[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 209 (Wednesday, October 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64431-64434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25666]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-73412; File No. SR-BATS-2014-052]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Exchange, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change to Rules 
11.9 and 11.13 of BATS Exchange, Inc.

October 23, 2014.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on October 17, 2014, BATS Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``BATS'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') a 
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\ 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 filed a proposal to amend Rules 11.9 and 11.13 to 
modify the routing strategies made available through the Exchange.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange's 
Web site at http://www.batstrading.com/, at the principal office of the 
Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

[[Page 64432]]

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 parts of such 
statements.

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

1. Purpose
    Earlier this year, the Exchange and its affiliate BATS Y-Exchange, 
Inc. (``BYX'') received approval to effect a merger (the ``Merger'') of 
the Exchange's parent company, BATS Global Markets, Inc., with Direct 
Edge Holdings LLC, the indirect parent of EDGX Exchange, Inc. 
(``EDGX'') and EDGA Exchange, Inc. (``EDGA'', and together with BZX, 
BYX and EDGX, the ``BGM Affiliated Exchanges'').\3\ In the context of 
the Merger, the BGM Affiliated Exchanges are working to align certain 
system functionality, retaining only intended differences between the 
BGM Affiliated Exchanges. Thus, the proposal set forth below is 
intended to add certain system functionality currently offered by EDGA 
and EDGX in order to provide a consistent technology offering for users 
of the BGM Affiliated Exchanges.
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    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 71375 (January 23, 
2014), 79 FR 4771 (January 29, 2014) (SR-BATS-2013-059; SR-BYX-2013-
039).
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    The specific proposal set forth in more detail below would amend 
Rules 11.9 and 11.13, which describe the Exchange's routing options 
made available by the Exchange. Specifically, the changes to Rule 11.9 
would relocate certain routing strategies identified as order types to 
Rule 11.13. The Exchange is also proposing to eliminate an obsolete 
routing strategy that is currently listed as an order type. Finally, 
the Exchange proposes to add to Rule 11.13 to offer many of the same 
routing strategies offered by EDGA and EDGX. The Exchange notes that 
the proposed rule text is based on the rules of EDGA and EDGX and is 
different only to the extent necessary to conform to the Exchange's 
current rules.\4\
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    \4\ See EDGA Rules 11.9(b)(2)(c), 11.9(b)(2)(d), 11.9(b)(2)(h), 
11.9(b)(2)(i), 11.9(b)(2)(n); EDGX Rules 11.9(b)(2)(c), 
11.9(b)(2)(d), 11.9(b)(2)(h), 11.9(b)(2)(i), 11.9(b)(2)(j), 
11.9(b)(2)(n).
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Modifications to Rule 11.9
    As noted above, the Exchange proposes to re-locate two routing 
strategies from Rule 11.9 to Rule 11.13. Rule 11.9 generally contains 
order types and order type modifiers whereas Rule 11.13 describes 
routing strategies offered by the Exchange. Accordingly, the Exchange 
proposes to relocate Destination Specific Orders and Directed 
Intermarket Sweep Orders (``Directed ISOs'') from Rule 11.9 to Rule 
11.13 because both orders are routing strategies rather than order 
types or order type modifiers. The Exchange notes that Rule 11.13 has 
always reflected that such descriptions are routing strategies by 
containing a cross-reference to such strategies in Rule 11.13(a)(3). 
The Exchange is not proposing to modify the description or operation of 
either Destination Specific Orders or Directed Intermarket Sweep 
Orders. The Exchange notes that it has proposed minor changes to the 
wording of both Destination Specific Orders and Directed ISOs in order 
to conform such routing strategies with the other strategies described 
in Rule 11.13(a)(3).
    The Exchange also proposes to delete from Rule 11.9 an obsolete 
routing strategy, the Modified Destination Specific Order, which is 
currently set forth in Rule 11.9(c)(13). Modified Destination Specified 
Orders are market or limit orders that instruct the System \5\ to route 
the order to a specified away trading center or centers, as approved by 
the Exchange from time to time, without first exposing the order to the 
Exchange's order book (the ``BATS Book'').\6\ The Exchange notes that 
it has not had any approved away trading centers for Modified 
Destination Specific Orders for several years but has retained the 
order in the event the Exchange determined to offer such routing 
strategy again. The Exchange believes that it is appropriate to 
eliminate Modified Destination Specific Orders because they are no 
longer offered by the Exchange and are unlikely to be offered by the 
Exchange in the near future.
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    \5\ As defined in Rule 1.5(aa), the System is the electronic 
communications and trading facility designated by the Board through 
which securities orders of Users are consolidated for ranking, 
execution and, when applicable, routing away.
    \6\ As defined in Rule 1.5(e).
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Additions to Rule 11.13
    The Exchange proposes to add several new routing strategies based 
on routing strategies offered by EDGA and/or EDGX, as set forth below.
    The Exchange currently offers various routing strategies under 
which an order checks the System for available shares if so instructed 
by the entering User and then is sent to destinations on the applicable 
System routing table.\7\ Specifically, the Exchange offers TRIM, TRIM2, 
TRIM3 and SLIM routing strategies. The Exchange proposes to consolidate 
these routing strategies into a single rule, Rule 11.13(a)(3)(G), and 
to add to this rule three additional routing strategies under which an 
order checks the System for available shares and then is sent to 
destinations on the applicable System routing table, namely ROUT, ROUX 
and ROUZ. The Exchange also proposes to specify for ROUT and ROUX that 
the entering User may select either Route To Improve (``RTI'') or Route 
To Fill (``RTF''). RTI may route to multiple destinations at a single 
price level simultaneously while RTF may route to multiple destinations 
and at multiple price levels simultaneously.
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    \7\ As set forth in Rule 11.13(a)(3), the term ``System routing 
table'' refers to the proprietary process for determining the 
specific trading venues to which the System routes orders and the 
order in which it routes them.
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    The Exchange notes that the RTI option coupled with either ROUT or 
ROUX is similar to the Parallel D routing strategy described in current 
Rule 11.13(a)(3)(B) in that it routes to multiple destinations 
simultaneously but at a single price level whereas the RTF option 
coupled with either ROUT or ROUX is similar to the Parallel 2D routing 
strategy described in current Rule 11.13(a)(3)(C). The only distinction 
between Parallel D and Parallel 2D on one hand and ROUT or ROUX coupled 
with RTI or RTF on the other is that the existence of ROUT and ROUX 
plus either RTI or RTF will provide additional flexibility by allowing 
the Exchange to offer two System routing tables that can be paired with 
the applicable routing methodology. In order to allow a gradual 
migration from Parallel D and Parallel 2D to the proposed routing 
strategies (ROUT or ROUX plus RTI or RTF) the Exchange is not proposing 
to eliminate such routing strategies upon effectiveness of this 
proposal. Instead, the Exchange proposes to continue to accept orders 
designated for Parallel D and Parallel 2D routing and will eventually 
retire such routing strategies and remove reference to the routing 
strategies from Exchange rules once all affected Users have been 
migrated away from Parallel D and Parallel 2D to the new routing 
strategies. Further, adding the ROUT and ROUX routing strategies plus 
the RTI and RTF options as proposed will ensure

[[Page 64433]]

consistency with EDGA and EDGX with respect to the names used to 
describe the strategies.
    The Exchange also proposes to add the Post to Away routing option, 
which will route the remainder of a routed order to and posts such 
order on the order book of a destination on the System routing table as 
specified by the User. The Post to Away routing option is an 
alternative to either cancelling a routed order back to a User or 
posting such order to the BATS Book to the extent an order is not 
completely filled through the routing process. The Post to Away routing 
option can be combined with the following routing strategies (each of 
which is separately described in this filing): ROUT, ROUX, ROUZ, INET, 
RDOT, RDOX and ROLF.
    The Exchange also proposes to adopt four additional routing 
strategies under which an order checks the System for available shares 
and is sent to a specified destination. Although the Exchange currently 
has similar order routing options through the Destination Specific 
routing option, the Exchange is proposing certain additional 
functionality with the proposed routing strategies to match 
functionality offered by EDGA and EDGX. The Exchange also believes that 
retaining the same names for such routing options as are utilized by 
EDGA and EDGX will help to promote the integration of the BGM 
Affiliated Exchanges. These proposed routing strategies that are 
focused on particular destinations and/or particular functionality 
offered by such destinations are set forth below:
     INET. The Exchange proposes to add the INET routing option 
under which an order will check the System for available shares and 
then will be sent to Nasdaq. If shares remain unexecuted after routing 
through the INET routing option, they will be posted on the Nasdaq 
book, unless otherwise instructed by the User.
     RDOT. The Exchange proposes to add the RDOT routing option 
under which an order will check the System for available shares and 
then will be sent to destinations on the System routing table. If 
shares remain unexecuted after routing, they will be sent to NYSE and 
can be re-routed by the NYSE. If shares remain unexecuted after 
routing, they will be posted to the NYSE, unless otherwise instructed 
by the User.
     RDOX. The Exchange proposes to add the RDOX option under 
which an order will check the System for available shares, then will be 
sent to the NYSE and can be re-routed by the NYSE. If shares remain 
unexecuted after routing, they will be posted on the NYSE book, unless 
otherwise instructed by the User.
     ROLF. The Exchange proposes to add the ROLF routing option 
under which an order will check the System for available shares and 
then will be sent to LavaFlow ECN. If shares remain unexecuted after 
routing they will be cancelled, unless otherwise instructed by the 
User.
    The Exchange also proposes to add the ROOC routing option for 
orders that the entering User wishes to designate for participation in 
the opening, re-opening (following a halt, suspension, or pause), or 
closing process of a primary listing market (NYSE, Nasdaq, NYSE MKT, or 
NYSE Arca) if received before the opening/re-opening/closing time of 
such market. If shares remain unexecuted after attempting to execute in 
the opening, re-opening, or closing process, they will be posted to the 
BATS Book, executed, or routed to destinations on the System routing 
table.
    In addition to the changes proposed above, the Exchange also 
proposes to re-number various existing paragraphs of Rule 11.13(a)(3) 
in connection with the addition of the proposed routing strategies. The 
Exchange also proposes to correct a typographical error in Rule 
11.13(a)(3)(I), which describes SWP orders, by referencing Rule 
11.18(e) instead of Rule 11.8(e) with respect to the Limit Up-Limit 
Down Plan.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule changes are consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') 
\8\ and further the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \9\ 
because they are designed to promote just and equitable principles of 
trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and 
open market and a national market system, to foster cooperation and 
coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in 
securities, and, in general, to protect investors and the public 
interest. The proposed rule change also is designed to support the 
principles of Section 11A(a)(1) \10\ of the Act in that it seeks to 
assure fair competition among brokers and dealers and among exchange 
markets. In particular, the proposed change to introduce additional 
routing strategies will provide market participants with greater 
flexibility in routing orders consistent with Regulation NMS without 
developing order routing strategies on their own.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1).
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    As noted above, the proposed rule changes to add functionality are 
intended to add certain system functionality currently offered by EDGA 
and EDGX in order to provide a consistent technology offering for the 
BGM Affiliated Exchanges. A consistent technology offering, in turn, 
will simplify the technology implementation, changes and maintenance by 
Users of the Exchange that are also participants on BYX, EDGA and/or 
EDGX. The proposed rule changes would also provide Users with access to 
functionality that may result in the efficient execution of such orders 
and will provide additional flexibility as well as increased 
functionality to the Exchange's System and its Users. As explained 
elsewhere in this proposal, all of the proposed routing options are 
similar to routing strategies on other market centers, including EDGA 
and EDGX.
    The Exchange also believes that re-locating certain routing options 
from Rule 11.9 to Rule 11.13 is consistent with the protection of 
investors and the public interest pursuant to the Act because such 
changes will enable those reviewing the Exchange's rules to more 
clearly understand such rules.
    Finally, the Exchange believes that elimination of the Modified 
Destination Specific Order is consistent with the Act because such 
routing strategy is not currently offered by the Exchange because there 
are no currently approved destinations for such strategy. Thus, 
eliminating reference to such strategy will avoid confusion by market 
participants.

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange 
provides routing services in a highly competitive market in which 
participants may avail themselves of a wide variety of routing options 
offered by self-regulatory organizations, alternative trading systems, 
other broker-dealers, market participants' own proprietary routing 
systems, and service bureaus. In such an environment, system 
enhancements such as the changes proposed in this rule filing do not 
burden competition, because they can succeed in attracting order flow 
to the Exchange only if they offer investors higher quality and better 
value than services offered by others. The Exchange reiterates that the 
proposed rule change

[[Page 64434]]

is being proposed in the context of the technology integration of the 
BGM Affiliated Exchanges. Thus, the Exchange believes this proposed 
rule change is necessary to permit fair competition among national 
securities exchanges. In addition, the Exchange believes the proposed 
rule change will benefit Exchange participants in that it is one of 
several changes necessary to achieve a consistent technology offering 
by the BGM Affiliated Exchanges.

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

    The Exchange has neither solicited nor received written 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) of the Act \11\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\12\ 
Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly 
affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose 
any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 
30 days from the date on which it is filed, or such shorter time as the 
Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\13\
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    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \12\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \13\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). As required under Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written 
notice of its 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.
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    A proposed rule change filed pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the 
Act \14\ normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date 
of its filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) \15\ permits the 
Commission to 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, noting that 
a waiver of the operative delay will allow the Exchange to continue to 
strive towards a complete technology integration of the BGM Affiliated 
Exchanges, with gradual roll-outs of new functionality to ensure 
stability of the System. The Exchange also believes that the benefit to 
Exchange Users expected from the proposed rule change--greater 
flexibility in their efforts to fill orders--should not be delayed. 
Further, the Exchange states that introduction of the optional routing 
strategies will not require any systems changes by Exchange Users that 
would necessitate a delay, as selection of the routing strategies is 
entirely optional and Users will not be affected by the change unless 
they select to use the newly offered functionality. The Commission 
believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest. Therefore, the 
Commission hereby waives the operative delay and designates the 
proposed rule change operative upon filing.\16\
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    \14\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \15\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \16\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
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. 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-BATS-2014-052 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-BATS-2014-052. 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 offices 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-BATS-2014-052, 
and should be submitted on or before November 19, 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. 2014-25666 Filed 10-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P