[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 179 (Monday, September 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56957-56960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22403]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-70363; File No. SR-EDGX-2013-33]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; EDGX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to 
Amendments to the EDGX Exchange, Inc. Fee Schedule

September 10, 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 August 30, 2013, EDGX Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or 
``EDGX'') 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 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 Exchange proposes to amend its Fee Schedule to: (i) add the 
Tape B Step Up Tier; (ii) add the Mega Tier 3; (iii) move the bullets 
related to ``added flags,'' ``removal flags,'' and ``routed flags'' 
from the Definitions section to the General Notes section; and (iv) 
amend the phrase ``Step Up'' to ``Step-Up'' in the tiers in Footnote 1. 
All of the changes described herein are applicable to EDGX Members.\3\ 
The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Internet Web site at www.directedge.com, at the Exchange's principal 
office, and at the Public Reference Room of the Commission.
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    \3\ As defined in Exchange Rule 1.5(n).
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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 the 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to amend its Fee Schedule to: (i) add the 
Tape B Step Up Tier; (ii) add the Mega Tier 3; (iii) move the bullets 
related to ``added flags,'' ``removal flags,'' and ``routed flags'' 
from the Definitions section to the General Notes section; and (iv) 
amend the phrase ``Step Up'' to ``Step-Up'' in the tiers in Footnote 1.
Addition of Tape B Step Up Tier
    The Exchange proposes to add a new tier to its Fee Schedule, the 
Tape B Step Up Tier. The Tape B Step Up Tier would provide a rebate of 
$0.0025 per share for orders yielding flags B and 4 (adds liquidity to 
EDGX in Tape B securities) to Members that add 600,000 shares in 
average daily volume (``ADV'') in Tape B securities more than the 
Member's August 2013 ADV in Tape B securities added to EDGX. The 
Exchange proposes to remove the word ``Reserved'' from Footnote 2 to 
its Fee Schedule and replace it with the Tape B Step Up Tier. 
Furthermore, the Exchange proposes to append Footnote 2 to flags B and 
4, both of which would qualify for the tiered rebate if a Member meets 
the aforementioned requirement.
Addition of the Mega Tier 3
    The Exchange proposes to add a new tier to its Fee Schedule, the 
Mega Tier 3. The Mega Tier 3 would provide a rebate of $0.0032 per 
share for orders that add liquidity yielding flags B, V, Y, 3, 4 and ZA 
provided the Member (i) adds or routes at least 1,500,000 shares of ADV 
prior to 9:30 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. and (ii) adds a minimum of 0.75% 
of the total consolidated volume (``TCV'') on a daily basis measured 
monthly, including during both market hours and pre- and post-trading 
hours. The Exchange proposes to add the Mega Tier 3 below Mega Tier 2 
and above the Market Depth Tier within the list of volume tiers in 
Footnote 1 to its Fee Schedule.
Amendments to Lists of Added, Removal and Routed Flags
    Currently, the Definitions section in the Fee Schedule contains 
three bullets that contain the list of applicable ``added flags,'' 
``removal flags,'' and ``routed flags,'' that may be considered when 
calculating whether a Member satisfied a certain tier. The Exchange 
proposes to move the text contained within each of the three bullets to 
the General Notes section. In addition, the Exchange proposes to re-
word the text of each bullet to improve readability and remove 
references to the flags as defined terms. For example, the amended 
bullet regarding added flags would read as follows: ``Unless otherwise 
indicated, the following added flags are counted towards tiers . . .'' 
The Exchange notes that the list of added/removal/routed flags 
associated with each bullet would remain unchanged.
Amendment to Step-Up Tiers in Footnote 1
    Currently, the Step-Up Tiers in Footnote 1 to the Fee Schedule are 
lacking a hyphen between the words ``Step'' and ``Up.'' The Exchange 
proposes to add a hyphen so that each tier so-titled would no longer be 
a ``Step Up'' tier but a ``Step-Up'' tier. The Exchange notes that the 
criteria necessary to achieve the tiers and the rates offered by the 
tiers would remain unchanged.
Implementation Date
    The Exchange proposes to implement these amendments to its Fee 
Schedule on September 3, 2013.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with the objectives of Section 6 of the Act,\4\ in general, and 
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4),\5\ in particular, as 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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    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).

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[[Page 56958]]

Addition of Tape B Step Up Tier
    The Exchange believes that its proposal to add the Tape B Step Up 
Tier to Footnote 2 to its Fee Schedule represents an equitable 
allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among Members 
and other persons using its facilities because the tier would encourage 
Members to add liquidity to EDGX in Tape B securities in order to 
qualify for a higher rebate. The Exchange currently offers a rebate of 
$0.0020 per share for orders that add liquidity to EDGX in Tape B 
securities yielding flags B (regular session) and 4 (pre and post 
market). The Tape B Step Up Tier would provide Members with an 
increased rebate of $0.0025 per share for orders that yield flags B and 
4, provided Members meet the increased volume requirement necessary to 
achieve the tier. As such, the Exchange believes that the rate offered 
by the Tape B Step Up Tier is reasonable because it is directly related 
to a Member's level of executions in Tape B Securities during the 
month.
    The Exchange also notes that the Tape B Step Up Tier is similar to 
the Step-Up Tier 1 in Tape B securities offered by NYSE Arca, Inc. 
(``Arca'').\6\ Arca currently offers a non-tiered rebate for adding 
liquidity in Tape B securities of $0.22 per share and a non-tiered fee 
for removing liquidity in Tape B securities of $0.30 per share. Arca's 
Step-Up Tier 1 provides for an add rebate of $0.23 per share and a 
removal fee of $0.28 for firms that add an excess of 0.20% in ADV in 
Tape B securities over a benchmark month, subject to a minimum increase 
of 20 million shares. The Tape B Step Up Tier is similar to the Arca's 
Step-Up Tier 1 in that it provides Members with an increased rebate in 
exchange for increased volume.
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    \6\ Arca, NYSE Arca Equities Trading Fees, available at http://usequities.nyx.com/markets/nyse-arca-equities/trading-fees.
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    Lastly, The Exchange believes that the proposed rate is non-
discriminatory in that it applies uniformly to all Members.
Addition of the Mega Tier 3
    The Exchange believes that its proposal to add the Mega Tier 3 to 
the list of volume tiers in Footnote 1 to its Fee Schedule represents 
an equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges 
among Members and other persons using its facilities because the tier 
would encourage Members to add liquidity to EDGX during pre- and post-
trading hours. Fewer Members generally trade during pre- and post-
trading hours because of the limited time parameters associated with 
these trading sessions, which generally results in less liquidity. In 
addition, the Exchange assigns a higher value to this resting liquidity 
because liquidity received prior to the regular trading session 
typically remains resident on the EDGX Book throughout the remainder of 
the entire trading day. Furthermore, liquidity received during pre- and 
post-trading hours is an important contributor to price discovery and 
acts as an important indication of price for the market as a whole 
considering the relative illiquidity of the pre- and post-trading hour 
sessions. The Exchange believes that offering a higher rebate 
incentivizes Members to provide liquidity during these trading 
sessions.
    The Exchange also believes that the Mega Tier 3 is reasonable and 
equitably allocated because such increased liquidity benefits all 
investors by deepening EDGX's liquidity pool and improving investor 
protection. Volume-based rebates such as the one proposed herein are 
widely utilized in the cash equities markets, and are equitable because 
they are open to all Members on an equal basis and provide incentives 
that are reasonably related to the value to an exchange's market 
quality associated with higher levels of market activity, such as 
higher levels of liquidity provision and opportunities for price 
improvement.
    Furthermore, the Exchange believes that the criteria for the Mega 
Tier 3 represents an equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and 
other charges because higher rebates are directly correlated with more 
stringent criteria.
    For example, in order for a Member to qualify for the Mega Tier 1 
and be provided with a rebate of $0.0035 and a $ 0.0015 discounted 
routing and removal rate, the Member would have to (i) add or route at 
least 4,000,000 shares of ADV during pre- and post-trading hours (ii) 
add a minimum of 35,000,000 shares of ADV on EDGX in total, including 
during both market hours and pre- and post-trading hours and (iii) have 
an ``added liquidity'' to ``added plus removed liquidity'' ratio of at 
least 85%. When comparing the first criteria of the Mega Tier 1 to that 
of the Mega Tier 3, it is apparent that the Mega Tier 1 requires a 
volume requirement during pre- and post-trading hours that is 2,500,000 
shares higher than that required by the Mega Tier 3, which only 
requires 1,500,000 shares of ADV during pre- and post-trading hours. 
With regard to the second criteria of both tiers, based on a TCV for 
September 2013 of six (6) billion shares, a Member would be required to 
add 40,000,000 shares in ADV on EDGX in total, including both market 
hours and pre- and post-trading hours to meet the second criteria to 
achieve the Mega Tier 3, which is higher than the 35,000,000 shares 
required to meet the second criteria under the Mega Tier 1. Although 
the ADV required under the second criteria of the Mega Tier 3 is higher 
than that required by the Mega Tier 1, the Mega Tier 1 contains yet a 
third criteria not required of the Mega Tier 3--that a Member have an 
``added liquidity'' to ``added plus removed liquidity'' ratio of at 
least 85%. Members that primarily post liquidity are more valuable 
Members to the Exchange and the marketplace in terms of liquidity 
provision. Therefore, the Exchange offers a higher rebate to those 
Members that are able to meet the ``added liquidity'' to ``added plus 
removed liquidity'' ratio of 85% under the third criteria of the Mega 
Tier 1. Accordingly, the Mega Tier 1 is the most stringent of the 
volume tiers and provides the highest rebate.
    In order to qualify for the next best tier, the Market Depth Tier, 
and receive a rebate of $0.0033 per share for displayed liquidity, a 
Member must post at least 0.50% of the TCV in ADV on EDGX in total, 
where at least 1.8 million shares are non-displayed orders that add 
liquidity to EDGX yielding Flag HA. Based on a TCV for May 2013 of six 
(6) billion shares, this would amount to 30,000,000 shares for the 
Market Depth Tier and 45,000,000 shares for the Mega Tier 3. While the 
Mega Tier 3's TCV requirement is higher, Members seeking to achieve the 
Market Depth Tier would also be required to post at least 1.8 million 
shares are non-displayed orders that add liquidity to EDGX yielding 
Flag HA. The Exchange believes that this requirement regarding non-
displayed liquidity is more stringent and warrants a higher rebate 
because non-displayed orders do not have the same ability to attract 
contra-side orders to the marketplace because they are hidden on the 
EDGX book, are less commonplace than displayed liquidity, and Members 
are not eligible for the same rebates that displayed liquidity qualify 
for.\7\ In addition, because of the hierarchy of priority in Rule 
11.8(a)(2), for equally priced trading interest, non-displayed orders 
always have a lower priority than displayed orders. As a result, a 
Member has a priority disadvantage when using such order type and 
therefore, the criteria to satisfy the Market Depth Tier are more 
stringent than those of the Mega Tier 3 and warrant a higher rebate.
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    \7\ Non-displayed orders that add liquidity (Flag HA) are 
eligible for a $0.0015 per share rebate instead of the standard 
rebate for displayed liquidity of $0.0020 per share.
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    Mega Tier 3 provides the same rebate as Mega Tier 2. To achieve the 
Mega

[[Page 56959]]

Tier 2 and receive a rebate of $0.0032 per share, a Member must (1) add 
or route at least 4,000,000 shares of ADV prior to 9:30 a.m. or after 
4:00 p.m. (includes all flags except 6); and (2) add a minimum of 0.20% 
of the TCV on a daily basis measured monthly, including during both 
market hours and pre and post-trading hours. Based on a TCV for 
September 2013 of six (6) billion shares, this would amount to 
12,000,000 shares for the Mega Tier 2 and 45,000,000 shares for the 
Mega Tier 3. Although the TCV requirement is higher for the Mega Tier 
3, the Mega Tier 3 only requires that a Member add or route at least 
1.5 million shares of ADV prior to 9:30 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m., 
whereas the Mega Tier 2 requires that a Member add or route at least 4 
million shares prior to 9:30 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. The Exchange 
believes that these requirements essentially render the two tiers 
equally difficult to obtain, and therefore proposes to offer the same 
rebate for either tier.
    In order to qualify for the next tier after the Mega Tier 3, the 
Ultra Tier, a Member must, on a daily basis, measured monthly, post 
0.50% of TCV in ADV to EDGX to receive a rebate of $ 0.0031 per share. 
The criteria for this tier is less stringent than the Mega Tier 3 
because a Member aspiring to meet the Mega Tier 3 must satisfy two 
criteria: (1) Add or route at least 1.5 million shares of ADV prior to 
9:30 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m.; and (2) add a minimum of 0.75% of the TCV 
on a daily basis measured monthly, including during both market hours 
and pre and post-trading hours. The Ultra Tier only requires a Member 
post 0.50% of TCV in ADV to EDGX. Based on a TCV for September 2013 of 
six (6) billion shares, this would amount to 30,000,000 shares for the 
Ultra Tier and 45,000,000 shares for the Mega Tier 3. The higher volume 
requirement necessary to achieve the Mega Tier 3 justifies its higher 
rebate.
Amendments to Lists of Added, Removal and Routed Flags
    The Exchange believes that the proposed relocation and changes to 
the bullets related to ``added flags,'' ``removal flags,'' and ``routed 
flags'' in its Fee Schedule are reasonable because they provide Members 
with greater clarity with regard to which added, removal or routed 
flags count toward certain tiers, and remove potential confusion 
regarding the definition of such flags. The Exchange notes that the 
proposed change is not designed to amend any fee or rebate, nor alter 
the manner in which it assesses fees or calculates rebates. The 
Exchange believes that the proposed amendment is intended to make the 
Fee Schedule clearer and less confusing for investors and eliminate 
potential investor confusion, thereby removing impediments to and 
perfecting the mechanism of a free and open market and a national 
market system, and, in general, protecting investors and the public 
interest.
Amendment to Step-Up Tiers in Footnote 1
    The Exchange believes that changing the ``Step Up'' tiers in 
Footnote 1 of its Fee Schedule to the ``Step-Up'' tiers is reasonable 
because it conforms to the spelling of the proposed Tape B Step-Up Tier 
as well as the step-up tier available on EDGA Exchange, Inc. 
(``EDGA'').\8\ The Exchange notes that the criteria necessary to 
achieve the tiers and the rates offered by the tiers would remain 
unchanged.
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    \8\ EDGA, Fee Schedule, available at http://www.directedge.com/Membership/FeeSchedule/EDGXFeeSchedule.aspx (offering the ``Step-Up 
Tier'').
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    These proposed rule changes do not impose any burden on competition 
that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of 
the Act. The Exchange does not believe that any of these changes 
represent a significant departure from previous pricing offered by the 
Exchange or pricing offered by the Exchange's competitors. 
Additionally, Members may opt to disfavor EDGX's pricing if they 
believe that alternatives offer them better value. Accordingly, the 
Exchange does not believe that the proposed changes will impair the 
ability of Members or competing venues to maintain their competitive 
standing in the financial markets.
Addition of Tape B Step Up Tier
    The Exchange believes that the proposed addition of the Tape B Step 
Up Tier would increase intermarket competition because it would 
encourage market participants to send additional liquidity in Tape B 
securities to EDGX in exchange for an increased rebate. The Exchange 
believes that the proposed tier would neither increase nor decrease 
intramarket competition because the increased rebate offered by the 
tier would apply uniformly to all Members that meet the requirements 
necessary to achieve the tier.
Addition of the Mega Tier 3
    The Exchange believes that the proposed addition of Mega Tier 3 
would increase intermarket competition because it would encourage 
market participants to send additional liquidity to EDGX in exchange 
for an increased rebate. The Exchange believes that the proposed tier 
would neither increase nor decrease intramarket competition because the 
increased rebate offered by the tier would apply uniformly to all 
Members that meet the requirements necessary to achieve the tier.
Amendments to Lists of Added, Removal and Routed Flags
    The Exchange believes that the proposed relocation and changes to 
the bullets related to ``added flags,'' ``removal flags,'' and ``routed 
flags'' in its Fee Schedule would not affect intermarket nor 
intramarket competition because this change is not designed to amend 
any fee or rebate or alter the manner in which the Exchange assesses 
fees or calculates rebates. The proposed change is intended to provide 
greater transparency to Members with regard to which added, removal and 
routed flags are counted towards certain tiers.
Amendment to Step-Up Tiers in Footnote 1
    The Exchange believes that the proposed non-substantive change to 
the ``Step-Up'' tiers in Footnote 1 would not affect intermarket nor 
intramarket competition because the change does not alter the criteria 
necessary to achieve the tiers nor the rates offered by the tiers.

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) of the Act \9\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) \10\ thereunder. 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.
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    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4 (f)(2).

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[[Page 56960]]

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-EDGX-2013-33 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-EDGX-2013-33. 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-EDGX-2013-33 and should be 
submitted on or before October 7, 2013.
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    \11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-22403 Filed 9-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P