[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 166 (Monday, August 28, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44524-44526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21272]



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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-36124; File No. SR-CBOE-95-42]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule 
Change by the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. To Add Two Position 
and Exercise Limit Tiers for Qualifying Equity Option Classes and To 
Expand the Equity Option Hedge Exemption

August 18, 1995.
    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 August 7, 1995, the Chicago Board Options Exchange (``CBOE'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, 
and III below, which Items have been prepared by the CBOE. 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) (1988).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4 (1994).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The CBOE proposes to amend Rule 4.11 (Position Limits) and Rule 
4.12 (Exercise Limits) for equity options to add two upper position and 
exercise limit tiers for those equity option classes that meet certain 
criteria for high liquidity in the underlying stocks. In addition, CBOE 
proposes to expand the current equity option hedge exemption from twice 
to three times the standard or base position limit. The text of the 
proposed rule change is available at the Office of the Secretary, CBOE, 
and at the Commission.

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

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

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

    In 1994, the CBOE and the American Stock Exchange initiated 
discussions with Commission staff on the effect of increasing the 
number of position and exercise limit \3\ tiers for equity options 

[[Page 44525]]
from three to five, in response to feedback from customers and member 
firms that existing position and exercise limits for certain classes 
were too low. The discussions also included whether investors, 
particularly investors with sizeable assets or accounts, could benefit 
from an expansion of the equity hedge exemption contained in Rule 4.11, 
Interpretation and Policy .04, from a maximum allowable position of 
twice the standard or base limit to three times the limit.\4\ As set 
forth in greater detail in a recent report prepared by the Exchange 
(``Study''),\5\ the CBOE determined that position and exercise limit 
tiers can be added and that the equity hedge exemption can be expanded 
to benefit investors without increasing the potential for market 
disruption.

    \3\ Position limits impose a ceiling on the aggregate number of 
option contracts on the same side of the market that an investor, or 
investors acting in concert, can hold or write. Similarly, exercise 
limits impose a ceiling on the aggregate long positions in option 
contracts that an investor, or investors acting in concert, can or 
will have exercised within five consecutive business days.
    The equity option position limits provided in Exchange Rule 4.11 
are set at 4,500 or 7,500 or 10,500 contracts, and were increased to 
these levels in December 1993. Inadvertently, according to the 
Exchange, the corresponding exercise limits in Exchange Rule 4.12 
were not increased at the same time from the Previous 3,000 or 5,500 
or 8,000 contract levels. The CBOE has proposed to increase the 
exercise limits accordingly, and to make other amendments to the 
equity option position and exercise limit rules. See Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 35759 (May 24, 1995), 60 FR 28432 (May 31, 
1995) (notice of File No. SR-CBOE-95-22).
    \4\ The equity hedge exemption exempts certain specified equity 
options positions from the stated (or base) position limits in 
Exchange Rule 4.11 where the option contracts are hedged by 100 
shares of stock or securities convertible into such stock (or hedged 
by the same number of shares represented by an adjusted option 
contract), up to a maximum allowable position of twice the standard 
or base limit.
    \5\ The purpose of the Study was to analyze the market impact of 
increased limits and an expanded hedge exemption. See Letter from 
Mary Bender, Senior Vice President, Division of Regulatory Services, 
CBOE, to Holly Smith, Associate Director, Office of Market 
Supervision, Division of Market Regulation, Commission, dated April 
28, 1995.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The CBOE is proposing to add two tiers above the current position 
and exercise limit tiers for equity options provided in Exchange Rules 
4.11 and 4.12, at 20,000 and 25,000 contract levels.\6\ The criterion 
to qualify for the proposed 20,000 contract limit will be that the 
underlying security must have at least 240 million shares outstanding 
with 60 million shares traded in the past six months, or have 80 
million shares traded in the past six months. To qualify for the 
proposed 25,000 contract limit, the underlying security must have at 
least 300 million shares outstanding with 75 million shares traded in 
the past six months, or 100 million shares traded in the past six 
months.

    \6\As stated previously, the current position limits in Rule 
4.11 are 4,500, 7,500, and 10,500 contracts with the position limits 
for any particular class of options determined as follows: (1) to be 
eligible for the 10,500 contract limit, either the most recent six-
month trading volume of the underlying security must have totalled 
at least 40 million shares, or the most recent six-month trading 
volume of the underlying security must have totalled at least 30 
million shares and the underlying security must have at least 120 
mullion shares outstanding; (2) to be eligible for the 7,500 
contract limit, either the most recent six-month trading volume of 
the underlying security must have totalled at least 20 million 
shares, or the most recent six-month trading volume of the 
underlying security must have totalled at least 15 million shares 
and the underlying security must have at least 40 mullion shares 
outstanding; and (3) to be eligible for the 4,500 contract limit, 
the underlying security must not satisfy the criteria for a higher 
limit. See CBOE Rule 4.11, Interpretation and Policy .02.

    According to the Exchange, the number of equity option classes 
currently listed at the CBOE that would qualify for one of these higher 
position and exercise tiers is small. The Exchange represents that 
based on available statistics as of June 30, 1995, approximately 73 
classes would meet the above shares outstanding and six month trading 
volume criteria for the 25,000 contract tier, and approximately 22 
classes would qualify for the 20,000 contract tier, out of 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
approximately 580 equity option classes currently listed on the CBOE.

    In preparing the Study, the CBOE compiled information relating to 
the market impact of increased position and exercise limits for equity 
options, and addressed among other things: (1) The maximum underlying 
dollar value of an at-limit (hedged) position; (2) the percentage of 
shares outstanding that could be controlled under the proposed, 
expanded limits (unhedged position); (3) how contract volume compares 
between institutional and retail customers in those classes eligible 
for the new tiers; (4) position limit violation and exemption history 
for the existing three tiers; and (5) other evidence supporting an 
expansion of the current position limit tiers.

    The CBOE believes that the findings set forth in the Study should 
alleviate concerns that the new position limit tiers and expanded 
equity hedge exemption may increase exposure to market disruption.\7\ 
These findings are summarized below. For a fully hedged position 
utilizing the expanded equity hedge exemption, although the maximum 
underlying dollar value of an at-limit position under the increased 
limits will obviously be greater than under the increased limits will 
obviously be greater than under the current limits, the largest dollar 
value controlled in any equity option class would not exceed 2.06% of 
the total market capitalization of the underlying equity. The CBOE 
noted in the Study that the actual underlying dollar value controlled 
will be less than that implied by the calculation because the at-limit 
position is at least two-thirds hedged with the underlying security.

    \7\ The CBOE notes that the Study examined data that is based on 
contract limits well in excess of the limits actually proposed by 
CBOE herein (i.e., proposed tiers of 40,000 and 20,000 contracts). 
Accordingly, the Exchange believes that an added measure of comfort 
can be drawn from the fact that if no material market disruption 
likelihood could be detected at the higher limits used in the Study, 
the same should remain true, and the potential for market disruption 
should be less likely, at the proposed 20,000 and 25,000 contract 
limits.

    Further, for an unhedged position under the limits proposed in the 
Study, the maximum percentage that could be controlled by any one 
investor or group of investors acting in concert would not exceed 7.2% 
of outstanding shares in any eligible equity option class, in 
comparison to a maximum of 10.92% of outstanding shares that currently 
can be controlled in an option class in the 10,500 contract tier. With 
respect to current classes in which the percentage of shares controlled 
exceeds 5%, the CBOE represents that to date there have been no 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
position or exercise limit violations.

    The CBOE states that the Study also elucidated a need for expanded 
position and exercise limits. First, the Exchange represents that the 
majority of both institutional and retail customer volume is equity 
options traded on the Exchange is transacted in equity option classes 
qualifying for one of the expanded tiers. Second, for calendar year 
1994, the CBOE notes that all but one of approximately 80 position 
limit violations occurred in equity option classes qualifying for the 
10,500 contract tier, and that all but seven of approximately 340 
market-maker exemptions granted were also for equity option classes in 
the 10,500 contract tier. Third, as noted in the Study, the CBOE 
received letters and comments affirming the need to increase the 
current position limits.\8\

    \8\ See infra note 11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to the proposed 25,000 and 20,000 contract tiers, the 
CBOE is also proposing to expand the equity hedge exemption provided in 
Exchange Rule 4.11, Interpretation and Policy .04, so that the maximum 
allowable position, after exempting from the base position limit 
specified positions where the option contract is hedged by 100 shares 
of stock or securities convertible into stock, will be three times 
instead of twice the standard or base limit currently provided. For 
example, the maximum position allowed in a single equity option class 
in the proposed 25,000 contract tier will be 75,000 contracts, of which 
50,000 contracts must be hedged. The CBOE believes that its data 
supports this proposal. The proposed increase in the maximum hedge 
exemption will apply to all position limit tiers, not just the proposed 
25,000 and 20,000 contract tiers. The CBOE notes that in the Study, 
approximately 30 to 35 customer accounts and 25 market-maker/member 

[[Page 44526]]
firm accounts, representing approximately 35 equity option classes, 
used the equity hedge exemption on a consistent basis in 1994. 
Moreover, the Study indicated that many institutions had significant 
positions both in equity options qualifying for the expanded tiers and 
in the underlying securities. As noted below, the CBOE also received 
comments in support of expanding the equity hedge exemption.\9\

    \9\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For the above reasons, the CBOE is requesting approval of the 
proposed 20,000 and 25,000 position and exercise limit tiers for 
qualifying equity option classes and an expansion of the current equity 
option hedge exemption from two to three times the base position limit. 
The CBOE strongly believes that the investing community--institutions, 
retail customers and member firms across the board--will benefit from 
the proposed increases in equity option position limits and the equity 
option hedge exemption, particularly investors with sizeable holdings, 
accounts, or assets who employ equity options to hedge large stock 
holdings, and who have found the existing equity option position limit 
tiers and hedge exemption to be too restrictive. The CBOE does not 
believe, based on existing data, that the increased position limits and 
equity hedge exemption proposed herein will increase the risk of or 
exposure to market disruption resulting from the higher numbers of 
equity option contracts permitted to be under common control.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6 of the Act, in general, and furthers the objectives of 
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\10\ in particular, in that it is designed 
to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market and a national market system by providing investors with 
enhanced hedging capabilities.

    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5) (1988).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any inappropriate burden on competition.

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

    The CBOE states that it received six letters from member firms 
nothing that the current position limits are too low and supporting an 
increase in the current position limit levels, particularly for 
institutional clients.\11\ The CBOE states that it has also received 
comments from member firm representatives and customers that, with 
respect to sizeable portfolios or assets, they do not have adequate 
hedging capabilities under the current position limit tiers for equity 
options. Further, the CBOE represents that money managers have 
commented that the current equity option position limits are too 
restrictive with respect to the size of assets managed.

    \11\ See Letter to Karen Charleston, CBOE, from Alfred Scerbo, 
Compliance Department, Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., dated October 6, 
1994; letter to Patricia Cerny, CBOE, from Heather Wood, Branch 
Manager, Prudential Securities, dated January 18, 1995; letter to 
Patricia Cerny, CBOE, from William McGowan, Senior Vice President, 
Mesirow Financial, dated December 20, 1994; letter to Karen 
Charleston, CBOE, from Scott Kilrea, LETCO, dated October 3, 1994; 
letter to Patricia Cerny, CBOE, from Lyn Lane, Vice President, 
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes, Inc., dated December 8, 1994; and letter to 
Patricia Cerny, CBOE, from W. Thomas Clark, Managing Director, 
Morgan Stanley, dated January 11, 1995.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may 
designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to 
be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
which the Exchange consents, the Commission will:
    (a) By order approve such proposed rule change, or
    (b) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and 
arguments concerning the foregoing. Persons making written submissions 
should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and 
Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. 
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 inspection and copying in the 
Commission's Public Reference Section, 450 Fifth Street, NW., 
Washington, DC. Copies of such filing will also be available for 
inspection and copying at the principal office of the CBOE. All 
submissions should refer to File No. SR-CBOE-95-42 and should be 
submitted by September 18, 1995.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\12\

    \12\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12) (1994).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-21272 Filed 8-25-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M