[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 4 (Monday, January 7, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 974-976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31750]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-68552; File No. SR-C2-2012-045]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change 
Relating to the Exchange Penny Pilot Program

December 31, 2012.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby 
given that on December 21, 2012, C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated (the 
``Exchange'' or ``C2'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (the ``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\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 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 amend its rules relating to the Penny 
Pilot Program. The text of the proposed rule change is provided below.

[(additions are italicized; deletions are [bracketed])
* * * * *

C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated Rules

* * * * *

[[Page 975]]

Rule 6.4. Minimum Increments for Bids and Offers

    The Board of Directors may establish minimum quoting increments for 
options traded on the Exchange. When the Board of Directors determines 
to change the minimum increments, the Exchange will designate such 
change as a stated policy, practice, or interpretation with respect to 
the administration of this Rule within the meaning of subparagraph 
(3)(A) of subsection 19(b) of the Exchange Act and will file a rule 
change for effectiveness upon filing with the Commission. Until such 
time as the Board of Directors makes a change to the minimum 
increments, the following minimum increments shall apply to options 
traded on the Exchange:
    (1) No change.
    (2) No change.
    (3) The decimal increments for bids and offers for all series of 
the option classes participating in the Penny Pilot Program are: $0.01 
for all option series quoted below $3 (including LEAPS), and $0.05 for 
all option series $3 and above (including LEAPS). For QQQQs, IWM, and 
SPY, the minimum increment is $0.01 for all option series. The Exchange 
may replace any option class participating in the Penny Pilot Program 
that has been delisted with the next most actively-traded, multiply-
listed option class, based on national average daily volume in the 
preceding six calendar months, that is not yet included in the Pilot 
Program. Any replacement class would be added on the second trading day 
following [July 1, 2012] January 1, 2013. The Penny Pilot shall expire 
on [December 31, 2012] June 30, 2013. Also, for so long as SPDR options 
(SPY) and options on Diamonds (DIA) participate in the Penny Pilot 
Program, the minimum increments for Mini-SPX Index Options (XSP) and 
options on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJX), respectively, may be 
$0.01 for all option series quoting less than $3 (including LEAPS), and 
$0.05 for all option series quoting at $3 or higher (including LEAPS).
    (4) No change.
* * * * *
    The text of the proposed rule change is also available on the 
Exchange's Web site (http://www.c2exchange.com/Legal/ 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 Exchange 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 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 the 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Penny Pilot Program (the ``Pilot Program'') is scheduled to 
expire on December 31, 2012. C2 proposes to extend the Pilot Program 
until June 30, 2013. C2 believes that extending the Pilot Program will 
allow for further analysis of the Pilot Program and a determination of 
how the Pilot Program should be structured in the future.
    During this extension of the Pilot Program, C2 proposes that it may 
replace any option class that is currently included in the Pilot 
Program and that has been delisted with the next most actively traded, 
multiply listed option class that is not yet participating in the Pilot 
Program (``replacement class''). Any replacement class would be 
determined based on national average daily volume in the preceding six 
months,\4\ and would be added on the second trading day following 
January 1, 2013. C2 will announce to its Trading Permit Holders by 
circular any replacement classes in the Pilot Program.
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    \4\ The month immediately preceding a replacement class's 
addition to the Pilot Program (i.e. December) would not be used for 
purposes of the six-month analysis. Thus, a replacement class to be 
added on the second trading day following January 1, 2013 would be 
identified based on The Option Clearing Corporation's trading volume 
data from June 1, 2012 through November 30, 2012.
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    C2 is specifically authorized to act jointly with the other options 
exchanges participating in the Pilot Program in identifying any 
replacement class.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') and the rules and 
regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular, 
the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\5\ Specifically, the 
Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
Section 6(b)(5) \6\ requirements that the rules of an exchange be 
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, processing information with respect to, and facilitation 
transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, 
in general, to protect investors and the public interest. In 
particular, the proposed rule change allows for an extension of the 
Pilot Program for the benefit of market participants.
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    C2 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. Specifically, the Exchange 
believes that, by extending the expiration of the Pilot Program, the 
proposed rule change will allow for further analysis of the Pilot 
Program and a determination of how the Program shall be structured in 
the future. In doing so, the proposed rule change will also serve to 
promote regulatory clarity and consistency, thereby reducing burdens on 
the marketplace and facilitating investor protection. In addition, the 
Exchange has been authorized to act jointly in extending the Pilot 
Program and believes the other exchanges will be filing similar 
extensions.

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

    The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the 
proposed rule change.

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

    The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \7\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\8\ 
Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the 
protection of investors or the public interest; (ii)

[[Page 976]]

impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become 
operative prior to 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such 
shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule 
change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 
\9\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.\10\
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
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    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally does 
not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing.\11\ 
However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),\12\ the Commission may 
designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked 
the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal 
may become operative immediately upon filing. The Commission believes 
that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest because doing so will 
allow the Pilot Program to continue without interruption in a manner 
that is consistent with the Commission's prior approval of the 
extension and expansion of the Pilot Program and will allow the 
Exchange and the Commission additional time to analyze the impact of 
the Pilot Program.\13\ Accordingly, the Commission designates the 
proposed rule change as operative upon filing with the Commission.\14\
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    \11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) 
requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the 
Exchange's intent to file the proposed rule change along with a 
brief description and the text of the proposed rule change, at least 
five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule 
change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The 
Exchange has satisfied this pre-filing requirement.
    \12\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \13\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61061 (November 24, 
2009), 74 FR 62857 (December 1, 2009) (SR-NYSEArca-2009-44).
    \14\ For purposes only of waiving the operative delay for this 
proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact 
on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the 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.

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-C2-2012-045 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-C2-2012-045. 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 
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 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-C2-2012-045 and should be 
submitted on or before January 28, 2013.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\15\
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    \15\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-31750 Filed 1-4-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P