[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17266-17272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06394]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-69139; File No. SR-ISE-2013-19]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule
Change To Amend Its Schedule of Fees
March 15, 2013.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the ``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given
that on March 1, 2013, the International Securities Exchange, LLC
(``ISE'' 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 the
Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments
on the
[[Page 17267]]
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 proposes to amend its Schedule of Fees. 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 Exchange currently assesses per contract transaction fees and
provides rebates to market participants that add or remove liquidity
from the Exchange (``maker/taker fees and rebates'') in 229 options
classes (the ``Select Symbols'').\3\ The Exchange's maker/taker fees
and rebates are applicable to regular and complex orders executed in
the Select Symbols. The Exchange also currently assesses maker/taker
fees and rebates for complex orders in symbols that are in the Penny
Pilot program but are not a Select Symbol (``Non-Select Penny Pilot
Symbols'') \4\ and in all symbols that are not in the Penny Pilot
Program (``Non-Penny Pilot Symbols'').\5\
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\3\ Select Symbols are identified by their ticker symbol on the
Exchange's Schedule of Fees. With this proposed rule change, the
Exchange will no longer identify Select Symbols by their ticker
symbol and will, instead, identify Select Symbols as options
overlying all symbols listed on ISE that are in the Penny Pilot
Program. The Exchange will also provide a link to ISE's public Web
site where a current list of ISE-listed symbols that are in the
Penny Pilot Program is made available.
\4\ See Exchange Act Release Nos. 65724 (November 10, 2011), 76
FR 71413 (November 17, 2011) (SR-ISE-2011-72); 66597 (March 14,
2012), 77 FR 16295 (March 20, 2012) (SR-ISE-2012-17); 66961 (May 10,
2012), 77 FR 28914 (May 16, 2012) (SR-ISE-2012-38); 67628 (August 9,
2012), 77 FR 49049 (August 15, 2012) (SR-ISE-2012-71); 68034
(October 11, 2012), 77 FR 63911 (October 17, 2012) (SR-ISE-2012-85);
and 68627 (January 11, 2013) 78 FR 3934 (January 17, 2013) (SR-ISE-
2013-01).
\5\ See Exchange Act Release Nos. 66084 (January 3, 2012), 77 FR
1103 (January 9, 2012) (SR-ISE-2011-84); 66392 (February 14, 2012),
77 FR 10016 (February 21, 2012) (SR-ISE-2012-06); 66962 (May 10,
2012), 77 FR 28917 (May 16, 2012) (SR-ISE-2012-35); 67400 (July 11,
2012), 77 FR 42036 (July 17, 2012) (SR-ISE-2012-63); 67628 (August
9, 2012), 77 FR 49049 (August 15, 2012) (SR-ISE-2012-71); 68034
(October 11, 2012), 77 FR 63911 (October 17, 2012) (SR-ISE-2012-85);
and 68627 (January 11, 2013) 78 FR 3934 (January 17, 2013) (SR-ISE-
2013-01).
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The purpose of this proposed rule change is to make three changes
to the Exchange's Schedule of Fees. First, the Exchange proposes to
amend the list of Select Symbols. Second, the Exchange proposes to
amend rebate tiers applicable to Priority Customer \6\ complex orders
in the Select Symbols that trade with non-Priority Customer complex
orders in the complex order book. Third, the Exchange proposes to adopt
a new rebate payable to incremental Priority Customer complex orders
above the highest tier currently in place. This rebate is applicable to
Priority Customer complex orders in the Select Symbols, in SPY and in
the Non-Select Symbols that trade with non-Priority Customer complex
orders in the complex order book.
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\6\ A Priority Customer is defined in ISE Rule 100(a)(37A) as a
person or entity that is not a broker/dealer in securities, and does
not place more than 390 orders in listed options per day on average
during a calendar month for its own beneficial account(s).
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1. Select Symbols
The Exchange proposes to amend the list of Select Symbols. All
Select Symbols that are currently subject to the Exchange's maker/taker
fees and rebates are in the Penny Pilot Program. With this proposed
rule change, the Exchange proposes to add the following 125 symbols
listed on ISE that are in the Penny Pilot Program but are not currently
Select Symbols to the list of Select Symbols: Agilent Technologies,
Inc. (``A''), Abbott Labs (``ABT''), Archer Daniels Midland Co.
(``ADM''), Autodesk, Inc. (``ADSK''), Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.
(``AEM''), Aflac, Inc. (``AFL''), Assured Guaranty LTD. (``AGO''),
Allstate Corporation (``ALL''), Amedisys, Inc. (``AMED''), Abercrombie
& Fitch Co. (``ANF''), Apollo Group, Inc. (``APOL''), Activision
Blizzard, Inc. (``ATVI''), Bed bath [sic] & Beyond, Inc. (``BBBY''),
Banco Bradesco (``BBD''), BB&T Corp. (``BBT''), Biocryst
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (``BCRX''), Baker Hughes, Inc. (``BHI''), BHP
Billition Ltd. (``BHP''), Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (``BK''),
Popular, Inc. (``BPOP''), Berkshire Hathaway, Class B (``BRKB''),
Blackstone Group L.P. (``BX''), Chubb Corp. (``CB''), Century Aluminum
Co. (``CENX''), Cigna Corp. (``CI''), Ciena Corporation (``CIEN''), CIT
Group, Inc. (``CIT''), Colgate Palmolive Co. (``CL''), Comerica, Inc.
(``CMA''), Consol Energy, Inc. (``CNX''), Capital One Financial Corp.
(``COF''), CVS Caremark Corporation (``CVS''), CEMEX S.A.B. de C.V.
(``CX''), DR Horton, Inc. (``DHI''), Diamond Offshore Drilling
(``DO''), Dryships, Inc. (``DRYS''), DIRECTV (``DTV''), Devon Energy
Corp. (``DVN''), EMC Corp. (``EMC''), EOG Resources, Inc. (``EOG''),
ITT Educational Services, Inc. (``ESI''), E*Trade Financial Corp.
(``ETFC''), iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market (``EWW''), F5
Networks, Inc. (``FFIV''), Flextronics International Ltd. (``FLEX''),
Foster Wheeler AG (``FWLT''), Currency Shares Euro (``FXE''), Proshares
Ultrashort FTSE China 25 (``FXP''), Gold Fields Ltd. (``GFI''), General
Growth Properties, Inc. (``GGP''), Gilead Science, Inc. (``GILD''),
Gamestop Corp. (``GME''), HSBC Holdings PLC (``HBC''), Hess Corporation
(``HES''), Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (``HIG''), Hecla
Mining Company (``HL''), Harley--Davidson, Inc. (``HOG''), ICICI Bank
Ltd. (``IBN''), international [sic] Paper Co. (``IP''), Intermune, Inc.
(``ITMN''), Johnson and Johnson (``JNJ''), Nordstrom, Inc. (``JWN''),
Kinder Morgan, Inc. (``KMI''), Kinder Morgan Energy LP (``KMP''), SPDR
S&P Regional Banking ETF (``KRE''), LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (``LDK''), Leap
Wireless International, Inc. (``LEAP''), Lincoln National Corporation
(``LNC''), Lorillard, Inc. (``LO''), Moody's Corporation (``MCO''),
Mondelez International (``MDLZ''), Medivation, Inc. (``MDVN''), Mead
Johnson Nutrition Co. (``MJN''), 3M Company (``MMM''), Mannkind
Corporation (``MNKD''), Mini Nasdaq 100 Index (``MNX''), Marvell
Technology Group Ltd. (``MRVL''), ArcelorMittal (``MT''), MGIC
Investment Corporation (``MTG''), Myland, Inc. (``MYL''), National
Oilwell varco [sic], Inc. (``NOV''), NetApp, Inc. (``NTAP''), Nucor
Corp. (``NUE''), NYSE Euronext (``NYX''), Plum Creek Timber Co., Inc.
REIT (``PCL''), PNC Financial Services, Inc. (``PNC''), Prudential
Financial, Inc. (``PRU''), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (``RCL''),
Raytheon Company (``RTN''), Riverbed Technology (``RVBD''), Origin
Agritech Ltd. (``SEED''), Proshares Ultrashort Financials (``SKF''),
SLM Corp. (``SLM''), Southern Company (``SO''), Simon Property Group,
Inc. (``SPG''), Sunpower Corporation (``SPWR''), Sequenom, Inc.
(``SQNM''), Proshares Ultrashort Real Estate (``SRS''), STEC Inc.
(``STEC''), Suntrust Banks, Inc. (``STI''), State Street Corp.
[[Page 17268]]
(``STT''), Suncor Energy, Inc. (``SU''), Southwestern Energy Co.
(``SWN''), Symantec Corp. (``SYMC''), Target Corp. (``TGT''), Tiffany &
Co. (``TIF''), Toyota Motor Corp. (``TM''), Time Warner, Inc.
(``TWX''), Textron, Inc. (``TXT''), Tyco International Ltd. (``TYC''),
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (``UNH''), Proshares Ultra Real Estate
(``URE''), Proshares Ultra Financials (``UYG''), Verisign, Inc.
(``VRSN''), Whole Foods Market, Inc. (``WFM''), Windstream Corp.
(``WIN''), Wellpoint, Inc. (``WLP''), Williams Cos., Inc. (``WMB''),
Walmart Stores, Inc. (``WMT''), XL Group PLC (``XL''), Xilinx, Inc.
(``XLNX''), Consumer Staples Select Sectro SPDR (``XLP''), SPDR S&P Oil
& Gas Exploration and Production (``XOP''), Yum Brands, Inc. (``YUM'')
and Zions Bancorp. (``ZION'') (``Additional Select Symbols'').
With the addition of the Additional Select Symbols to [sic] Select
Symbols, the fees currently applicable to regular and complex orders in
the Select Symbols will now be applied to regular and complex orders in
the Additional Select Symbols.
A. Regular Order Fees and Rebates
The Exchange currently applies transaction fees to regular orders
in the Additional Select Symbols, as follows: \7\
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\7\ Additional Select Symbols are currently subject to the
standard transaction fee listed in the table titled Non-Select
Symbols. See Schedule of Fees, Section I, Regular Order Fees and
Rebates.
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For Market Maker \8\ orders, a fee of $0.18 per contract;
\9\
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\8\ The term ``Market Makers'' refers to ``Competitive Market
Makers'' and ``Primary Market Makers'' [sic] collectively. See ISE
Rule 100(a)(25).
\9\ The Exchange provides a volume-based discount to fees to ISE
Market Maker contracts for regular orders in Non-Select Symbols. See
Schedule of Fees, Section IV, C. ISE Market Maker Discount Tiers.
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For Market Maker (for orders sent by Electronic Access
Members), Firm Proprietary/Broker-Dealer and Professional Customer \10\
orders, a fee of $0.20 per contract;
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\10\ A Professional Customer is a person who is not a broker/
dealer and is not a Priority Customer.
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For Non-ISE Market Maker \11\ orders, a fee of $0.45 per
contract;
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\11\ A Non-ISE Market Maker, or Far Away Market Maker
(``FARMM''), is a market maker as defined in Section 3(a)(38) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 registered in the same options class
on another options exchange.
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For Priority Customer orders, a fee of $0.00 per contract.
The Exchange currently charges a fee of $0.20 per contract to all
market participants (except for Market Makers, this fee is currently
$0.18 per contract,\12\ and for Priority Customers, this fee is $0.00
per contract) for regular Crossing Orders in the Non-Select Symbols
(this fee currently applies to the Additional Select Symbols as they
are a subset of Non-Select Symbols). The Exchange also currently
charges a fee of $0.20 per contract to all market participants (except
for Non-ISE Market Makers, this fee is currently $0.45 per contract,
and for Market Makers, this fee is $0.18 per contract \13\) for regular
Responses to Crossing Orders in the Non-Select Symbols (this fee
currently applies to the Additional Select Symbols as they are a subset
of Non-Select Symbols).
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\12\ The volume-based discount to fees to ISE Market Maker
contracts also applies to regular Crossing Orders. See supra, note 7
[sic].
\13\ The volume-based discount to fees to ISE Market Maker
contracts also applies to regular Responses to Crossing Orders. See
supra, note 7 [sic].
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With this proposed rule change, the Additional Select Symbols will
now be subject to the maker/taker fees and rebates applicable to
regular orders in the Select Symbols.\14\ The Exchange currently
charges the following maker fees and rebates for Select Symbols: (i)
For Market Maker, Non-ISE Market Maker, Firm Proprietary/Broker-Dealer
and Professional Customer orders, $0.10 per contract; (ii) for Priority
Customer orders, $0.00 per contract; and (iii) for Market Maker Plus
\15\ orders, a rebate of $0.10 per contract. The Exchange also
currently charges the following taker fees for Select Symbols: (i) for
Market Maker and Market Maker Plus orders, $0.32 per contract; (ii) for
Non-ISE Market Maker orders, $0.36 per contract; (iii) for Firm
Proprietary/Broker-Dealer and Professional Customer orders, $0.33 per
contract; and (iv) for Priority Customer orders, $0.25 per contract.
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\14\ See Schedule of Fees, Section I, Regular Order Fees and
Rebates.
\15\ In order to promote and encourage liquidity in the Select
Symbols, the Exchange currently offers a $0.10 per contract rebate
to Market Makers if the quotes they sent to the Exchange qualify the
Market Maker to become a Market Maker Plus. A Market Maker Plus is a
Market Maker who is on the National Best Bid or National Best Offer
80% of the time for series trading between $0.03 and $5.00 (for
options whose underlying stock's previous trading day's last sale
price was less than or equal to $100) and between $0.10 and $5.00
(for options whose underlying stock's previous trading day's last
sale price was greater than $100) in premium in each of the front
two expiration months and 80% of the time for series trading between
$0.03 and $5.00 (for options whose underlying stock's previous
trading day's last sale price was less than or equal to $100) and
between $0.10 and $5.00 (for options whose underlying stock's
previous trading day's last sale price was greater than $100) in
premium for all expiration months in that symbol during the current
trading month. A Market Maker's single best and single worst overall
quoting days each month, on a per symbol basis, is excluded in
calculating whether a Market Maker qualifies for this rebate, if
doing so will qualify a Market Maker for the rebate.
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The Exchange currently charges Market Maker, Non-ISE Market Maker,
Firm Proprietary/Broker-Dealer and Professional Customers a fee of
$0.20 per contract ($0.00 per contract for Priority Customers) for
regular Crossing Orders in the Select Symbols, and a fee of $0.40 per
contract to all market participants for regular Responses to Crossing
Orders in the Select Symbols. With this proposed rule change, the fee
for regular Crossing Orders in the Additional Select Symbols will
remain at $0.20 per contract for most market participants. For Priority
Customers, this fee will remain at $0.00 per contract, and for Market
Makers, this fee will increase, from $0.18 per contract \16\ to $0.20
per contract. With this proposed rule change, the fee for regular
Responses to Crossing Orders will increase for most market
participants, from $0.20 per contract to $0.40 per contract (for Market
Makers, this fee will increase from $0.18 per contract to $0.40 per
contract), with the exception of Non-ISE Market Makers who will now pay
a lower fee of $0.40 per contract as opposed to $0.45 per contract.
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\16\ The volume-based discount to fees to ISE Market Maker
contracts also applies. See supra, note 7.
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The Exchange also currently provides a rebate of $0.25 per contract
for contracts that are submitted to the Price Improvement Mechanism
that do not trade with their contra order in the Select Symbols, and a
rebate of $0.15 per contract for contracts that are submitted to the
Facilitation and Solicited Order Mechanisms that do not trade with
their contra order in the Select Symbols except when those contracts
trade against pre-existing orders and quotes on the Exchange's
orderbook. With this proposed rule change, market participants trading
in the Additional Select Symbols will now be eligible for rebates that
were not previously available for this group of symbols. Specifically,
market participants will now receive a rebate of $0.25 per contract for
contracts that are submitted to the Price Improvement Mechanism that do
not trade with their contra order in the Additional Select Symbols.
Further, market participants will now also receive a rebate of $0.15
per contract for contracts that are submitted to the Facilitation and
Solicited Order Mechanisms that do not trade with their contra order in
the Additional Select Symbols except when those contracts trade against
pre-existing orders and quotes on the Exchange's orderbook.
Further, the Exchange currently charges Primary Market Makers
(PMMs) a transaction fee of $0.18 per contract \17\
[[Page 17269]]
in the Additional Select Symbols when they trade report a Priority
Customer or Professional Customer order in accordance with their
obligation to provide away market price protection. PMMs in Select
Symbols do not receive a maker rebate nor pay a taker fee when trade
reporting.\18\ With this proposed rule change, PMMs in the Additional
Select Symbols will also not receive a maker rebate nor pay a taker fee
when trade reporting.
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\17\ The volume-based discount to fees to ISE Market Maker
contracts also applies. See supra, note 7.
\18\ See Schedule of Fees, Section I, Regular Order Fees and
Rebates, footnote 9.
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The Exchange also currently provides a $0.20 per contract fee
credit to PMMs for execution of Priority Customer orders in the Non-
Select Symbols--for classes in which it serves as a PMM--that send an
Intermarket Sweep Order to other exchanges. This credit is applied
regardless of the transaction fee charged by a destination market. For
PMMs in the Select Symbols, this credit is equal to the fee charged by
the destination market. With this proposed rule change, PMMs in the
Additional Select Symbols will now be provided with a credit that is
equal to the fee charged by the destination market.
Additionally, the Exchange currently provides a $0.20 per contract
credit for responses to flash orders in the Non-Select Symbols when
trading against Professional Customers. For Select Symbols, the per
contract fee credit for responses to flash orders is (i) $0.10 per
contract when trading against Priority Customers; (ii) $0.12 per
contract when trading against Preferenced Priority Customers; and (iii)
$0.10 per contract when trading against Professional Customers. Market
participants trading in the Additional Select Symbols will now be
provided the rebate at levels that are currently in place for Select
Symbols, as described above.
Finally, the Exchange currently charges a payment for order flow
(PFOF) fee of $0.25 per contract, applicable to Market Makers when
trading against Priority Customer orders in the Additional Select
Symbols. The Exchange does not charge a PFOF fee for trading in the
Select Symbols. Therefore, with this proposed rule change, the Exchange
will no longer charge a PFOF fee for trading in the Additional Select
Symbols.
B. Complex Order Fees and Rebates
With this proposed rule change, the maker fee for complex orders in
the Additional Select Symbols will remain unchanged because the
Exchange currently charges the same maker fee for complex orders in the
Select Symbols, in the Penny Pilot Symbols and in the Non-Penny Pilot
Symbols.\19\ Specifically, for Select Symbols, Penny Pilot Symbols and
Non-Penny Pilot Symbols, the Exchange currently charges a complex order
maker fee of: (i) $0.10 per contract for Market Maker, Firm
Proprietary/Broker-Dealer and Professional Customer orders; (ii) $0.20
per contract for Non-ISE Market Maker orders; and (iii) $0.00 per
contract for Priority Customer orders.
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\19\ The Additional Select Symbols are currently subject to the
fee listed in the column titled Maker Fee for Select Symbols and
Penny Pilot Symbols. See Schedule of Fees, Section II, Complex Order
Fees and Rebates.
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With this proposed rule change, the maker fee for complex orders in
the Additional Select Symbols when trading against Priority Customers
will remain unchanged because the Exchange currently charges the same
maker fee for complex orders in the Select Symbols (excluding SPY) when
trading against Priority Customers and in the Non-Select Penny Pilot
Symbols when trading against Priority Customers.\20\ Specifically, for
complex orders in the Select Symbols (excluding SPY) when trading
against Priority Customer and for complex orders in the Non-Select
Penny Pilot Symbols when trading against Priority Customers, the
Exchange currently charges a maker fee of: (i) $0.39 per contract for
Market Maker orders; (ii) $0.40 per contract for Non-ISE Market Maker,
Firm Proprietary/Broker-Dealer and Professional Customer orders; and
(iii) $0.00 per contract for Priority Customer orders.
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\20\ The Additional Select Symbols are currently subject to the
fee listed in the column titled Maker Fee for Non-Select Penny Pilot
Symbols when trading against Priority Customer. See Schedule of
Fees, Section II, Complex Order Fees and Rebates.
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Since the Exchange is proposing to move all the ISE-listed Penny
Pilot Program symbols to its list of Select Symbols, there is no longer
a need to separately identify these two groups of symbols on the
Schedule of Fees. Therefore, the Exchange proposes to rename certain
columns applicable to Maker Fees in Section II (Complex Order Fees and
Rebates). Specifically, the Exchange proposes to rename the column
titled `Maker Fee for Select Symbols and Penny Pilot Symbols' as `Maker
Fee for Select Symbols.' The Exchange also proposes to rename the
column titled `Maker Fee for Non-Penny Pilot Symbols' to `Maker Fee for
Non-Select Symbols.' And finally, the Exchange proposes to rename the
column titled `Maker Fee for non-Penny Pilot Symbols when trading
against Priority Customer' to `Maker Fee for Non-Select Symbols when
trading against Priority Customer.' The Exchange also proposes to
delete the column titled `Maker Fee for Non-Select Penny Pilot Symbols
when trading against Priority Customer' because these symbols are now
represented in the column for maker fees for Select Symbols.
With this proposed rule change, the taker fee for complex orders in
the Additional Select Symbols will remain unchanged because the
Exchange currently charges the same taker fee for complex orders in the
Select Symbols (excluding SPY) and in the Non-Select Penny Pilot
Symbols.\21\ Specifically, for complex orders in the Select Symbols
(excluding SPY) and in the Non-Select Penny Pilot Symbols, the Exchange
currently charges a taker fee of: (i) $0.39 per contract for Market
Maker orders; (ii) $0.40 per contract for Non-ISE Market Maker, Firm
Proprietary/Broker-Dealer and Professional Customer orders; and (iii)
$0.00 per contract for Priority Customer orders.
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\21\ The Additional Select Symbols are currently subject to the
fee listed in the column titled Taker Fee for Non-Select Penny Pilot
Symbols. See Schedule of Fees, Section II, Complex Order Fees and
Rebates.
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With this proposed rule change, the Fee for Crossing Orders when
trading complex orders in the Additional Select Symbols will remain
unchanged because the Exchange currently charges $0.20 per contract
(for largest leg only) for complex Crossing Orders in all symbols,
except for Priority Customers who are currently charged $0.00 per
contract.
With this proposed rule change, the Fee for Responses to Crossing
Orders when trading complex orders in the Additional Select Symbols
will remain unchanged because the Exchange currently charges $0.40 per
contract for Responses to Crossing Orders when trading complex orders
in the Select Symbols and in the Penny Pilot Symbols.\22\
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\22\ The Additional Select Symbols are currently subject to the
fee listed in the column titled Fee for Responses to Crossing Orders
for Select Symbols and Penny Pilot Symbols. See Schedule of Fees,
Section II, Complex Order Fees and Rebates.
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Additionally, the Exchange currently provides Market Makers with a
discount when trading against Priority Customer orders that are
preferenced to them. This discount is applicable when Market Makers add
or remove liquidity in the Select Symbols, in SPY, in the Non-Select
Penny Pilot Symbols and in the Non-Penny Pilot Symbols. The Additional
Select Symbols are currently a part of the Non-Select Penny Pilot
Symbols and therefore this discount will continue to apply to the
Additional
[[Page 17270]]
Select Symbols when they become Select Symbols.
Since the Exchange is proposing to move all the ISE-listed Penny
Pilot Program symbols to its list of Select Symbols, there is no longer
a need to separately identify these two groups of symbols on the
Schedule of Fees. Therefore, the Exchange proposes to rename certain
columns applicable to Taker Fees in Section II (Complex Order Fees and
Rebates). Specifically, the Exchange proposes to rename the column
titled `Taker Fee for non-Penny Pilot Symbols' as `Taker Fee for Non-
Select Symbols.' The Exchange also proposes to rename the column titled
`Fee for Responses to Crossing Orders for Select Symbols and Penny
Pilot Symbols' to `Fee for Responses to Crossing Orders for Select
Symbols.' And finally, the Exchange proposes to rename the column
titled `Fee for Responses to Crossing Orders for non-Penny Pilot
Symbols' to `Fee for Responses to Crossing Orders for Non-Select
Symbols.' The Exchange also proposes to delete the column titled `Taker
Fee for Non-Select Penny Pilot Symbols' because these symbols are now
represented in the column for taker fees for Select Symbols.
Further, the Exchange proposes to re-define Select Symbols in the
Preface of the Schedule of Fees as options overlying all symbols listed
on the ISE that are in the Penny Pilot Program and providing a link to
a page on the Exchange's Web site where a current list of ISE-listed
symbols that are in the Penny Pilot Program is made available.
Additionally, with this proposed rule change, all ISE-listed symbols
that are in the Penny Pilot Program will now be subject to the
Exchange's maker/taker fees and rebates and the PFOF fee will no longer
apply to these symbols. The Exchange, therefore, proposes to amend the
PFOF fee for Penny Pilot Symbols in Section IV. D. by removing that fee
from the Schedule of Fees altogether.
2. Rebates for Priority Customer Complex Orders
The Exchange currently provides volume-based tiered rebates for
Priority Customer complex orders in the Select Symbols (excluding SPY),
in SPY, in the Non-Select Penny Pilot Symbols and in the Non-Penny
Pilot Symbols when these orders trade with non-Priority Customer orders
in the complex order book.
For the Additional Select Symbols,\23\ the Exchange currently
provides a base rebate of $0.33 per contract, per leg, for Priority
Customer complex orders when these orders trade with non-Priority
Customer complex orders in the complex order book. Additionally,
Members who achieve a certain level of average daily volume (ADV) of
executed Priority Customer complex order contracts across all symbols
during a calendar month are provided a rebate of $0.35 per contract,
per leg, in these symbols, if a Member achieves an ADV of 40,000
Priority Customer complex order contracts; $0.37 per contract, per leg,
in these symbols, if a Member achieves an ADV of 75,000 Priority
Customer complex order contracts; $0.38 per contract, per leg, in these
symbols, if a Member achieves an ADV of 125,000 Priority Customer
complex order contracts; and $0.39 per contract, per leg, in these
symbols, if a Member achieves an ADV of 225,000 Priority Customer
complex order contracts. The highest rebate amount achieved by the
Member for the current calendar month applies retroactively to all
Priority Customer complex order contracts that trade with non-Priority
Customer complex orders in the complex order book executed by the
Member during such calendar month.
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\23\ The Additional Select Symbols are currently subject to the
rebate listed in the column titled Rebate for non-Select Penny Pilot
Symbols. See Schedule of Fees, Section II, Complex Order Fees and
Rebates.
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For Select Symbols (excluding SPY), the Exchange currently provides
a base rebate of $0.34 per contract, per leg, for Priority Customer
complex orders when these orders trade with non-Priority Customer
complex orders in the complex order book. Additionally, Members who
achieve a certain level of average daily volume (ADV) of executed
Priority Customer complex order contracts across all symbols during a
calendar month are provided a rebate of $0.37 per contract, per leg, in
these symbols, if a Member achieves an ADV of 40,000 Priority Customer
complex order contracts; $0.38 per contract, per leg, in these symbols,
if a Member achieves an ADV of 75,000 Priority Customer complex order
contracts; $0.39 per contract, per leg, in these symbols, if a Member
achieves an ADV of 125,000 Priority Customer complex order contracts;
and $0.40 per contract, per leg, in these symbols, if a Member achieves
an ADV of 225,000 Priority Customer complex order contracts. The
highest rebate amount achieved by the Member for the current calendar
month applies retroactively to all Priority Customer complex order
contracts that trade with non-Priority Customer complex orders in the
complex order book executed by the Member during such calendar month.
The Exchange now proposes to lower the rebate payable for the first
three tiers for Select Symbols (excluding SPY). Specifically, the
Exchange proposes to lower the base rebate from $0.34 per contract to
$0.33 per contract; lower the rebate payable for reaching an ADV of
40,000 Priority Customer complex order contracts from $0.37 per
contract to $0.35 per contract; and lower the rebate payable for
reaching an ADV of 75,000 Priority Customer complex order contracts
from $0.38 per contract to $0.37 per contract. The Exchange is not
proposing any change to the remaining tiers. With this proposed rule
change, the Exchange seeks to standardize the rebate payable for
Priority Customer complex orders that trade with non-Priority Customer
complex orders in the complex order book in the Select Symbols and in
the Additional Select Symbols.
With the proposed change noted in the preceding paragraph, the
rebate levels payable for Priority Customer complex orders in the
Additional Select Symbols will, in some cases, remain the same (i.e.,
the base rebate, the rebate level for reaching an ADV of 40,000
Priority Customer complex order contracts and the rebate level for
reaching an ADV of 75,000 Priority Customer complex order contracts).
The rebate levels payable for Priority Customer complex orders in the
Additional Select Symbols for the highest two tiers will, however,
increase (i.e., the rebate level for reaching an ADV of 125,000
Priority Customer complex order contracts will increase from $0.38 per
contract to $0.39 per contract and the rebate level for reaching an ADV
of 225,000 Priority Customer complex order contracts will increase from
$0.39 per contract to $0.40 per contract) because the rebate levels
payable for Priority Customer complex orders in the Select Symbols for
those two tiers are higher than the rebate levels currently payable for
Priority Customer complex orders in Non-Select Penny Pilot Symbols.
Again, as noted above, the Exchange is proposing to move all the
ISE-listed Penny Pilot Program symbols to its list of Select Symbols.
As a result, there is no longer a need to separately identify these two
groups of symbols on the Schedule of Fees. Therefore, the Exchange
proposes to rename certain columns applicable to Rebates in Section II
(Complex Order Fees and Rebates). Specifically, the Exchange proposes
to rename the column titled `Rebate for non-Select non-Penny Pilot
Symbols' as `Rebate for Non-Select Symbols.' The Exchange also proposes
to rename the column titled `PIM Break-
[[Page 17271]]
up Rebate for Select Symbols and Penny Pilot Symbols' as `PIM Break-up
Rebate for Select Symbols.' And finally, the Exchange proposes to
rename the column titled `Facilitation and Solicitation Break-up Rebate
for Select Symbols and Penny Pilot Symbols' as `Facilitation and
Solicitation Break-up Rebate for Select Symbols.' The Exchange also
proposes to delete the column titled `Rebate for non-Select Penny Pilot
Symbols' because these symbols are now represented in the column for
rebates for Select Symbols.
3. New Rebate for Incremental Priority Customer Complex Orders
As noted above, the Exchange currently provides volume-based tiered
rebates for Priority Customer complex orders in the Select Symbols
(excluding SPY), in SPY, in the Non-Select Penny Pilot Symbols and in
the Non-Penny Pilot Symbols when these orders trade with non-Priority
Customer orders in the complex order book. In order to enhance the
Exchange's competitive position and to incentivize Members to increase
the amount of Priority Customer complex orders in these symbols that
they send to the Exchange, the Exchange now proposes to adopt an
additional rebate of $0.01 per contract payable for incremental
Priority Customer complex order volume above the highest tier. In other
words, if Member ABCD achieves an ADV of 230,000 Priority Customer
complex order contracts during March, then in addition to receiving the
highest rebate level of $0.40 per contract because Member ABCD met the
highest tier volume threshold, Member ABCD will also receive an
additional $0.01 per contract for the additional eligible ADV of 5,000
Priority Customer complex order contracts it traded above the highest
threshold of 225,000 Priority Customer complex order contracts. This
proposed new incremental rebate of $0.01 per contract will apply to
Priority Customer complex orders in the Select Symbols, in SPY and in
the Non-Select Symbols when these orders trade with non-Priority
Customer orders in the complex order book.
With this proposed rule change, the Exchange expects to attract
additional order flow of regular and complex orders in the Additional
Select Symbols. The Exchange's maker/taker fees and rebates are
competitively priced and have been effective in attracting order flow
of regular and complex orders in the Select Symbols.
With this proposed rule change, the taker fees and Response to
Crossing Order fees charged to all market participants for regular
orders in the Additional Select Symbols will increase, except for Non-
ISE Market Makers whose fee [sic] will decrease, while the maker fees
for regular orders in the Additional Select Symbols will decrease,
except for Priority Customer maker fees, which will remain the same at
$0.00 per contract. Market Makers will now also be eligible for the
Market Maker Plus rebate, which was previously not applicable to the
Additional Select Symbols. This proposed rule change does not proposed
[sic] any change to the maker and taker fees for complex orders in the
Additional Select Symbols as those fees remain unchanged. And as noted
above, the base rebate level and the rebate levels for tiers 1 and 2
will remain unchanged for Priority Customer complex order [sic] in the
Additional Select Symbols while the rebate levels payable for Priority
Customer complex orders in the Additional Select Symbols for the two
highest tiers will increase compared to the current rebate levels for
this group of symbols.
2. Basis
The Exchange believes that its proposal to amend its Schedule of
Fees is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act \24\ in general, and
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \25\ in
particular, in that it is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees
and other charges among Exchange members and other persons using its
facilities.
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\24\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\25\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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The Exchange believes that it is reasonable to add the Additional
Select Symbols to the current list of Select Symbols. The Exchange
believes that applying the fees and rebates applicable to Select
Symbols to the Additional Select Symbols will attract additional order
flow to the Exchange. Select Symbol pricing has proven beneficial for
the Exchange and its participants and the Exchange believes that moving
the Additional Select Symbols to Select Symbols pricing would enhance
liquidity and participation in those symbols.
The Exchange believes that it is equitable and not unfairly
discriminatory to amend its list of Select Symbols to add the
Additional Select Symbols because the fees and rebates for Select
Symbols would apply uniformly to all categories of participants in the
same manner. All market participants who trade options in the Select
Symbols would be uniformly subject to the fees and rebates applicable
to those symbols.
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is reasonable and
equitable because it generally lowers the maker fees applicable to
market participants and believes that the lower maker fees will attract
additional maker liquidity and size to the Exchange in the Additional
Select Symbols. Additionally, while this proposed rule change proposes
to increase the taker fees applicable to market participants, the
Exchange believes the benefits of better market quality will outweigh
the taker fee increases based on the Exchange's experience with trading
in the Select Symbols. Further, the Exchange believes this proposed
rule change is reasonable and equitable because it will result in
market participants receiving higher rebates when they achieve the
volume threshold for the two highest tiers of Priority Customer complex
orders ADV for orders [sic] trade with non-Priority Customer complex
orders in the complex order book as the current rebate payable for
these orders in Select Symbols is higher than the current rebate
payable for these orders in Additional Select Symbols.
The Exchange believes that it is reasonable and equitable to
provide rebates for Priority Customer complex orders when these orders
trade with Non-Priority Customer complex orders in the complex order
book because paying a rebate would continue to attract additional order
flow to the Exchange and create liquidity in the symbols that are
subject to the rebate, which the Exchange believes ultimately will
benefit all market participants who trade on ISE. The Exchange already
provides these rebates, and is now proposing to adopt a unique rebate
for incremental volume to encourage Members who trade a lot on ISE to
trade more. With this proposed rule change, Market Makers will also now
be eligible to receive the Market Maker Plus rebate which was not
previously applicable to the Additional Select Symbols. The Exchange
believes that the proposed rebates are competitive with rebates
provided by other exchanges and are therefore reasonable and equitably
allocated to those members that direct orders to the Exchange rather
than to a competing exchange.
The Exchange believes that it is reasonable and equitable to
provide a discount to Market Makers on preferenced orders as an
incentive for them to quote in the complex order book. ISE notes that
with this proposed rule change, the Exchange will continue to maintain
the differential that was previously in place for the Additional Select
Symbols.
The Exchange believes that the proposed changes are non-
[[Page 17272]]
discriminatory because the proposal simply moves the Additional Select
Symbols from one category of fees into another category thereby
applying fees currently in effect. Further, the Exchange believes that
it is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory to amend its list of
Select Symbols to add the Additional Select Symbols to the Select
Symbols because the fees applicable to the Select Symbols would apply
uniformly to all categories of participants in the same manner. All
market participants who trade the Select Symbols would be uniformly
subject to the fees and rebates applicable to those symbols.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
ISE 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. This rule change, which
proposes to move a group of symbols to an existing category of symbols,
does not impose any burden on competition. With this proposed rule
change, the Additional Select Symbols will be subject to fees and
rebates that are already in place on the Exchange and therefore, do not
impose any additional burden on competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furthering the purposes of the Act. The Exchange
believes that the proposed changes promote competition, as they are
designed to allow the Exchange to better compete for order flow and
improve the Exchange's competitive position.
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 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 \26\ and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4
thereunder,\27\ because it establishes a due, fee, or other charge
imposed by ISE.
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\26\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
\27\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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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.
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-2013-19 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-2013-19. 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 such 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-2013-19 and should be
submitted on or before April 10, 2013.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\28\
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\28\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-06394 Filed 3-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P