Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 1 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1, To Amend Interpretation and Policy .01 to Rule 1.1(ggg) Relating to the Professional Customer Definition, 18668-18671 [2016-07204]

Download as PDF 18668 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 62 / Thursday, March 31, 2016 / Notices SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–77450; File No. SR–CBOE– 2016–005] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 1 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1, To Amend Interpretation and Policy .01 to Rule 1.1(ggg) Relating to the Professional Customer Definition March 25, 2016. I. Introduction On January 27, 2016, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘CBOE’’) 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 amend the methodology for counting average daily order submissions in listed options to determine whether a person or entity meets the definition of a Professional 3 (‘‘Professional order counting’’). The Commission published the proposed rule change for comment in the Federal Register on February 10, 2016.4 The Commission received one comment letter on the proposed rule change.5 The Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change on March 15, 2016,6 and 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). CFR 240.19b–4. 3 Under CBOE rules, the term ‘‘Professional’’ means any person or entity that (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) places more than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a calendar month for its own beneficial account(s). See CBOE Rule 1.1(ggg). 4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77049 (February 4, 2016), 81 FR 7173 (‘‘Notice’’). 5 See Joint Letter from SpiderRock EXC, LLC and SpiderRock Advisors, LLC, to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission, dated February 22, 2016 (‘‘SpiderRock Letter’’). 6 In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange changed how complex orders will be computed with respect to Professional order counting. Amendment No. 1 modified the proposal to provide that a complex order compromised of nine legs or more will count as multiple orders with each option leg counting as its own separate order while complex orders with eight legs or less will count as a single order. The Exchange previously proposed that complex orders compromised of five legs or more would count as multiple orders while complex orders with four legs or less would count as a single order. In addition, Amendment No. 1 provided that any complex order with nine or more legs that is canceled and replaced would count as multiple new orders unless the child orders resulting from the parent order were canceled and replaced on the same side and series as the parent order. The Exchange previously proposed that complex orders with five legs or more that were canceled and replaced would count as mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 2 17 VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:47 Mar 30, 2016 Jkt 238001 submitted a response to comments on March 18, 2016.7 This order provides notice of filing of Amendment No. 1 and approves the proposal, as modified by Amendment No. 1, on an accelerated basis. II. Description of the Proposal The Exchange proposes to amend Interpretation and Policy .01 to Rule 1.1(ggg) relating to the definition of Professionals. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to delete current Interpretation and Policy .01 to Rule 1.1(ggg) and adopt new Interpretation and Policy .01 to Rule 1.1(ggg), setting forth a new methodology for calculating average daily order submissions for Professional order counting purposes.8 Background Prior to 2009, the Exchange designated all orders as either customer orders or non-customer orders based solely on whether or not the order was placed for the account of a customer or for the account of a registered securities broker-dealer.9 According to CBOE, the Exchange granted public customers certain advantages, including priority to trade and reduced or no transaction fees, in order to attract public customer order flow and to account for such customers’ lack of sophistication along with their lack of access to market data services, analytics technology, and other trading devices more common to brokerdealers.10 As non-broker-dealer traders gained access to electronic trading platforms, analytics technology, and market data services previously available only to broker-dealers, the distinction between public customers and non-customers became, in CBOE’s opinion, less effective in promoting the intended purposes of the Exchange’s customer priority rules because certain customers increasingly were more similarly situated to broker-dealers.11 Accordingly, in 2009, the Exchange multiple new orders. To promote transparency of its proposed amendment, when CBOE filed Amendment No. 1 with the Commission, it also submitted Amendment No. 1 as a comment letter to the file, which the Commission posted on its Web site and placed in the public comment file for SR–CBOE–2016–005 (available at https:// www.sec.gov/comments/sr-cboe-2016-005/ cboe2016005-2.pdf). The Exchange also posted a copy of its Amendment No. 1 on its Web site (https://www.cboe.com/aboutcboe/legal/submitted secfilings.aspx) when it filed the amendment with the Commission. 7 See Letter from William P. Wallenstein, Senior Counsel, CBOE, to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission, dated March 18, 2016 (‘‘CBOE Response Letter’’). 8 See Notice, supra note 4, at 7173. 9 See id. at 7174. 10 See id. 11 See id. PO 00000 Frm 00105 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 adopted a definition of Professional under Rule 1.1(ggg) to further distinguish different types of orders placed on the Exchange.12 In November 2014, the Exchange clarified its Professional order rule by adopting Interpretation and Policy .01 to Rule 1.1(ggg).13 According to the Exchange, the advent of new multi-leg spread products and the proliferation of the use of complex orders and algorithmic execution strategies by both institutional and retail market participants raise questions as to what should be counted as an ‘‘order’’ for Professional order counting purposes.14 In light of this, the Exchange now proposes to adopt an amended interpretation to specifically address the counting of multi-leg spread products, algorithm generated orders, and complex orders for purposes of determining Professional customer status.15 Proposal The Exchange’s proposal deletes current Interpretation and Policy .01 to Rule 1.1(ggg) and replaces it with a new Interpretation and Policy that sets forth a new methodology for counting complex orders, parent/child orders, and cancel/replace orders for Professional order counting purposes.16 Pursuant to Rule 1.1(ggg), all orders will count as one single order for Professional customer counting purposes, unless one of the exceptions enumerated in the new Interpretation and Policy stipulates otherwise.17 12 According to CBOE, its Professional customer rule originally was based upon a similar rule from the International Securities Exchange, LLC (‘‘ISE’’). See Securities Exchange Release 59287 (January 23, 2009), 74 FR 5694 (January 30, 2009) (SR–ISE– 2006–26) (‘‘ISE Approval Order’’); see also Notice, supra note 4, at 7174, n.8. 13 See CBOE Regulatory Circular RG09–148 (Professional Orders). Specifically, the Exchange codified its interpretation that, for Professional order counting purposes, ‘‘parent’’ orders that are placed on a single ticket and entered for the beneficial account(s) of a person or entity that is not a broker or dealer in securities and that are broken into multiple parts by a broker or dealer, or by an algorithm housed at a broker or dealer, or by an algorithm licensed from a broker or dealer that is housed with the customer in order to achieve a specific execution strategy, including, but not limited to basket trades, program trades, portfolio trades, basis trades, and benchmark hedges, should count as one single order for Professional order counting purposes. 14 See Notice, supra note 4, at 7175. 15 See id. 16 See id. at 7176. 17 See id. Under current Exchange Rule 1.1(ggg), Trading Permit Holders are required to indicate whether their public customer orders are Professional orders. This existing requirement remains unchanged under this proposed rule change. See id. at 7178. According to the Exchange, a Trading Permit Holder must conduct a review of E:\FR\FM\31MRN1.SGM 31MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 62 / Thursday, March 31, 2016 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Paragraph (a) of proposed new Interpretation and Policy .01 will govern the computation rules for complex orders. Under subparagraph (a)(1), a complex order of eight legs or less will count as one order.18 In contrast, under subparagraph (a)(2), a complex order of nine legs or more will count as multiple orders with each option leg counting as its own separate order.19 The Exchange stated that this dividing line is appropriate because complex orders with eight or fewer legs are more often associated with retail strategies such as strangles, straddles, butterflies, collars, and condor strategies.20 In contrast, the Exchange believes that Professionals may be more likely than retail customers to use complex orders of nine legs or more, as CBOE believes that such orders are demonstrative of sophisticated trading activity.21 Paragraph (b) of proposed new Interpretation and Policy .01 will govern the calculations for parent/child orders.22 Under subparagraph (b)(1), if a parent order submitted for the beneficial account(s) of a person or entity other than a broker or dealer is subsequently broken up into multiple child orders on the same side (buy/sell) and series by a broker or dealer, or by an algorithm housed at the broker or dealer, or by an algorithm licensed from the broker or dealer but housed with the customer, then the order will count as one order even if the child orders are routed across several exchanges.23 According to the Exchange, this subparagraph is designed to allow the orders of public customers to be ‘‘worked’’ by a broker (or a broker’s algorithm) in order to achieve best execution without counting the activity as multiple child orders for Professional order counting purposes.24 Conversely, under subparagraph (b)(2), if a parent order, including a strategy order,25 is broken into multiple child orders on both sides (buy/sell) of a series and/or multiple series, then each child order will count as a separate new order.26 The Exchange believes that strategy orders are most often utilized by Professionals and therefore are appropriately counted as multiple orders for Professional order counting purposes.27 The Exchange further noted that paragraph (b) is not designed to capture larger-size orders that are broken into multiple orders to achieve an execution consistent with the principles of best execution.28 Instead, the Exchange stated that paragraph (b) is aimed at capturing orders generated by an algorithm operated by a Professional that continuously updates its orders in tandem with market changes.29 According to the Exchange, these orders are most appropriately counted as multiple orders for Professional order counting purposes.30 Paragraph (c) of new Interpretation and Policy .01 will govern the counting methodology for cancel/replace orders.31 Subparagraph (c)(1) states, as a general rule that any order that cancels and replaces an existing order will count as a separate order (or multiple orders in the case of complex orders of nine legs or more).32 Subparagraph (c)(2) contains an exception from this general rule. Under subparagraph (c)(2), an order to cancel and replace a child order would not count as a new order if the parent order that was placed for the beneficial account(s) of a non-broker or dealer had been subsequently broken into multiple child orders on the same side and series as the parent order by a broker or dealer, algorithm at a broker or dealer, or algorithm licensed from a broker or dealer but housed at the customer.33 By contrast, subparagraph (c)(3) provides that an order that cancels and replaces a child order resulting from a parent order, including a strategy order, that generated child orders on both sides (buy/sell) of a series and/or in multiple series would count as a new order per side and series.34 Finally, subparagraph (c)(4) states that, notwithstanding subparagraph (c)(2), an order that cancels and replaces any all orders received from non-broker-dealers on at least a quarterly basis in order to make the appropriate designation. See id. 18 See Notice, supra note 4, at 7176; see also Amendment No. 1, supra note 6. 19 See Notice, supra note 4, at 7176; see also Amendment No. 1, supra note 6. 20 See Notice, supra note 4, at 7176. 21 See id. 22 See id. 23 See id. 24 See id. 25 In its filing, CBOE noted that the term ‘‘strategy order’’ is intended to mean an execution strategy, trading instruction, or algorithm whereby multiple ‘‘child’’ orders on both sides of a series and/or multiple series are generated prior to being sent to an options exchange(s). See id. at 7176, n.17. 26 See id. at 7176. The Exchange noted that nonprofessional customers that simultaneously or nearly simultaneously enter multiple limit orders to buy and sell the same security may violate CBOE Rule 6.8C, the prohibition against acting as a Market Maker. See id. at 7176, n.18; see also Exchange Rule 6.8C. 27 See Notice, supra note 4, at 7176 (containing examples of types of strategy orders including vega and volatility orders). 28 See id. at 7177. 29 See id. 30 See id. 31 See id. 32 See id.; see also Amendment No. 1, supra note 6. 33 See Notice, supra note 4, at 7177. 34 See id. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Mar 30, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00106 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 18669 child order resulting from a parent order being pegged to the Exchange’s best bid or offer (‘‘BBO’’) or the national best bid or offer (‘‘NBBO’’) or that cancels and replaces any child order pursuant to an algorithm that uses the BBO or NBBO in the calculation of child orders and attempts to move with or follow the BBO or NBBO of a particular options series would count as a new order each time the order cancels and replaces in order to attempt to move with or follow the BBO or NBBO.35 Implementation The Exchange has proposed an effective date of April 1, 2016 for this proposed rule change.36 The proposal would not be applied retroactively.37 III. Comment Summary and CBOE’s Response The Commission received one comment letter regarding the proposed rule change, which opposed the proposal.38 Among other things, the commenter expressed concern that the proposal would ‘‘unfairly require the professional categorization of certain other customers that do not otherwise seem to be market professionals and are not systematically attempting to compete with market makers . . . .’’ 39 Specifically, the commenter believed that the proposal would classify as Professionals, persons or entities that increasingly use complex orders and other multi-legged orders or who have ‘‘hired a more market savvy and technologically sophisticated firm to handle their interactions with the market.’’ 40 In response, CBOE stated that customers trading with a frequency sufficient to meet the Professional customer definition, as modified by the current proposal, evidence a level of sophistication similar to that of brokerdealers and Market-Makers and therefore do compete with those market participants.41 The Exchange asserted that many of those customers include hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, large bank trading desks, and wealth 35 See id. id. 37 See id. at 7178. 38 See SpiderRock Letter, supra note 5, at 3–4. The commenter made several recommendations to the Commission, and expressed concern over the concept of customer priority, Market Maker payment for order flow, order routing, and Market Maker preferencing. The Commission notes that these issues are beyond the scope of CBOE’s present proposal, which applies to a modified calculation of order activity for Professional order counting purposes. 39 See id. at 8. The Commenter argued that a ‘‘new generation’’ of customer is increasingly using more sophisticated trading techniques. See id. at 4. 40 See id. at 4. 41 See CBOE Response Letter, supra note 7, at 4. 36 See E:\FR\FM\31MRN1.SGM 31MRN1 18670 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 62 / Thursday, March 31, 2016 / Notices management firms who employ sophisticated algorithms to execute more than the Professional customer threshold, which is equivalent to one order per minute.42 Therefore, CBOE believes that it is not unfair or anticompetitive to designate as Professionals those participants who, when executing the requisite number of orders, share similar levels of sophistication with broker-dealers or Market-Makers while maintaining customer priority for true traditional retail investors.43 The commenter also expressed a concern that the proposed rule change ‘‘would effectively ban’’ the use of certain multi-part orders in priority customer accounts.44 In response, CBOE stated that it is not banning any order type that is permitted under its rules, including the order types referenced by the commenter.45 More specifically, the Exchange noted that ‘‘[p]ublic customers and Professionals alike are free to employ these strategies on the Exchange as they see fit, the only difference being that, unlike a public customer, a Professional may not receive execution priority over brokerdealer orders and Market-Maker quotes at the same price and may incur transaction fees.’’ 46 Therefore, CBOE asserted that the choice whether to use any particular strategy is within the business judgment of the particular customer and not the result of an Exchange-imposed restriction.47 The commenter next noted that customers are becoming ‘‘increasingly sophisticated and technology enabled.’’ 48 The commenter stated that there are varying types of investors with different levels of sophistication using multi-part orders to trade on their own behalf or hire firms to carry out such trading strategies on their behalf.49 Therefore, the commenter asserted that the assumption that only ‘‘true’’ Professionals have access to more sophisticated trading techniques is misguided.50 The commenter believed that ‘‘there is no agreed definition of retail customer, rather, there is a 42 See id. id. The Exchange further noted that, subject to applicable regulatory requirements, it has discretion to decide the best way to encourage competitive markets and how best to attract retail order flow to the exchange, and its proposed rule change seeks to accomplish those business objectives. See id. 44 See SpiderRock Letter, supra note 5, at 7. 45 See CBOE Response Letter, supra note 7, at 2– 3. 46 See id. at 3. 47 See id. 48 See SpiderRock Letter, supra note 5, at 9. 49 See id. at 7–8. 50 See id. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 43 See VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Mar 30, 2016 Jkt 238001 complex collection of accounts that can be categorized along a number of notmutually-exclusive dimensions.’’ 51 In response, CBOE noted that it does not seek to dissuade the use of technology by any investor, nor use technology as the benchmark for deciding whether an investor who uses it crosses the threshold of public customer to Professional.52 Rather, the Exchange noted that its proposal will look to the number of orders produced through that technology and if the number of orders is fewer than 390 average orders per day on average over the applicable period then that investor will not be a Professional despite the use of the technology-enabled strategies.53 The Exchange further emphasized that it is the number of orders that determines whether a trader is a Professional and not the technology to which a trader has access.54 IV. Discussion and Commission Findings After careful review of the proposed rule change, as well as the comment letter and the CBOE response, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange.55 In particular, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,56 which requires, among other things, that the rules of a national securities exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest; and not be designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. In addition, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act, which requires the rules of the exchange not to impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the Act.57 The Commission previously has articulated its position regarding the application of Section 6 of the Act in 51 See id. at 8. CBOE Response Letter, supra note 7, at 3. 53 See id. 54 See id. at 3–4. 55 In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has considered the proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). 56 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). 57 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8). 52 See PO 00000 Frm 00107 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 evaluating distinctions among market participants proposed by exchanges and the discretion available to an exchange to set an appropriate level of advantages and responsibilities of persons trading on its market.58 In particular, the Commission previously indicated that it does not believe that priority for public customer orders is a statutorily-required attribute of an exchange and therefore the grant of such priority is within an exchange’s prerogative and business judgement, as long as such provision is otherwise consistent with the requirements of the Act.59 The Commission notes that the Exchange is not amending the threshold of 390 orders in listed options per day but is revising the method for counting Professional orders in the context of multi-part orders and cancel/replace activity. The Exchange noted that it has received questions regarding the classification of these types of orders when calculating Professional customer activity.60 The Commission believes that the proposal is designed to set forth a reasonable and objective approach to determine Professional customer status. Specifically, the proposal addresses how to account for complex orders, parent/child orders, and cancel/replace orders. The Commission believes that distinguishing between complex orders with 9 or more options legs and those orders with 8 or fewer options legs is a reasonable and objective approach. The Commission notes that, in Amendment No. 1, the Exchange increased the number of complex order legs considered for multiple order counting purposes from five or more legs to nine or more legs in response to the concerns of the commenter, who noted that some retail customers are increasingly using trading techniques with multi-part orders. In addition, the Commission believes that CBOE’s proposal appropriately distinguishes between parent/child orders that are generated by a broker’s efforts to obtain an execution on a larger size order while minimizing market impact and multi-part orders that used by more sophisticated market participants. Similarly, the Commission believes that the proposed guidance that cancel/replace orders will count as separate orders with limited exceptions is a reasonable and objective approach to distinguish the orders of retail customers that are ‘‘worked’’ by a broker from orders generated by algorithms used by more sophisticated market 58 See ISE Approval Order, supra note 12, at 5699, n. 59. 59 See id. at 5700. 60 See Notice supra note 4, at 7175. E:\FR\FM\31MRN1.SGM 31MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 62 / Thursday, March 31, 2016 / Notices participants. Similar to what it has noted in past Professional customer filings, the Commission believes that the line that CBOE now seeks to draw between ‘‘priority’’ customers and Professional customers reflects CBOE’s belief that the orders of a person who submits, on average, more than one order every minute of the trading day need not (or should not) be granted the same benefit or incentive that is granted to customers who do not trade on such a scale.61 The Commission believes that the grant of priority to certain participants over others in a manner that is consistent with the Act is most reasonably viewed as within the discretion of the Exchange.62 Thus, the Commission believes that CBOE’s proposal, which establishes an objective methodology for counting average daily order submissions for Professional order counting purposes, is consistent with the Act. V. Solicitation of Comments on Amendment No. 1 to the Proposed Rule Change Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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– CBOE–2016–005 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–CBOE–2016–005. 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 61 See 62 See ISE Approval Order, supra note 12, at 5701. id. at 5700. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Mar 30, 2016 Jkt 238001 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–CBOE– 2016–005 and should be submitted on or before April 21, 2016. VI. Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1 The Commission finds good cause to approve the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, prior to the thirtieth day after the date of publication of notice of the amended proposal in the Federal Register. The revisions made to the proposal in Amendment No. 1 63 changed how complex orders will be counted with respect to Professional order counting. Amendment No. 1 modified the proposal to provide that a complex order compromised of nine legs or more will count as multiple orders with each option leg counting as its own separate order instead of five legs or more as previously proposed by the Exchange.64 The Commission believes that this modification responds to one of the primary concerns raised by the commenter on the proposal that increasingly sophisticated customers would be adversely affected by the proposal, causing them to become Professionals and lose their priority customer status. Amendment No. 1 effectively allows retail customers to use more advanced trading strategies (i.e., complex orders with up to eight legs) without having that activity counted as multiple orders for purposes of Professional order counting. Thus, the Commission believes that the changes in Amendment No. 1 respond to one of the concerns raised by the commenter by adopting a more permissive threshold for complex orders, and ultimately could decrease the number of persons or 63 See 64 See PO 00000 Amendment No. 1, supra note 6. id. Frm 00108 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 18671 entities that will meet the definition of Professional under the new Interpretation and Guidance. Accordingly, the Commission finds good cause, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,65 to approve the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, on an accelerated basis. VII. Conclusion It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,66 that the proposed rule change (SR–CBOE–2016– 005), as modified by Amendment No. 1, be, and hereby is, approved on an accelerated basis. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.67 Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–07204 Filed 3–30–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–77444; File No. SR–Phlx– 2016–34] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Exchange’s Continuing Education Fee Schedule March 25, 2016. 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 March 15, 2016, NASDAQ PHLX LLC (‘‘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 the Continuing Education fee schedule as described further below. The proposed rule change is being filed for immediate effectiveness. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s Web site 65 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2) id. 67 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 66 See E:\FR\FM\31MRN1.SGM 31MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 62 (Thursday, March 31, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18668-18671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07204]



[[Page 18668]]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-77450; File No. SR-CBOE-2016-005]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, 
Incorporated; Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 1 and Order Granting 
Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by 
Amendment No. 1, To Amend Interpretation and Policy .01 to Rule 
1.1(ggg) Relating to the Professional Customer Definition

March 25, 2016.

I. Introduction

    On January 27, 2016, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated 
(the ``Exchange'' or ``CBOE'') 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 amend the methodology for 
counting average daily order submissions in listed options to determine 
whether a person or entity meets the definition of a Professional \3\ 
(``Professional order counting''). The Commission published the 
proposed rule change for comment in the Federal Register on February 
10, 2016.\4\ The Commission received one comment letter on the proposed 
rule change.\5\ The Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule 
change on March 15, 2016,\6\ and submitted a response to comments on 
March 18, 2016.\7\ This order provides notice of filing of Amendment 
No. 1 and approves the proposal, as modified by Amendment No. 1, on an 
accelerated basis.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ Under CBOE rules, the term ``Professional'' means any person 
or entity that (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) 
places more than 390 orders in listed options per day on average 
during a calendar month for its own beneficial account(s). See CBOE 
Rule 1.1(ggg).
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77049 (February 4, 
2016), 81 FR 7173 (``Notice'').
    \5\ See Joint Letter from SpiderRock EXC, LLC and SpiderRock 
Advisors, LLC, to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission, dated 
February 22, 2016 (``SpiderRock Letter'').
    \6\ In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange changed how complex orders 
will be computed with respect to Professional order counting. 
Amendment No. 1 modified the proposal to provide that a complex 
order compromised of nine legs or more will count as multiple orders 
with each option leg counting as its own separate order while 
complex orders with eight legs or less will count as a single order. 
The Exchange previously proposed that complex orders compromised of 
five legs or more would count as multiple orders while complex 
orders with four legs or less would count as a single order. In 
addition, Amendment No. 1 provided that any complex order with nine 
or more legs that is canceled and replaced would count as multiple 
new orders unless the child orders resulting from the parent order 
were canceled and replaced on the same side and series as the parent 
order. The Exchange previously proposed that complex orders with 
five legs or more that were canceled and replaced would count as 
multiple new orders. To promote transparency of its proposed 
amendment, when CBOE filed Amendment No. 1 with the Commission, it 
also submitted Amendment No. 1 as a comment letter to the file, 
which the Commission posted on its Web site and placed in the public 
comment file for SR-CBOE-2016-005 (available at https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-cboe-2016-005/cboe2016005-2.pdf). The Exchange also 
posted a copy of its Amendment No. 1 on its Web site (https://www.cboe.com/aboutcboe/legal/submittedsecfilings.aspx) when it filed 
the amendment with the Commission.
    \7\ See Letter from William P. Wallenstein, Senior Counsel, 
CBOE, to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission, dated March 18, 
2016 (``CBOE Response Letter'').
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II. Description of the Proposal

    The Exchange proposes to amend Interpretation and Policy .01 to 
Rule 1.1(ggg) relating to the definition of Professionals. 
Specifically, the Exchange proposes to delete current Interpretation 
and Policy .01 to Rule 1.1(ggg) and adopt new Interpretation and Policy 
.01 to Rule 1.1(ggg), setting forth a new methodology for calculating 
average daily order submissions for Professional order counting 
purposes.\8\
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    \8\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 7173.
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Background

    Prior to 2009, the Exchange designated all orders as either 
customer orders or non-customer orders based solely on whether or not 
the order was placed for the account of a customer or for the account 
of a registered securities broker-dealer.\9\ According to CBOE, the 
Exchange granted public customers certain advantages, including 
priority to trade and reduced or no transaction fees, in order to 
attract public customer order flow and to account for such customers' 
lack of sophistication along with their lack of access to market data 
services, analytics technology, and other trading devices more common 
to broker-dealers.\10\ As non-broker-dealer traders gained access to 
electronic trading platforms, analytics technology, and market data 
services previously available only to broker-dealers, the distinction 
between public customers and non-customers became, in CBOE's opinion, 
less effective in promoting the intended purposes of the Exchange's 
customer priority rules because certain customers increasingly were 
more similarly situated to broker-dealers.\11\ Accordingly, in 2009, 
the Exchange adopted a definition of Professional under Rule 1.1(ggg) 
to further distinguish different types of orders placed on the 
Exchange.\12\ In November 2014, the Exchange clarified its Professional 
order rule by adopting Interpretation and Policy .01 to Rule 
1.1(ggg).\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See id. at 7174.
    \10\ See id.
    \11\ See id.
    \12\ According to CBOE, its Professional customer rule 
originally was based upon a similar rule from the International 
Securities Exchange, LLC (``ISE''). See Securities Exchange Release 
59287 (January 23, 2009), 74 FR 5694 (January 30, 2009) (SR-ISE-
2006-26) (``ISE Approval Order''); see also Notice, supra note 4, at 
7174, n.8.
    \13\ See CBOE Regulatory Circular RG09-148 (Professional 
Orders). Specifically, the Exchange codified its interpretation 
that, for Professional order counting purposes, ``parent'' orders 
that are placed on a single ticket and entered for the beneficial 
account(s) of a person or entity that is not a broker or dealer in 
securities and that are broken into multiple parts by a broker or 
dealer, or by an algorithm housed at a broker or dealer, or by an 
algorithm licensed from a broker or dealer that is housed with the 
customer in order to achieve a specific execution strategy, 
including, but not limited to basket trades, program trades, 
portfolio trades, basis trades, and benchmark hedges, should count 
as one single order for Professional order counting purposes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the Exchange, the advent of new multi-leg spread 
products and the proliferation of the use of complex orders and 
algorithmic execution strategies by both institutional and retail 
market participants raise questions as to what should be counted as an 
``order'' for Professional order counting purposes.\14\ In light of 
this, the Exchange now proposes to adopt an amended interpretation to 
specifically address the counting of multi-leg spread products, 
algorithm generated orders, and complex orders for purposes of 
determining Professional customer status.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 7175.
    \15\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposal

    The Exchange's proposal deletes current Interpretation and Policy 
.01 to Rule 1.1(ggg) and replaces it with a new Interpretation and 
Policy that sets forth a new methodology for counting complex orders, 
parent/child orders, and cancel/replace orders for Professional order 
counting purposes.\16\ Pursuant to Rule 1.1(ggg), all orders will count 
as one single order for Professional customer counting purposes, unless 
one of the exceptions enumerated in the new Interpretation and Policy 
stipulates otherwise.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ See id. at 7176.
    \17\ See id. Under current Exchange Rule 1.1(ggg), Trading 
Permit Holders are required to indicate whether their public 
customer orders are Professional orders. This existing requirement 
remains unchanged under this proposed rule change. See id. at 7178. 
According to the Exchange, a Trading Permit Holder must conduct a 
review of all orders received from non-broker-dealers on at least a 
quarterly basis in order to make the appropriate designation. See 
id.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 18669]]

    Paragraph (a) of proposed new Interpretation and Policy .01 will 
govern the computation rules for complex orders. Under subparagraph 
(a)(1), a complex order of eight legs or less will count as one 
order.\18\ In contrast, under subparagraph (a)(2), a complex order of 
nine legs or more will count as multiple orders with each option leg 
counting as its own separate order.\19\ The Exchange stated that this 
dividing line is appropriate because complex orders with eight or fewer 
legs are more often associated with retail strategies such as 
strangles, straddles, butterflies, collars, and condor strategies.\20\ 
In contrast, the Exchange believes that Professionals may be more 
likely than retail customers to use complex orders of nine legs or 
more, as CBOE believes that such orders are demonstrative of 
sophisticated trading activity.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 7176; see also Amendment No. 
1, supra note 6.
    \19\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 7176; see also Amendment No. 
1, supra note 6.
    \20\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 7176.
    \21\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Paragraph (b) of proposed new Interpretation and Policy .01 will 
govern the calculations for parent/child orders.\22\ Under subparagraph 
(b)(1), if a parent order submitted for the beneficial account(s) of a 
person or entity other than a broker or dealer is subsequently broken 
up into multiple child orders on the same side (buy/sell) and series by 
a broker or dealer, or by an algorithm housed at the broker or dealer, 
or by an algorithm licensed from the broker or dealer but housed with 
the customer, then the order will count as one order even if the child 
orders are routed across several exchanges.\23\ According to the 
Exchange, this subparagraph is designed to allow the orders of public 
customers to be ``worked'' by a broker (or a broker's algorithm) in 
order to achieve best execution without counting the activity as 
multiple child orders for Professional order counting purposes.\24\ 
Conversely, under subparagraph (b)(2), if a parent order, including a 
strategy order,\25\ is broken into multiple child orders on both sides 
(buy/sell) of a series and/or multiple series, then each child order 
will count as a separate new order.\26\ The Exchange believes that 
strategy orders are most often utilized by Professionals and therefore 
are appropriately counted as multiple orders for Professional order 
counting purposes.\27\ The Exchange further noted that paragraph (b) is 
not designed to capture larger-size orders that are broken into 
multiple orders to achieve an execution consistent with the principles 
of best execution.\28\ Instead, the Exchange stated that paragraph (b) 
is aimed at capturing orders generated by an algorithm operated by a 
Professional that continuously updates its orders in tandem with market 
changes.\29\ According to the Exchange, these orders are most 
appropriately counted as multiple orders for Professional order 
counting purposes.\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ See id.
    \23\ See id.
    \24\ See id.
    \25\ In its filing, CBOE noted that the term ``strategy order'' 
is intended to mean an execution strategy, trading instruction, or 
algorithm whereby multiple ``child'' orders on both sides of a 
series and/or multiple series are generated prior to being sent to 
an options exchange(s). See id. at 7176, n.17.
    \26\ See id. at 7176. The Exchange noted that non-professional 
customers that simultaneously or nearly simultaneously enter 
multiple limit orders to buy and sell the same security may violate 
CBOE Rule 6.8C, the prohibition against acting as a Market Maker. 
See id. at 7176, n.18; see also Exchange Rule 6.8C.
    \27\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 7176 (containing examples of 
types of strategy orders including vega and volatility orders).
    \28\ See id. at 7177.
    \29\ See id.
    \30\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Paragraph (c) of new Interpretation and Policy .01 will govern the 
counting methodology for cancel/replace orders.\31\ Subparagraph (c)(1) 
states, as a general rule that any order that cancels and replaces an 
existing order will count as a separate order (or multiple orders in 
the case of complex orders of nine legs or more).\32\ Subparagraph 
(c)(2) contains an exception from this general rule. Under subparagraph 
(c)(2), an order to cancel and replace a child order would not count as 
a new order if the parent order that was placed for the beneficial 
account(s) of a non-broker or dealer had been subsequently broken into 
multiple child orders on the same side and series as the parent order 
by a broker or dealer, algorithm at a broker or dealer, or algorithm 
licensed from a broker or dealer but housed at the customer.\33\ By 
contrast, subparagraph (c)(3) provides that an order that cancels and 
replaces a child order resulting from a parent order, including a 
strategy order, that generated child orders on both sides (buy/sell) of 
a series and/or in multiple series would count as a new order per side 
and series.\34\ Finally, subparagraph (c)(4) states that, 
notwithstanding subparagraph (c)(2), an order that cancels and replaces 
any child order resulting from a parent order being pegged to the 
Exchange's best bid or offer (``BBO'') or the national best bid or 
offer (``NBBO'') or that cancels and replaces any child order pursuant 
to an algorithm that uses the BBO or NBBO in the calculation of child 
orders and attempts to move with or follow the BBO or NBBO of a 
particular options series would count as a new order each time the 
order cancels and replaces in order to attempt to move with or follow 
the BBO or NBBO.\35\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ See id.
    \32\ See id.; see also Amendment No. 1, supra note 6.
    \33\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 7177.
    \34\ See id.
    \35\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Implementation

    The Exchange has proposed an effective date of April 1, 2016 for 
this proposed rule change.\36\ The proposal would not be applied 
retroactively.\37\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ See id.
    \37\ See id. at 7178.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 III. Comment Summary and CBOE's Response

    The Commission received one comment letter regarding the proposed 
rule change, which opposed the proposal.\38\ Among other things, the 
commenter expressed concern that the proposal would ``unfairly require 
the professional categorization of certain other customers that do not 
otherwise seem to be market professionals and are not systematically 
attempting to compete with market makers . . . .'' \39\ Specifically, 
the commenter believed that the proposal would classify as 
Professionals, persons or entities that increasingly use complex orders 
and other multi-legged orders or who have ``hired a more market savvy 
and technologically sophisticated firm to handle their interactions 
with the market.'' \40\ In response, CBOE stated that customers trading 
with a frequency sufficient to meet the Professional customer 
definition, as modified by the current proposal, evidence a level of 
sophistication similar to that of broker-dealers and Market-Makers and 
therefore do compete with those market participants.\41\ The Exchange 
asserted that many of those customers include hedge funds, proprietary 
trading firms, large bank trading desks, and wealth

[[Page 18670]]

management firms who employ sophisticated algorithms to execute more 
than the Professional customer threshold, which is equivalent to one 
order per minute.\42\ Therefore, CBOE believes that it is not unfair or 
anti-competitive to designate as Professionals those participants who, 
when executing the requisite number of orders, share similar levels of 
sophistication with broker-dealers or Market-Makers while maintaining 
customer priority for true traditional retail investors.\43\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ See SpiderRock Letter, supra note 5, at 3-4. The commenter 
made several recommendations to the Commission, and expressed 
concern over the concept of customer priority, Market Maker payment 
for order flow, order routing, and Market Maker preferencing. The 
Commission notes that these issues are beyond the scope of CBOE's 
present proposal, which applies to a modified calculation of order 
activity for Professional order counting purposes.
    \39\ See id. at 8. The Commenter argued that a ``new 
generation'' of customer is increasingly using more sophisticated 
trading techniques. See id. at 4.
    \40\ See id. at 4.
    \41\ See CBOE Response Letter, supra note 7, at 4.
    \42\ See id.
    \43\ See id. The Exchange further noted that, subject to 
applicable regulatory requirements, it has discretion to decide the 
best way to encourage competitive markets and how best to attract 
retail order flow to the exchange, and its proposed rule change 
seeks to accomplish those business objectives. See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The commenter also expressed a concern that the proposed rule 
change ``would effectively ban'' the use of certain multi-part orders 
in priority customer accounts.\44\ In response, CBOE stated that it is 
not banning any order type that is permitted under its rules, including 
the order types referenced by the commenter.\45\ More specifically, the 
Exchange noted that ``[p]ublic customers and Professionals alike are 
free to employ these strategies on the Exchange as they see fit, the 
only difference being that, unlike a public customer, a Professional 
may not receive execution priority over broker-dealer orders and 
Market-Maker quotes at the same price and may incur transaction fees.'' 
\46\ Therefore, CBOE asserted that the choice whether to use any 
particular strategy is within the business judgment of the particular 
customer and not the result of an Exchange-imposed restriction.\47\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ See SpiderRock Letter, supra note 5, at 7.
    \45\ See CBOE Response Letter, supra note 7, at 2-3.
    \46\ See id. at 3.
    \47\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The commenter next noted that customers are becoming ``increasingly 
sophisticated and technology enabled.'' \48\ The commenter stated that 
there are varying types of investors with different levels of 
sophistication using multi-part orders to trade on their own behalf or 
hire firms to carry out such trading strategies on their behalf.\49\ 
Therefore, the commenter asserted that the assumption that only 
``true'' Professionals have access to more sophisticated trading 
techniques is misguided.\50\ The commenter believed that ``there is no 
agreed definition of retail customer, rather, there is a complex 
collection of accounts that can be categorized along a number of not-
mutually-exclusive dimensions.'' \51\ In response, CBOE noted that it 
does not seek to dissuade the use of technology by any investor, nor 
use technology as the benchmark for deciding whether an investor who 
uses it crosses the threshold of public customer to Professional.\52\ 
Rather, the Exchange noted that its proposal will look to the number of 
orders produced through that technology and if the number of orders is 
fewer than 390 average orders per day on average over the applicable 
period then that investor will not be a Professional despite the use of 
the technology-enabled strategies.\53\ The Exchange further emphasized 
that it is the number of orders that determines whether a trader is a 
Professional and not the technology to which a trader has access.\54\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \48\ See SpiderRock Letter, supra note 5, at 9.
    \49\ See id. at 7-8.
    \50\ See id.
    \51\ See id. at 8.
    \52\ See CBOE Response Letter, supra note 7, at 3.
    \53\ See id.
    \54\ See id. at 3-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Discussion and Commission Findings

    After careful review of the proposed rule change, as well as the 
comment letter and the CBOE response, the Commission finds that the 
proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and 
the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national 
securities exchange.\55\ In particular, the Commission finds that the 
proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\56\ 
which requires, among other things, that the rules of a national 
securities exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative 
acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, 
to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect 
investors and the public interest; and not be designed to permit unfair 
discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. In 
addition, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is 
consistent with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act, which requires the rules of 
the exchange not to impose any burden on competition not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the Act.\57\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \55\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has 
considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, 
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \56\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \57\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission previously has articulated its position regarding 
the application of Section 6 of the Act in evaluating distinctions 
among market participants proposed by exchanges and the discretion 
available to an exchange to set an appropriate level of advantages and 
responsibilities of persons trading on its market.\58\ In particular, 
the Commission previously indicated that it does not believe that 
priority for public customer orders is a statutorily-required attribute 
of an exchange and therefore the grant of such priority is within an 
exchange's prerogative and business judgement, as long as such 
provision is otherwise consistent with the requirements of the Act.\59\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \58\ See ISE Approval Order, supra note 12, at 5699, n. 59.
    \59\ See id. at 5700.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission notes that the Exchange is not amending the 
threshold of 390 orders in listed options per day but is revising the 
method for counting Professional orders in the context of multi-part 
orders and cancel/replace activity. The Exchange noted that it has 
received questions regarding the classification of these types of 
orders when calculating Professional customer activity.\60\ The 
Commission believes that the proposal is designed to set forth a 
reasonable and objective approach to determine Professional customer 
status.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \60\ See Notice supra note 4, at 7175.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Specifically, the proposal addresses how to account for complex 
orders, parent/child orders, and cancel/replace orders. The Commission 
believes that distinguishing between complex orders with 9 or more 
options legs and those orders with 8 or fewer options legs is a 
reasonable and objective approach. The Commission notes that, in 
Amendment No. 1, the Exchange increased the number of complex order 
legs considered for multiple order counting purposes from five or more 
legs to nine or more legs in response to the concerns of the commenter, 
who noted that some retail customers are increasingly using trading 
techniques with multi-part orders.
    In addition, the Commission believes that CBOE's proposal 
appropriately distinguishes between parent/child orders that are 
generated by a broker's efforts to obtain an execution on a larger size 
order while minimizing market impact and multi-part orders that used by 
more sophisticated market participants. Similarly, the Commission 
believes that the proposed guidance that cancel/replace orders will 
count as separate orders with limited exceptions is a reasonable and 
objective approach to distinguish the orders of retail customers that 
are ``worked'' by a broker from orders generated by algorithms used by 
more sophisticated market

[[Page 18671]]

participants. Similar to what it has noted in past Professional 
customer filings, the Commission believes that the line that CBOE now 
seeks to draw between ``priority'' customers and Professional customers 
reflects CBOE's belief that the orders of a person who submits, on 
average, more than one order every minute of the trading day need not 
(or should not) be granted the same benefit or incentive that is 
granted to customers who do not trade on such a scale.\61\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \61\ See ISE Approval Order, supra note 12, at 5701.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission believes that the grant of priority to certain 
participants over others in a manner that is consistent with the Act is 
most reasonably viewed as within the discretion of the Exchange.\62\ 
Thus, the Commission believes that CBOE's proposal, which establishes 
an objective methodology for counting average daily order submissions 
for Professional order counting purposes, is consistent with the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \62\ See id. at 5700.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

V. Solicitation of Comments on Amendment No. 1 to the Proposed Rule 
Change

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether Amendment No. 1 
to 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-CBOE-2016-005 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-CBOE-2016-005. 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-CBOE-2016-005 and should be 
submitted on or before April 21, 2016.

VI. Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by 
Amendment No. 1

    The Commission finds good cause to approve the proposed rule 
change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, prior to the thirtieth day 
after the date of publication of notice of the amended proposal in the 
Federal Register. The revisions made to the proposal in Amendment No. 1 
\63\ changed how complex orders will be counted with respect to 
Professional order counting. Amendment No. 1 modified the proposal to 
provide that a complex order compromised of nine legs or more will 
count as multiple orders with each option leg counting as its own 
separate order instead of five legs or more as previously proposed by 
the Exchange.\64\ The Commission believes that this modification 
responds to one of the primary concerns raised by the commenter on the 
proposal that increasingly sophisticated customers would be adversely 
affected by the proposal, causing them to become Professionals and lose 
their priority customer status. Amendment No. 1 effectively allows 
retail customers to use more advanced trading strategies (i.e., complex 
orders with up to eight legs) without having that activity counted as 
multiple orders for purposes of Professional order counting. Thus, the 
Commission believes that the changes in Amendment No. 1 respond to one 
of the concerns raised by the commenter by adopting a more permissive 
threshold for complex orders, and ultimately could decrease the number 
of persons or entities that will meet the definition of Professional 
under the new Interpretation and Guidance. Accordingly, the Commission 
finds good cause, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,\65\ to 
approve the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, on an 
accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \63\ See Amendment No. 1, supra note 6.
    \64\ See id.
    \65\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

VII. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\66\ that the proposed rule change (SR-CBOE-2016-005), as modified 
by Amendment No. 1, be, and hereby is, approved on an accelerated 
basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \66\ See id.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\67\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \67\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-07204 Filed 3-30-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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