Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Related to Fees for Use of BATS Exchange, Inc., 2275-2276 [2016-00640]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Notices (collectively, ‘‘Aggregate Fee Disclosure’’). For any Fund that employs an Excluded Subadvisor, the Fund will provide separate disclosure of any fees paid to the Excluded Subadvisor. 4. Applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief will be subject to the terms and conditions stated in the application. Such terms and conditions provide for, among other safeguards, appropriate disclosure to Fund shareholders and notification about sub-advisory changes and enhanced Board oversight to protect the interests of the Funds’ shareholders. 5. Section 6(c) of the Act provides that the Commission may exempt any person, security, or transaction or any class or classes of persons, securities, or transactions from any provisions of the Act, or any rule thereunder, if such relief is necessary or appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors and purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the Act. Applicants believe that the requested relief meets this standard because, as further explained in the application, the Advisory Agreements will remain subject to shareholder approval, while the role of the Subadvisors is substantially similar to that of individual portfolio managers, so that requiring shareholder approval of Subadvisory Agreements would impose unnecessary delays and expenses on the Funds. Applicants believe that the requested relief from the Disclosure Requirements meets this standard because it will improve the Advisor’s ability to negotiate fees paid to the Subadvisors that are more advantageous for the Funds. For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, under delegated authority. Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–00662 Filed 1–14–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that on December 29, 2015, BATS Exchange, Inc. (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BATS’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange has designated the proposed rule change as one establishing or changing a member due, fee, or other charge imposed by the Exchange under Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act 3 and Rule 19b–4(f)(2) thereunder,4 which renders the proposed rule change effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange filed a proposal to amend the fee schedule applicable to Members 5 and non-members of the Exchange pursuant to BATS Rules 15.1(a) and (c). The change to the fee schedule pursuant to this proposal is effective upon filing. The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange’s Web site at www.batstrading.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant parts of such statements. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES [Release No. 34–76863; File No. SR–BATS– 2015–120] Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Related to Fees for Use of BATS Exchange, Inc. January 11, 2016. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:01 Jan 14, 2016 Jkt 238001 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). CFR 240.19b–4. 3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii). 4 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2). 5 The term ‘‘Member’’ is defined as ‘‘any registered broker or dealer that has been admitted to membership in the Exchange.’’ See Exchange Rule 1.5(n). 2 17 PO 00000 Frm 00116 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2275 (A) Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose The Exchange proposes to modify its fee schedule applicable to the Exchange’s options platform to modify the criteria necessary to meet the Customer 6 Step-Up Volume Tier under footnote 1. The Exchange currently offers a total of eight Customer Penny Pilot Add Volume Tiers under footnote 1 that provide enhanced rebates for Customer orders in Penny Pilot Securities that add liquidity under fee code PY.7 Under the Customer Step-Up Volume Tier, the Member would receive a rebate of $0.53 per contract where they have an Options Step-Up Add TCV 8 in Customer orders from September 2015 baseline equal to or greater than 0.40%. The Exchange proposes to ease the criteria necessary to qualify for the Customer Step-Up Volume Tier by requiring an Options Step-Up Add TCV in Customer orders from September 2015 baseline equal to or greater than 0.35%. The Exchange proposes to implement this amendment to its fee schedule on January 4, 2016. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder that are applicable to a national securities exchange, and, in particular, with the requirements of Section 6 of the Act. Specifically, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members and other persons using any facility or system which the Exchange operates or controls. The Exchange notes that it operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily direct order flow to competing venues if they deem fee levels to be excessive. Volume-based rebates such as those currently maintained on the Exchange 6 As defined in the Exchange’s fee schedule available at https://www.batsoptions.com/support/ fee_schedule/bzx/. 7 Fee code PY is appended to Customer orders that add liquidity in Penny Pilot Securities. Id. Penny Pilot Securities is defined in the Exchange’s fee schedule. Id. Orders yielding fee code PY receive a rebate of $0.25 per share, absent achieving a tier and receiving an increased rebate under footnote 1. 8 As defined in the Exchange’s fee schedule available at https://www.batsoptions.com/support/ fee_schedule/bzx/. E:\FR\FM\15JAN1.SGM 15JAN1 2276 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES have been widely adopted by equities and options exchanges and are equitable because they are open to all Members on an equal basis and provide additional benefits or discounts that are reasonably related to the value to an exchange’s market quality associated with higher levels of market activity, such as higher levels of liquidity provision and/or growth patterns, and introduction of higher volumes of orders into the price and volume discovery processes. Easing the criteria for the Customer Step-Up Volume Tier is intended to incentivize Members to send additional orders to the Exchange in an effort to qualify for the enhanced rebate available by the respective tier. The Exchange believes that this change is reasonable, fair and equitable and non-discriminatory, for the reasons set forth with respect to volume-based pricing generally and because such change will either incentivize participants to further contribute to market quality on the Exchange or will allow the Exchange to earn additional revenue that can be used to offset the addition of new pricing incentives. The Exchange also believes that the proposed rebate remains consistent with pricing previously offered by the Exchange as well as competitors of the Exchange and does not represent a significant departure from the Exchange’s general pricing structure. (B) Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition The Exchange believes the proposed amendment to its fee schedule would not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange does not believe that the proposed change represents a significant departure from previous pricing offered by the Exchange or pricing offered by the Exchange’s competitors. Additionally, Members may opt to disfavor the Exchange’s pricing if they believe that alternatives offer them better value. Accordingly, the Exchange does not believe that the proposed change will impair the ability of Members or competing venues to maintain their competitive standing in the financial markets. The Exchange does not believe that the proposed change to the Exchange’s tiered pricing structure burdens competition, but instead, enhances competition as it is intended to increase the competitiveness of the Exchange by easing the criteria necessary to qualify for the Customer Step-Up Volume tier. Also, the Exchange believes that the decrease to the tier’s threshold contributes to, rather than burdens VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:01 Jan 14, 2016 Jkt 238001 competition, as such change is intended to incentivize participants to increase their participation on the Exchange. (C) Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received any written comments from members or other interested parties. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 9 and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b–4 thereunder.10 At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic Comments • Use the Commission’s Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or • Send an email to rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include File No. SR– BATS–2015–120 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 No. SR–BATS–2015–120. 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 will also 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 No. SR–BATS– 2015–120 and should be submitted on or before February 5, 2016. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.11 Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–00640 Filed 1–14–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–76869; File No. SR– NYSEArca–2015–86] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change, and Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Amendment Nos. 1 and 3 Thereto, Relating to Auctions for Pillar, the Exchange’s New Trading Technology Platform January 11, 2016. I. Introduction On September 22, 2015, NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘Arca’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to adopt new equity trading rules relating to auctions for Pillar, the Exchange’s new trading technology platform. The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal 11 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 9 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). 10 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f). PO 00000 Frm 00117 Fmt 4703 1 15 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\15JAN1.SGM 15JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2275-2276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00640]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-76863; File No. SR-BATS-2015-120]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Exchange, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Related to 
Fees for Use of BATS Exchange, Inc.

January 11, 2016.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on December 29, 2015, BATS Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or 
``BATS'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II 
and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The 
Exchange has designated the proposed rule change as one establishing or 
changing a member due, fee, or other charge imposed by the Exchange 
under Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) 
thereunder,\4\ which renders the proposed rule change effective upon 
filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to 
solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange filed a proposal to amend the fee schedule applicable 
to Members \5\ and non-members of the Exchange pursuant to BATS Rules 
15.1(a) and (c). The change to the fee schedule pursuant to this 
proposal is effective upon filing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ The term ``Member'' is defined as ``any registered broker or 
dealer that has been admitted to membership in the Exchange.'' See 
Exchange Rule 1.5(n).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange's 
Web site at www.batstrading.com, at the principal office of the 
Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

    In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and 
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The 
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in 
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in 
Sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant parts of such 
statements.

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

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to modify its fee schedule applicable to the 
Exchange's options platform to modify the criteria necessary to meet 
the Customer \6\ Step-Up Volume Tier under footnote 1. The Exchange 
currently offers a total of eight Customer Penny Pilot Add Volume Tiers 
under footnote 1 that provide enhanced rebates for Customer orders in 
Penny Pilot Securities that add liquidity under fee code PY.\7\ Under 
the Customer Step-Up Volume Tier, the Member would receive a rebate of 
$0.53 per contract where they have an Options Step-Up Add TCV \8\ in 
Customer orders from September 2015 baseline equal to or greater than 
0.40%. The Exchange proposes to ease the criteria necessary to qualify 
for the Customer Step-Up Volume Tier by requiring an Options Step-Up 
Add TCV in Customer orders from September 2015 baseline equal to or 
greater than 0.35%. The Exchange proposes to implement this amendment 
to its fee schedule on January 4, 2016.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ As defined in the Exchange's fee schedule available at 
https://www.batsoptions.com/support/fee_schedule/bzx/.
    \7\ Fee code PY is appended to Customer orders that add 
liquidity in Penny Pilot Securities. Id. Penny Pilot Securities is 
defined in the Exchange's fee schedule. Id. Orders yielding fee code 
PY receive a rebate of $0.25 per share, absent achieving a tier and 
receiving an increased rebate under footnote 1.
    \8\ As defined in the Exchange's fee schedule available at 
https://www.batsoptions.com/support/fee_schedule/bzx/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations 
thereunder that are applicable to a national securities exchange, and, 
in particular, with the requirements of Section 6 of the Act. 
Specifically, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is 
consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act, in that it provides for the 
equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among 
members and other persons using any facility or system which the 
Exchange operates or controls. The Exchange notes that it operates in a 
highly competitive market in which market participants can readily 
direct order flow to competing venues if they deem fee levels to be 
excessive.
    Volume-based rebates such as those currently maintained on the 
Exchange

[[Page 2276]]

have been widely adopted by equities and options exchanges and are 
equitable because they are open to all Members on an equal basis and 
provide additional benefits or discounts that are reasonably related to 
the value to an exchange's market quality associated with higher levels 
of market activity, such as higher levels of liquidity provision and/or 
growth patterns, and introduction of higher volumes of orders into the 
price and volume discovery processes. Easing the criteria for the 
Customer Step-Up Volume Tier is intended to incentivize Members to send 
additional orders to the Exchange in an effort to qualify for the 
enhanced rebate available by the respective tier.
    The Exchange believes that this change is reasonable, fair and 
equitable and non-discriminatory, for the reasons set forth with 
respect to volume-based pricing generally and because such change will 
either incentivize participants to further contribute to market quality 
on the Exchange or will allow the Exchange to earn additional revenue 
that can be used to offset the addition of new pricing incentives. The 
Exchange also believes that the proposed rebate remains consistent with 
pricing previously offered by the Exchange as well as competitors of 
the Exchange and does not represent a significant departure from the 
Exchange's general pricing structure.

(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange believes the proposed amendment to its fee schedule 
would not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange 
does not believe that the proposed change represents a significant 
departure from previous pricing offered by the Exchange or pricing 
offered by the Exchange's competitors. Additionally, Members may opt to 
disfavor the Exchange's pricing if they believe that alternatives offer 
them better value. Accordingly, the Exchange does not believe that the 
proposed change will impair the ability of Members or competing venues 
to maintain their competitive standing in the financial markets. The 
Exchange does not believe that the proposed change to the Exchange's 
tiered pricing structure burdens competition, but instead, enhances 
competition as it is intended to increase the competitiveness of the 
Exchange by easing the criteria necessary to qualify for the Customer 
Step-Up Volume tier. Also, the Exchange believes that the decrease to 
the tier's threshold contributes to, rather than burdens competition, 
as such change is intended to incentivize participants to increase 
their participation on the Exchange.

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

    The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, 
comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received 
any written comments from members or other interested parties.

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \9\ and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b-4 
thereunder.\10\ At any time within 60 days of the filing of the 
proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend 
such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is 
necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of 
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File No. SR-BATS-2015-120 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 No. SR-BATS-2015-120. 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 will also 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 No. SR-BATS-2015-120 and should be 
submitted on or before February 5, 2016.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. 2016-00640 Filed 1-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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