[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 110 (Friday, June 7, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39461-39462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-14300]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-45993; File No. SR-OCC-2002-05]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change 
Relating to Closing Values for Index Options

May 29, 2002.
    Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ notice is hereby given that on March 4, 2002, The Options 
Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') 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 primarily by 
OCC. 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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    The proposed rule change would amend OCC's Rule 1804 to authorize 
OCC if it cannot obtain a closing value for an underlying index on the 
last trading day before expiration to fix a closing price for an index 
for exercise by exceptions purposes on whatever basis it deems 
appropriate, including using the most recent index value available.

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

    In its filing with the Commission, OCC 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. OCC has prepared summaries, set forth in sections (A), 
(B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of such 
statements.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ The Commission has modified parts of these statements.

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

[[Page 39462]]

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

    OCC proposes amend the term ``closing price'' as defined in Rule 
1804, which sets forth the ``exercise by exception'' processing 
procedure for index options. Exercise by exception is the procedure by 
which options that are in the money at expiration by more than a 
specified amount are exercised unless the clearing member carrying the 
position directs otherwise and options that are in the money by less 
than the specified amount are not exercised unless the carrying 
clearing member directs otherwise. An option is considered in the money 
for exercise by exception processing if the ``closing price'' of the 
underlying interest at expiration is more (in the case of a call) or 
less (in the case of a put) than the option's exercise price.
    The term ``closing price'' \3\ is defined for underlying securities 
by Rule 805 and for underlying indexes by Rule 1804. Rule 805 generally 
sets forth OCC's expiration date exercise procedures, including 
exercise by exception rules for equity options. In 1999, Rule 805 was 
amended to provide that if an underlying security did not trade on its 
primary market on the last trading day before expiration or if it did 
trade but OCC was unable to obtain a closing price, OCC could choose to 
exercise its discretion to fix a closing price on whatever basis it 
deemed appropriate including using the last sale price on the most 
recent trading day for which a price was available.\4\ However, no 
parallel change was made to Rule 1804.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The closing price of an underlying equity is normally the 
last reported sale price on the OCC-designated primary market on the 
last trading day before expiration. The closing price of an index is 
the index level at the close of trading on the last trading day 
before expiration.
    \4\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 41089 (February 23, 
1999), 64 FR 10051 [File No. SR-OCC-98-14].
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If there is no reported closing value for an underlying index on 
the last trading day before expiration, there is no ``closing price'' 
for that index for exercise by exception purposes. This result could 
create operational problems for clearing members and other securities 
firms whose customer agreements contain provisions that expiring 
options will be exercised only if OCC's closing price for the 
underlying interest exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in 
the case of a put) the exercise price by the OCC specified threshold 
(unless a customer instructs otherwise). Accordingly, the proposed 
modifications to Rule 1804 authorize OCC to fix a ``closing price'' for 
an underlying index on whatever basis it deems appropriate (including 
using the most recent index value available) if a closing value is not 
reported to or obtainable by OCC on the trading day preceding 
expiration. This change gives OCC the same authority to fix a closing 
price for index options as it has for equity options under Rule 805.
    OCC believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
purposes and requirements of section 17A of the Act because it promotes 
the prompt clearance and settlement of expiring index options.

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

    OCC does not believe that the proposed rule change would impose any 
burden on competition.

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

    Written comments were not and are not intended to be solicited with 
respect to the proposed rule change, and none have been received.

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to section 
19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the Act \5\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(1) \6\ promulgated 
thereunder because the proposal constitutes a stated policy, practice, 
or interpretation with respect to the meaning, administration, or 
enforcement of an existing rule of OCC. At any time within sixty 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 purposes of 
the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
    \6\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

VI. 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. Persons making written submissions 
should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and 
Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. 
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 20549. Copies of such filing will also be available for 
inspection and copying at the principal office of OCC. All submissions 
should refer to the File No. SR-OCC-2002-05 and should be submitted by 
June 28, 2002.

    For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-14300 Filed 6-6-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P