exchange to further enhance liquidity in this market. 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. Specifically, the Exchange does not believe that its proposal to make changes to its Penny Pilot Options and Non-Penny Pilot Options fees and rebates and to establish Tiers for such fees and rebates will impose any undue burden on competition, as discussed below. The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which many sophisticated and knowledgeable market participants can readily and do send order flow to competing exchanges if they deem fee levels or rebate incentives at a particular exchange to be excessive or inadequate. Additionally, new competitors have entered the market and still others are reportedly entering the market shortly. These market forces ensure that the Exchange’s fees and rebates remain competitive with the fee structures at other trading platforms. In that sense, the Exchange’s proposal is actually pro-competitive because the Exchange is simply continuing its fees and rebates and establishing Tiers for Penny Pilot Options and Non-Penny Pilot Options 48 See Chapter VII, Section 5, entitled ‘‘Obligations of Market Makers’’. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:57 Dec 23, 2015 Jkt 238001 in order to remain competitive in the current environment. 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. In terms of inter-market competition, 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, or rebate opportunities available at other venues to be more favorable. In such an environment, the Exchange must continually adjust its fees to remain competitive with other exchanges and with alternative trading systems that have been exempted from compliance with the statutory standards applicable to exchanges. Because competitors are free to modify their own fees in response, and because market participants may readily adjust their order routing practices, the Exchange believes that the degree to which fee changes in this market may impose any burden on competition is extremely limited. In terms of intra-market competition, the Exchange notes that price differentiation among different market participants operating on the Exchange (e.g., Customer, BX Options Market Maker, Non-Customer) is reasonable. Customer activity, for example, enhances liquidity on the Exchange for the benefit of all market participants and benefits all market participants by providing more trading opportunities, which attracts market makers. An increase in the activity of these market participants (particularly in response to pricing) in turn facilitates tighter spreads, which may cause an additional corresponding increase in order flow from other market participants. Moreover, unlike others (e.g. Non-Customers) each BX Options Market Maker commits to various obligations. These obligations include, for example, transactions of a BX Market Maker must constitute a course of dealings reasonably calculated to contribute to the maintenance of a fair and orderly market, and Market Makers should not make bids or offers or enter into transactions that are inconsistent with such course of dealings.49 In this instance, the proposed changes to the fees and rebates for execution of contracts on the Exchange, and establishing Tiers for such fees and rebates, do not impose a burden on 49 See Chapter VII, Section 5, entitled ‘‘Obligations of Market Makers’’. Further, all Market Makers are designated as specialists on BX for all purposes under the Act or rules thereunder. See Chapter VII, Section 2. PO 00000 Frm 00128 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 80439 competition because the Exchange’s execution and routing services are completely voluntary and subject to extensive competition both from other exchanges and from off-exchange venues. If the changes proposed herein are unattractive to market participants, it is likely that the Exchange will lose market share as a result. Accordingly, the Exchange does not believe that the proposed changes will impair the ability of members or competing order execution venues to maintain their competitive standing in the financial markets. Additionally, the changes proposed herein are pro-competitive to the extent that they continue to allow the Exchange to promote and maintain order executions. C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others No written comments were either solicited or received. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action Pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,50 the Exchange has designated this proposal as establishing or changing a due, fee, or other charge imposed by the self-regulatory organization on any person, whether or not the person is a member of the self-regulatory organization, which renders the proposed rule change effective upon filing. 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: (i) Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the protection of investors; or (iii) 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 50 15 E:\FR\FM\24DEN1.SGM U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii). 24DEN1 80440 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Notices • Send an email to rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– BX–2015–081 on the subject line. Paper Comments • Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–BX–2015–081. 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–BX– 2015–081, and should be submitted on or before January 14, 2016. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.51 Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015–32388 Filed 12–23–15; 8:45 am] mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 51 17 17:57 Dec 23, 2015 [File No. 500–1] Bioject Medical Technologies, Inc., Black Castle Developments Holdings, Inc. (n/k/a ingXabo Corporation), Catalyst Resource Group, Inc., SSI International, Ltd., Strike Axe, Inc., and Viper Powersports, Inc.; Order of Suspension of Trading December 22, 2015. It appears to the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of Bioject Medical Technologies, Inc. (‘‘BJCT 1’’) (CIK No. 810084), an Oregon corporation located in Tigard, Oregon with a class of securities registered with the Commission pursuant to Exchange Act Section 12(g) because it is delinquent in its periodic filings with the Commission, having not filed any periodic reports since it filed a Form 10–Q for the period ended September 30, 2011. On April 28, 2015, the Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance (‘‘Corporation Finance’’) sent a delinquency letter to BJCT requesting compliance with its periodic filing requirements but BJCT did not receive the delinquency letter due to its failure to maintain a valid address on file with the Commission as required by Commission rules (Rule 301 of Regulation S–T, 17 CFR 232.301 and Section 5.4 of EDGAR Filer Manual). As of December 9, 2015, the common stock of BJCT was quoted on OTC Link operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. (formerly ‘‘Pink Sheets’’) (‘‘OTC Link’’), had ten market makers, and was eligible for the ‘‘piggyback’’ exception of Exchange Act Rule 15c2–11(f)(3). It appears to the Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of Black Castle Developments Holdings, Inc. (n/k/a ingXabo Corporation) (‘‘BCDH’’) (CIK No. 1072971), a Nevada corporation located in Fresno, California with a class of securities registered with the Commission pursuant to Exchange Act Section 12(g) because it is delinquent in its periodic filings with the Commission, having not filed any periodic reports since it filed a Form 10–12G on April 16, 2012. On February 19, 2015, Corporation Finance sent a delinquency letter to BCDH requesting compliance with its periodic filing requirements but BCDH did not receive the delinquency letter due to its failure 1 The short form of each issuer’s name is also its stock symbol. CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). VerDate Sep<11>2014 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00129 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 to maintain a valid address on file with the Commission as required by Commission rules (Rule 301 of Regulation S–T, 17 CFR 232.301 and Section 5.4 of EDGAR Filer Manual). As of December 9, 2015, the common stock of BCDH was quoted on OTC Link, had seven market makers, and was eligible for the ‘‘piggyback’’ exception of Exchange Act Rule 15c2–11(f)(3). It appears to the Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of Catalyst Resource Group, Inc. (‘‘CATA’’) (CIK No. 106311), a Florida corporation located in Huntington Beach, California with a class of securities registered with the Commission pursuant to Exchange Act Section 12(g) because it is delinquent in its periodic filings with the Commission, having not filed any periodic reports since it filed a Form 10–Q for the period ended June 30, 2012. On February 19, 2015, Corporation Finance sent a delinquency letter to CATA requesting compliance with its periodic filing requirements but CATA did not receive the delinquency letter due to its failure to maintain a valid address on file with the Commission as required by Commission rules (Rule 301 of Regulation S–T, 17 CFR 232.301 and Section 5.4 of EDGAR Filer Manual). As of December 9, 2015, the common stock of CATA was quoted on OTC Link, had seven market makers, and was eligible for the ‘‘piggyback’’ exception of Exchange Act Rule 15c2– 11(f)(3). It appears to the Commission that there is a lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of SSI International, Ltd. (‘‘SSIT’’) (CIK No. 1455982), a revoked Nevada corporation located in Reno, Nevada with a class of securities registered with the Commission pursuant to Exchange Act Section 12(g) because it is delinquent in its periodic filings with the Commission, having not filed any periodic reports since it filed a Form 10–K for the period ended October 31, 2011. On February 19, 2015, Corporation Finance sent a delinquency letter to SSIT requesting compliance with its periodic filing requirements but SSIT did not receive the delinquency letter due to its failure to maintain a valid address on file with the Commission as required by Commission rules (Rule 301 of Regulation S–T, 17 CFR 232.301 and Section 5.4 of EDGAR Filer Manual). As of December 9, 2015, the common stock of SSIT was quoted on OTC Link, had three market makers, and was eligible for the ‘‘piggyback’’ exception of Exchange Act Rule 15c2– 11(f)(3). E:\FR\FM\24DEN1.SGM 24DEN1

Agencies

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80432-80440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32388]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-76692; File No. SR-BX-2015-081]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Regarding
Fees and Rebates and Tiers Related to BX Options

December 18, 2015.
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 December 11, 2015, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (``BX'' 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\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 proposes to amend its Options Pricing at Chapter XV
Section 2, entitled ``BX Options Market--Fees and Rebates,'' which
governs pricing for BX members using the BX Options Market (``BX
Options''). The Exchange proposes to modify certain fees and rebates
(per executed contract) and to adopt tiers applicable to fees and
rebates (each a ``Tier'' and together the ``Tiers'').
The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's
Web site at https://nasdaqomxbx.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
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and
discussed

[[Page 80433]]

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 amend its Chapter XV, Section 2 to modify
subsection (1) regarding certain fees and rebates \3\ (known as ``fees
and rebates'') and to adopt Tiers applicable to certain fees and
rebates. The proposed modified fees and rebates (per executed contract)
and new Tiers would apply to Customers,\4\ BX Options Market Makers,\5\
and Non-Customers.\6\ One proposed new Tier schedule, consisting of
three Tiers, would apply to Penny Pilot Options; and one proposed new
Tier schedule, consisting of three Tiers, would apply to Non-Penny
Pilot Options.\7\
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\3\ Fees and rebates are per executed contract. Chapter XV,
Section 2(1).
\4\ The term ``Customer'' or (``C'') applies to any transaction
that is identified by a Participant for clearing in the Customer
range at The Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') which is not for
the account of broker or dealer or for the account of a
``Professional'' (as that term is defined in Chapter I, Section
1(a)(48)). BX Chapter XV.
\5\ BX Options Market Makers may also be referred to as ``Market
Makers''. The term ``BX Options Market Maker'' or (``M'') means a
Participant that has registered as a Market Maker on BX Options
pursuant to Chapter VII, Section 2, and must also remain in good
standing pursuant to Chapter VII, Section 4. In order to receive
Market Maker pricing in all securities, the Participant must be
registered as a BX Options Market Maker in at least one security.
\6\ Note 1 to Chapter XV, Section 2 states: ``\1\A Non-Customer
includes a Professional, Firm, Broker-Dealer and Non-BX Options
Market Maker.''
\7\ The Penny Pilot was established in June 2012 and extended in
2015. See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 67256 (June 26,
2012), 77 FR 39277 (July 2, 2012) (SR-BX-2012-030) (order approving
BX option rules and establishing Penny Pilot); and 75326 (June 29,
2015), 80 FR 38481 (July 6, 2015) (SR-BX-2015-037) (notice of filing
and immediate effectiveness extending the Penny Pilot through June
30, 2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Currently, Chapter XV, Section 2 subsection (1) reads as follows:
Sec. 2 BX Options Market--Fees and Rebates
The following charges shall apply to the use of the order execution
and routing services of the BX Options market for all securities.
(1) Fees for Execution of Contracts on the BX Options Market

Fees and Rebates
[Per executed contract]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BX Options
Customer Market Maker Non-Customer \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Penny Pilot Options:
Rebate to Add Liquidity................................... \2\ $0.00 \2\ $0.10 N/A
Fee to Add Liquidity...................................... \3\ 0.39 \3\ 0.39 $0.45
Rebate to Remove Liquidity................................ 0.34 N/A N/A
Fee to Remove Liquidity................................... N/A 0.46 0.46
Non-Penny Pilot Options:
Fee to Add Liquidity...................................... \5\ 0.25/$0.85 \5\ 0.50/$0.85 0.88
Rebate to Remove Liquidity................................ 0.70 N/A N/A
Fee to Remove Liquidity................................... N/A 0.89 0.89
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ A Non-Customer includes a Professional, Firm, Broker-Dealer and Non-BX Options Market Maker.
\2\ The Rebate to Add Liquidity will be paid to a Customer or BX Options Market Maker only when the Customer or
BX Options Market Maker is contra to a Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker.
\3\ The Fee to Add Liquidity will be assessed to a Customer or BX Options Market Maker only when the Customer or
BX Options Market Maker is contra to a Customer.
\4\ Reserved
\5\ The higher Fee to Add Liquidity will be assessed to a Customer or BX Options Market Maker only when the
Customer or BX Options Market Maker is contra to a Customer.

The Exchange proposes modifications to its fees and rebates for
Penny Pilot Options and for Non-Penny Pilot Options as follows: \8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\8\ The greatest volume options traded on the Exchange and in
the options market are Penny Pilot Options, and the Exchange has
taken this into account when structuring and modifying its fee and
rebate schedule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Change 1. For Penny Pilot Options, the Exchange proposes to modify
fees and rebates to add Tiers for: (1) Customer Rebates to Add
Liquidity; (2) Customer Fees to Add Liquidity; (3) Customer Rebates to
Remove Liquidity; and (4) BX Options Market Maker Fees to Remove
Liquidity.
Change 2. For Non-Penny Pilot Options, the Exchange proposes to
modify fees and rebates to add Tiers for: (1) Customer Rebates to Add
Liquidity; (2) Customer Fees to Add Liquidity; (3) Customer Rebates to
Remove Liquidity; (4) BX Options Marker Maker Fees to Remove Liquidity.
The Exchange also proposes to increase the Fee to Add Liquidity for BX
Options Market Maker and for Non-Customer.
Each specific change is described in detail below.
Change 1--Penny Pilot Options: Modify Fees and Rebates To Add Tiers
For Penny Pilot Options, the Exchange is proposing to modify fees
and rebates for Customer and BX Options Market Maker.\9\ Specifically,
the Exchange is proposing to add Tiers for Rebate to Add Liquidity for
Customer,\10\ Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer,\11\ and Rebate to
Remove

[[Page 80434]]

Liquidity for Customer. The Exchange is also proposing to add Tiers for
Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker.\12\ The three new
Tiers, described below, together make up the ``Penny Pilot Options Tier
Schedule''.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\9\ The Non-Customer Penny Pilot Options pricing will remain
unchanged.
\10\ The addition of Tiers to Rebate to Add Liquidity for
Customer replaces the current fee [sic] ($0.00) and reference to
note 2 which are removed. Note 2 will continue to apply to Rebate to
Add Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker, but without reference to
the note applying to a Customer. Today, Customers do not receive a
Rebate to Add Liquidity.
\11\ The addition of Tiers to Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer
replaces the current fee ($0.39) and reference to note 3 which are
removed. Note 3 will continue to apply to Fee to Add Liquidity for
BX Options Market Maker, but without reference to the note applying
to a Customer.
\12\ The addition of tiers to the Fee to Remove Liquidity for
the BX Options Market Maker replaces the current per contract fee of
0.46.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposed Tier 1 (``Penny Pilot Tier 1'') will be where a BX
Participant (``Participant'') executes less than 0.05% of total
industry customer equity and exchange traded fund (``ETF'') option
average daily volume (``ADV'') contracts per month. Proposed Penny
Pilot Tier 1 will range from $0.00 rebate to $0.46 fee:

--the Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer
or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.00 (no rebate will be paid);
--the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be
$0.39;``\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\13\ For Penny Pilot Options, this $0.39 Fee to Add Liquidity
when Customer trading with Customer is the same in all three Tiers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

--the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-
Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.00;
--the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Market Maker trading with
Customer will be $0.39; and
--the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with
Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.46.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\14\ For Penny Pilot Options, this $0.46 Fee to Remove Liquidity
when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options
Market Maker will be the same in all Tiers.

Proposed Tier 2 (``Penny Pilot Tier 2'') will be where Participant
executes 0.05% to less than 0.15% of total industry customer equity and
ETF option ADV contracts per month. Proposed Penny Pilot Tier 2 will
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
range from $0.10 rebate to $0.46 fee:

--the Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer
or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.10;
--the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be
$0.39;
--the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-
Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.25;
--the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with
Customer will be $0.39; and
--the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with
Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.46.

Proposed Tier 3 (``Penny Pilot Tier 3'') will be where Participant
executes 0.15% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option
ADV contracts per month. Proposed Penny Pilot Tier 3 will range from
$0.20 rebate to $0.46 fee:

--the Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer
or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.20;
--the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be
$0.39;
--the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-
Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.35;
--the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with
Customer will be $0.30; and
--the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with
Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.46.
Change 2--Non-Penny Pilot Options: Modify Fees and Rebates To Add
Tiers, Increase Fee To Add Liquidity
For Non-Penny Pilot Options, the Exchange is proposing to modify
fees and rebates for Customer, BX Options Market Maker, and Non-
Customer. Specifically, the Exchange is proposing to add Tiers for
Rebate to Add Liquidity for Customer,\15\ Fee to Add Liquidity for
Customer,\16\ and Rebate to Remove Liquidity for Customer.\17\ The
Exchange is proposing to add Tiers for Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX
Market Maker.\18\ The three new Tiers, described below, together make
up the ``Non-Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule''. The Exchange is also
proposing a modest ten cent increase to the Fee to Add Liquidity for BX
Options Market Maker from $0.50/$0.85 to $0.50/$0.95,\19\ and for Non-
Customer from $0.88 to $0.98.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\15\ The addition of Rebate to Add Liquidity of the Non-Penny
Pilot Options part of the fees and rebates schedule is so that the
Non-Penny and Penny parts of the schedule both have Rebate to Add
Liquidity. The addition of Tiers to Rebate to Add Liquidity in the
Non-Penny category applies to Customer only.
\16\ The addition of Tiers to Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer
replaces the current fee ($0.25/$0.85) and reference to note 5 which
are taken out. Note 5 will continue to apply to Fee to Add Liquidity
for BX Options Market Maker, but without reference to the note
applying to a Customer. The Exchange notes that for Fee to Add
Liquidity for Customer the Exchange is replacing a fee ($0.25/$0.85)
with Tiers that include Fee to Add Liquidity as well as Rebate to
Add Liquidity.
\17\ The addition of Tiers to Rebate to Remove Liquidity for
Customer replaces the current fee [sic] ($0.70) and reference to it
is taken out.
\18\ The addition of Tiers to Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX
Options Market Maker replaces the current fee ($0.89) and reference
to it is taken out.
\19\ Per note 5 as modified, the higher Fee to Add Liquidity
will be assessed to a BX Options Market Maker only when the BX
Options Market Maker is contra to a Customer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposed Tier 1 (``Non-Penny Pilot Tier 1'') will be where
Participant executes less than 0.05% of total industry customer equity
and ETF option ADV contracts per month. Proposed Non-Penny Pilot Tier 1
will range from $0.00 rebate to $0.89 fee:
--the Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer
or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.00 (no rebate will be paid);
--the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be
$0.85; \20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\20\ For Non-Penny Pilot Options, this $0.85 Fee to Add
Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer is the same in all
three Tiers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

--the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-
Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.80;
--the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Market Maker trading with
Customer will be $0.89; and
--the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with
Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.89.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\21\ For Non-Penny Pilot Options, this $0.89 Fee to Remove
Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or
BX Options Market Maker will be the same in all Tiers.

Proposed Tier 2 (``Non-Penny Pilot Tier 2'') will be where
Participant executes 0.05% to less than 0.15% of total industry
customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month. Proposed Non-
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Penny Pilot Tier 2 will range from $0.10 rebate to $0.89 fee:

--the Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer
or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.10;
--the Fee to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be
$0.85;
--the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-
Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.80;
--the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with
Customer will be $0.89; and
--the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with
Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.89.

Proposed Tier 3 (``Non-Penny Pilot Tier 3'') will be where
Participant executes 0.15% or more of total industry customer equity
and ETF option ADV contracts per month. Proposed Non-Penny Pilot Tier 3
will range from $0.20 rebate to $0.89 fee:

[[Page 80435]]

As proposed, Chapter XV, Section 2 subsection (1) will read as
follows:
Sec. 2 BX Options Market--Fees and Rebates
The following charges shall apply to the use of the order execution
and routing services of the BX Options market for all securities.
(1) Fees for Execution of Contracts on the BX Options Market

Fees and Rebates
[Per executed contract]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BX Options
Customer Market Maker Non-Customer \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Penny Pilot Options:
Rebate to Add Liquidity................................... # \2\ $0.10 N/A
Fee to Add Liquidity...................................... # \3\ 0.39 $0.45
Rebate to Remove Liquidity................................ # N/A N/A
Fee to Remove Liquidity................................... N/A # 0.46
Non-Penny Pilot Options:
Rebate to Add Liquidity................................... * N/A N/A
Fee to Add Liquidity...................................... * \5\ 0.50/$0.95 0.98
Rebate to Remove Liquidity................................ * N/A N/A
Fee to Remove Liquidity................................... N/A * 0.89
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ A Non-Customer includes a Professional, Firm, Broker-Dealer and Non-BX Options Market Maker.
\2\ The Rebate to Add Liquidity will be paid to a BX Options Market Maker only when the BX Options Market Maker
is contra to a Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker.
\3\ The Fee to Add Liquidity will be assessed to a BX Options Market Maker only when the BX Options Market Maker
is contra to a Customer.
\4\ Reserved.
\5\ The higher Fee to Add Liquidity will be assessed to a BX Options Market Maker only when the BX Options
Market Maker is contra to a Customer.

# Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rebate to add Rebate to remove Fee to remove Fee to remove
liquidity Fee to add liquidity liquidity liquidity liquidity
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When............................... Customer.............. Customer.............. Customer............. BX Options Market BX Options Market
Maker. Maker.
Trading with....................... Non-Customer or BX Customer.............. Non-Customer, BX Customer............. Non-Customer or BX
Options Market Maker. Options Market Options Market
Maker, or Customer. Maker.
Tier 1:
Participant executes less than $0.00................. $0.39................. $0.00................ $0.39................ $0.46.
0.05% of total industry
customer equity and ETF option
ADV contracts per month.
Tier 2:
Participant executes 0.05% to $0.10................. $0.39................. $0.25................ $0.39................ $0.46.
less than 0.15% of total
industry customer equity and
ETF option ADV contracts per
month.
Tier 3:
Participant executes 0.15% or $0.20................. $0.39................. $0.35................ $0.30................ $0.46.
more of total industry
customer equity and ETF option
ADV contracts per month.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule
* Non-Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rebate to add Rebate to remove Fee to remove Fee to remove
liquidity Fee to add liquidity liquidity liquidity liquidity
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When............................... Customer.............. Customer.............. Customer............. BX Options Market BX Options Market
Maker. Maker.

[[Page 80436]]

Trading with....................... Non-Customer or BX Customer.............. Non-Customer, BX Customer............. Non-Customer or BX
Options Market Maker. Options Market Options Market
Maker, or Customer. Maker.
Tier 1:
Participant executes less than $0.00................. $0.85................. $0.80................ $0.89................ $0.89.
0.05% of total industry
customer equity and ETF option
ADV contracts per month.
Tier 2:
Participant executes 0.05% to $0.10................. $0.85................. $0.80................ $0.89................ $0.89.
less than 0.15% of total
industry customer equity and
ETF option ADV contracts per
month.
Tier 3:
Participant executes 0.15% or $0.20................. $0.85................. $0.80................ $0.60................ $0.89.
more of total industry
customer equity and ETF option
ADV contracts per month.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Exchange is adopting these fees and rebates at this time
because it believes that they will provide incentives for execution of
contracts on the BX Options Market. The Exchange believes that its
proposal should provide increased opportunities for participation in
executions on the Exchange, facilitating the ability of the Exchange to
bring together participants and encourage more robust competition for
orders.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,\22\ in general, and with
Section 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,\23\ in particular, in that it
provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and
other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any
facility or system which the Exchange operates or controls, and is not
designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers,
brokers, or dealers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\22\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
\23\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Commission and the courts have repeatedly expressed their
preference for competition over regulatory intervention in determining
prices, products, and services in the securities markets. In Regulation
NMS, for example, the Commission indicated that market forces should
generally determine the price of non-core market data because national
market system regulation ``has been remarkably successful in promoting
market competition in its broader forms that are most important to
investors and listed companies.'' \24\ Likewise, in NetCoalition v.
NYSE Arca, Inc., 615 F.3d 525 (D.C. Cir. 2010), the D.C. Circuit upheld
the Commission's use of a market-based approach in evaluating the
fairness of market data fees against a challenge claiming that Congress
mandated a cost-based approach.\25\ As the court emphasized, the
Commission ``intended in Regulation NMS that `market forces, rather
than regulatory requirements' play a role in determining the market
data . . . to be made available to investors and at what cost.'' \26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\24\ Exchange Act Release No. 34-51808 (June 9, 2005)
(``Regulation NMS Adopting Release'').
\25\ See NetCoalition, 615 F.3d at 534.
\26\ Id. at 537.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Further, ``[n]o one disputes that competition for order flow is
`fierce.' . . . As the SEC explained, `[i]n the U.S. national market
system, buyers and sellers of securities, and the broker-dealers that
act as their order-routing agents, have a wide range of choices of
where to route orders for execution'; [and] `no exchange can afford to
take its market share percentages for granted' because `no exchange
possesses a monopoly, regulatory or otherwise, in the execution of
order flow from broker dealers'. . . .'' \27\ Although the Court and
the SEC were discussing the cash equities markets, the Exchange
believes that, as discussed above, these views apply with equal force
to the options markets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\27\ NetCoalition I, 615 F.3d at 539 (quoting ArcaBook Order, 73
FR at 74782-74783).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Exchange believes that its proposal should provide increased
opportunities for participation in executions on the Exchange,
facilitating the ability of the Exchange to bring together participants
and encourage more robust competition for orders.
Change 1--Penny Pilot Options: Modify Fees and Rebates
For Penny Pilot Options, the Exchange is proposing to modify fees
and rebates for Customer and BX Options Market Maker. Specifically, the
Exchange is proposing to add Tiers for Rebate to Add Liquidity for
Customer, Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer, and Rebate to Remove
Liquidity for Customer. The Exchange is also proposing to add Tiers for
Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX Market Maker. The three new Tiers make
up the Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule.
In particular, proposed Penny Pilot Tier 1 will be where a
Participant executes less than 0.05% of total industry customer equity
and ETF option ADV contracts per month, and will range from $0.00
rebate to $0.46 fee.\28\ Proposed Penny Pilot Tier 2 will

[[Page 80437]]

be where Participant executes 0.05% to less than 0.15% of total
industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month, and
will range from $0.10 rebate to $0.46 fee.\29\ Proposed Penny Pilot
Tier 3 will be where Participant executes 0.15% or more of total
industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month, and
will range from $0.20 rebate to $0.46 fee.\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\28\ The Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-
Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.00; the Fee to Add
Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.39 (same
across all tiers); the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer
trading with Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will
be $0.00; the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Market Maker trading
with Customer will be $0.39; and the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX
Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market
Maker will be $0.46 (same across all Tiers).
\29\ The Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-
Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.10; the Fee to Add
Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.39; the
Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer,
BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.25; the Fee to
Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Customer
will be $0.39; and the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options
Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker
will be $0.46.
\30\ The Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-
Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.20; the Fee to Add
Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.39; the
Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer,
BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.35; the Fee to
Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Customer
will be $0.30; and the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options
Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker
will be $0.46.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

In adding the new Tiers in the Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule,
the current pricing will be replaced with the proposed Tier Schedule
and is no longer used. Tiers replace the current rebate ($0.00) in
Rebate to Add Liquidity for Customer (no rebate is offered today), and
reference to note 2 is removed.\31\ Tiers replace the current fee
($0.39) to Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer and reference to note 3 is
removed and will not apply with this proposal.\32\ Certain references
in Notes 2 and 3 to Customer are removed, and as such the notes no
longer make sense for Rebate to Add Liquidity and for Customer Fee to
Add Liquidity for Customer.\33\ The Exchange is also substituting the
current fee ($0.46) to Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX Options Market
Maker by putting it in the tier schedule. Deleting the rebates and fees
from the fees and rebates structure for Penny Pilot Options is
reasonable where they have been replaced by the new Tiers structure to
incentivize Participants to send order flow to the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\31\ The rule text of note 2 is amended to reflect the removal
of certain references to Customer.
\32\ The rule text of note 3 is amended to reflect the removal
of certain references to Customer.
\33\ Notes 2 and 3 continue to apply, to Rebate to Add Liquidity
for BX Options Market Maker and to Fee to Add Liquidity for BX
Options Market Maker, respectively, but without deleted references
to Customer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Exchange believes that the proposed Tiers in the Penny Pilot
Options Tier Schedule are reasonable in that they reflect a structure
that is not novel in the options markets but rather is similar to that
of other options markets and competitive with what is offered by other
exchanges.\34\ In addition, the Exchange believes that making changes
to add Tiers applicable to the Customer in terms of Rebate to Add
Liquidity, Fee to Add Liquidity, and Rebate to Remove Liquidity, is
reasonable because it encourages the desired Customer behavior by
attracting Customer interest to the Exchange. Customer activity
enhances liquidity on the Exchange for the benefit of all market
participants and benefits all market participants by providing more
trading opportunities, which attracts market makers. An increase in the
activity of these market participants in turn facilitates tighter
spreads, which may cause an additional corresponding increase in order
flow from other market participants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\34\ See, e.g., the MIAX fee schedule at https://www.miaxoptions.com/sites/default/files/fee-schedules/MIAX_Options_Fee_Schedule_10012015.pdf and the BOX fee schedule at
https://boxexchange.com/assets/BOX_Fee_Schedule1.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Establishing Penny Pilot Tiers for Rebate to Add Liquidity for
Customer, Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer, and Rebate to Remove
Liquidity for Customer, and Penny Pilot Tiers for Fee to Remove
Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker is reasonable. It encourages
market participant behavior through progressive tiered fees and rebates
using an accepted methodology among options exchanges.\35\ The proposed
Tiers in the Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule, which have been
discussed at length, clearly reflect the progressively increasing
nature of Participant executions structured for the purpose of
attracting order flow to the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\35\ See, e.g., fee and rebate schedules of other options
exchanges, including, but not limited to, NASDAQ Options Market
(``NOM''), NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (``Phlx''), and Chicago Board Options
Exchange (``CBOE'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Penny Pilot Tiers are reasonable in that they are set up to
incentivize Participants to direct liquidity to the Exchange. That is,
as Participants execute more of total industry customer equity and ETF
option ADV contracts per month on the Exchange, they can in certain
categories earn higher rebates and be assessed lower fees. For example,
the Penny Pilot Tier 3 Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading
with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker is higher ($0.20) that
[sic] the Penny Pilot Tier 1 Rebate to Add Liquidity ($0.00), which
offer [sic] no rebate today. The Penny Pilot Tiers are set up in a
similar progressive manner for Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer
trading with Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer. And,
the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Option Market Maker trading with
Customer is lesser for Tier 3 ($0.30) than for Tier 1 ($0.39).\36\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\36\ The remaining categories of Fee to Add Liquidity when
Customer trading with Customer and Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX
Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market
Maker reflect the same fee in each Penny Pilot Tier, whether 1, 2,
or 3 ($0.39 and $0.46, respectively).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

For Penny Pilot Options, establishing the Customer-related and BX
Options Market Maker-related fee and rebate changes, which includes the
new Tiers, is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory. This is
because the Exchange's proposal to assess fees and pay rebates
according to Penny Pilot Tiers 1, 2, and 3 will apply uniformly to all
similarly situated Participants. BX Options Market Makers would be
assessed a Fee to Remove Liquidity according to the Penny Pilot Tiers,
and Customers would earn a Rebate to Add Liquidity and a Rebate to
Remove Liquidity according to the same Tiers per the Penny Pilot
Options Tier Schedule .
The fee and rebate schedule as proposed continues to reflect
differentiation among different market participants. The Exchange
believes that the differentiation is equitable and not unfairly
discriminatory, as well as reasonable, and notes that unlike others
(e.g. Non-Customers) some market participants like BX Options Market
Makers commit to various obligations. For example, transactions of a BX
Options Market Maker must constitute a course of dealings reasonably
calculated to contribute to the maintenance of a fair and orderly
market, and BX Options Market Makers should not make bids or offers or
enter into transactions that are inconsistent with such course of
dealings. Further, all BX Options Market Makers are designated as
specialists on BX for all purposes under the Act or rules
thereunder.\37\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\37\ See Chapter VII, Section 5, entitled ``Obligations of
Market Makers''.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Exchange believes that by making the proposed Penny Pilot
Options changes, it is incentivizing Participants to execute more
volume on the Exchange to further enhance liquidity in this market.

[[Page 80438]]

Change 2--Non-Penny Pilot Options: Modify Fees and Rebates
For Non-Penny Pilot Options, the Exchange is proposing to modify
fees and rebates for Customer and BX Options Market Maker.
Specifically, the Exchange is proposing to add Tiers for Rebate to Add
Liquidity for Customer, Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer,\38\ and
Rebate to Remove Liquidity for Customer. The Exchange is also proposing
to add Tiers for Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX Market Maker. The three
new Tiers make up the Non-Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\38\ The addition of Rebate to Add Liquidity of the Non-Penny
Pilot Options part of the fees and rebates schedule is so that the
Non-Penny and Penny parts of the schedule both have Rebate to Add
Liquidity. The addition of Tiers to Rebate to Add Liquidity in the
Non-Penny category applies to Customer only.
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In particular, proposed Non-Penny Pilot Tier 1 will be where
Participant executes less than 0.05% of total industry customer equity
and ETF option ADV contracts per month, and will range from $0.00
rebate to $0.89 fee.\39\ The Proposed Non-Penny Pilot Tier 2 will be
where Participant executes 0.05% to less than 0.15% of total industry
customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month, and will range
from $0.10 rebate to $0.89 fee.\40\ Proposed Non-Penny Pilot Tier 3
will be where Participant executes 0.15% or more of total industry
customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month, and will range
from $0.20 rebate to $0.89 fee.\41\
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\39\ The Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-
Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.00 ; the Fee to Add
Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.85 (same
across all Tiers); the Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer
trading with Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will
be $0.80; the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Market Maker trading
with Customer will be $0.89; and the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX
Options Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market
Maker will be $0.89 (same across all Tiers).
\40\ The Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-
Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.10; the Fee to Add
Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.85; the
Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer,
BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.80; the Fee to
Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Customer
will be $0.89; and the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options
Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker
will be $0.89.
\41\ The Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-
Customer or BX Options Market Maker will be $0.20; the Fee to Add
Liquidity when Customer trading with Customer will be $0.85; the
Rebate to Remove Liquidity when Customer trading with Non-Customer,
BX Options Market Maker, or Customer will be $0.80; the Fee to
Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Customer
will be $0.60; and the Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options
Market Maker trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker
will be $0.89.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

In adding the new Tiers in the Non-Penny Pilot Options Tier
Schedule, the current pricing will be replaced with the proposed Tier
Schedule and is no longer used. Tiers replace the current fee ($0.25/
$0.85) to Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer \42\ and reference to note
5 is removed.\43\ Certain references in note 5 to Customer are removed
as they are no longer needed.\44\ Tiers replace the current Rebate to
Remove Liquidity for Customer and the current rebate ($0.70) is
removed. Tiers replace the current Fee to Remove Liquidity for BX
Options Market Maker and the current fee ($0.89) is removed. Deleting
the rebates and fees from the fees and rebates structure for Non-Penny
Pilot Options is reasonable where they have been replaced by the new
Tiers structure to incentivize Participants bringing flow to the
Exchange. The Exchange is also reasonably increasing by ten cents (to
$0.95) the Fee to Add Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker when the BX
Options market maker is contra to a Customer, and increasing by ten
cents (to $0.98) the Fee to Add Liquidity for Non-Customer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\42\ The Exchange notes that for Fee to Add Liquidity for
Customer the Exchange is replacing a fee ($0.25/$0.85) with Tiers
that include Fee to Add Liquidity as well as Rebate to Add
Liquidity.
\43\ The rule text of note 5 is amended to reflect the removal
of certain references to Customer.
\44\ Note 5 continues to apply, however, to Fee to Add Liquidity
for BX Options Market Maker, but without reference to the note
applying to a Customer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Exchange believes that the proposed Tiers in the Non-Penny
Pilot Options Tier Schedule are reasonable in that they reflect a
structure that is not novel in the options markets but rather is
similar to and competitive with what is offered by other exchanges.\45\
In addition, the Exchange believes that making changes to add Tiers
applicable to the Customer in terms of Rebate to Add Liquidity, Fee to
Add Liquidity, and Rebate to Remove Liquidity, is reasonable because it
encourages the desired Customer behavior by attracting Customer
interest to the Exchange. Customer activity enhances liquidity on the
Exchange for the benefit of all market participants and benefits all
market participants by providing more trading opportunities, which
attracts market makers. An increase in the activity of these market
participants in turn facilitates tighter spreads, which may cause an
additional corresponding increase in order flow from other market
participants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\45\ See, e.g., the MIAX fee schedule at https://www.miaxoptions.com/sites/default/files/fee-schedules/MIAX_Options_Fee_Schedule_10012015.pdf and the BOX fee schedule at
https://boxexchange.com/assets/BOX_Fee_Schedule1.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Establishing Non-Penny Pilot Tiers for Rebate to Add Liquidity for
Customer, Fee to Add Liquidity for Customer, and Rebate to Remove
Liquidity for Customer, and Non-Penny Pilot Tiers for Fee to Remove
Liquidity for BX Options Market Maker is reasonable. It encourages
market participant behavior through progressive tiered fees and rebates
using an accepted methodology among options exchanges.\46\ The proposed
Tiers in the Non-Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule, which have been
discussed at length, clearly reflect the progressively increasing
nature of Participant executions structured for the purpose of
attracting flow to the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\46\ See, e.g., fee and rebate schedules of other options
exchanges, including, but not limited to, NOM, Phlx, and CBOE.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Non-Penny Pilot Tiers are reasonable in that they are set up to
incentivize Participants to direct liquidity to the Exchange. That is,
as Participants execute more of total industry customer equity and ETF
option ADV contracts per month on the Exchange, they can in certain
categories earn higher rebates and be assessed lower fees. For example,
the Non-Penny Pilot Tier 3 Rebate to Add Liquidity when Customer
trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker is, similarly to
the equivalent Penny Pilot Tier category, higher ($0.20) that [sic] the
Non-Penny Pilot Tier 1 Rebate to Add Liquidity ($0.00). The Non-Penny
Pilot Tiers are set up in a similar progressive manner for Fee to
Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker trading with Customer
being assessed a lesser fee for Tier 3 ($0.60) than for Tier 1
($0.89).\47\
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\47\ The remaining categories of Fee to Add Liquidity when
Customer trading with Customer, Rebate to Remove Liquidity when
Customer trading with Non-Customer, BX Options Market Maker, or
Customer, and Fee to Remove Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker
trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker reflect the
same rates in each Non-Penny Pilot Tier, whether 1, 2, or 3 ($0.85,
$0.80, and $0.89, respectively).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

For Non-Penny Pilot Options, establishing the Customer-related and
BX Options Market Maker-related fee and rebate changes, which includes
the new Tiers, is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory. This is
because the Exchange's proposal to assess fees and pay rebates
according to Non-Penny Pilot Tiers 1, 2, and 3 will apply similarly to
all similarly situated Participants. BX Options Market Makers would be
assessed a Fee to Remove Liquidity according to the Non-Penny Pilot
Tiers, and Customers would earn a Rebate to Add Liquidity and a Rebate

[[Page 80439]]

to Remove Liquidity and be assessed a Fee to Add Liquidity according to
the same Tiers per the Non-Penny Pilot Options Tier Schedule.
The fee and rebate schedule as proposed continues to reflect
differentiation among different market participants. The Exchange
believes that the differentiation is equitable and not unfairly
discriminatory, as well as reasonable, and notes that unlike others
(e.g. Non-Customers) some market participants like BX Options Market
Makers commit to various obligations. For example, transactions of a BX
Market Maker must constitute a course of dealings reasonably calculated
to contribute to the maintenance of a fair and orderly market, and
Market Makers should not make bids or offers or enter into transactions
that are inconsistent with such course of dealings. Further, all Market
Makers are designated as specialists on BX for all purposes under the
Act or rules thereunder.\48\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\48\ See Chapter VII, Section 5, entitled ``Obligations of
Market Makers''.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Exchange believes that by making the proposed Non-Penny Pilot
Options changes, it is incentivizing Participants to execute more
volume on the Exchange to further enhance liquidity in this market.

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. Specifically, the Exchange does
not believe that its proposal to make changes to its Penny Pilot
Options and Non-Penny Pilot Options fees and rebates and to establish
Tiers for such fees and rebates will impose any undue burden on
competition, as discussed below.
The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which many
sophisticated and knowledgeable market participants can readily and do
send order flow to competing exchanges if they deem fee levels or
rebate incentives at a particular exchange to be excessive or
inadequate. Additionally, new competitors have entered the market and
still others are reportedly entering the market shortly. These market
forces ensure that the Exchange's fees and rebates remain competitive
with the fee structures at other trading platforms. In that sense, the
Exchange's proposal is actually pro-competitive because the Exchange is
simply continuing its fees and rebates and establishing Tiers for Penny
Pilot Options and Non-Penny Pilot Options in order to remain
competitive in the current environment.
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. In terms of inter-market
competition, 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, or rebate opportunities available at other venues to be more
favorable. In such an environment, the Exchange must continually adjust
its fees to remain competitive with other exchanges and with
alternative trading systems that have been exempted from compliance
with the statutory standards applicable to exchanges. Because
competitors are free to modify their own fees in response, and because
market participants may readily adjust their order routing practices,
the Exchange believes that the degree to which fee changes in this
market may impose any burden on competition is extremely limited. In
terms of intra-market competition, the Exchange notes that price
differentiation among different market participants operating on the
Exchange (e.g., Customer, BX Options Market Maker, Non-Customer) is
reasonable. Customer activity, for example, enhances liquidity on the
Exchange for the benefit of all market participants and benefits all
market participants by providing more trading opportunities, which
attracts market makers. An increase in the activity of these market
participants (particularly in response to pricing) in turn facilitates
tighter spreads, which may cause an additional corresponding increase
in order flow from other market participants. Moreover, unlike others
(e.g. Non-Customers) each BX Options Market Maker commits to various
obligations. These obligations include, for example, transactions of a
BX Market Maker must constitute a course of dealings reasonably
calculated to contribute to the maintenance of a fair and orderly
market, and Market Makers should not make bids or offers or enter into
transactions that are inconsistent with such course of dealings.\49\
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\49\ See Chapter VII, Section 5, entitled ``Obligations of
Market Makers''. Further, all Market Makers are designated as
specialists on BX for all purposes under the Act or rules
thereunder. See Chapter VII, Section 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

In this instance, the proposed changes to the fees and rebates for
execution of contracts on the Exchange, and establishing Tiers for such
fees and rebates, do not impose a burden on competition because the
Exchange's execution and routing services are completely voluntary and
subject to extensive competition both from other exchanges and from
off-exchange venues. If the changes proposed herein are unattractive to
market participants, it is likely that the Exchange will lose market
share as a result. Accordingly, the Exchange does not believe that the
proposed changes will impair the ability of members or competing order
execution venues to maintain their competitive standing in the
financial markets. Additionally, the changes proposed herein are pro-
competitive to the extent that they continue to allow the Exchange to
promote and maintain order executions.

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

No written comments were either solicited or received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,\50\ the Exchange
has designated this proposal as establishing or changing a due, fee, or
other charge imposed by the self-regulatory organization on any person,
whether or not the person is a member of the self-regulatory
organization, which renders the proposed rule change effective upon
filing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\50\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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: (i)
Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the
protection of investors; or (iii) 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

[[Page 80440]]

Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-BX-2015-081 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BX-2015-081. 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-BX-2015-081, and should be
submitted on or before January 14, 2016.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\51\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\51\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-32388 Filed 12-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

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