[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 127 (Friday, July 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43306-43308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15717]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-78180; File No. SR-BatsBYX-2016-15]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Bats BYX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change to Rule 
11.24, Retail Price Improvement Program, To Extend the Pilot Period

June 28, 2016.
    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 June 23, 2016, Bats BYX Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or 
``BYX'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and 
II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange 
has designated this proposal as a ``non-controversial'' proposed rule 
change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder,\4\ which renders it effective upon filing with 
the Commission. 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.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the 
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange filed a proposal to extend the pilot period for the 
Exchange's Retail Price Improvement (``RPI'') Program (the 
``Program''), which is currently set to expire on July 31, 2016, for 12 
months, to expire on July 31, 2017.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange's 
Web site at www.batstrading.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 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
    In November 2012, the Commission approved the RPI Program on a 
pilot basis.\5\ The Program is designed to attract retail order flow to 
the Exchange, and allows such order flow to receive potential price 
improvement. The Program is currently limited to trades occurring at 
prices equal to or greater than $1.00 per share. Under the Program, all 
Exchange Users \6\ are permitted to provide potential price improvement 
for Retail Orders \7\ in the form of non-displayed interest that is 
better than the national best bid that is a Protected Quotation 
(``Protected NBB'') or the national best offer that is a Protected 
Quotation (``Protected NBO'', and together with the Protected NBB, the 
``Protected NBBO'').\8\
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    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68303 (November 27, 
2012), 77 FR 71652 (December 3, 2012) (``RPI Approval Order'') (SR-
BYX-2012-019).
    \6\ A ``User'' is defined in BYX Rule 1.5(cc) as any member or 
sponsored participant of the Exchange who is authorized to obtain 
access to the System.
    \7\ A ``Retail Order'' is defined in Rule 11.24(a)(2) as an 
agency order that originates from a natural person and is submitted 
to the Exchange by a RMO, provided that no change is made to the 
terms of the order with respect to price or side of market and the 
order does not originate from a trading algorithm or any 
computerized methodology. See Rule 11.24(a)(2).
    \8\ The term Protected Quotation is defined in BYX Rule 1.5(t) 
and has the same meaning as is set forth in Regulation NMS Rule 
600(b)(58). The terms Protected NBB and Protected NBO are defined in 
BYX Rule 1.5(s). The Protected NBB is the best-priced protected bid 
and the Protected NBO is the best-priced protected offer. Generally, 
the Protected NBB and Protected NBO and the national best bid 
(``NBB'') and national best offer (``NBO'', together with the NBB, 
the ``NBBO'') will be the same. However, a market center is not 
required to route to the NBB or NBO if that market center is subject 
to an exception under Regulation NMS Rule 611(b)(1) or if such NBB 
or NBO is otherwise not available for an automatic execution. In 
such case, the Protected NBB or Protected NBO would be the best-
priced protected bid or offer to which a market center must route 
interest pursuant to Regulation NMS Rule 611.

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[[Page 43307]]

    The Program was approved by the Commission on a pilot basis running 
one-year from the date of implementation.\9\ The Commission approved 
the Program on November 27, 2012.\10\ The Exchange implemented the 
Program on January 11, 2013, and has extended the pilot period three 
times.\11\ The pilot period for the Program is scheduled to end on July 
31, 2016.
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    \9\ See RPI Approval Order, supra note 5 at 71652.
    \10\ Id.
    \11\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 71249 (January 7, 
2014), 79 FR 2229 (January 13, 2014) (SR-BYX-2014-001) (Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change to 
Extend the Pilot Period for the Retail Price Improvement Program); 
74111 (January 22, 2015), 80 FR 4598 (January 28, 2015) (SR-BYX-
2015-05) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed 
Rule Change to Extend the Pilot Period for BATS Y-Exchange, Inc.'s 
Retail Price Improvement (``RPI'') Program for 12 Months, To Expire 
on January 31, 2016); 76965 (January 22, 2016), 81 FR 4682 (January 
27, 2016) (SR-BYX-2016-01) (Notice of Filing and Immediate 
Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change to Rule 11.24, Retail Price 
Improvement Program, To Extend the Pilot Period).
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Proposal To Extend the Operation of the Program
    The Exchange established the RPI Program in an attempt to attract 
retail order flow to the Exchange by potentially providing price 
improvement to such order flow. The Exchange believes that the Program 
promotes competition for retail order flow by allowing Exchange members 
to submit Retail Price Improvement Orders (``RPI Orders'') \12\ to 
interact with Retail Orders. Such competition has the ability to 
promote efficiency by facilitating the price discovery process and 
generating additional investor interest in trading securities, thereby 
promoting capital formation. The Exchange believes that extending the 
pilot is appropriate because it will allow the Exchange and the 
Commission additional time to gather and analyze data regarding the 
Program that the Exchange has committed to provide.\13\ As such, the 
Exchange believes that it is appropriate to extend the current 
operation of the Program.\14\ Through this filing, the Exchange seeks 
to extend the current pilot period of the Program until July 31, 2017.
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    \12\ A ``Retail Price Improvement Order'' is defined in Rule 
11.24(a)(3) as an order that consists of non-displayed interest on 
the Exchange that is priced better than the Protected NBB or 
Protected NBO by at least $0.001 and that is identified as such. See 
Rule 11.24(a)(3).
    \13\ See RPI Approval Order, supra note 5 at 71655.
    \14\ Concurrently with this filing, the Exchange has submitted a 
request for an extension of the exemption under Regulation NMS Rule 
612 previously granted by the Commission that permits it to accept 
and rank the RPI orders in sub-penny increments. See Letter from 
Anders Franzon, SVP, Associate General Counsel, Bats BYX Exchange, 
Inc. to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities and Exchange 
Commission dated June 23, 2016.
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with the 
requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder that 
are applicable to a national securities exchange, and, in particular, 
with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\15\ In particular, 
the Exchange believes the proposed change furthers the objectives of 
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\16\ in that it is designed to prevent 
fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and 
equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination 
with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, and to 
remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market and a national market system. The Exchange believes that 
extending the pilot period for the RPI Program is consistent with these 
principles because the Program is reasonably designed to attract retail 
order flow to the exchange environment, while helping to ensure that 
retail investors benefit from the better price that liquidity providers 
are willing to give their orders. Additionally, as previously stated, 
the competition promoted by the Program may facilitate the price 
discovery process and potentially generate additional investor interest 
in trading securities. The extension of the pilot period will allow the 
Commission and the Exchange to continue to monitor the Program for its 
potential effects on public price discovery, and on the broader market 
structure.
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    \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange 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. The proposed rule change 
extends an established pilot program for 12 months, thus allowing the 
RPI Program to enhance competition for retail order flow and contribute 
to the public price discovery process.

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 written comments from Members or other interested parties.

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 \17\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \18\ thereunder. 
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 was filed, or such shorter time as 
the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to 
Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \19\ and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 
19b-4 thereunder.\20\
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    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \18\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) 
requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the 
Exchange's intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a 
brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least 
five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule 
change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The 
Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \20\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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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: (i) 
Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the 
protection of investors; or (iii) otherwise in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act.\21\ If the Commission takes such action, the 
Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the 
proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved.\22\
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    \21\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(C).
    \22\ Id.
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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-BatsBYX-2016-15 on the subject line.

[[Page 43308]]

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-BatsBYX-2016-15. 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-BatsBYX-2016-15, and should 
be submitted on or before July 22, 2016.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\23\
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    \23\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-15717 Filed 6-30-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P