[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1802-1803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-791]



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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-36709; File No. SR-CBOE-95-72]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate 
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by the Chicago Board Options 
Exchange, Incorporated Relating to the Effective Date of the Standing 
Assurance Provision Relating to the Requirement To Make Prior 
Arrangements or Obtain Other Assurances Before Short Selling

January 11, 1996.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''), 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1), notice is hereby given that on January 
2, 1996, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (``CBOE'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'' or ``SEC'') 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.

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

    The CBOE hereby gives notice that it proposes to change the 
effective date of a certain aspect of a rule change, interpretation .04 
to Rule 30.20, previously approved by the Commission.\1\ The previously 
approved rule change relates to the requirement to make prior 
arrangements to borrow stock or to obtain other assurances that 
delivery can be made on settlement date before a member or person 
associated with a member may sell short. Specifically, the CBOE 
proposes to delay, until March 30, 1996, the effectiveness of that 
portion of Interpretation .04 to Rule 30.20 that prohibits CBOE members 
from using blanket assurances that securities are available for 
borrowing to satisfy their affirmative determination requirements.

    \1\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 36245 (Nov. 27, 
1995), 60 FR 62273 (Dec. 5, 1995).
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    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 CBOE 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

    The purpose of this rule proposal is to delay the effectiveness of 
a certain aspect of a rule change previously approved by the Commission 
relating to the requirement to make prior arrangements to borrow stock, 
warrants, or other securities that trade subject to Chapter 30 of the 
Exchange's rules, or to otherwise ensure availability of the subject 
securities before engaging in 

[[Page 1803]]
short sales. Specifically, the CBOE proposes to delay, until March 30, 
1996, the effectiveness of that portion of the rule change that 
prohibits CBOE members from using blanket or standing assurances that 
securities are available for borrowing to satisfy their affirmative 
determination requirements.
    The previously approved rule requires members to annotate, on the 
trade ticket or some other record maintained for that purpose by the 
member firm, the following information:

    1. if a customer assures delivery, the present location of the 
securities in question, whether they are in good deliverable form 
and the customer's ability to deliver them to the member within 
three (3) business days; or
    2. if the member locates the stock, the member must annotate the 
identity of the individual and firm contacted who offered assurance 
that the shares would be delivered or were available for borrowing 
by settlement date and the number of shares needed to cover the 
short sale.

    The rule also provides that the manner by which a member or person 
associated with a member annotates compliance with this ``affirmative 
determination'' requirement (e.g., marking the order ticket, etc.) is 
left for each individual member to decide. In addition, the rule 
clarifies that an affirmative determination and annotation of that 
affirmative determination must be made for each and every transaction 
since a ``blanket'' or standing assurance that securities are available 
for borrowing is not acceptable to satisfy the affirmative 
determination requirement (``standing assurance provision''). Thus, a 
firm that relies on a fax sheet or other standing assurance as to stock 
availability must annotate such reliance for each short sale 
transaction. By requiring firms to annotate each and every affirmative 
determination, the rule makes clear the CBOE's policy that firms cannot 
rely on daily fax sheets of ``borrowable stocks'' to satisfy their 
affirmative determination requirements under the Interpretation .04 to 
Rule 30.20.
    As the rule change was filed for immediate effectiveness as a non-
controversial rule change, the rule became operative thirty days after 
the rule change was filed with the Commission.\2\ This rule is based 
upon a similar rule that has been adopted by the National Association 
of Securities Dealers (``NASD''). The NASD has decided to delay the 
effectiveness of the standing assurance provision until February 20, 
1996 because of the feedback from a broad spectrum of NASD members and 
because the NASD believes the standing assurance provision may have 
created an unnecessarily burdensome regulatory requirement on NASD 
members. As a result, the NASD is in the process of evaluating comments 
raised by market participants concerning the provision to determine 
what further action should be taken. The CBOE plans to consult with the 
NASD regarding their review of this provision and anticipates that it 
will decide whether it should take action regarding the standing 
assurance provision by March 30, 1996.

    \2\ It should be noted at this time the CBOE does not trade any 
product that would be subject to this rule, although, by its terms, 
the rule applies to transactions by CBOE members on another national 
securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market.
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    By delaying the effectiveness of the standing assurance provision 
until March 30, 1996, this rule proposal will give members an 
opportunity to take the necessary actions to comply with the rule. In 
addition, the delay will allow the CBOE to consult with the NASD to 
determine whether to retain this provision or modify it, thereby 
assuring that the CBOE rules are crafted to achieve their regulatory 
purpose in a manner that is the least burdensome for its membership. 
Therefore, CBOE, represents that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6 of the Act, in general, and furthers the objectives of 
Section 6(b)(4) of the Act in particular, in that it is designated by 
the Exchange as constituting a stated policy with respect to the 
enforcement of an existing rule.

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

    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

    Because the foregoing rule change constitutes a stated policy, 
practice or interpretation with respect to the enforcement of an 
existing CBOE rule, it has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and subparagraph (e) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder. 
At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, 
the Commission may summarily abrogate 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 purpose of the Act.

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 there of with the Secretary, Securities and 
Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 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, N.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such filing will also be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the CBOE. All 
submissions should refer to the File No. SR-CBOE-95-72 and should be 
submitted by February 13, 1996.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\3\

    \3\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12) (1994).
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Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-791 Filed 1-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M