[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88282-88284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29286]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-79441; File No. SR-C2-2016-023]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change 
Relating to the Penny Pilot Program

December 1, 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 November 23, 2016, C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated (the 
``Exchange'' or ``C2'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described 
in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the 
Exchange. The Exchange filed the proposal as a ``non-controversial'' 
proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 
\3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\4\ 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)(iii).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to extend the operation of Penny Pilot 
Program through June 30, 2017. The text of the proposed rule change is 
provided below.

    (additions are italicized; deletions are [bracketed])
* * * * *

C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated

Rules

* * * * *

[[Page 88283]]

Rule 6.4. Minimum Increments for Bids and Offers

    The Board of Directors may establish minimum quoting increments 
for options traded on the Exchange. When the Board of Directors 
determines to change the minimum increments, the Exchange will 
designate such change as a stated policy, practice, or 
interpretation with respect to the administration of this Rule 
within the meaning of subparagraph (3)(A) of subsection 19(b) of the 
Exchange Act and will file a rule change for effectiveness upon 
filing with the Commission. Until such time as the Board of 
Directors makes a change to the minimum increments, the following 
minimum increments shall apply to options traded on the Exchange:
    (1) No change.
    (2) No change.
    (3) The decimal increments for bids and offers for all series of 
the option classes participating in the Penny Pilot Program are: 
$0.01 for all option series quoted below $3 (including LEAPS), and 
$0.05 for all option series $3 and above (including LEAPS). For 
QQQQs, IWM, and SPY, the minimum increment is $0.01 for all option 
series. The Exchange may replace any option class participating in 
the Penny Pilot Program that has been delisted with the next most 
actively-traded, multiply-listed option class, based on national 
average daily volume in the preceding six calendar months, that is 
not yet included in the Pilot Program. Any replacement class would 
be added on the second trading day following [July 1, 2016]January 
1, 2017. The Penny Pilot shall expire on [December 31, 2016]June 30, 
2017. Also, for so long as SPDR options (SPY) and options on 
Diamonds (DIA) participate in the Penny Pilot Program, the minimum 
increments for Mini-SPX Index Options (XSP) and options on the Dow 
Jones Industrial Average (DJX), respectively, may be $0.01 for all 
option series quoting less than $3 (including LEAPS), and $0.05 for 
all option series quoting at $3 or higher (including LEAPS).
    (4) No change.
* * * * *

    The text of the proposed rule change is also available on the 
Exchange's Web site (http://www.cboe.com/AboutCBOE/CBOELegalRegulatoryHome.aspx), at the Exchange's Office of the 
Secretary, 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 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 Penny Pilot Program (the ``Pilot Program'') is scheduled to 
expire on December 31, 2016. C2 proposes to extend the Pilot Program 
until June 30, 2017. C2 believes that extending the Pilot Program will 
allow for further analysis of the Pilot Program and a determination of 
how the Pilot Program should be structured in the future.
    During this extension of the Pilot Program, C2 proposes that it may 
replace any option class that is currently included in the Pilot 
Program and that has been delisted with the next most actively traded, 
multiply listed option class that is not yet participating in the Pilot 
Program (``replacement class''). Any replacement class would be 
determined based on national average daily volume in the preceding six 
months,\5\ and would be added on the second trading day following 
January 1, 2017. C2 will announce to its Trading Permit Holders by 
circular any replacement classes in the Pilot Program. The Exchange 
notes that it intends to utilize the same parameters to prospective 
replacement classes as was originally approved.
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    \5\ The month immediately preceding a replacement class's 
addition to the Pilot Program (i.e., December) would not be used for 
purposes of the six-month analysis. Thus, a replacement class to be 
added on the second trading day following January 1, 2017 would be 
identified based on The Option Clearing Corporation's trading volume 
data from June 1, 2016 through November 30, 2016.
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    C2 is specifically authorized to act jointly with the other options 
exchanges participating in the Pilot Program in identifying any 
replacement class.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') and the rules and 
regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular, 
the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\6\ Specifically, the 
Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
Section 6(b)(5) \7\ requirements that the rules of an exchange be 
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 regulating, clearing, 
settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitation 
transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, 
in general, to protect investors and the public interest. Additionally, 
the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
Section 6(b)(5) \8\ requirement that the rules of an exchange not be 
designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, 
brokers, or dealers. In particular, the proposed rule change allows for 
an extension of the Pilot Program for the benefit of market 
participants.
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \8\ Id.
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    C2 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. Specifically, the Exchange 
believes that, by extending the expiration of the Pilot Program, the 
proposed rule change will allow for further analysis of the Pilot 
Program and a determination of how the Program shall be structured in 
the future. In doing so, the proposed rule change will also serve to 
promote regulatory clarity and consistency, thereby reducing burdens on 
the marketplace and facilitating investor protection. In addition, the 
Exchange has been authorized to act jointly in extending the Pilot 
Program and believes the other exchanges will be filing similar 
extensions.

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

    The Exchange neither solicited nor received 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 \9\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \10\ thereunder. 
Because the 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 prior to 
30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as 
the Commission may designate, if

[[Page 88284]]

consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, 
the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \11\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.\12\
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    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \12\ 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 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 will institute proceedings to 
determine whether the proposed rule change 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-C2-2016-023 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-C2-2016-023. 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-C2-2016-023 and should be 
submitted on or before December 28, 2016.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\13\
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    \13\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Brent J. Fields.
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-29286 Filed 12-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P