[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79189-79195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32638]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-47052; File No. SR-CBOE-2002-61]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule 
Change by the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. Relating to Rules 
Implementing the Options Intermarket Linkage Plan

December 19, 2002.
    Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Exchange Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice if hereby 
given that on October 9, 2002, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, 
Incorporated (``Exchange'' or ``CBOE'') 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.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to adopt rules implementing the options 
intermarket linkage. The text of the proposed rule change is below; 
proposed new language is italicized.
Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated Rules
* * * * *
CHAPTER VI
* * * * *
Doing Business on the Exchange Floor
* * * * *

Section E: Intermarket Linkage

Rule 6.80. Definitions

    The following terms shall have the meaning specified in this Rule 
solely for the purpose of this Section E under Chapter VI:
    (1) ``Aggrieved Party'' means a member of a Participant Exchange 
whose bid or offer was traded-through.
    (2) ``Block Trade'' means a trade on a Participant Exchange that:
    (i) involves 500 or more contracts and has a premium value of at 
least $150,000;
    (ii) is effected at a price outside of the NBBO; and
    (iii) involves either:

[[Page 79190]]

    (A) a cross (where a member of the Participant Exchange represents 
all or a portion of both sides of the trade), or
    (B) any other transaction (i.e., in which such member represents an 
order of block size on one side of the transaction only) that is not 
the result of an execution at the current bid or offer on the 
Participant Exchange.

Contemporaneous transactions at the same price on a Participant 
Exchange shall be considered a single transaction for the purpose of 
this definition.
    (3) ``Broker/Dealer'' means an individual or organization 
registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in 
accordance with Section 15(b)(1) of the Exchange Act or foreign broker 
or dealer exempt from such registration pursuant to Rule 15a-6 under 
the Exchange Act.
    (4) ``Complex Trade'' means the execution of an order in an options 
series in conjunction with the execution of one or more related 
order(s) in different options series in the same underlying security 
occurring at or near the same time for the equivalent number of 
contracts and for the purpose of executing a particular investment 
strategy.
    (5) ``Crossed Market'' means a quotation in which the Exchange 
disseminates a bid (offer) in a series of an Eligible Option Class at a 
price that is greater than (less than) the price of the offer (bid) for 
the series then being displayed from another Participant Exchange.
    (6) ``Customer'' means an individual or organization that is not a 
Broker/Dealer. Used with reference to a Linkage Order, it means an 
order which, if executed, would result in the purchase or sale for an 
account in which no Broker/Dealer has an interest.
    (7) ``Eligible Market-Maker,'' with respect to an Eligible Option 
Class, means a Market-Maker that:
    (i) Is assigned to, and is providing two-sided quotations in, the 
Eligible Option Class;
    (ii) is participating in the Exchange's automatic execution system, 
if available, in such Eligible Option Class; and
    (iii) is in compliance with the requirements of Rule 6.85.
    (8) ``Eligible Option Class'' means all option series overlying a 
security (as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(10) of the Exchange 
Act) or group of securities, including both put options and call 
options, which class is traded on the Exchange and at least one other 
Participant Exchange.
    (9) ``Firm Customer Quote Size'' with respect to a P/A Order means 
the lesser of (a) the number of option contracts that the participant 
Exchange sending a P/A Order guarantees it will automatically execute 
at its disseminated quotation in a series of an Eligible Option Class 
for Customer orders entered directly for execution in that market; or 
(b) the number of option contracts that the Participant Exchange 
receiving a P/A Order guarantees it will automatically execute at its 
disseminated quotation in series of an Eligible Option Class for 
Customer orders entered directly for execution in that market. The Firm 
Customer Quote Size will be at least 10 contracts for each series of an 
Eligible Option Class.
    (10) ``Firm Principal Quote Size'' means the number of options 
contracts that a Participant Exchange guarantees it will execute at its 
disseminated quotation for incoming Principal Orders in an Eligible 
Option Class. This number shall be no fewer than 10.
    (11) ``Linkage'' means the systems and data communications network 
that links electronically the Participant Exchanges for the purposes 
specified in the Plan.
    (12) ``Linkage Order'' means an order routed through the Linkage as 
permitted under the Plan. There are three types of Linkage Orders:
    (1) ``Principal Acting as Agent (``P/A'') Order,'' for the 
principal account of a Market-Maker (or equivalent entity on another 
Participant Exchange that is authorized to represent Customer orders) 
reflecting the terms of a related unexecuted Customer order for which 
the Market-Maker is acting as agent;
    (ii) ``Principal Order,'' which is an order for the principal 
account of an Eligible Market-Maker (or equivalent entity on another 
Participant Exchange) and is not a P/A Order; and
    (iii) ``Satisfaction Order,'' which is an order sent through the 
Linkage to notify a Participant Exchange of a Trade-Through and to seek 
satisfaction of the liability arising from that Trade-Through.
    (13) ``Locked Market'' means a quotation in which the Exchange 
disseminates a bid (offer) in a series of an Eligible Option Class at a 
price that equals the price of the offer (bid) for the series then 
being displayed from another Participant Exchange.
    (14) ``NBBO'' means the national best bid and offer in an options 
series as calculated by the Exchange.
    (15) ``Non-Firm'' means, with respect to quotations, that members 
of a Participant Exchange are relieved of their obligation to be firm 
for their quotations pursuant to Rule 11Ac1-1 under the Exchange Act.
    (16) ``Participant Exchange'' means a registered national security 
exchange that is a party to the Plan.
    (17) ``Plan'' means the Plan for the Purpose of Creating and 
Operating an Intermarket Option Linkage, as such plan may be amended 
from time to time.
    (18) ``Reference Price'' means the limit price attached to a 
Linkage Order by the sending Participant Exchange. Except with respect 
to a Satisfaction Order, the Reference Price is equal to the bid 
disseminated by the receiving Participant Exchange at the time that the 
Linkage Order is transmitted in the case of a Linkage Order to sell and 
the offer disseminated by the receiving Participant Exchange at the 
time that the Linkage Order is transmitted in the case of a Linkage 
Order to buy. With respect to a Satisfaction Order, the Reference Price 
is the price that the member in the sending Participant Exchange is 
entitled to receive in satisfaction of a Trade-Through complaint under 
the Plan.
    (19) ``Trade-Through'' means a transaction in an options series at 
a price that is inferior to the NBBO.
    (20) ``Third Participating Market Center Trade-Through'' means a 
Trade-Through in a series of an Eligible Option Class that is effected 
by executing a Linkage Order, and such execution results in a sale 
(purchase) at a price that is inferior to the best bid (offer) being 
disseminated by another Participant Exchange.
    (21) ``Verifiable Number of Customer Contracts'' mean the number of 
Customer contracts in the book of a Participant Exchange.

Rule 6.81. Operation of the Linkage

    By subscribing to the Plan, the Exchange has agreed to comply with, 
and enforce compliance by its members with, the Plan. In this regard, 
the following shall apply:
    (a) Pricing. Members may send P/A Orders and Principal Orders 
through the Linkage only if such orders are priced at the NBBO.
    (b) P/A Orders.
    (1) Sending of P/A Orders for Sizes No Larger than the Firm 
Customer Quote Size. A Market-Maker may send through the Linkage a P/A 
Order for execution in the automatic execution system of a Participant 
Exchange if the size of such P/A Order is no larger than the Firm 
Customer Quote Size. Except as provided in subparagraph (b)(2)(ii) 
below, a Market-Maker may not break up an order of a Customer that is 
larger than the Firm Customer Quote Size into multiple P/A Orders, one 
or more which is equal to or smaller than the Firm

[[Page 79191]]

Customer Quote Size, so that such orders could be represented as 
multiple P/A Orders through the Linkage.
    (2) Sending of P/A Orders for Sizes Larger than the Firm Customer 
Quote Size. If the size of a P/A Order is larger than the Firm Customer 
Quote Size, a Market-Maker may send through the Linkage such P/A Order 
in one of two ways:
    (i) The Market-Maker may send a P/A Order representing the entire 
Customer order. If the receiving Participant Exchange's disseminated 
quotation is equal to or better than the Reference Price when the P/A 
Order arrives at that market, that exchange will execute the P/A Order 
at its disseminated quotation for at least the Firm Customer Quote 
Size. Within 15 seconds of receipt of such order, the receiving 
Participant Exchange will inform the Market-Maker of the amount of the 
order executed and the amount, if any, that was canceled.
    (ii) Alternatively, the Market-Maker may send an initial P/A Order 
for the Firm Customer Quote Size pursuant to subparagraph (b)(1) above. 
If the Participant Exchange executes the P/A Order and continues to 
disseminate the same quotation at the NBBO 15 seconds after reporting 
the execution of the initial P/A Order, the Market-Maker may send an 
additional P/A Order to the same Participant Exchange. If sent, such 
additional P/A Order must be for at least the lesser of 100 contracts 
or the entire remainder of the Customer order.
    In any situation where a receiving Participant Exchange does not 
execute a P/A Order in full, such exchange is required to move its 
quotation to a price inferior to the Reference Price of the P/A Order.
    (c) Principal Orders.
    (1) Sending of an Initial Principal Order. An Eligible Market-Maker 
may send a Principal Order through the Linkage at a price equal to the 
NBBO. Subject to the next paragraph, if the Principal Order is not 
larger than the Firm Principal Quote Size, the receiving Participant 
Exchange will execute the order in its automatic execution system, if 
available, if its disseminated quotation is equal to or better than the 
price specified in the Principal Order when that order arrives at the 
receiving Participant Exchange. If the Principal Order is larger than 
the Firm Principal Quote Size, the receiving Participant will (a) 
execute the Principal Order at its disseminated quotation for at least 
the Firm Principal Quote Size and (b) within 15 seconds of receipt of 
such order, reply to the sending Participant Exchange, informing such 
Participant Exchange of the amount of the order that was executed and 
the amount, if any, canceled. If the receiving Participant Exchange 
does not execute the Principal Order in full, it will move its quote to 
a price inferior to the Reference Price of the Principal Order.
    (2) Receipt of Multiple Principal Orders. Once the Exchange 
provides an automatic execution of a Principal Order in a series of an 
Eligible Option Class (the ``initial execution''), the Exchange may 
reject any Principal Order(s) in the same Eligible Option Class sent by 
the same Participant Exchange for 15 seconds after the initial 
execution unless: (1) there is a change of price in the Exchange's 
disseminated offer (bid) in the series of the Eligible Option Class in 
which there was an initial execution; and (2) such price continues to 
be the NBBO. After this 15 second period, and until the sooner of (a) 
one minute after the initial execution or (b) a change in the 
Exchange's disseminated bid (offer), the Exchange is not obligated to 
provide an automatic execution for any Principal Orders in the same 
Eligible Option Class received from the Participant Orders in the same 
Eligible Option Class received from the Participant Exchange that sent 
the order resulting in the initial execution, and thus may treat any 
such Principal Orders as being greater than the Firm Principal Quote 
Size.
    (d) Responses to Linkage Orders.
    (1) Failure to Receive a Timely Response. A Member who does not 
receive a response to a P Order or a P/A Order within 20 seconds of 
sending the order may reject any response received thereafter 
purporting to report an execution of all or part of that order. The 
Member so rejecting the response shall inform the Participant Exchange 
sending that response of the rejection within 15 seconds of receipt of 
the response.
    (2) Failure to Send a Timely Response. If a Member responds to a P 
Order or P/A Order more than 20 seconds after receipt of that order, 
and the Participant Exchange to whom the Member responded cancels such 
response, the Member shall cancel any trade resulting from such order 
and shall report the cancellation to OPRA.
    (e) Receipt of Orders. The Exchange will provide for the execution 
of P/A Orders and Principal Orders if its disseminated quotation is (i) 
equal to or better than the Reference Price, and (ii) equal to the 
then-current NBBO. If the size of a P/A Order or Principal Order is not 
larger than the Firm Customer Quote Size or Firm Principal Quote Size, 
respectively, the Exchange will provide for the execution of the entire 
order, and shall execute such order in its automatic execution system 
if that system is available. If the size of a P/A Order or Principal 
Order is larger than the Firm Customer Quote Size or Firm Principal 
Quote Size, respectively, the Market-Maker must address the order 
within 15 seconds to provide an execution for at least the Firm 
Customer Quote Size or Firm Principal Quote Size, respectively. If the 
order is not executed in full, the Exchange will move its disseminated 
quotation to a price inferior to the Reference Price.

Rule 6.83. Order Protection

    (a) Avoidance and Satisfaction of Trade-Throughs.
    (1) General Provisions. Absent reasonable justification and during 
normal market conditions, members should not effect Trade-Throughs. 
Except as provided in paragraph (b) below, if a member effects a Trade-
Through with respect to the bid or offer of a Participant Exchange in 
an Eligible Option Class and the Exchange receives a complaint thereof 
from an Aggrieved Party, either:
    (i) the member who initiated the Trade-Through shall satisfy, or 
cause to be satisfied, through the Linkage the Aggrieved Party in 
accordance with subparagraph (a)(2) below; or
    (ii) if the member elects not to do so (and, in the case of Third 
Participating Market Center Trade-Through, the member obtains the 
agreement of the contra party that received the Linkage Order that 
caused the Trade-Through), then the price of the transaction that 
constituted the Trade-Through shall be corrected to a price at which a 
Trade-Through would not have occurred. If the price of the transaction 
is corrected, the Member correcting the price shall report the 
corrected price to OPRA, notify the Aggrieved Party of the correction 
and cancel the Satisfaction Order.
    (2) Price and Size. The price and size at which a Satisfaction 
Order shall be filled is as follows:
    (i) Price. A Satisfaction Order shall be filled at the Reference 
Price. However, if the Reference Price is the price of an apparent 
Block Trade that caused the Trade-Through, and such trade was not, in 
fact, a Block Trade, then the Member may cancel the Satisfaction Order. 
In that case, the Member shall inform the Aggrieved Party within three 
minutes of receipt of the Satisfaction Order of the reason for the 
cancellation. Within three minutes of receipt of such cancellation, the 
Aggrieved Party may resend the Satisfaction Order with a Reference 
Price of the bid or offer that was traded through.
    (ii) Size. An Aggrieved Party may send a Satisfaction Order up to 
the size of the

[[Page 79192]]

Verifiable Number of Customer Contracts that were included in the 
disseminated bid or offer that was traded through. Subject to 
subparagraph (2)(i) above and paragraph (b) below, a Member shall fill 
in full all Satisfaction Orders it receives following a Trade-Through, 
subject to the following limitations:
    (A) If a number of contracts to be satisfied exceeds the size of 
the transaction that caused the Trade-Through, the size of the 
Satisfaction Order(s) that must be filled with respect to each 
Participant Exchange(s) shall be limited to the size of the transaction 
that caused the Trade-Through, and the remainder of any Satisfaction 
Order(s) shall be canceled;
    (B) If the transaction that caused the Trade-Through was for a size 
larger than the Firm Customer Quote Size with respect to any of the 
Participant Exchange(s) traded through, the total number of contracts 
to be filled, with respect to all Satisfaction Orders received, shall 
not exceed the size of the transaction that caused the Trade-Through. 
In that case, the Member shall fill the Satisfaction Orders pro rata 
based on the Verifiable Number of Customer Contracts traded through on 
each Participant Exchange, and shall cancel the remainder of such 
Satisfaction Order(s); and
    (C) Notwithstanding paragraphs (A) and (B) above, if the 
transaction that caused the Trade-Through occurred during the five 
minutes prior to the regularly-scheduled close of trading in the 
principal market in which the underlying security is traded, the 
maximum number of contracts to be satisfied with respect to any one 
Participant Exchange is 10 contracts.
    (3) Rejection of Fills of Satisfaction Orders. Within 30 seconds of 
receipt of notification that another Participant Exchange has filled a 
Member's Satisfaction Order, the Member that sent the Satisfaction 
Order may reject such fill, but only to the extent that either: (i) the 
order(s) for the customer contracts underlying the Satisfaction Order 
already have been filled; or (2) the customer order(s) to buy (sell) 
the contracts underlying the Satisfaction Order were canceled.
    (4) Protection of Customers. Whenever subparagraph (a)(1) applies, 
if Public Customer order (or P/A Orders representing Public Customer 
orders) constituted either or both sides of the transaction involved in 
the Trade-Through, each such Public Customer order (or P/A Order) shall 
receive:
    (i) the price that caused the Trade-Through; or
    (ii) the price at which the bid or offer traded through was 
satisfied, if it was satisfied pursuant to subparagraph (a)(1)(i), or 
the adjusted price, if there was an adjustment, pursuant to 
subparagraph (a)(1)(ii),

whichever price is most beneficial to the Public Customer order. 
Resulting differences in prices shall be the responsibility of the 
Member who initiated the Trade-Through.
    (1) The Member who initiated the Trade-Through made every 
reasonable effort to avoid the Trade-Through, but was unable to do so 
because of a systems/equipment failure or malfunction;
    (2) the Member trade through the market of a Participant Exchange 
to which such Member had sent a P/A Order or Principal Order, and 
within 20 seconds of sending such order the receiving Participant 
Exchange had neither executed the order in full nor adjusted the 
quotation traded through to a price inferior to the Reference Price of 
the P/A Order or Principal Order;
    (3) the bid or offer traded through was being disseminated from a 
Participant Exchange whose quotes were Non-Firm with respect to such 
Eligible Option Class;
    (4) the Trade-Through was other than a Third Participating Market 
Center Trade-Through and occurred during a period when, with respect to 
the Eligible Option Class, the Exchange's quotes were Non-Firm; 
provided, however, that, unless one of the other conditions of this 
paragraph (b) applies, during any such period: (i) Members shall make 
every reasonable effort to avoid trading through the firm quotes of 
another Participant Exchange; and (ii) it shall not be considered an 
exception to paragraph (a) if a Member regularly trades through the 
firm quotes of another Participant Exchange during such period;
    (5) the bid or offer traded through was being disseminated by a 
Participant Exchange during a trading rotation in the Eligible Option 
Class;
    (6) the transaction that caused the Trade-Through occurred during a 
trading rotation;
    (7) the transaction that caused the Trade-Through was the execution 
of a Complex Trade;
    (8) in the case of a Trade-Through other than a Third Participating 
Market Center Trade-Through, a Satisfaction Order with respect to the 
Trade-Through was not received by the Exchange from Aggrieved Party 
promptly following the Trade-Through and, in any event, (i) except in 
the final five minutes of trading, within three minutes from the time 
the report of the transaction(s) that constituted the Trade-Through was 
disseminated over OPRA, and (ii) in the final five minutes of trading, 
within one minute from the time the report of the transaction(s) that 
constituted the Trade-Through was disseminated over OPRA; or
    (9) in the case of a Third Participating Market Center Trade-
Through, a Satisfaction Order with respect to the Trade-Through was not 
received by the Exchange promptly following the Trade-Through. In 
applying this provision, the Aggrieved Party must send the Exchange a 
Satisfaction Order within three minutes from the time the report of the 
transaction that constituted the Trade-Through was disseminated over 
OPRA. To avoid liability for the Trade-Through, the Member receiving 
such Satisfaction Order must cancel the Satisfaction Order and inform 
the Aggrieved Party of the identity of the Participant Exchange that 
initiated the Trade-Through within three minutes of the receipt of such 
Satisfaction Order (within one minute in the final five minutes of 
trading). The Aggrieved Party then must send the Participant Exchange 
that initiated the Trade-Through a Satisfaction Order within three 
minutes of receipt of the cancellation of the initial Satisfaction 
Order (within one minute in the final five minutes of trading).
    (c) Responsibilities and Rights Following Receipt of Satisfaction 
Orders.
    (1) When a Member receives a Satisfaction Order, that Member shall 
respond as promptly as practicable pursuant to Exchange procedures by 
either:
    (i) specifying that one of the exceptions to Trade-Through 
liability specified in paragraph (b) above is applicable and 
identifying that particular excpetion; or
    (ii) taking the appropriate corrective action pursuant to paragraph 
(a) above.
    (2) If the Member who initiated the Trade-Through fails to respond 
to a Satisfaction Order or otherwise fails to take the corrective 
action required under paragraph (a) within three minutes of receiving 
notice of a Satisfaction Order, and the Exchange determines that:
    (i) there was a Trade-Through; and
    (ii) none of the exceptions to Trade-Through liability specified in 
paragraph (b) above were applicable;

then, subject to the next paragraph, the Member who initiated the 
Trade-Through shall be liable to the Aggrieved Party for the amount of 
the actual loss resulting from non-compliance with

[[Page 79193]]

paragraph (a) and caused by the Trade-Through. If either (a) the 
Aggrieved Party does not establish the actual loss within 30 seconds 
from the time the Aggrieved Party received the response to its 
Satisfaction Order (or, in the event that it did not receive a 
response, within four minutes from the time the Aggrieved Party sent 
the Satisfaction Order) or (b) the Aggrieved Party does not notify the 
Exchange Participant that initiated the Trade-Through of the amount of 
such loss within one minute of establishing the loss, then the 
liability shall be the lesser of the actual loss or the loss caused by 
the Trade-Through that the Aggrieved Party would have suffered had that 
party purchased or sold the option series subject to the Trade-Through 
at the ``mitigation price.''
    The ``mitigation price'' is the highest reported bid (in the case 
where an offer was traded through) or the lowest reported offer (in the 
case where a bid was traded through), in the series in question 30 
seconds from the time the Aggrieved Party received the response to its 
Satisfaction Order (or, in the event that it did not receive a 
response, four minutes from the time the Aggrieved Party sent the 
Satisfaction Order). If the Participant Exchange receives a 
Satisfaction Order within the final four minutes of trading (on any day 
except the last day of trading prior to the expiration of the series 
which is the subject of the Trade-Through), then the mitigation price 
shall be the price established at the opening of trading in that series 
on the Aggrieved Party's Participant Exchange on the next trading day. 
However, if the price of the opening transaction is below the opening 
bid or above the opening offer as established during the opening 
rotation, then the mitigation price shall be the opening bid (in the 
case where an offer was traded through) or opening offer (in the case 
where a bid was traded through). If the Trade-Through involves a series 
that expires on the day following the day of the Trade-Through and the 
Satisfaction Order is received within the four minutes of trading, the 
``mitigation price'' shall be the final bid (in the case where an offer 
was traded through) or offer (in the case where a bid was traded 
through) on the day of the trade that resulted in the Trade-Through.
    (3) A Member that is an Aggrieved Party under the rules of another 
Participant Exchange governing Trade-Through liability must take steps 
to establish and mitigate any loss such Member might incur as a result 
of the Trade-Through of the Member's bid or offer. In addition, the 
Member shall give prompt notice to the other Participant Exchange of 
any such action in accordance with subparagraph (c)(2) above.
    (d) Limitations on Trade-Throughs. Members may not repeatedly trade 
through better prices available on other exchanges, whether or not the 
exchange or exchanges whose quotations are traded through are 
Participant Exchanges, unless one or more of the provisions of 
paragraph (b) above are applicable. In applying this provision:
    (1) The Exchange will consider there to have been a Trade-Through 
if a Member executes a trade at a price inferior to the NBBO even if 
the Exchange does not receive a Satisfaction Order from an Aggrieved 
Party pursuant to subparagraph (a)(1);
    (2) The Exchange will not consider there to have been a Trade-
Through if a Member executed a Block Trade at a price inferior to the 
NBBO if such Member satisfied all Aggrieved Parties pursuant to 
subparagraph (a)(2) following the execution of the Block Trade; and
    (3) The Exchange will not consider there to have been a Trade-
Through if a Member executes a trade at a price inferior to the 
quotation being disseminated by an exchange that is not a Participant 
Exchange if the Member made a good faith effort to trade against the 
superior quotation of the non-Participant Exchange prior to trading 
through that quotation. A ``good faith effort'' to reach a non-
Participant Exchange's quotation requires that a Member at least had 
sent an order that day to the non-Participant Exchange in the class of 
options in which there is a Trade-Through, at a time at which such non-
Participant Exchange was not relieved of its obligation to be firm for 
its quotations pursuant to Rule 11 Ac1-1 under under the Exchange Act, 
and such non-Participant Exchange neither executed that order nor moved 
its quotation to a price inferior to the price of the Member's order 
within 20 seconds of receipt of that order.

Rule 6.84. Locked and Crossed Markets

    (a) Eligible Market-Maker Locking or Crossing a Market. An Eligible 
Market-Maker that creates a Locked Market or a Crossed Market shall 
unlock (uncross) that market or shall direct a Principal Order through 
the Linkage to trade against the bid or offer that the Eligible Market-
Maker locked (crossed).
    (b) Members Other than an Eligible Market-Maker Locking or Crossing 
a Market. A member other than an Eligible Market-Maker that creates a 
Locked Market or a Crossed Market shall unlock (uncross) the market.

Rule 6.85. Limitation on Principal Order Access

    A Market-Maker shall not be permitted to send Principal Orders in 
an Eligible Option Class through the Linkage for a given calendar 
quarter if the Market-Maker effected less than 80 percent of its volume 
in that Eligible Option Class on the Exchange in the previous calendar 
quarter (that is, the Market-Maker effected 20 percent or more of its 
volume by sending Principal Orders through the Linkage) as calculated 
by the Exchange. This ``80/20'' is represented as follows:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN27DE02.122

    ``X'' equals the total contract volume the Market-Maker effects in 
an Eligible Option Class against orders of Customs on the Exchange 
during a calendar quarter (a) including contract volume effected by 
executing P/A Orders sent to the Exchange through the Linkage, but (b) 
excluding contract volume effected by sending P/A Orders through the 
Linkage for execution on another Participant Exchange. ``Y'' equals the 
total contract volume the Market-Maker effects in such Eligible Option 
Class by sending Principal Orders through the Linkage during that 
calendar quarter.

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

1. Purpose
    On July 28, 2000, the Commission approved a national market system 
plan for the purpose of creating and operating an intermarket options 
linkage (``Linkage Plan'').\3\ The Linkage Plan requires Linkage Plan 
participants to adopt uniform rules with respect to trade-throughs, 
locked/crossed markets, and limitations on Principal Order

[[Page 79194]]

access.\4\ In August, 2001, CBOE submitted a rule filing proposing to 
adopt such rules (SR-CBOE-2001-46). Because the Linkage Plan has been 
amended several times since that filing was submitted,\5\ this filing 
replaces the filing. Accordingly, the purpose of this proposed rule 
change is to adopt those rules in new Section E under CBOE Chapter VI.
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    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 43086 (July 28, 
2000), 65 FR 48023 (August 4, 2000).
    \4\ A ``Principal Order'' is defined in the Plan as ``an order 
for the principal account of an Eligible Market Maker'' and is not a 
Principal Acting as Agent Order. An ``Eligible Marker Maker'' is, 
for CBOE purposes, a market maker that: (1) Is assigned to, and is 
providing two-sided quotations in, the Eligible Option Class; (2) is 
logged on to participate in CBOE's auto-ex system in such Eligible 
Option Class; and (3) is in compliance with the requirements of the 
proposed CBOE Rule 6.85 which is discussed further in the proposed 
rule filing.
    \5\ On June 27, 2001 and May 30, 2002, respectively, the 
Commission approved amendments to the Linkage Plan. See Securities 
Exchange Act Release Nos. 44482 (June 27, 2001), 66 FR 35470 (July 
5, 2001) and 46001 (May 30, 2002), 67 FR 38687 (June 5, 2002).
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    Trade-Throughs. Section 8(c) of the Linkage Plan requires the 
Linkage Plan participants to submit uniform rules governing trade-
throughs that contain the various trade-through provisions detailed in 
the Linkage Plan. On June 27, 2001, the Commission approved an 
amendment to the Linkage Plan adding, in part, provisions to the trade-
through section of the Linkage Plan, including provisions on trade-
through surveillance and disciplinary action for trade-throughs of 
other Linkage Plan participants.\6\ Accordingly, the Exchange 
represents that the proposed rules contain the trade-through provisions 
of the Linkage Plan. Additionally, and reluctantly, the proposed rule 
contain a provision allowing for disciplinary action against exchange 
members for trade-throughs of exchanges that are not participants in 
the intermarket linkage.
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    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 44482 (June 27, 
2001), 66 FR 35470 (July 5, 2001).
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    Proposed CBOE Rule 6.83 incorporate the various aspects of the 
Linkage Plan's trade-through provisions including provisions concerning 
avoidance and satisfaction of trade-throughs, exceptions of trade-
through liability, responsibilities and rights following trade-through 
complaints, and limitations on trade-throughs (including the 
aforementioned provision prohibiting members from trading through any 
exchange's bid/offer, under certain circumstances).
    Locked and Crossed Markets. Section 7(c) of the Linkage Plan 
requires the Linkage Plan participants to submit uniform rules 
providing that (1) an Eligible Market Maker that creates a locked 
market or a crossed market must unlock (uncross) that market or must 
direct a Principal Order through the linkage to trade against the bid 
or offer that the Eligible Market Maker locked (crossed); and (2) a 
member other than an Eligible Market Maker that creates a locked market 
or a crossed market must unlock (uncross) the market. Proposed CBOE 
Rule 6.84 contains these provisions.
    Limitation on Principal Order Access. Section 8(b)(iii) of the 
Linkage Plan requires the Linkage Plan participants to adopt uniform 
rules providing for an ``80/20 Test.'' That test provides generally 
that a market shall not be permitted to send Principal Orders in an 
Eligible Option Class through the linkage for a given calendar quarter 
if the market maker effected less than 80 percent of its volume in that 
Eligible Option Class on the Exchange in the previous calendar quarter 
(that is, the market maker effect 20 percent or more of its volume by 
sending Principal Orders through the Linkage). Proposed CBOE Rule 6.85 
contains the ``80/20 Test.''
    Other Rules. CBOE also proposes to adopt CBOE Rules 6.80 and 6.81. 
Proposed CBOE Rule 6.80 merely provides definitions for terms used 
throughout proposed Section E. The Exchange represents that these 
definitions are consistent with the definitions contained in the 
Linkage Plan. Proposed CBOE Rule 6.81 describes the operation of the 
linkage and is meant to assist members in understanding their 
obligations under the Linkage Plan. The Exchange represents that it is 
entirely consistent with the Linkage Plan.
    It should be noted that the proposed rules will become effective as 
the Exchange implements the operation of the applicable provisions of 
the linkage. This will be done pursuant to the linkage phase-in process 
described in the Linkage Plan.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposes rule change meets the 
requirement of Section 6(b)(5) under the Exchange Act \7\ in that it is 
designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to 
promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation 
and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, 
settling, and processing information with respect to, and facilitating 
transaction in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism for a free and open market and a national market system, and, 
in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organizations's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change does not impose 
any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Exchange Act.

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

    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 CBOE 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, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Exchange 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 Room. 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-2002-61 and should be submitted by January 17, 2003.


[[Page 79195]]


    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\8\
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    \8\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Lynn Taylor,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-32638 Filed 12-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M