[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48935-48937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20172]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-65031; File No. SR-CBOE-2011-040]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, 
Incorporated; Notice of Proposed Rule to Simplify the $1 Strike Price 
Interval Program

August 4, 2011.
    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 July 26, 2011, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated 
(``Exchange'' or ``CBOE'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as 
described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by 
the Exchange. 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

    CBOE proposes to amend its rules in order to simplify the $1 Strike 
Price Interval Program. The text of the rule proposal is available on 
the Exchange's Web site (http://www.cboe.org/legal), at the Exchange's 
Office of the Secretary, 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 self-regulatory organization 
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 those 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 parts of such statements.

[[Page 48936]]

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

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to amend Interpretation and Policy .01 to 
Rule 5.5 in order to simplify the $1 Strike Price Interval Program 
(``Program'').
    In 2003, the Commission issued an order permitting the Exchange to 
establish the Program on a pilot basis.\3\ At that time, the underlying 
stock had to close at $20 on the previous trading day in order to 
qualify for the Program. The range of available $1 strike price 
intervals was limited to a range between $3 and $20 and no strike price 
was permitted that was greater than $5 from the underlying stock's 
closing price on the previous trading day. Series in $1 strike price 
intervals were not permitted within $0.50 an existing strike [sic]. In 
addition, the Exchange was limited to selecting five (5) classes and 
reciprocal listing was permitted. Furthermore, LEAPS in $1 strike price 
intervals were not permitted for classes selected to participate in the 
Program.
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    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 47991 (June 5, 
2003), 68 FR 35243 (June 12, 2003) (SR-CBOE-2001-60).
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    The Exchange renewed the pilot program on a yearly basis and in 
2007, the Commission granted permanent approval of the Program.\4\ At 
that time, the Program was expanded to increase the upper limit of the 
permissible strike price range from $20 to $50. In addition, the number 
of class selections per exchange was increased from five (5) to ten 
(10).
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    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57049 (December 27, 
2007), 73 FR 528 (January 3, 2008) (SR-CBOE-2007-125).
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    Since the Program was made permanent, the number of class 
selections per exchange has been increased from ten (10) classes to 55 
classes \5\ and subsequently increased from 55 classes to 150 
classes.\6\
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    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59587 (March 17, 
2009), 74 FR 12414 (March 24, 2009) (SR-CBOE-2009-001).
    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62443 (July 2, 
2010), 75 FR 39608 (July 9, 2010) (SR-CBOE-2010-064).
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Amendments To Simplify Non-LEAPS Rule Text
    The most recent expansion of the Program was approved by the 
Commission in early 2011 and increased the number of $1 strike price 
intervals permitted within the $1 to $50 range.\7\ This expansion was a 
proposal of another exchange and CBOE submitted its filing for 
competitive reasons. This expansion, however, has resulted in very 
lengthy rule text that is complicated and difficult to understand. CBOE 
believes that the proposed changes to simplify the rule text of the 
Program will benefit market participants since the Program will be 
easier to understand and will maintain the expansions made to the 
Program in early 2011. Through the current proposal, the Exchange also 
hopes to make administration of the Program easier, e.g., system 
programming efforts. To simply the rules of the Program and, as a 
proactive attempt to mitigate any unintentional listing of improper 
strikes, CBOE is proposing the following streamlining amendments:
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    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63772 (January 25, 
2011), 76 FR 5644 (February 1, 2011) (SR-CBOE-2011-006).
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     When the price of the underlying stock is equal to or less 
than $20, permit $1 strike price intervals with an exercise price up to 
100% above and 100% below the price of the underlying stock.\8\
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    \8\ See proposed new subparagraph (i) to Rule 5.5.01(a)(2).
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     [cir] However, the above restriction would not prohibit the 
listing of at least five (5) strike prices above and below the price of 
the underlying stock per expiration month in an option class.\9\
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    \9\ Id.
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     [cir] For example, if the price of the underlying stock is $2, the 
Exchange would be permitted to list the following series: $1, $2, $3, 
$4, $5, $6 and $7.\10\
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    \10\ Id.
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     When the price of the underlying stock is greater than 
$20, permit $1 strike price intervals with an exercise price up to 50% 
above and 50% below the price of the underlying security up to $50.\11\
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    \11\ See proposed new subparagraph (ii) to Rule 5.5.01(a)(2).
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     For the purpose of adding strikes under the Program, the 
``price of the underlying stock'' shall be measured in the same way as 
``the price of the underlying security'' is as set forth in Rule 
5.5A(b)(i).\12\
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    \12\ See proposed new subparagraph (iii) to Rule 5.5.01(a)(2). 
Rule 5.5A(b)(i) provides, ``[t]he price of a security is measured 
by: (1) For intra-day add-on series and next-day series additions, 
the daily high and low of all prices reported by all national 
securities exchanges; (2) for new expiration months, the daily high 
and low of all prices reported by all national securities exchanges 
on the day the Exchange determines it preliminary notification of 
new series; and (3) for option series to be added as a result of 
pre-market trading, the most recent share price reported by all 
national securities exchanges between 7:45 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. 
(Chicago time).''
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     Prohibit the listing of additional series in $1 strike 
price intervals if the underlying stock closes at or above $50 in its 
primary market and provide that additional series in $1 strike price 
intervals may not be added until the underlying stock closes again 
below $50.\13\
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    \13\ See proposed new subparagraph (iv) to Rule 5.5.01(a)(2). 
The Exchange believes that it is important to codify this additional 
series criterion because there have been conflicting interpretations 
among the exchanges that have adopted similar programs. The $50 
price criterion for additional series was intended when the Program 
was originally established (as a pilot) in 2003. See Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 47991 (June 5, 2003), 68 FR 35243 (June 12, 
2003) (SR-CBOE-2001-60) (``CBOE may list an additional expiration 
month provide that the underlying stock closes below $20 on its 
primary market on expiration Friday. If the underlying stock closes 
at or above $20 on expiration Friday, CBOE will not list an 
additional month for a $1 strike series until the stock again closes 
below $20.'')
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Amendments To Simplify LEAPS Rule Text
    The early 2011 expansion of the Program permitted for some limited 
listing of LEAPS in $1 strike price intervals for classes that 
participate in the Program. The Exchange is proposing to maintain the 
expansion as to LEAPS, but simplify the language and provide examples 
of the simplified rule text. These changes are set forth subparagraph 
(v) to Rule 5.5.01(b)(2).
    For stocks in the Program, the Exchange may list one $1 strike 
price interval between each standard $5 strike interval, with the $1 
strike price interval being $2 above the standard strike for each 
interval above the price of the underlying stock, and $2 below the 
standard strike for each interval below the price of the underlying 
stock (``$2 wings''). For example, if the price of the underlying stock 
is $24.50, the Exchange may list the following standard strikes in $5 
intervals: $15, $20, $25, $30 and $35. Between these standard $5 
strikes, the Exchange may list the following $2 wings: $18, $27 and 
$32.\14\
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    \14\ The Exchange notes that a $2 wing is not permitted between 
the standard $20 and $25 strikes in the above example. This is 
because the $2 wings are added based on reference to the price of 
the underlying and as being between the standard strikes above and 
below the price of the underlying stock. Since the price of the 
underlying stock ($24.50) straddles the standard strikes of $20 and 
$25, no $2 wing is permitted between these standard strikes.
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    In addition, the Exchange may list the $1 strike price interval 
which is $2 above the standard strike just below the underlying price 
at the time of listing. In the above example, since the standard strike 
just below the underlying price ($24.50) is $20, the Exchange may list 
a $22 strike. The Exchange may add additional long-term options series 
strikes as the price of the underlying stock moves, consistent with the 
OLPP.

[[Page 48937]]

Non-Substantive Amendments to Rule Text
    The early 2011 expansion of the Program prohibited the listing of 
$2.50 strike price intervals for classes that participate in the 
Program. This prohibition applies to non-LEAP and LEAPS. The Exchange 
proposes to maintain this prohibition and codify it in Rule 
5.5.01(a)(1) (Program Description).
    For ease of reference, the Exchange is proposing to add the 
headings ``Program Description,'' ``Initial and Additional Series'' and 
``LEAPS'' to Rule 5.5.01.
    The Exchange is proposing to more accurately reflect the nature of 
the Program and is proposing to make stylistic changes throughout Rule 
5.5.01 by adding the phrase ``price interval.''
    Lastly, the Exchange is making technical changes to Rule 5.5.01, 
e.g., replacing the word ``security'' with the word ``stock.''
    The Exchange represents that it has the necessary systems capacity 
to support the increase in new options series that will result from the 
proposed streamlining changes to the Program.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
Section 6(b) \15\ of the Act, in general, and furthers the objectives 
of Section 6(b)(5) \16\ in particular 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 facilitating transactions in securities, and to 
remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open 
market in a manner consistent with the protection of investors and the 
public interest. In particular, the proposed rule change seeks to 
reduce investor confusion and to simplify the provisions of the $1 
Strike Price Interval Program.
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    \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    CBOE does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any 
burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of 
the purposes of the 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 45 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 self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
    (A) By order approve or disapprove 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 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-CBOE-2011-040 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2011-040. 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 Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 
a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for 
inspection and copying at the principal office of CBOE. 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 publicly available. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2011-040 and should be 
submitted on or before August 30, 2011.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\17\
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    \17\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-20172 Filed 8-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P