80_FR_22834 80 FR 22756 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fee Schedule

80 FR 22756 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fee Schedule

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 78 (April 23, 2015)

Page Range22756-22759
FR Document2015-09426

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 78 (Thursday, April 23, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 78 (Thursday, April 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22756-22759]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09426]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-74758; File No. SR-MIAX-2015-27]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities 
Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a 
Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fee Schedule

April 17, 2015.
    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 April 7, 2015, Miami International Securities Exchange LLC (``MIAX'' 
or ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in 
Items I, II, and III 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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[[Page 22757]]

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange is filing a proposal to amend the MIAX Options Fee 
Schedule.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://www.miaxoptions.com/filter/wotitle/rule_filing, at 
MIAX's principal office, 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 Exchange proposes to amend its current Priority Customer Rebate 
Program (the ``Program'') to modify the volume thresholds of tiers 1-
5.\3\ Under the Program, the Exchange proposes to credit each Member 
the per contract amount set forth in the table below resulting from 
each Priority Customer \4\ order transmitted by that Member which is 
executed on the Exchange in all multiply-listed option classes 
(excluding mini-options, Priority Customer-to-Priority Customer Orders, 
PRIME AOC Responses, PRIME Contra-side Orders, PRIME Orders for which 
both the Agency and Contra-side Order are Priority Customers, and 
executions related to contracts that are routed to one or more 
exchanges in connection with the Options Order Protection and Locked/
Crossed Market Plan referenced in MIAX Rule 1400), provided the Member 
meets certain volume thresholds in a month as described below. For each 
Priority Customer order transmitted by that Member which is executed 
electronically on the Exchange in MIAX Select Symbols, MIAX will 
continue to credit each member at the separate per contract rate for 
MIAX Select Symbols.\5\ For each Priority Customer order submitted into 
the PRIME Auction as a PRIME Agency Order, MIAX will continue to credit 
each member at the separate per contract rate for PRIME Agency 
Orders.\6\ The volume thresholds are calculated based on the customer 
average daily volume over the course of the month. Volume will be 
recorded for and credits will be delivered to the Member Firm that 
submits the order to the Exchange.
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    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 74007 (January 9, 
2015), 80 FR 1537 (January 12, 2015) (SR-MIAX-2014-69); 72799 
(August 8, 2014), 79 FR 47698 (August 14, 2014) (SR-MIAX-2014-40); 
72355 (June 10, 2014), 79 FR 34368 (June 16, 2014) (SR-MIAX-2014-
25); 71698 (March 12, 2014), 79 FR 15185 (March 18, 2014) (SR-MIAX-
2014-12); 71283 (January 10, 2014), 79 FR 2914 (January 16, 2014) 
(SR-MIAX-2013-63); 71009 (December 6, 2013), 78 FR 75629 (December 
12, 2013) (SR-MIAX-2013-56).
    \4\ The term ``Priority Customer'' means a person or entity that 
(i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) does not place 
more than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a 
calendar month for its own beneficial accounts(s). See MIAX Rule 
100.
    \5\ See Securities Exchange Release Nos. 74291 (February 18, 
2015), 80 FR 9841 (February 24, 2015)(SR-MIAX-2015-09); 74288 
(February 18, 2015), 80 FR 9837 (February 24, 2015) (SR-MIAX-2015-
08); 71700 (March 12, 2014), 79 FR 15188 (March 18, 2014) (SR-MIAX-
2014-13); 72356 (June 10, 2014), 79 FR 34384 (June 16, 2014) (SR-
MIAX-2014-26); 72567 (July 8, 2014), 79 FR 40818 (July 14, 2014) 
(SR-MIAX-2014-34); 73328 (October 9, 2014), 79 FR 62230 (October 16, 
2014) (SR-MIAX-2014-50).
    \6\ See Securities Exchange Release No. 72943 (August 28, 2014), 
79 FR 52785 (September 4, 2014) (SR-MIAX-2014-45).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Per contract
 Percentage thresholds of national customer volume in multiply-    Per contract    Per contract     credit for
         listed options classes listed on MIAX (Monthly)              credit      credit in MIAX   PRIME agency
                                                                                  select symbols       order
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.00%-0.40%.....................................................           $0.00           $0.00           $0.10
Above 0.40%-0.75%...............................................            0.10            0.10            0.10
Above 0.75%-1.75%...............................................            0.15            0.20            0.10
Above 1.75%-2.40%...............................................            0.17            0.20            0.10
Above 2.40%.....................................................            0.18            0.20            0.10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Other aspects of the Program will remain the same as before. 
Consistent with the current Fee Schedule, the Exchange will continue to 
aggregate the contracts resulting from Priority Customer orders 
transmitted and executed electronically on the Exchange from affiliated 
Members for purposes of the thresholds above, provided there is at 
least 75% common ownership between the firms as reflected on each 
firm's Form BD, Schedule A. In the event of a MIAX System outage or 
other interruption of electronic trading on MIAX, the Exchange will 
adjust the national customer volume in multiply-listed options for the 
duration of the outage. A Member may request to receive its credit 
under the Priority Customer Rebate Program as a separate direct 
payment.
    In addition, the rebate payments will continue to be calculated 
from the first executed contract at the applicable threshold per 
contract credit with the rebate payments made at the highest achieved 
volume tier for each contract traded in that month. For example, if 
Member Firm XYZ, Inc. (``XYZ'') has enough Priority Customer contracts 
to achieve 3.25% of the national customer volume in multiply-listed 
option contracts during the month of April, XYZ will receive a credit 
of $0.18 for each Priority Customer contract executed in the month of 
April.
    The purpose of the Program is to encourage Members to direct 
greater Priority Customer trade volume to the Exchange. Increased 
Priority Customer volume will provide for greater liquidity, which 
benefits all market participants. The practice of incentivizing 
increased retail customer order flow in order to attract professional 
liquidity providers (Market-Makers) is, and has been, commonly 
practiced in the options markets. As such, marketing fee programs,\7\ 
and customer posting incentive programs,\8\ are based on attracting 
public customer order flow. The Program similarly intends to attract 
Priority Customer order flow, which will increase liquidity, thereby 
providing greater trading opportunities and tighter spreads for other 
market

[[Page 22758]]

participants and causing a corresponding increase in order flow from 
such other market participants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See MIAX Fee Schedule, Section 1(b).
    \8\ See NYSE Arca, Inc. Fees Schedule, page 4 (section titled 
``Customer Monthly Posting Credit Tiers and Qualifications for 
Executions in Penny Pilot Issues'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The specific volume thresholds of the Program's tiers were set 
based upon business determinations and an analysis of current volume 
levels. The volume thresholds are intended to incentivize firms that 
route some Priority Customer orders to the Exchange to increase the 
number of orders that are sent to the Exchange to achieve the next 
threshold and to incent new participants to send Priority Customer 
orders as well. Increasing the number of orders sent to the Exchange 
will in turn provide tighter and more liquid markets, and therefore 
attract more business overall. Similarly, the different credit rates at 
the different tier levels were based on an analysis of revenue and 
volume levels and are intended to provide increasing ``rewards'' for 
increasing the volume of trades sent to the Exchange. The specific 
amounts of the tiers and rates were set in order to encourage suppliers 
of Priority Customer order flow to reach for higher tiers.
    The credits paid out as part of the program will be drawn from the 
general revenues of the Exchange.\9\ The Exchange calculates volume 
thresholds on a monthly basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ Despite providing credits under the Program, the Exchange 
represents that it will continue to have adequate resources to fund 
its regulatory program and fulfill its responsibilities as a self-
regulatory organization while the Program will be in effect.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal to amend its fee schedule 
is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act \10\ in general, and 
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \11\ in 
particular, in that it is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees 
and other charges among Exchange members.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that the proposed Priority Customer Rebate 
Program is fair, equitable and not unreasonably discriminatory. The 
Program is reasonably designed because it will incent providers of 
Priority Customer order flow to send that Priority Customer order flow 
to the Exchange in order to receive a credit in a manner that enables 
the Exchange to improve its overall competitiveness and strengthen its 
market quality for all market participants. The Program is also 
reasonably designed because the proposed credits are within the range 
of credits assessed by other exchanges employing similar rebate 
programs. The proposed rebate program is fair and equitable and not 
unreasonably discriminatory because it will apply equally to all 
Priority Customer orders. All similarly situated Priority Customer 
orders are subject to the same rebate schedule, and access to the 
Exchange is offered on terms that are not unfairly discriminatory. In 
addition, the Program is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory 
because, while only Priority Customer order flow qualifies for the 
Program, an increase in Priority Customer order flow will bring greater 
volume and liquidity, which benefit all market participants by 
providing more trading opportunities and tighter spreads. Similarly, 
offering increasing credits for executing higher percentages of total 
national customer volume (increased credit rates at increased volume 
tiers) is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because such 
increased rates and tiers encourage Members to direct increased amounts 
of Priority Customer contracts to the Exchange. Market participants 
want to trade with Priority Customer order flow. To the extent Priority 
Customer order flow is increased by the proposal, market participants 
will increasingly compete for the opportunity to trade on the Exchange 
including sending more orders and providing narrower and larger sized 
quotations in the effort to trade with such Priority Customer order 
flow. The resulting increased volume and liquidity will benefit those 
Members who receive the lower tier levels, or do not qualify for the 
Program at all, by providing more trading opportunities and tighter 
spreads.
    Limiting the Program to multiply-listed options classes listed on 
MIAX is reasonable because those parties trading heavily in multiply-
listed classes will receive a credit for such trading, and is equitable 
and not unfairly discriminatory because the Exchange does not trade any 
singly-listed products at this time. If at such time the Exchange 
develops proprietary products, the Exchange anticipates having to 
devote a lot of resources to develop them, and therefore would need to 
retain funds collected in order to recoup those expenditures.

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 not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange believes that the 
proposed change would increase both intermarket and intramarket 
competition by incenting Members to direct their Priority Customer 
orders to the Exchange, which will enhance the quality of quoting and 
increase the volume of contracts traded here. To the extent that there 
is additional competitive burden on non-Priority Customers, the 
Exchange believes that this is appropriate because the rebate program 
should incent Members to direct additional order flow to the Exchange 
and thus provide additional liquidity that enhances the quality of its 
markets and increases the volume of contracts traded here. To the 
extent that this purpose is achieved, all the Exchange's market 
participants should benefit from the improved market liquidity. 
Enhanced market quality and increased transaction volume that results 
from the anticipated increase in order flow directed to the Exchange 
will benefit all market participants and improve competition on the 
Exchange. The Exchange notes that it operates in a highly competitive 
market in which market participants can readily favor competing venues 
if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be excessive. In such 
an environment, the Exchange must continually adjust its fees to remain 
competitive with other exchanges and to attract order flow to the 
Exchange. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change reflects 
this competitive environment because it reduces the Exchange's fees in 
a manner that encourages market participants to direct their customer 
order flow, to provide liquidity, and to attract additional transaction 
volume to the Exchange. Given the robust competition for volume among 
options markets, many of which offer the same products, implementing a 
volume based customer rebate program to attract order flow like the one 
being proposed in this filing is consistent with the above-mentioned 
goals of the Act. This is especially true for the smaller options 
markets, such as MIAX, which is competing for volume with much larger 
exchanges that dominate the options trading industry.

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

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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.\12\ At any time within 60 days of the 
filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission

[[Page 22759]]

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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-MIAX-2015-27 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-MIAX-2015-27. 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 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-MIAX-2015-27, 
and should be submitted on or May 14, 2015.

    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. 2015-09426 Filed 4-22-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                  22756                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 78 / Thursday, April 23, 2015 / Notices

                                                  control of the clearing agency or for                   therefore do not impose any burden on                 change that are filed with the
                                                  which it is responsible, and, in general,               competition that is inappropriate in                  Commission, and all written
                                                  to protect investors and the public                     furtherance of the purposes of the Act.               communications relating to the
                                                  interest consistent with Section                                                                              proposed rule change between the
                                                                                                          C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                  17A(b)(3)(F) of the Exchange Act.8                                                                            Commission and any person, other than
                                                                                                          Statement on Comments on the
                                                     Furthermore, the proposed changes                                                                          those that may be withheld from the
                                                                                                          Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                  are limited to CME’s futures and swaps                                                                        public in accordance with the
                                                                                                          Members, Participants, or Others
                                                  clearing businesses, which mean they                                                                          provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                  are limited in their effect to products                   CME has not solicited, and does not                 available for Web site viewing and
                                                  that are under the exclusive jurisdiction               intend to solicit, comments regarding                 printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                  of the CFTC. As such, the proposed                      this proposed rule change. CME has not                Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                  changes are limited to CME’s activities                 received any unsolicited written                      Washington, DC 20549, on official
                                                  as a DCO clearing futures that are not                  comments from interested parties.                     business days between the hours of
                                                  security futures and swaps that are not                 III. Date of Effectiveness of the                     10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such
                                                  security-based swaps. CME notes that                    Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                   filing also will be available for
                                                  the policies of the CFTC with respect to                Commission Action                                     inspection and copying at the principal
                                                  administering the CEA are comparable                                                                          office of CME and on CME’s Web site at
                                                  to a number of the policies underlying                     The foregoing rule change has become               http://www.cmegroup.com/market-
                                                  the Exchange Act, such as promoting                     effective upon filing pursuant to Section             regulation/rule-filings.html.
                                                  market transparency for over-the-                       19(b)(3)(A) 12 of the Act and Rule 19b–                  All comments received will be posted
                                                  counter derivatives markets, promoting                  4(f)(4)(ii) 13 thereunder. At any time                without change; the Commission does
                                                  the prompt and accurate clearance of                    within 60 days of the filing of the                   not edit personal identifying
                                                  transactions and protecting investors                   proposed rule change, the Commission                  information from submissions. You
                                                  and the public interest.                                summarily may temporarily suspend                     should submit only information that
                                                     Because the proposed changes are                     such rule change if it appears to the                 you wish to make available publicly. All
                                                  limited in their effect to CME’s futures                Commission that such action is                        submissions should refer to File
                                                  and swaps clearing businesses, the                      necessary or appropriate in the public                Number SR–CME–2015–013 and should
                                                  proposed changes are properly                           interest, for the protection of investors,            be submitted on or before May 14, 2015.
                                                  classified as effecting a change in an                  or otherwise in furtherance of the
                                                                                                          purposes of the Act.                                    For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                  existing service of CME that:                                                                                 Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                     (a) Primarily affects the clearing operations        IV. Solicitation of Comments                          authority.14
                                                  of CME with respect to products that are not              Interested persons are invited to                   Brent J. Fields,
                                                  securities, including futures that are not                                                                    Secretary.
                                                                                                          submit written data, views and
                                                  security futures, swaps that are not security-
                                                  based swaps or mixed swaps; and forwards                arguments concerning the foregoing,                   [FR Doc. 2015–09429 Filed 4–22–15; 8:45 am]

                                                  that are not security forwards; and                     including whether the proposed rule                   BILLING CODE 8011–01–P

                                                     (b) does not significantly affect any                change is consistent with the Act.
                                                  securities clearing operations of CME or any            Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                  rights or obligations of CME with respect to            the following methods:                                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                  securities clearing or persons using such                                                                     COMMISSION
                                                  securities-clearing service.                            Electronic Comments
                                                                                                                                                                [Release No. 34–74758; File No. SR–MIAX–
                                                  As such, the changes are therefore                        • Use the Commission’s Internet                     2015–27]
                                                  consistent with the requirements of                     comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                  Section 17A of the Exchange Act 9 and                   rules/sro.shtml), or                                  Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami
                                                  are properly filed under Section                          • Send an email to rule-comments@                   International Securities Exchange LLC;
                                                  19(b)(3)(A) 10 and Rule 19b–4(f)(4)(ii) 11              sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–               Notice of Filing and Immediate
                                                  thereunder.                                             CME–2015–013 on the subject line.                     Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule
                                                                                                          Paper Comments                                        Change To Amend Its Fee Schedule
                                                  B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                  Statement on Burden on Competition                        • Send paper comments in triplicate                 April 17, 2015.
                                                     CME does not believe that the                        to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                  proposed rule change will have any                      Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                  impact, or impose any burden, on                        Washington, DC 20549–1090.                            (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                                  competition. The proposed rules merely                  All submissions should refer to File                  notice is hereby given that on April 7,
                                                  enhance CME’s existing liquidity                        Number SR–CME–2015–013. This file                     2015, Miami International Securities
                                                  framework by providing additional                       number should be included on the                      Exchange LLC (‘‘MIAX’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’)
                                                  liquidity resources and a framework for                 subject line if email is used. To help the            filed with the Securities and Exchange
                                                  establishment of additional highly                      Commission process and review your                    Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’)
                                                  reliable prearranged funding                            comments more efficiently, please use                 the proposed rule change as described
                                                  arrangements. Further, the changes are                  only one method. The Commission will                  in Items I, II, and III below, which Items
                                                  limited to CME’s futures and swaps                      post all comments on the Commission’s                 have been prepared by the Exchange.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  clearing businesses and, as such, do not                Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                The Commission is publishing this
                                                  affect the security-based swap clearing                 rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                       notice to solicit comments on the
                                                  activities of CME in any way and                        submission, all subsequent                            proposed rule change from interested
                                                                                                          amendments, all written statements                    persons.
                                                    8 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).                           with respect to the proposed rule
                                                    9 15 U.S.C. 78q–1.                                                                                            14 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                    10 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                              12 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                            1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                    11 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(4)(ii).                          13 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(4)(ii).                        2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.




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                                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 78 / Thursday, April 23, 2015 / Notices                                                                         22757

                                                  I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                                        the most significant aspects of such                                  related to contracts that are routed to
                                                  Statement of the Terms of Substance of                                   statements.                                                           one or more exchanges in connection
                                                  the Proposed Rule Change                                                                                                                       with the Options Order Protection and
                                                                                                                           A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                     The Exchange is filing a proposal to                                                                                                        Locked/Crossed Market Plan referenced
                                                                                                                           Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                  amend the MIAX Options Fee Schedule.                                     Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                                in MIAX Rule 1400), provided the
                                                     The text of the proposed rule change                                  Change                                                                Member meets certain volume
                                                  is available on the Exchange’s Web site                                                                                                        thresholds in a month as described
                                                  at http://www.miaxoptions.com/filter/                                    1. Purpose                                                            below. For each Priority Customer order
                                                  wotitle/rule_filing, at MIAX’s principal                                                                                                       transmitted by that Member which is
                                                  office, and at the Commission’s Public                                      The Exchange proposes to amend its
                                                                                                                                                                                                 executed electronically on the Exchange
                                                  Reference Room.                                                          current Priority Customer Rebate
                                                                                                                                                                                                 in MIAX Select Symbols, MIAX will
                                                                                                                           Program (the ‘‘Program’’) to modify the
                                                  II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                                                                                                             continue to credit each member at the
                                                                                                                           volume thresholds of tiers 1–5.3 Under
                                                  Statement of the Purpose of, and                                         the Program, the Exchange proposes to                                 separate per contract rate for MIAX
                                                  Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                                   credit each Member the per contract                                   Select Symbols.5 For each Priority
                                                  Change                                                                   amount set forth in the table below                                   Customer order submitted into the
                                                     In its filing with the Commission, the                                resulting from each Priority Customer 4                               PRIME Auction as a PRIME Agency
                                                  Exchange included statements                                             order transmitted by that Member which                                Order, MIAX will continue to credit
                                                  concerning the purpose of and basis for                                  is executed on the Exchange in all                                    each member at the separate per
                                                  the proposed rule change and discussed                                   multiply-listed option classes                                        contract rate for PRIME Agency Orders.6
                                                  any comments it received on the                                          (excluding mini-options, Priority                                     The volume thresholds are calculated
                                                  proposed rule change. The text of these                                  Customer-to-Priority Customer Orders,                                 based on the customer average daily
                                                  statements may be examined at the                                        PRIME AOC Responses, PRIME Contra-                                    volume over the course of the month.
                                                  places specified in Item IV below. The                                   side Orders, PRIME Orders for which                                   Volume will be recorded for and credits
                                                  Exchange has prepared summaries, set                                     both the Agency and Contra-side Order                                 will be delivered to the Member Firm
                                                  forth in sections A, B, and C below, of                                  are Priority Customers, and executions                                that submits the order to the Exchange.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Per contract
                                                  Percentage thresholds of national customer volume in multiply-listed options classes listed on                                                                  Per contract
                                                                                                                                                                                                Per contract                         credit for
                                                                                             MIAX                                                                                                                credit in MIAX
                                                                                                                                                                                                   credit                          PRIME agency
                                                                                          (Monthly)                                                                                                              select symbols        order

                                                  0.00%–0.40% ...............................................................................................................................           $0.00             $0.00              $0.10
                                                  Above 0.40%–0.75% ...................................................................................................................                  0.10              0.10               0.10
                                                  Above 0.75%–1.75% ...................................................................................................................                  0.15              0.20               0.10
                                                  Above 1.75%–2.40% ...................................................................................................................                  0.17              0.20               0.10
                                                  Above 2.40% ...............................................................................................................................            0.18              0.20               0.10



                                                     Other aspects of the Program will                                     Customer Rebate Program as a separate                                 Priority Customer trade volume to the
                                                  remain the same as before. Consistent                                    direct payment.                                                       Exchange. Increased Priority Customer
                                                  with the current Fee Schedule, the                                          In addition, the rebate payments will                              volume will provide for greater
                                                  Exchange will continue to aggregate the                                  continue to be calculated from the first                              liquidity, which benefits all market
                                                  contracts resulting from Priority                                        executed contract at the applicable                                   participants. The practice of
                                                  Customer orders transmitted and                                          threshold per contract credit with the                                incentivizing increased retail customer
                                                  executed electronically on the Exchange                                  rebate payments made at the highest                                   order flow in order to attract
                                                  from affiliated Members for purposes of                                  achieved volume tier for each contract                                professional liquidity providers
                                                  the thresholds above, provided there is                                  traded in that month. For example, if                                 (Market-Makers) is, and has been,
                                                  at least 75% common ownership                                            Member Firm XYZ, Inc. (‘‘XYZ’’) has                                   commonly practiced in the options
                                                  between the firms as reflected on each                                   enough Priority Customer contracts to                                 markets. As such, marketing fee
                                                  firm’s Form BD, Schedule A. In the                                       achieve 3.25% of the national customer                                programs,7 and customer posting
                                                  event of a MIAX System outage or other                                   volume in multiply-listed option                                      incentive programs,8 are based on
                                                  interruption of electronic trading on                                    contracts during the month of April,                                  attracting public customer order flow.
                                                  MIAX, the Exchange will adjust the                                       XYZ will receive a credit of $0.18 for                                The Program similarly intends to attract
                                                  national customer volume in multiply-                                    each Priority Customer contract                                       Priority Customer order flow, which
                                                  listed options for the duration of the                                   executed in the month of April.                                       will increase liquidity, thereby
                                                  outage. A Member may request to                                             The purpose of the Program is to                                   providing greater trading opportunities
                                                  receive its credit under the Priority                                    encourage Members to direct greater                                   and tighter spreads for other market
                                                     3 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 74007                      securities, and (ii) does not place more than 390                     2014), 79 FR 62230 (October 16, 2014) (SR–MIAX–
                                                  (January 9, 2015), 80 FR 1537 (January 12, 2015)                         orders in listed options per day on average during                    2014–50).
                                                  (SR–MIAX–2014–69); 72799 (August 8, 2014), 79                            a calendar month for its own beneficial accounts(s).                    6 See Securities Exchange Release No. 72943
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                                                  FR 47698 (August 14, 2014) (SR–MIAX–2014–40);                            See MIAX Rule 100.
                                                                                                                                                                                                 (August 28, 2014), 79 FR 52785 (September 4, 2014)
                                                  72355 (June 10, 2014), 79 FR 34368 (June 16, 2014)                         5 See Securities Exchange Release Nos. 74291
                                                  (SR–MIAX–2014–25); 71698 (March 12, 2014), 79                                                                                                  (SR–MIAX–2014–45).
                                                                                                                           (February 18, 2015), 80 FR 9841 (February 24,
                                                                                                                                                                                                   7 See MIAX Fee Schedule, Section 1(b).
                                                  FR 15185 (March 18, 2014) (SR–MIAX–2014–12);                             2015)(SR–MIAX–2015–09); 74288 (February 18,
                                                  71283 (January 10, 2014), 79 FR 2914 (January 16,                        2015), 80 FR 9837 (February 24, 2015) (SR–MIAX–                         8 See NYSE Arca, Inc. Fees Schedule, page 4
                                                  2014) (SR–MIAX–2013–63); 71009 (December 6,                              2015–08); 71700 (March 12, 2014), 79 FR 15188                         (section titled ‘‘Customer Monthly Posting Credit
                                                  2013), 78 FR 75629 (December 12, 2013) (SR–                              (March 18, 2014) (SR–MIAX–2014–13); 72356 (June                       Tiers and Qualifications for Executions in Penny
                                                  MIAX–2013–56).                                                           10, 2014), 79 FR 34384 (June 16, 2014) (SR–MIAX–
                                                     4 The term ‘‘Priority Customer’’ means a person
                                                                                                                                                                                                 Pilot Issues’’).
                                                                                                                           2014–26); 72567 (July 8, 2014), 79 FR 40818 (July
                                                  or entity that (i) is not a broker or dealer in                          14, 2014) (SR–MIAX–2014–34); 73328 (October 9,



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                                                  22758                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 78 / Thursday, April 23, 2015 / Notices

                                                  participants and causing a                              equitable and not unreasonably                        Exchange, which will enhance the
                                                  corresponding increase in order flow                    discriminatory because it will apply                  quality of quoting and increase the
                                                  from such other market participants.                    equally to all Priority Customer orders.              volume of contracts traded here. To the
                                                     The specific volume thresholds of the                All similarly situated Priority Customer              extent that there is additional
                                                  Program’s tiers were set based upon                     orders are subject to the same rebate                 competitive burden on non-Priority
                                                  business determinations and an analysis                 schedule, and access to the Exchange is               Customers, the Exchange believes that
                                                  of current volume levels. The volume                    offered on terms that are not unfairly                this is appropriate because the rebate
                                                  thresholds are intended to incentivize                  discriminatory. In addition, the Program              program should incent Members to
                                                  firms that route some Priority Customer                 is equitable and not unfairly                         direct additional order flow to the
                                                  orders to the Exchange to increase the                  discriminatory because, while only                    Exchange and thus provide additional
                                                  number of orders that are sent to the                   Priority Customer order flow qualifies                liquidity that enhances the quality of its
                                                  Exchange to achieve the next threshold                  for the Program, an increase in Priority              markets and increases the volume of
                                                  and to incent new participants to send                  Customer order flow will bring greater                contracts traded here. To the extent that
                                                  Priority Customer orders as well.                       volume and liquidity, which benefit all               this purpose is achieved, all the
                                                  Increasing the number of orders sent to                 market participants by providing more                 Exchange’s market participants should
                                                  the Exchange will in turn provide                       trading opportunities and tighter                     benefit from the improved market
                                                  tighter and more liquid markets, and                    spreads. Similarly, offering increasing               liquidity. Enhanced market quality and
                                                  therefore attract more business overall.                credits for executing higher percentages              increased transaction volume that
                                                  Similarly, the different credit rates at                of total national customer volume                     results from the anticipated increase in
                                                  the different tier levels were based on an              (increased credit rates at increased                  order flow directed to the Exchange will
                                                  analysis of revenue and volume levels                   volume tiers) is equitable and not                    benefit all market participants and
                                                  and are intended to provide increasing                  unfairly discriminatory because such                  improve competition on the Exchange.
                                                  ‘‘rewards’’ for increasing the volume of                increased rates and tiers encourage                   The Exchange notes that it operates in
                                                  trades sent to the Exchange. The specific               Members to direct increased amounts of                a highly competitive market in which
                                                  amounts of the tiers and rates were set                 Priority Customer contracts to the                    market participants can readily favor
                                                  in order to encourage suppliers of                      Exchange. Market participants want to                 competing venues if they deem fee
                                                  Priority Customer order flow to reach                   trade with Priority Customer order flow.              levels at a particular venue to be
                                                  for higher tiers.                                       To the extent Priority Customer order                 excessive. In such an environment, the
                                                     The credits paid out as part of the                  flow is increased by the proposal,                    Exchange must continually adjust its
                                                  program will be drawn from the general                  market participants will increasingly                 fees to remain competitive with other
                                                  revenues of the Exchange.9 The                          compete for the opportunity to trade on               exchanges and to attract order flow to
                                                  Exchange calculates volume thresholds                   the Exchange including sending more                   the Exchange. The Exchange believes
                                                  on a monthly basis.                                     orders and providing narrower and                     that the proposed rule change reflects
                                                                                                          larger sized quotations in the effort to              this competitive environment because it
                                                  2. Statutory Basis                                      trade with such Priority Customer order               reduces the Exchange’s fees in a manner
                                                     The Exchange believes that its                       flow. The resulting increased volume                  that encourages market participants to
                                                  proposal to amend its fee schedule is                   and liquidity will benefit those                      direct their customer order flow, to
                                                  consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act 10              Members who receive the lower tier                    provide liquidity, and to attract
                                                  in general, and furthers the objectives of              levels, or do not qualify for the Program             additional transaction volume to the
                                                  Section 6(b)(4) of the Act 11 in                        at all, by providing more trading                     Exchange. Given the robust competition
                                                  particular, in that it is an equitable                  opportunities and tighter spreads.                    for volume among options markets,
                                                  allocation of reasonable fees and other                    Limiting the Program to multiply-                  many of which offer the same products,
                                                  charges among Exchange members.                         listed options classes listed on MIAX is              implementing a volume based customer
                                                     The Exchange believes that the                       reasonable because those parties trading              rebate program to attract order flow like
                                                  proposed Priority Customer Rebate                       heavily in multiply-listed classes will               the one being proposed in this filing is
                                                  Program is fair, equitable and not                      receive a credit for such trading, and is             consistent with the above-mentioned
                                                  unreasonably discriminatory. The                        equitable and not unfairly                            goals of the Act. This is especially true
                                                  Program is reasonably designed because                  discriminatory because the Exchange                   for the smaller options markets, such as
                                                  it will incent providers of Priority                    does not trade any singly-listed                      MIAX, which is competing for volume
                                                  Customer order flow to send that                        products at this time. If at such time the            with much larger exchanges that
                                                  Priority Customer order flow to the                     Exchange develops proprietary                         dominate the options trading industry.
                                                  Exchange in order to receive a credit in                products, the Exchange anticipates
                                                  a manner that enables the Exchange to                   having to devote a lot of resources to                C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                  improve its overall competitiveness and                 develop them, and therefore would need                Statement on Comments on the
                                                  strengthen its market quality for all                   to retain funds collected in order to                 Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                  market participants. The Program is also                recoup those expenditures.                            Members, Participants, or Others
                                                  reasonably designed because the                         B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Written comments were neither
                                                  proposed credits are within the range of                Statement on Burden on Competition                    solicited nor received.
                                                  credits assessed by other exchanges
                                                                                                            The Exchange does not believe that                  III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                                  employing similar rebate programs. The
                                                                                                          the proposed rule change will impose                  Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
                                                  proposed rebate program is fair and
                                                                                                                                                                Commission Action
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                                                                                                          any burden on competition not
                                                    9 Despite providing credits under the Program,        necessary or appropriate in furtherance                  The foregoing rule change has become
                                                  the Exchange represents that it will continue to        of the purposes of the Act. The                       effective pursuant to Section
                                                  have adequate resources to fund its regulatory          Exchange believes that the proposed                   19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.12 At any time
                                                  program and fulfill its responsibilities as a self-
                                                  regulatory organization while the Program will be
                                                                                                          change would increase both intermarket                within 60 days of the filing of the
                                                  in effect.                                              and intramarket competition by                        proposed rule change, the Commission
                                                    10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).                                  incenting Members to direct their
                                                    11 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).                               Priority Customer orders to the                         12 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).



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                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 78 / Thursday, April 23, 2015 / Notices                                                   22759

                                                  summarily may temporarily suspend                       available publicly. All submissions                   and basis for, the proposed rule change
                                                  such rule change if it appears to the                   should refer to File Number SR–MIAX–                  and discussed any comments it received
                                                  Commission that such action is                          2015–27, and should be submitted on or                on the proposed rule change. The text
                                                  necessary or appropriate in the public                  May 14, 2015.                                         of those statements may be examined at
                                                  interest, for the protection of investors,                For the Commission, by the Division of              the places specified in Item IV below.
                                                  or otherwise in furtherance of the                      Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated            The Exchange has prepared summaries,
                                                  purposes of the Act. If the Commission                  authority.13                                          set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
                                                  takes such action, the Commission shall                 Brent J. Fields,                                      of the most significant parts of such
                                                  institute proceedings to determine                      Secretary.                                            statements.
                                                  whether the proposed rule should be                     [FR Doc. 2015–09426 Filed 4–22–15; 8:45 am]
                                                  approved or disapproved.                                                                                      A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                          BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                Statement of the Purpose of, and the
                                                  IV. Solicitation of Comments                                                                                  Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                    Interested persons are invited to                                                                           Change
                                                                                                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                  submit written data, views, and                                                                               1. Purpose
                                                                                                          COMMISSION
                                                  arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                  including whether the proposed rule                     [Release No. 34–74760; File No. SR–                      The purpose of this filing is to amend
                                                  change is consistent with the Act.                      NYSEMKT–2015–29]                                      existing tiers and add a new tier to the
                                                  Comments may be submitted by any of                                                                           ACE Program.
                                                  the following methods:                                  Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE                      Section I.E. of the Fee Schedule
                                                                                                          MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and                         describes the ACE Program,3 which
                                                  Electronic Comments                                     Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed                   currently features four tiers expressed as
                                                    • Use the Commission’s Internet                       Rule Change Modifying the NYSE                        a percentage of total industry Customer
                                                  comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                       Amex Options Fee Schedule Relating                    equity and ETF option average daily
                                                  rules/sro.shtml); or                                    to the Amex Customer Engagement                       volume (‘‘ADV’’).4 Order Flow Providers
                                                    • Send an email to rule-comments@                     Program                                               (‘‘OFPs’’) receive per contract credits
                                                  sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                                                                       solely for Electronic Customer volume
                                                                                                          April 17, 2015.
                                                  MIAX–2015–27 on the subject line.                                                                             that the OFP, as agent, submits to the
                                                                                                             Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                  Paper Comments                                                                                                Exchange.5 The ACE Program offers the
                                                                                                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                                                                          (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2               following two methods for OFPs to
                                                     • Send paper comments in triplicate                                                                        receive credits:
                                                  to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                   notice is hereby given that on April 10,
                                                                                                                                                                   1. By calculating, on a monthly basis,
                                                  Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                           2015, NYSE MKT LLC (the ‘‘Exchange’’
                                                                                                                                                                the average daily Customer contract
                                                  Washington, DC 20549–1090.                              or ‘‘NYSE MKT’’) filed with the
                                                                                                                                                                volume an OFP executes Electronically
                                                  All submissions should refer to File                    Securities and Exchange Commission
                                                                                                                                                                on the Exchange as a percentage of total
                                                  Number SR–MIAX–2015–27. This file                       (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed
                                                                                                                                                                average daily industry Customer equity
                                                  number should be included on the                        rule change as described in Items I, II,
                                                                                                                                                                and ETF options volume or 6;
                                                  subject line if email is used. To help the              and III below, which Items have been
                                                                                                          prepared by the Exchange. The                            2. By calculating, on a monthly basis,
                                                  Commission process and review your                                                                            the average daily contract volume an
                                                  comments more efficiently, please use                   Commission is publishing this notice to
                                                                                                          solicit comments on the proposed rule                 OFP executes Electronically in all
                                                  only one method. The Commission will                                                                          participant types (i.e., Customer, Firm,
                                                  post all comments on the Commission’s                   change from interested persons.
                                                                                                                                                                Broker-Dealer, NYSE Amex Options
                                                  Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                  I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     Market Maker, Non-NYSE Amex
                                                  rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                         Statement of the Terms of Substance of                Options Market Maker, and Professional
                                                  submission, all subsequent                              the Proposed Rule Change                              Customer) on the Exchange, as a
                                                  amendments, all written statements
                                                                                                             The Exchange proposes to modify the
                                                  with respect to the proposed rule                                                                               3 See NYSE Amex Options Fee Schedule,
                                                                                                          NYSE Amex Options Fee Schedule
                                                  change that are filed with the                                                                                available here, https://www.theice.com/publicdocs/
                                                                                                          (‘‘Fee Schedule’’) related to the Amex                nyse/markets/amex-options/NYSE_Amex_Options_
                                                  Commission, and all written
                                                                                                          Customer Engagement (‘‘ACE’’)                         Fee_Schedule.pdf.
                                                  communications relating to the
                                                                                                          Program. The Exchange proposes to                       4 In calculating ADV, the Exchange utilizes
                                                  proposed rule change between the                                                                              monthly reports published by the OCC for equity
                                                                                                          implement the fee change effective
                                                  Commission and any person, other than                                                                         options and ETF options that show cleared volume
                                                                                                          April 10, 2015. The text of the proposed              by account type. See OCC Monthly Statistics
                                                  those that may be withheld from the
                                                                                                          rule change is available on the                       Reports, available here, http://www.theocc.com/
                                                  public in accordance with the
                                                                                                          Exchange’s Web site at www.nyse.com,                  webapps/monthly-volume-reports (including for
                                                  provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                                                                           equity options and ETF options volume, subtotaled
                                                                                                          at the principal office of the Exchange,
                                                  available for Web site viewing and                                                                            by exchange, along with OCC total industry
                                                                                                          and at the Commission’s Public                        volume). The Exchange calculates the total OCC
                                                  printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                                                                          Reference Room.                                       volume for equity and ETF options that clear in the
                                                  Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                                                                             Customer account type and divide this total by the
                                                  Washington, DC 20549 on official                        II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                    number of trading days for that month (i.e., any day
                                                  business days between the hours of                      Statement of the Purpose of, and                      the Exchange is open for business). For example, in
                                                  10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such                 Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                a month having 21 trading days where there were
                                                                                                          Change                                                252,000,000 equity option and ETF option contracts
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                                                  filing also will be available for                                                                             that cleared in the Customer account type, the
                                                  inspection and copying at the principal                    In its filing with the Commission, the             calculated ADV would be 12,000,000 (252,000,000/
                                                  offices of the Exchange. All comments                   self-regulatory organization included                 21= 12,000,000).
                                                  received will be posted without change;                 statements concerning the purpose of,
                                                                                                                                                                  5 Electronic Customer volume is volume executed

                                                  the Commission does not edit personal                                                                         electronically through the Exchange System, on
                                                                                                                                                                behalf of an individual or organization that is not
                                                  identifying information from                              13 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                          a Broker-Dealer and who does not meet the
                                                  submissions. You should submit only                       1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                              definition of a Professional Customer.
                                                  information that you wish to make                         2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                   6 See supra n. 4




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Document Created: 2015-12-16 08:41:12
Document Modified: 2015-12-16 08:41:12
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation80 FR 22756 

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