Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule, 26532-26534 [2017-11749]
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26532
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 108 / Wednesday, June 7, 2017 / Notices
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
BatsEDGX–2017–24 on the subject line.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Paper Comments
[Release No. 34–80838; File No. SR–
NYSEArca–2017–61]
• 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–BatsEDGX–2017–24. 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 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–
BatsEDGX–2017–24, and should be
submitted on or before June 28, 2017.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.21
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–11744 Filed 6–6–17; 8:45 am]
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change To Amend the NYSE Arca
Options Fee Schedule
June 1, 2017.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’),2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
notice is hereby given that, on May 31,
2017, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ‘‘Exchange’’
or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(the ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I, II, and
III below, which Items have been
prepared by the self-regulatory
organization. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of the Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend the
NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule (‘‘Fee
Schedule’’) with respect to the Lead
Market Maker (‘‘LMM’’) Rights Fee. The
Exchange proposes to implement the fee
change effective June 1, 2017. The
proposed rule change is available on the
Exchange’s Web site at www.nyse.com,
at the principal office of the Exchange,
and at the Commission’s Public
Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
self-regulatory organization included
statements concerning the purpose of,
and basis for, the proposed rule change
and discussed any comments it received
on the proposed rule change. The text
of those 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.
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
2 15
21 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
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A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The purpose of this filing is to modify
the calculation of the threshold for
qualification for the LMM Rights Fee
discount.
The LMM Rights Fee is charged ‘‘on
a per issue basis to the OTP Firm acting
as LMM in the issue.’’ 4 The Exchange
charges a Rights Fee on each issue in a
LMM’s allocation, with rates based on
the Average National Daily Customer
Contracts. LMMs are also able to
achieve a 50% discount to their total
monthly LMM Rights Fee by achieving
an average daily volume (‘‘ADV’’) of
50,000 contracts, of which at least
10,000 are within its LMM Appointment
(the ‘‘Discount’’).5
The Exchange proposes to replace the
static minimum contract thresholds of
50,000 and 10,000 with market share
criteria expressed as a percentage of
Total Industry Customer Equity and
exchange traded fund (‘‘ETF’’) option
ADV (‘‘TCADV’’).6 The Exchange
believes this proposed modification
would enable Market Makers to achieve
the Discount more consistently, despite
monthly or seasonal fluctuations in
industry volume. The Exchange is not
proposing to adjust the source of the
qualifying volume for each component
of the Discount, as this criterion will
remain the same.
Specifically, the Exchange proposes
the market share requirements for
achieving the Discount as follows: ‘‘An
LMM with daily contract volume traded
electronically of at least 0.40% Total
Industry Customer equity and ETF
option ADV (‘TCADV’), of which 0.08%
TCADV are within its LMM
appointment, will be charged 50% of
the monthly Lead Market Maker Rights
Fee.’’ 7 The Exchange notes that the
TCADV percentages proposed are a
4 See Fee Schedule, available here, https://
www.nyse.com/publicdocs/nyse/markets/arcaoptions/NYSE_Arca_Options_Fee_Schedule.pdf
(NYSE Arca General Options and Trading Permit
(OTP) Fee, Lead Market Maker Rights Fee).
5 See id., endnote 2.
6 The volume thresholds are based on Market
Makers’ volume transacted electronically as a
percentage of total industry Customer equity and
ETF options volumes as reported by the Options
Clearing Corporation (the ‘‘OCC’’). Total industry
Customer equity and ETF option volume is
comprised of those equity and ETF contracts that
clear in the Customer account type at OCC and does
not include contracts that clear in either the Firm
or Market Maker account type at OCC or contracts
overlying a security other than an equity or ETF
security. See OCC Monthly Statistics Reports,
available here, https://www.theocc.com/webapps/
monthly-volume-reports.
7 See proposed Fee Schedule, endnote 2.
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 108 / Wednesday, June 7, 2017 / Notices
rough equivalent to the existing 50,000
and 10,000 ADV contract thresholds,
based on TCADV for the First Quarter of
2017.
The Exchange is not proposing any
changes to the amount of the LMM
Rights Fees or any of the other available
per issue discounts to the LMM Rights
Fee.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b) of the Act,8 in general, and
furthers the objectives of Sections
6(b)(4) and (5) of the Act,9 in particular,
because it provides for the equitable
allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and
other charges among its members,
issuers and other persons using its
facilities and does not unfairly
discriminate between customers,
issuers, brokers or dealers.
The Exchange believes that modifying
the qualification calculation for the
Discount from a static monthly contract
amount to a percentage of TCADV is
reasonable, equitable, and not unfairly
discriminatory because it would make
the Discount more consistently
achievable as the calculation will be
more aligned with fluctuations in
overall monthly industry volume. The
Exchange believes the proposed change
is not unfairly discriminatory because
the proposed benchmark of TCADV is
tied to the amount of monthly volume
executed on the Exchange, which would
incentivize and reward consistent order
flow month-to-month. The Exchange
notes that other options exchanges
likewise utilize percentages of market
share as a benchmark in determining
eligibility for monthly [sic] certain
credits or rebates.10 The Exchange also
believes the proposed change would
help to prevent LMMs from achieving
the Discount only during periods of
heavy volumes or from being penalized
(i.e., not achieving the Discount) during
months of overall lower volumes on the
8 15
U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
10 See, e.g., Fee Schedule, supra note 4 (Customer
and Professional Customer Monthly Posting Credit
Tiers and Qualifications for Executions in Penny
Pilot Issues and Customer and Professional
Customer Posting Credit Tiers In Non Penny Pilot
Issues, both based on percentage of TCADV);
NASDAQ Options Market fee schedule, available
at, https://www.nasdaqtrader.com/
Micro.aspx?id=optionsPricing (NOM Market Maker
Rebate to Add Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options
based on total industry customer equity and ETF
option ADV contracts per day in a month); BATS
Options Exchange fee schedule, available at, https://
www.batsoptions.com/support/fee_schedule/
(Market Maker and Non-BATS Market Maker Penny
Pilot Add Volume Tiers Market Maker and NonBATS Market Maker Non Penny Pilot Add Volume
Tiers, both based on percentage of total
consolidated monthly volume calculated).
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26533
Exchange. The Exchange notes that
there is only one LMM per issue, and
only LMMs are subject to the LMM
Rights Fee, therefore the proposed
discount is not unfairly discriminatory.
For these reasons, the Exchange
believes that the proposal is consistent
with the Act.
Commission takes such action, the
Commission shall institute proceedings
under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 14 of the Act to
determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or
disapproved.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
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:
In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of
the Act,11 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.
By adjusting the qualifications to a
market share basis rather than per
contract volume levels, the Exchange
believes the proposed change
encourages competition without undue
burden by being based on a share of
overall business rather than a static
volume amount.
The Exchange notes that it operates in
a highly competitive market in which
market participants can readily favor
competing venues. In such an
environment, the Exchange must
continually review, and consider
adjusting, its fees and credits to remain
competitive with other exchanges. For
the reasons described above, the
Exchange believes that the proposed
rule change reflects this competitive
environment.
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.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change is effective
upon filing pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) 12 of the Act and
subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b–4 13
thereunder, because it establishes a due,
fee, or other charge imposed by the
Exchange.
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of such proposed rule change, the
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend such rule change if
it appears to the Commission that such
action is necessary or appropriate in the
public interest, for the protection of
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
the purposes of the Act. If the
11 15
U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
13 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
NYSEArca–2017–61 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–2017–61. 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
12 15
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14 15
E:\FR\FM\07JNN1.SGM
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
07JNN1
26534
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 108 / Wednesday, June 7, 2017 / Notices
should refer toFile Number SR–
NYSEArca–2017–61, and should be
submitted on or before June 28, 2017.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.15
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–11749 Filed 6–6–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–80840; File No. SR–
NYSEArca–2017–33]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Order Approving a
Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment No. 2 Thereto, To List and
Trade Shares of the Euro Gold Trust,
Pound Gold Trust, and the Yen Gold
Trust Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule
8.201
June 1, 2017.
I. Introduction
On March 31, 2017, NYSE Arca, Inc.
(‘‘NYSE Arca’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) 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 list and trade shares
(‘‘Shares’’) of the Euro Gold Trust,
Pound Gold Trust, and the Yen Gold
Trust (each a ‘‘Fund’’ and, collectively,
the ‘‘Funds’’) under NYSE Arca Equities
Rule 8.201. On April 12, 2017, the
Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the
proposal, which amended and replaced
the proposed rule change in its entirety.
The proposed rule change, as modified
by Amendment No. 1, was published for
comment in the Federal Register on
April 19, 2017.3 On May 23, 2017, the
Exchange filed Amendment No. 2 to the
proposed rule change,4 which amended
15 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80457
(April 13, 2017), 82 FR 18492.
4 In Amendment No. 2, the Exchange: (1)
Described further the methodology for each
underlying index; (2) provided additional
information regarding Solactive AG, the ‘‘Index
Provider;’’ (3) further supported its position that
market makers in the Shares will be able to trade
the Shares at prices that are not at a material
discount or premium to net asset value (‘‘NAV’’) per
Share; and (4) made additional statements regarding
the continued listing requirements applicable to the
Shares. The amendments to the proposed rule
change are available at: https://www.sec.gov/
comments/sr-nysearca-2017-33/
nysearca201733.htm. Amendment No. 2 is not
subject to notice and comment because it is a
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and replaced the proposed rule change
as modified by Amendment No. 1. The
Commission has not received any
comments on the proposed rule change.
This order approves the proposed rule
change, as modified by Amendment No.
2.
II. The Description of the Proposed
Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment No. 2 5
The Exchange proposes to list and
trade the Shares, which are a series of
the World Currency Gold Trust
(‘‘Trust’’), under NYSE Arca Equities
Rule 8.201.6 Under NYSE Arca Equities
Rule 8.201, the Exchange may list and
trade, or trade pursuant to unlisted
trading privileges, Commodity-Based
Trust Shares.7
The Sponsor of the Funds and the
Trust will be WGC USA Asset
Management Company, LLC
(‘‘Sponsor’’).8 BNY Mellon Asset
Servicing, a division of The Bank of
New York Mellon (‘‘BNYM’’), will be
the Funds’ administrator
(‘‘Administrator’’) and transfer agent
and will not be affiliated with the Trust,
the Funds, or the Sponsor. BNYM will
also serve as the custodian of the Funds’
cash, if any. HSBC Bank plc will be the
custodian of the Funds’ gold.
The Euro Gold Trust will be designed
to track the performance of the Solactive
GLD® EUR Gold Index, less the
expenses of the Fund’s operations. The
Solactive GLD® EUR Gold Index seeks
to track the daily performance of a long
position in physical gold (as represented
by the Gold Price, which generally is the
London Bullion Markets Association
technical amendment that does not materially alter
the substance of the proposed rule change or raise
any novel regulatory issues.
5 A more detailed description of the Funds, the
Shares, the Indexes and the Gold Delivery
Agreement (as defined in the Notice), as well as
investment risks, creation and redemption
procedures, NAV calculation, availability of values
and other information regarding the Funds, and
fees, among other things, is included in the
Registration Statement, infra note 6, and
Amendment No. 2, supra note 4.
6 On March 30, 2017, the Trust filed with the
Commission its initial registration statement on
Form S–1 under the Securities Act of 1933 relating
to the Funds (File No. 333–217041) (‘‘Registration
Statement’’).
7 Commodity-Based Trust Shares are securities
issued by a trust that represent investors’ discrete
identifiable and undivided beneficial ownership
interest in the commodities deposited into the
Trust.
8 The Trust will be a Delaware statutory trust
consisting of multiple series, each of which will
issue common units of beneficial interest, which
represent units of fractional undivided beneficial
interest in and ownership of such series. The term
of the Trust and each series will be perpetual
(unless terminated earlier in certain circumstances).
The sole trustee of the Trust will be Delaware Trust
Company.
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(‘‘LBMA’’) Gold Price AM 9) and a short
position in the Euro (i.e., a long U.S.
dollar (‘‘USD’’) exposure versus the
Euro).
The Pound Gold Trust will be
designed to track the performance of the
Solactive GLD® GBP Gold Index, less
the expenses of the Fund’s operations.
The Solactive GLD® GBP Gold Index
seeks to track the daily performance of
a long position in physical gold (as
represented by the Gold Price) and a
short position in the British Pound
Sterling (i.e., a long USD exposure
versus the British Pound Sterling). The
Yen Gold Trust will be designed to track
the performance of the Solactive GLD®
JPY Gold Index, less the expenses of the
Fund’s operations. The Solactive GLD®
JPY Gold Index seeks to track the daily
performance of a long position in
physical gold (as represented by the
Gold Price) and a short position in the
Japanese Yen (i.e., a long USD exposure
versus the Japanese Yen). The Japanese
Yen, the Euro and the British Pound
Sterling are referred to collectively as
the ‘‘Reference Currencies.’’ Each of the
Solactive GLD® EUR Gold Index,
Solactive GLD® GBP Gold Index, and
Solactive GLD® JPY Gold Index are each
referred to as an ‘‘Index,’’ and are
referred to collectively as the ‘‘Indexes.’’
Generally, each Fund’s holdings will
consist entirely of Gold Bullion.10
Substantially all of each Fund’s Gold
Bullion holdings will delivered by
Authorized Participants 11 in exchange
for Fund Shares. The Funds’ Gold
Bullion holdings will not be managed
and the Funds will not have any
investment discretion. The Funds will
not hold their respective Reference
Currencies. The Funds generally will
not hold USDs (except from time to time
in very limited amounts to pay Fund
expenses).
9 The ‘‘LBMA Gold Price’’ means the price per
troy ounce of gold stated in USDs as set via an
electronic auction process run twice daily at 10:30
a.m. and 3:00 p.m. London time each Business Day
as calculated and administered by the ICE
Benchmark Administration Limited and published
by the LBMA on its Web site. The ‘‘LBMA Gold
Price AM’’ is the 10:30 a.m. LBMA Gold Price. See
Amendment No. 2, supra note 4, at 8–9.
10 Gold Bullion means (a) gold meeting the
requirements of ‘‘London Good Delivery Standards’’
or (b) credit to an ‘‘Unallocated Account’’
representing the right to receive Gold Bullion
meeting the requirements of London Good Delivery
Standards. London Good Delivery Standards are the
specifications for weight dimensions, fineness (or
purity), identifying marks and appearance set forth
in ‘‘The Good Delivery Rules for Gold and Silver
Bars’’ published by the LBMA. See id. at 6, n.19.
11 According to the Exchange, Authorized
Participants are the only persons that may place
orders to create and redeem Creation Units and
such persons must enter into a Participant
Agreement. See id. at 18.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26532-26534]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11749]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-80838; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2017-61]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the NYSE
Arca Options Fee Schedule
June 1, 2017.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the ``Act''),\2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby
given that, on May 31, 2017, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or
``NYSE Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II,
and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
\3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend the NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule
(``Fee Schedule'') with respect to the Lead Market Maker (``LMM'')
Rights Fee. The Exchange proposes to implement the fee change effective
June 1, 2017. The proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's
Web site at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and
at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of those 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 purpose of this filing is to modify the calculation of the
threshold for qualification for the LMM Rights Fee discount.
The LMM Rights Fee is charged ``on a per issue basis to the OTP
Firm acting as LMM in the issue.'' \4\ The Exchange charges a Rights
Fee on each issue in a LMM's allocation, with rates based on the
Average National Daily Customer Contracts. LMMs are also able to
achieve a 50% discount to their total monthly LMM Rights Fee by
achieving an average daily volume (``ADV'') of 50,000 contracts, of
which at least 10,000 are within its LMM Appointment (the
``Discount'').\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See Fee Schedule, available here, https://www.nyse.com/publicdocs/nyse/markets/arca-options/NYSE_Arca_Options_Fee_Schedule.pdf (NYSE Arca General Options and
Trading Permit (OTP) Fee, Lead Market Maker Rights Fee).
\5\ See id., endnote 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange proposes to replace the static minimum contract
thresholds of 50,000 and 10,000 with market share criteria expressed as
a percentage of Total Industry Customer Equity and exchange traded fund
(``ETF'') option ADV (``TCADV'').\6\ The Exchange believes this
proposed modification would enable Market Makers to achieve the
Discount more consistently, despite monthly or seasonal fluctuations in
industry volume. The Exchange is not proposing to adjust the source of
the qualifying volume for each component of the Discount, as this
criterion will remain the same.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The volume thresholds are based on Market Makers' volume
transacted electronically as a percentage of total industry Customer
equity and ETF options volumes as reported by the Options Clearing
Corporation (the ``OCC''). Total industry Customer equity and ETF
option volume is comprised of those equity and ETF contracts that
clear in the Customer account type at OCC and does not include
contracts that clear in either the Firm or Market Maker account type
at OCC or contracts overlying a security other than an equity or ETF
security. See OCC Monthly Statistics Reports, available here, https://www.theocc.com/webapps/monthly-volume-reports.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Specifically, the Exchange proposes the market share requirements
for achieving the Discount as follows: ``An LMM with daily contract
volume traded electronically of at least 0.40% Total Industry Customer
equity and ETF option ADV (`TCADV'), of which 0.08% TCADV are within
its LMM appointment, will be charged 50% of the monthly Lead Market
Maker Rights Fee.'' \7\ The Exchange notes that the TCADV percentages
proposed are a
[[Page 26533]]
rough equivalent to the existing 50,000 and 10,000 ADV contract
thresholds, based on TCADV for the First Quarter of 2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ See proposed Fee Schedule, endnote 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange is not proposing any changes to the amount of the LMM
Rights Fees or any of the other available per issue discounts to the
LMM Rights Fee.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\8\ in general, and furthers the
objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and (5) of the Act,\9\ in particular,
because it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues,
fees, and other charges among its members, issuers and other persons
using its facilities and does not unfairly discriminate between
customers, issuers, brokers or dealers.
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\8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
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The Exchange believes that modifying the qualification calculation
for the Discount from a static monthly contract amount to a percentage
of TCADV is reasonable, equitable, and not unfairly discriminatory
because it would make the Discount more consistently achievable as the
calculation will be more aligned with fluctuations in overall monthly
industry volume. The Exchange believes the proposed change is not
unfairly discriminatory because the proposed benchmark of TCADV is tied
to the amount of monthly volume executed on the Exchange, which would
incentivize and reward consistent order flow month-to-month. The
Exchange notes that other options exchanges likewise utilize
percentages of market share as a benchmark in determining eligibility
for monthly [sic] certain credits or rebates.\10\ The Exchange also
believes the proposed change would help to prevent LMMs from achieving
the Discount only during periods of heavy volumes or from being
penalized (i.e., not achieving the Discount) during months of overall
lower volumes on the Exchange. The Exchange notes that there is only
one LMM per issue, and only LMMs are subject to the LMM Rights Fee,
therefore the proposed discount is not unfairly discriminatory.
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\10\ See, e.g., Fee Schedule, supra note 4 (Customer and
Professional Customer Monthly Posting Credit Tiers and
Qualifications for Executions in Penny Pilot Issues and Customer and
Professional Customer Posting Credit Tiers In Non Penny Pilot
Issues, both based on percentage of TCADV); NASDAQ Options Market
fee schedule, available at, https://www.nasdaqtrader.com/Micro.aspx?id=optionsPricing (NOM Market Maker Rebate to Add
Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options based on total industry customer
equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month); BATS
Options Exchange fee schedule, available at, https://www.batsoptions.com/support/fee_schedule/ (Market Maker and Non-BATS
Market Maker Penny Pilot Add Volume Tiers Market Maker and Non-BATS
Market Maker Non Penny Pilot Add Volume Tiers, both based on
percentage of total consolidated monthly volume calculated).
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For these reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposal is
consistent with the Act.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,\11\ 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. By adjusting the qualifications to a market
share basis rather than per contract volume levels, the Exchange
believes the proposed change encourages competition without undue
burden by being based on a share of overall business rather than a
static volume amount.
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\11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
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The Exchange notes that it operates in a highly competitive market
in which market participants can readily favor competing venues. In
such an environment, the Exchange must continually review, and consider
adjusting, its fees and credits to remain competitive with other
exchanges. For the reasons described above, the Exchange believes that
the proposed rule change reflects this competitive environment.
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.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change is effective upon filing pursuant to
Section 19(b)(3)(A) \12\ of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule
19b-4 \13\ thereunder, because it establishes a due, fee, or other
charge imposed by the Exchange.
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\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\13\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \14\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
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\14\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-NYSEArca-2017-61 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-2017-61. 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
[[Page 26534]]
should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2017-61, and should be
submitted on or before June 28, 2017.
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\15\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\15\
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-11749 Filed 6-6-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P