[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1757-1758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-306]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-66103; File No. SR-ISE-2011-85]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, 
LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule 
Change Relating to a Market Maker Incentive Plan for Foreign Currency 
Options

January 5, 2012.
    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 28, 2011, the International Securities Exchange, LLC (the 
``ISE'' or the ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in 
Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the self-
regulatory organization. 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 ISE is proposing to extend an incentive plan for market makers 
in a number of foreign currency options (``FX Options'') traded on the 
Exchange. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the 
Exchange's Web site (http://www.ise.com), at the principal office of 
the Exchange, 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 these statements may be examined at 
the places specified in Item IV below. The self-regulatory organization 
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
    The purpose of this proposed rule change is to extend an incentive 
plan for market makers in options on the New Zealand dollar (``NZD''), 
the Mexican peso (``PZO''), the Swedish krona (``SKA''), the Brazilian 
real (``BRB''), the Australian dollar (``AUX''), the British pound 
(``BPX''), the Canadian dollar (``CDD''), the euro (``EUI''), the 
Japanese yen (``YUK'') and the Swiss franc (``SFC'').\3\ On August 3, 
2009, the Exchange adopted an incentive plan applicable to market 
makers in NZD, PZO and SKA,\4\ and on January 19, 2010, added BRB to 
the incentive plan,\5\ and on March 1, 2011, added AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, 
YUK and SFC \6\ to the incentive plan. The Exchange has since extended 
the date by which market makers may join the incentive plan \7\ and now 
proposes to do so again.
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    \3\ The Commission previously approved the trading of options on 
NZD, PZO, SKA, BRB, AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC. See Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 55575 (April 3, 2007), 72 FR 17963 (April 
10, 2007) (SR-ISE-2006-59).
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60536 (August 19, 
2009), 74 FR 43204 (August 26, 2009) (SR-ISE-2009-59).
    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61459 (February 1, 
2010), 75 FR 6248 (February 8, 2010) (SR-ISE-2010-07).
    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64012 (March 2, 
2011), 76 FR 12778 (March 8, 2011) (SR-ISE-2011-11).
    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 60810 (October 9, 
2009), 74 FR 53527 (October 19, 2009) (SR-ISE-2009-80), 61334 
(January 12, 2010), 75 FR 2913 (January 19, 2010) (SR-ISE-2009-115), 
61851 (April 6, 2010), 75 FR 18565 (April 12, 2010) (SR-ISE-2010-
27), 62503 (July 15, 2010), 75 FR 42812 (July 22, 2010) (SR-ISE-
2010-71), 36045 (October 5, 2010), 75 FR 62900 (October 13, 2010) 
(SR-ISE-2010-100), 63639 (January 4, 2011), 76 FR 1488 (January 10, 
2011) (SR-ISE-2010-121), 64202 (April 6, 2011), 76 FR 20431 (April 
12, 2011) (SR-ISE-2011-16), 64861 (July 12, 2011), 76 FR 42145 (July 
18, 2011) (SR-ISE-2011-38); and 65530 (October 11, 2011), 76 FR 
64136 (October 17, 2011) (SR-ISE-2011-66).
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    In order to promote trading in these FX Options, the Exchange has 
an incentive plan pursuant to which the Exchange waives the transaction 
fees for the Early Adopter \8\ FXPMM \9\ and all Early Adopter FXCMMs 
\10\ that make a market in NZD, PZO SKA, BRB, AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK 
and SFC for as long as the incentive plan is in effect. Further, 
pursuant to a revenue sharing agreement entered into between an Early 
Adopter Market Maker and ISE, the Exchange pays the Early Adopter FXPMM 
forty percent (40%) of the transaction fees collected on any customer 
trade in NZD, PZO SKA, BRB, AUX, BPX, CDD, EUI, YUK and SFC and pays up 
to ten (10) Early Adopter FXCMMs that participate in the incentive plan 
twenty percent (20%) of the transaction fees collected for trades 
between a customer and that FXCMM. Market makers that do not 
participate in the incentive plan are charged regular transaction fees 
for trades in these products. In order to participate in the incentive 
plan, market makers are currently required to enter into the incentive 
plan no later than December 30, 2011. The Exchange now proposes to 
extend the date by which market makers may enter into the incentive 
plan to March 30, 2012.
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    \8\ Participants in the incentive plan are known on the 
Exchange's Schedule of Fees as Early Adopter Market Makers.
    \9\ A FXPMM is a primary market maker selected by the Exchange 
that trades and quotes in FX Options only. See ISE Rule 2213.
    \10\ A FXCMM is a competitive market maker selected by the 
Exchange that trades and quotes in FX Options only. See ISE Rule 
2213.
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2. Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with the objectives of Section 6 of the Act,\11\ in general, and 
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4),\12\ in particular, in that 
it is designed to provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable 
dues, fees and other charges among its members and other persons using 
its facilities.
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    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is equitable as it 
will permit all market makers to explore the opportunity to join the 
incentive plan for an additional three months. The Exchange believes 
the proposed rule change is reasonable because the extension of the 
incentive plan for three months will permit additional market makers to 
join the incentive plan which in turn will generate additional order 
flow to the Exchange by creating incentives to trade these FX Options 
as well as defray operational costs for Early Adopter Market Makers.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The proposed rule change does not impose any burden on competition 
that is 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

    The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, 
comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received 
any

[[Page 1758]]

unsolicited written comments from members or other interested parties.

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.\13\ At any time within 60 days of the 
filing of such proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may 
temporarily suspend 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. If the Commission takes such action, the 
Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the 
proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.
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    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
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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 email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-ISE-2011-85 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-ISE-2011-85. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email 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 the filing also will be available for inspection and 
copying at the principal office of the Exchange. 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-ISE-2011-85 and should be submitted on 
or before February 1, 2012.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\14\
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    \14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-306 Filed 1-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P