[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28985-28987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11570]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-72163; File No. SR-ISE-2014-27]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, 
LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule 
Change To Amend the Schedule of Fees

May 14, 2014.
    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 May 2, 2014, the International Securities Exchange, LLC 
(the ``Exchange'' or the ``ISE'') filed with the Securities and 
Exchange 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 ISE proposes to amend its Schedule of Fees to introduce a new 
Market Maker Plus rebate for Market Makers that quote certain symbols 
in size, and to update the definition of Mini Option to reflect the 
recent Google stock split. 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.

[[Page 28986]]

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

1. Purpose
    The purpose of the proposed rule change is to amend the Schedule of 
Fees to introduce a new Market Maker Plus rebate for Market Makers that 
quote certain symbols in size, and to update the definition of Mini 
Option to reflect the recent Google stock split. The fee changes 
discussed apply to both Standard Options and Mini Options traded on the 
Exchange. The Exchange's Schedule of Fees has separate tables for fees 
applicable to Standard Options and Mini Options. The Exchange notes 
that while the discussion below relates to fees for Standard Options, 
the fees for Mini Options, which are not discussed below, are and shall 
continue to be 1/10th of the fees for Standard Options.
1. Market Maker Plus: BAC, SPY, IWM
    In order to promote and encourage liquidity in symbols that are in 
the penny pilot program (``Select Symbols''), the Exchange currently 
offers Market Makers \3\ who meet the quoting requirements for Market 
Maker Plus \4\ a rebate of $0.20 per contract for adding liquidity in 
those symbols. In addition, the Exchange pays a higher rebate of $0.22 
per contract to Market Makers who meet the quoting requirements for 
Market Maker Plus and are affiliated with an Electronic Access Member 
(``EAM'') that executes a total affiliated Priority Customer \5\ 
average daily volume (``ADV'') of 200,000 contracts or more in a 
calendar month. The Exchange now proposes to introduce an additional 
higher Market Maker Plus rebate for members that meet specified 
quotation size requirements on a trade by trade basis in three actively 
traded Select Symbols: Bank of America Corp (``BAC''), SPDR S&P 500 ETF 
Trust (``SPY''), and the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (``IWM'').\6\ In 
particular, Market Makers who qualify as Market Maker Plus in BAC, SPY, 
and IWM will earn a rebate of $0.25 per contract if at the time of the 
trade their displayed quantity, \7\ in the traded series, \8\ is at 
least 1,000 contracts.\9\ Market Makers that achieve Market Maker Plus 
will continue to receive the current rebate amounts when the Market 
Maker does not have a displayed size of 1,000 contracts or more at the 
time of the trade. If a Market Maker that qualifies for the $0.22 per 
contract Market Maker Plus rebate based on total affiliated Priority 
Customer ADV also qualifies for the new rebate that Market Maker will 
receive the higher $0.25 per contract rebate.
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    \3\ The term ``Market Makers'' refers to ``Competitive Market 
Makers'' and ``Primary Market Makers'' collectively. See ISE Rule 
100(a)(25).
    \4\ A Market Maker Plus is a Market Maker who is on the National 
Best Bid or National Best Offer at least 80% of the time for series 
trading between $0.03 and $3.00 (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 $3.00 (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. A Market Maker's single best and single worst quoting days 
each month based on the front two expiration months, on a per symbol 
basis, will be excluded in calculating whether a Market Maker 
qualifies for this rebate, if doing so will qualify a Market Maker 
for the rebate.
    \5\ 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).
    \6\ The new rebate will only apply to Mini Options on SPY as the 
ISE does not offer Mini Options on BAC or IWM.
    \7\ There is no trade quantity minimum.
    \8\ There is no requirement that the Market Maker maintain a 
quote size of 1,000 contracts in all series in order to qualify for 
the higher rebate.
    \9\ 1,000 contract size requirement applies to both Standard 
Options and Mini Options.
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2. Mini Option Definition: Google Stock Split
    The ISE recently amended Supplementary Material .13 to Rule 504, 
listing standards for Mini Options, to enable the continued trading of 
Mini Options on Google Class A shares, which were assigned a new 
symbol, ``GOOGL'', in connection with Google's recent stock split.\10\ 
The Exchange now proposes to similarly update the definition of ``Mini 
Option'' in its Schedule of Fees to indicate that Mini Options include 
options overlying ten shares of ``GOOGL''. As proposed, ``Mini 
Options'' are options overlying ten (10) shares of AAPL, AMZN, GLD, 
GOOGL and SPY.\11\
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    \10\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 71932 (April 11, 
2014), 79 FR 21816 (April 17, 2014) (SR-ISE-2014-21).
    \11\ For purposes of the Schedule of Fees, AAPL, AMZN, GLD and 
SPY are Select Symbols and GOOGL is a Non-Select Symbol.
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,\12\ in general, and 
Section 6(b)(4) of the Act, \13\ 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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    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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1. Market Maker Plus: BAC, SPY, IWM
    The Exchange believes that it is reasonable, equitable, and not 
unfairly discriminatory to introduce a higher Market Maker Plus rebate 
for Market Makers that meet the specified quotation size requirements 
in BAC, SPY, and IWM as the higher rebates will encourage Market Makers 
to post deep markets in these actively traded symbols, which will 
benefit all market participants that trade on the ISE. The Market Maker 
Plus rebate is competitive with incentives provided by other exchanges, 
and has proven to be an effective incentive for Market Makers to 
provide liquidity in Select Symbols. The Exchange believes that the new 
rebate will similarly be effective in encouraging Market Makers to post 
tighter markets, in size, in BAC, SPY, and IWM. Furthermore, the 
Exchange believes that the new Market Maker Plus rebate for these 
symbols is not unfairly discriminatory because all Market Makers can 
achieve the new higher rebate by satisfying the current quoting 
requirements and maintaining quotes of 1,000 contracts or more (at the 
time of the trade) in these symbols.

2. Mini Option Definition: Google Stock Split

    As part of Google's recent stock split, the symbol ``GOOG'' was 
assigned to the new Google Class C shares, while Google Class A shares 
were assigned the symbol ``GOOGL''. The Exchange recently updated its 
Mini Options rules to clarify that it will continue listing Mini 
Options on the Google Class A shares, i.e., GOOGL, and believes that it 
is reasonable, equitable, and not unfairly discriminatory to update the 
definition of ``Mini Option'' in the Schedule of Fees in order to 
eliminate investor confusion about which options classes are tradable 
as Mini Options on the Exchange.
    The Exchange notes that it has determined to charge fees and 
provide rebates in Mini Options at a rate that is 1/10th the rate of 
fees and rebates the Exchange provides for trading in Standard Options. 
The Exchange believes it is reasonable and equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory to assess lower fees and rebates to provide market 
participants an incentive to trade Mini Options on the Exchange. The 
Exchange believes the proposed fees and rebates are reasonable and 
equitable in light of the fact that Mini Options have a smaller 
exercise and assignment value, specifically 1/10th that of a standard 
option contract, and, as such, is providing fees and rebates for Mini

[[Page 28987]]

Options that are 1/10th of those applicable to Standard Options.

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

    In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act, \14\ the Exchange 
does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden 
on intermarket or intramarket competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. To the contrary, 
the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is pro-competitive 
as it provides an additional incentive for Market Makers to make deep 
markets in three actively traded Select Symbols, which will benefit all 
market participants that trade on the ISE. In addition, the proposed 
change to the definition of Mini Option is a technical change that will 
have no competitive impact. The Exchange operates in a highly 
competitive market in which market participants can readily direct 
their order flow to competing venues. In such an environment, the 
Exchange must continually review, and consider adjusting, its fees to 
remain competitive with other exchanges. For the reasons described 
above, the Exchange believes that the proposed fee changes reflect this 
competitive environment.
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    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
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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 \15\ and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 
thereunder, \16\ because it establishes a due, fee, or other charge 
imposed by ISE.
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    \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
    \16\ 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 No. SR-ISE-2014-27 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ISE-2014-27. 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 ISE. 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-2014-27 and should be 
submitted by June 10, 2014.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\17\
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    \17\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-11570 Filed 5-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P