[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 249 (Thursday, December 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78251-78252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22192]



[[Page 78251]]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-54981; File No. SR-Phlx-2006-86]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc.; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change 
Relating to Imposing a License Fee in Connection with the Firm-Related 
Equity Option and Index Option Fee Cap

December 20, 2006.
    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 December 12, 2006, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. (``Phlx'' 
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 Phlx. Phlx has 
designated the proposed rule change as one establishing or changing a 
due, fee, or other charge, pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the 
Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder,\4\ which renders the proposal 
effective upon filing with the Commission. 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.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    Phlx proposes to amend its schedule of fees to adopt a license fee 
of $0.10 for the Hapoalim American Israeli Index \TM\ (traded under the 
symbol HAI (``HAI'')) \5\ to be assessed per contract side for index 
option ``firm'' transactions (comprised of index option firm 
(proprietary and customer executions) comparison transactions, index 
option firm/proprietary transactions and index option firm/proprietary 
facilitation transactions). This license fee will be imposed only after 
the Exchange's $60,000 ``firm-related'' equity option and index option 
comparison and transaction charge cap, described more fully below, is 
reached.
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    \5\ ``Hapoalim American Israeli Index'' is a trademark of 
Hapoalim Securities USA, Inc. and has been licensed for use by the 
Exchange.
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    The text of the proposed rule change is available on Phlx's Web 
site at http://www.phlx.com, at the Office of the Secretary at Phlx, 
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 Exchange included statements 
concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and 
discussed any comments it received on the proposal. The text of these 
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 aspects of such statements.

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

1. Purpose
    Currently, the Exchange imposes a cap of $60,000 per member 
organization \6\ on all ``firm-related'' equity option and index option 
comparison and transaction charges combined.\7\ Specifically, ``firm-
related'' charges include equity option firm/proprietary comparison 
charges, equity option firm/proprietary transaction charges, equity 
option firm/proprietary facilitation transaction charges, index option 
firm (proprietary and customer executions) comparison charges, index 
option firm/proprietary transaction charges, and index option firm/
proprietary facilitation transaction charges (collectively the ``firm-
related charges''). Thus, such firm-related charges in the aggregate 
for one billing month may not exceed $60,000 per month per member 
organization.
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    \6\ The firm/proprietary comparison or transaction charge 
applies to member organizations for orders for the proprietary 
account of any member or non-member broker-dealer that derives more 
than 35% of its annual, gross revenues from commissions and 
principal transactions with customers. Member organizations will be 
required to verify this amount to the Exchange by certifying that 
they have reached this threshold by submitting a copy of their 
annual report, which was prepared in accordance with Generally 
Accepted Accounting Principles (``GAAP''). In the event that a 
member organization has not been in business for one year, the most 
recent quarterly reports, prepared in accordance with GAAP, will be 
accepted. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 43558 (November 
14, 2000), 65 FR 69984 (November 21, 2000) (SR-Phlx-00-85).
    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51024 (January 11, 
2005), 70 FR 3088 (January 19, 2005) (SR-Phlx-2004-94).
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    The Exchange also imposes a license fee of $0.10 per contract side 
for equity option and index option ``firm'' transactions on certain 
licensed products (collectively ``licensed products'') after the 
$60,000 cap, as described above, is reached.\8\ Therefore, when a 
member organization exceeds the $60,000 cap (comprised of combined 
firm-related charges), the member organization is charged $60,000, plus 
license fees of $0.10 per contract side for any contracts in licensed 
products (if any) over those that were included in reaching the $60,000 
cap. In other words, if the cap is reached, the $0.10 license fee is 
imposed on all subsequent equity option and index option firm 
transactions; these license fees are charged in addition to the $60,000 
cap.
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    \8\ For a complete list of the licensed products that are 
assessed a $0.10 license fee per contract side after the $60,000 cap 
is reached, see $60,000 ``Firm Related'' Equity Option and Index 
Option Cap on the Exchange's fee schedule.
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    The Exchange proposes to adopt a $0.10 license fee per contract 
side for HAI for index option firm transactions, which will be imposed 
after the $60,000 cap is reached in the same way as the current 
licensed product fees are assessed. Thus, when a member organization 
exceeds the $60,000 cap, the member organization will be charged 
$60,000 plus any applicable license fees for trades of licensed 
products, including HAI, over those trades that were counted in 
reaching the $60,000 cap.\9\
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    \9\ Consistent with current practice, when calculating the 
$60,000 cap, the Exchange first calculates all equity option and 
index option transaction and comparison charges for products without 
license fees and then equity option and index option transaction and 
comparison charges for products with license fees (i.e., IWF license 
fees) that are assessed by the Exchange after the $60,000 cap is 
reached. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 50836 (December 10, 
2004), 69 FR 75584 (December 17, 2004) (SR-Phlx-2004-70).
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    This proposal is scheduled to become effective for transactions 
settling on or after December 14, 2006.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal to amend its schedule of 
fees is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act \10\ in general, and 
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \11\ in 
particular, in that it is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees 
and other charges among Exchange members.
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    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    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.

[[Page 78252]]

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

    No written comments were either solicited or 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)(ii) of the Act \12\ and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 
thereunder \13\ because it establishes or changes a due, fee, or other 
charge. 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 purposes of the Act.
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    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
    \13\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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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 (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an e-mail to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-Phlx-2006-86 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2006-86. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail 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 (http://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 inspection 
and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such 
filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the 
principal office of Phlx. 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-Phlx-2006-86 and should be submitted on or before January 18, 2007.
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    \14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\14\
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-22192 Filed 12-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P