80_FR_42275 80 FR 42139 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change Concerning the Implementation of New Risk Models in Order To Support the Clearance and Settlement of Asian-Style Flexibly Structured Options and Flexibly Structured Cliquet Options

80 FR 42139 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change Concerning the Implementation of New Risk Models in Order To Support the Clearance and Settlement of Asian-Style Flexibly Structured Options and Flexibly Structured Cliquet Options

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 136 (July 16, 2015)

Page Range42139-42141
FR Document2015-17400

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 136 (Thursday, July 16, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 136 (Thursday, July 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42139-42141]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17400]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-75427; File No. SR-OCC-2015-010]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; 
Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change Concerning the 
Implementation of New Risk Models in Order To Support the Clearance and 
Settlement of Asian-Style Flexibly Structured Options and Flexibly 
Structured Cliquet Options

July 10, 2015.

I. Introduction

    On May 1, 2015, The Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change SR-OCC-2015-010 pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 
thereunder.\2\ The proposed rule change was published for comment in 
the Federal Register on May 22, 2015.\3\ The Commission received no 
comment letters regarding the proposed change. For the reasons 
discussed below, the Commission is granting approval of the proposed 
rule change.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-74966 (May 14, 2015), 
80 FR 29784 (May 22, 2015) (SR-OCC-2015-010). The proposed rule 
change was published in the Federal Register on May 22, 2015, but 
was deemed published on May 1, 2015, pursuant section 19b(2)(E) of 
the Act.
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II. Description

    OCC is proposing to implement new risk models to support the 
clearance and settlement of Asian-style and Cliquet flexibly structured 
options \4\ (``Asian Options'' and ``Cliquet Options,'' respectively). 
OCC already clears other flexibly structured options (``Current Index 
Flex Options'') \5\ on various securities indices \6\ and risk manages 
clearing member positions (i.e., computes margin requirements) through 
its STANS methodology.\7\
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    \4\ Flexibly structured options permit the buyer and seller to 
negotiate and customize certain variable terms pursuant to exchange 
rules. See OCC By-Laws Article 1, section 1(F)(5). For example, 
parties may select from a variety of underlying indices, pick a 
strike price and expiration date as well as pick the exercise-style 
of the option--i.e., American or European exercise. Options with an 
American style exercise may be exercised at any time prior to, and 
including, expiration. Options with a European style exercise may 
only be exercised at expiration.
    \5\ The exercise settlement amount for Current Index Flex 
Options is determined based entirely on the strike price of a given 
option and the current underlying interest value on the day of 
exercise, in the case of American style Current Index Flex Options, 
or final day of trading, in the case of European style Current Index 
Flex Options.
    \6\ OCC clears Current Index Flex Options on the S&P 500 Index, 
S&P 100 Index, Nasdaq 100 Index and Russell 2000 Index, among other 
underlying indexes.
    \7\ See http://www.theocc.com/risk-management/margins/ for a 
description of OCC's margin methodology. See also OCC Rule 601.
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    Asian Options use an ``Asian-style'' methodology for determining 
the exercise settlement amount of an option, which is the difference 
between the aggregate exercise price and the aggregate current 
underlying interest value, which is based on the average of twelve 
monthly price ``observations.'' OCC states that traders of Asian 
Options will select an observation date as well as an expiration 
date.\8\
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    \8\ OCC provides that, since Expiration dates must be within 50 
to 53 calendar weeks from the date of listing, all Asian Options 
that it will clear will have a term of approximately one year. OCC 
explains that if the expiration date precedes the observation date 
in the final month, then the final ``observation'' will be the 
current underlying interest value on expiration date and not the 
observation date, and if one of the observation dates falls on a 
weekend or holiday, the value used will be from the previous 
business day.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Cliquet Options use a cliquet \9\ method for determining the 
exercise settlement amount of the option, which is the greater of: (i) 
Zero (i.e., the underlying index had negative returns during the 
option's tenor); and, (ii) the difference between the aggregate 
exercise price and the aggregate current underlying interest value, 
which is based on the sum of the Capped Returns of the underlying index 
on 12 predetermined ``observation dates'' \10\ (each an ``Observation 
Date,'' and the computed value an ``Observation'').\11\
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    \9\ Cliquet style settlement provides for payout based on the 
(positive) sum of ``capped'' returns of an index on pre-determined 
dates over a specified period of time.
    \10\ OCC states that the parties to a Cliquet Option will 
designate a set of Observation Dates for each contract as well as an 
expiration date. According to OCC, Observation Dates will generally 
be a given date each month for the twelve months preceding the 
expiration date, with the last Observation Date being the expiration 
date. If the Observation Date chosen by the parties to a Cliquet 
Option precedes the expiration date then OCC states that there will 
be two Observation Dates in the final month (i.e., the expiration 
date will always be an Observation Date) and ten other Observation 
Dates; one date in each of the ten months preceding the expiration 
month that will coincide with the Observation Date that was chosen 
by the parties to a Cliquet Option (not the expiration date). OCC 
explains that expiration dates must be within 50 to 53 calendar 
weeks from the date of listing, and that if one of the Observation 
Dates falls on a weekend or holiday, the previous business day will 
be deemed to be the Observation Date.
    \11\ OCC explains that, on each Observation Date, the exchange 
on which the Cliquet Options is listed will determine the actual 
return of the underlying index from observation period-to-
observation period, which will be compared to the observation cap, 
an amount designated the parties to the Cliquet Option. OCC further 
states that the Capped Return for a given Observation Date will be 
the lesser of the actual observation period-to-observation period 
return or the observation cap. For example, if the actual return of 
the underlying index was 1.75% and the designated capped return for 
a Cliquet Option was 2%, the 1.75% value will be included (and not 
the 2%) as the value for the Observation Date. Using this same 
example, if the actual return of the underlying index was 3.30%, the 
2% value will be included (and not the 3.30%) as the value for the 
Observation Date.

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[[Page 42140]]

    OCC states that both Asian Options and Cliquet Options will be only 
available in European style exercises, and will be subject to OCC's 
expiration exercise procedures set forth in OCC Rule 805, as 
supplemented by OCC Rule 1804. In addition, OCC represents that it will 
initially clear Asian Options and Cliquet Options on the S&P 500 Index, 
Nasdaq 100 Index, Russell 2000 Index and Dow Jones Industrial Average 
Index and it may clear Asian Options and Cliquet Options on other 
indices in the future.

New Risk Models

    As noted above, OCC will risk manage clearing member positions in 
Asian Options and Cliquet Options through its STANS methodology. Due to 
certain features of Asian Options and Cliquet Options described below, 
OCC proposed adding new pricing models into its STANS methodology so 
that OCC may compute appropriate margin requirements for clearing 
members holding positions in Asian Options and Cliquet Options.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ OCC explains that it currently computes the price of 
Current Index Flex Options on indices through standard pricing 
models (i.e., the Black-Scholes pricing model) that consider: (i) 
The value of the option's underlying index, (ii) the implied 
volatility of an option's underlying index, (iii) time until 
expiration, (iv) risk-free interest rate, and (v) the strike price 
of the option.
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Asian Options
    Asian Options differ from the Current Index Flex Options currently 
cleared by OCC due to the option's exercise settlement amount being a 
function of the arithmetic average of the underlying index on certain 
observation dates, rather than the value of the underlying index of a 
given option on the exercise date or expiration date. Based on this 
phenomenon, OCC proposed to add a new pricing model for Asian Options 
that will be a shifted lognormal model \13\ to accommodate the fact 
that Asian Options will have an arithmetic average value of the 
underlying index within the final exercise settlement amount 
calculation. OCC states that the shifted lognormal model will account 
for the fact that the current underlying interest value on the 
expiration date of an Asian Option is based on an arithmetic average of 
prices, and not the value of the underlying index on the option's 
expiration date, which introduces non-normality into the probability 
distribution of contract payoffs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ See Andreasen, J., ``The pricing of discretely sampled 
Asian and lookback options: a change of numeraire approach,'' 
Journal of Computational Finance, September 2000. See also Brigo, 
D., Mercurio, F., Rapidsarda, F., Scotti, R., ``Approximated moment-
matching dynamics for basket-options simulation,'' EFMA Lugano 
meetings, November 2001. See also Haug, E.G. and Margrabe, W., 
``Asian Pyramid Power,'' Wilmott Magazine, March 2003.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With respect to the Asian Option shifted lognormal pricing model, 
OCC proposed to utilize a modified Black-Scholes pricing model with a 
shift parameter that employs the first three statistical ``moments.'' 
In accordance with such model, OCC states that the first moment is the 
expected value of an Asian Option's value based on the option's implied 
volatility, the second moment accounts for the statistical volatility 
of the option's value, and the third moment accounts for the 
statistical skewness of the option's value. OCC represents that the 
moments are intended to account for variability in the arithmetic 
average value of an Asian Option's underlying index. OCC states that 
the shifted lognormal distribution (i.e., the lognormal probability 
distribution derived using the first through third moments above) is 
then priced through the standard Black-Scholes equation.\14\ OCC 
further states that the shift parameters are then adjusted out of the 
Black-Scholes price in order to derive a price for a given Asian Option 
that is appropriate to be utilized within the STANS methodology for the 
purposes of computing clearing member margin on Asian Options.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ In connection with using the standard Black-Sholes 
equation, OCC will also compute each of the three moments using a 
random shifted lognormal variable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cliquet Options
    Similar to Asian Options, the price of a given Cliquet Options is 
based on monthly Observations of an underlying index. OCC states that 
while a shifted lognormal model is an appropriate pricing model for 
Asian Options, the capped return feature of Cliquet Options makes the 
numerical solution to the Black-Scholes Partial Differential Equation 
\15\ the appropriate pricing model for Cliquet Options.\16\ OCC 
therefore proposed to add a Cliquet Option pricing model to its STANS 
methodology that will compute the numerical solution to the Black-
Scholes Partial Differential Equation. OCC represents that such a 
solution will provide OCC with the price of a given Cliquet Option that 
will be utilized within the STANS methodology for the purposes of 
computing clearing member margin requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ OCC represents that the differential equation model 
incorporates boundary conditions, which are necessary in order to 
solve differential equations, to ensure that the value of a given 
Cliquet Option is consistent throughout the equation.
    \16\ See Andreasen, J., ``The pricing of discretely sampled 
Asian and lookback options: a change of numeraire approach.'' 
Journal of Computational Finance (2000). See also Bernard, C., & Li, 
W. V., ``Pricing and Hedging of Cliquet Options and Locally Capped 
Contracts.'' SIAM Journal on Financial Mathematics, 353-371 (2013). 
See also Hagan, P. S., Kumar, D., & Lesniewski, A. S., ``Managing 
Smile Risk.'' Wilmott Magazine, 84-108 (2002). See also Hull, John 
C., ``Options Futures and other Derivatives.'' McGraw Hill (2000). 
See also Kjaer, M., ``Fast pricing of cliquet options with global 
floor.'' Journal of Derivatives, 14(2), 47-60 (2006).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With respect to the pricing of a given Cliquet Option, and based on 
the capped return feature of Cliquet Options, OCC states that it will 
identify the known implied volatility skew of standard options with the 
same underlying interest, a similar tenor and a similar amount of 
forward moneyness \17\ of the given Cliquet Option. OCC represents that 
its calculation of forward moneyness will include an adjustment to 
account for any known Observations of the underlying interest for a 
given Cliquet Option. OCC further states that the known implied 
volatility skew will subsequently be utilized within the Black-Scholes 
Partial Differential Equation so that OCC will be able to derive the 
price of a given Cliquet Option, which will then be utilized within the 
STANS methodology for purposes of computing clearing member margin 
requirements on a Cliquet Options.
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    \17\ OCC describes forward moneyness as the ratio of the strike 
to the current value of the implied forward for the index.
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III. Discussion and Commission Findings

    Section 19(b)(2)(C) of the Act \18\ directs the Commission to 
approve a proposed rule change of a self-regulatory organization if the 
Commission finds that such proposed rule change is consistent with the 
requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder 
applicable to such self-regulatory organization. Section 17A(b)(3)(F) 
of the Act \19\ requires, among other things, that the rules of a 
clearing agency are designed to assure the safeguarding of securities 
and funds which are in the custody or control of the clearing agency or 
for which it is responsible. In addition,

[[Page 42141]]

Rule 17Ad-22(b)(2) \20\ requires registered clearing agencies, among 
other things, to establish, implement, maintain, and enforce written 
policies and procedures reasonably designed to use margin requirements 
to limit its credit exposures to participants under normal market 
conditions and use risk-based models and parameters to set margin 
requirements.
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    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(C).
    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
    \20\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(b)(2).
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    The Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 17A of the Act \21\ and the rules thereunder applicable to 
OCC. The proposal will integrate new pricing models into the STANS 
methodology to accommodate the manner in which the exercise settlement 
amount for Asian Options and Cliquet Options is determined. The 
Commission believes these changes are designed to enable OCC to 
accurately compute margin requirements for Asian Option and Cliquet 
Option positions through its STANS methodology, therefore reducing the 
risk that clearing member margin assets would be insufficient should 
OCC need to use such assets to close-out the positions of a defaulted 
clearing member. The Commission therefore believes that the proposed 
rule change is reasonably designed to limit OCC's credit exposures to 
participants under normal market conditions and use risk-based models 
and parameters to set margin requirements, consistent with the 
requirements of Rule 17Ad-22(b)(2).\22\ Accordingly, the Commission 
believes that the proposed rule change is designed to assure the 
safeguarding of securities and funds in OCC's custody or control or for 
which it is responsible, consistent with section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the 
Act.\23\
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    \21\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
    \22\ 17 CFR 240.17Ad-22(b)(2).
    \23\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
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IV. Conclusion

    On the basis of the foregoing, the Commission finds that the 
proposal is consistent with the requirements of the Act and in 
particular with the requirements of section 17A of the Act \24\ and the 
rules and regulations thereunder.
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    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
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    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\25\ that the proposed rule change (File No. SR-OCC-2015-010) be, 
and hereby is, approved.\26\
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    \25\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
    \26\ In approving the proposed rule change, the Commission 
considered the proposal's impact on efficiency, competition and 
capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\27\
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
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    \27\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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[FR Doc. 2015-17400 Filed 7-15-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 136 / Thursday, July 16, 2015 / Notices                                                        42139

                                              Paper Comments                                             SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                 clearing member positions (i.e.,
                                                                                                         COMMISSION                                              computes margin requirements) through
                                                • Send paper comments in triplicate                                                                              its STANS methodology.7
                                              to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities                  [Release No. 34–75427; File No. SR–OCC–                    Asian Options use an ‘‘Asian-style’’
                                              and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                      2015–010]
                                                                                                                                                                 methodology for determining the
                                              NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.                            Self-Regulatory Organizations; The                      exercise settlement amount of an option,
                                                                                                         Options Clearing Corporation; Order                     which is the difference between the
                                              All submissions should refer to File
                                                                                                         Granting Approval of Proposed Rule                      aggregate exercise price and the
                                              Number SR–NASDAQ–2015–070. This                                                                                    aggregate current underlying interest
                                              file number should be included on the                      Change Concerning the
                                                                                                         Implementation of New Risk Models in                    value, which is based on the average of
                                              subject line if email is used. To help the                                                                         twelve monthly price ‘‘observations.’’
                                              Commission process and review your                         Order To Support the Clearance and
                                                                                                         Settlement of Asian-Style Flexibly                      OCC states that traders of Asian Options
                                              comments more efficiently, please use                                                                              will select an observation date as well
                                              only one method. The Commission will                       Structured Options and Flexibly
                                                                                                         Structured Cliquet Options                              as an expiration date.8
                                              post all comments on the Commission’s                                                                                 Cliquet Options use a cliquet 9
                                              Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                     July 10, 2015.                                          method for determining the exercise
                                              rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                                                                                    settlement amount of the option, which
                                                                                                         I. Introduction                                         is the greater of: (i) Zero (i.e., the
                                              submission, all subsequent
                                              amendments, all written statements                            On May 1, 2015, The Options Clearing                 underlying index had negative returns
                                              with respect to the proposed rule                          Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) filed with the                    during the option’s tenor); and, (ii) the
                                              change that are filed with the                             Securities and Exchange Commission                      difference between the aggregate
                                              Commission, and all written                                (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule                      exercise price and the aggregate current
                                              communications relating to the                             change SR–OCC–2015–010 pursuant to                      underlying interest value, which is
                                              proposed rule change between the                           section 19(b)(1) of the Securities                      based on the sum of the Capped Returns
                                                                                                         Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule               of the underlying index on 12
                                              Commission and any person, other than
                                                                                                         19b–4 thereunder.2 The proposed rule                    predetermined ‘‘observation dates’’ 10
                                              those that may be withheld from the
                                                                                                         change was published for comment in                     (each an ‘‘Observation Date,’’ and the
                                              public in accordance with the
                                                                                                         the Federal Register on May 22, 2015.3                  computed value an ‘‘Observation’’).11
                                              provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                        The Commission received no comment
                                              available for Web site viewing and                         letters regarding the proposed change.                  and Russell 2000 Index, among other underlying
                                              printing in the Commission’s Public                        For the reasons discussed below, the                    indexes.
                                              Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                          Commission is granting approval of the
                                                                                                                                                                    7 See http://www.theocc.com/risk-management/

                                              Washington, DC 20549, on official                                                                                  margins/ for a description of OCC’s margin
                                                                                                         proposed rule change.                                   methodology. See also OCC Rule 601.
                                              business days between the hours of                                                                                    8 OCC provides that, since Expiration dates must

                                              10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                     II. Description                                         be within 50 to 53 calendar weeks from the date of
                                              filing also will be available for                             OCC is proposing to implement new                    listing, all Asian Options that it will clear will have
                                                                                                         risk models to support the clearance and                a term of approximately one year. OCC explains
                                              inspection and copying at the principal                                                                            that if the expiration date precedes the observation
                                              office of the Exchange. All comments                       settlement of Asian-style and Cliquet                   date in the final month, then the final ‘‘observation’’
                                              received will be posted without change;                    flexibly structured options 4 (‘‘Asian                  will be the current underlying interest value on
                                                                                                         Options’’ and ‘‘Cliquet Options,’’                      expiration date and not the observation date, and
                                              the Commission does not edit personal                                                                              if one of the observation dates falls on a weekend
                                              identifying information from                               respectively). OCC already clears other                 or holiday, the value used will be from the previous
                                              submissions. You should submit only                        flexibly structured options (‘‘Current                  business day.
                                              information that you wish to make                          Index Flex Options’’) 5 on various                         9 Cliquet style settlement provides for payout


                                              available publicly. All submissions                        securities indices 6 and risk manages                   based on the (positive) sum of ‘‘capped’’ returns of
                                                                                                                                                                 an index on pre-determined dates over a specified
                                              should refer to File Number SR–                                 1 15
                                                                                                                                                                 period of time.
                                                                                                                U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                              NASDAQ–2015–070 and should be                                   2 17
                                                                                                                CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                                                                                                                                    10 OCC states that the parties to a Cliquet Option

                                                                                                                                                                 will designate a set of Observation Dates for each
                                              submitted on or before August 6, 2015.                       3 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34–74966
                                                                                                                                                                 contract as well as an expiration date. According to
                                                                                                         (May 14, 2015), 80 FR 29784 (May 22, 2015) (SR–         OCC, Observation Dates will generally be a given
                                                 For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                                                                         OCC–2015–010). The proposed rule change was             date each month for the twelve months preceding
                                              Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                 published in the Federal Register on May 22, 2015,      the expiration date, with the last Observation Date
                                              authority.16                                               but was deemed published on May 1, 2015,                being the expiration date. If the Observation Date
                                              Jill M. Peterson,                                          pursuant section 19b(2)(E) of the Act.                  chosen by the parties to a Cliquet Option precedes
                                                                                                           4 Flexibly structured options permit the buyer
                                                                                                                                                                 the expiration date then OCC states that there will
                                              Assistant Secretary.                                       and seller to negotiate and customize certain           be two Observation Dates in the final month (i.e.,
                                              [FR Doc. 2015–17396 Filed 7–15–15; 8:45 am]                variable terms pursuant to exchange rules. See OCC      the expiration date will always be an Observation
                                                                                                         By-Laws Article 1, section 1(F)(5). For example,        Date) and ten other Observation Dates; one date in
                                              BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                         parties may select from a variety of underlying         each of the ten months preceding the expiration
                                                                                                         indices, pick a strike price and expiration date as     month that will coincide with the Observation Date
                                                                                                         well as pick the exercise-style of the option—i.e.,     that was chosen by the parties to a Cliquet Option
                                                                                                         American or European exercise. Options with an          (not the expiration date). OCC explains that
                                                                                                         American style exercise may be exercised at any         expiration dates must be within 50 to 53 calendar
                                                                                                         time prior to, and including, expiration. Options       weeks from the date of listing, and that if one of
                                                                                                         with a European style exercise may only be              the Observation Dates falls on a weekend or
                                                                                                         exercised at expiration.                                holiday, the previous business day will be deemed
                                                                                                           5 The exercise settlement amount for Current          to be the Observation Date.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                         Index Flex Options is determined based entirely on         11 OCC explains that, on each Observation Date,
                                                                                                         the strike price of a given option and the current      the exchange on which the Cliquet Options is listed
                                                                                                         underlying interest value on the day of exercise, in    will determine the actual return of the underlying
                                                                                                         the case of American style Current Index Flex           index from observation period-to-observation
                                                                                                         Options, or final day of trading, in the case of        period, which will be compared to the observation
                                                                                                         European style Current Index Flex Options.              cap, an amount designated the parties to the Cliquet
                                                                                                           6 OCC clears Current Index Flex Options on the        Option. OCC further states that the Capped Return
                                                16 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                             S&P 500 Index, S&P 100 Index, Nasdaq 100 Index                                                       Continued




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                                              42140                           Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 136 / Thursday, July 16, 2015 / Notices

                                                 OCC states that both Asian Options                     value of the underlying index within the                 therefore proposed to add a Cliquet
                                              and Cliquet Options will be only                          final exercise settlement amount                         Option pricing model to its STANS
                                              available in European style exercises,                    calculation. OCC states that the shifted                 methodology that will compute the
                                              and will be subject to OCC’s expiration                   lognormal model will account for the                     numerical solution to the Black-Scholes
                                              exercise procedures set forth in OCC                      fact that the current underlying interest                Partial Differential Equation. OCC
                                              Rule 805, as supplemented by OCC Rule                     value on the expiration date of an Asian                 represents that such a solution will
                                              1804. In addition, OCC represents that                    Option is based on an arithmetic                         provide OCC with the price of a given
                                              it will initially clear Asian Options and                 average of prices, and not the value of                  Cliquet Option that will be utilized
                                              Cliquet Options on the S&P 500 Index,                     the underlying index on the option’s                     within the STANS methodology for the
                                              Nasdaq 100 Index, Russell 2000 Index                      expiration date, which introduces non-                   purposes of computing clearing member
                                              and Dow Jones Industrial Average Index                    normality into the probability                           margin requirements.
                                              and it may clear Asian Options and                        distribution of contract payoffs.                           With respect to the pricing of a given
                                              Cliquet Options on other indices in the                      With respect to the Asian Option                      Cliquet Option, and based on the
                                              future.                                                   shifted lognormal pricing model, OCC                     capped return feature of Cliquet
                                                                                                        proposed to utilize a modified Black-                    Options, OCC states that it will identify
                                              New Risk Models                                           Scholes pricing model with a shift                       the known implied volatility skew of
                                                As noted above, OCC will risk manage                    parameter that employs the first three                   standard options with the same
                                              clearing member positions in Asian                        statistical ‘‘moments.’’ In accordance                   underlying interest, a similar tenor and
                                              Options and Cliquet Options through its                   with such model, OCC states that the                     a similar amount of forward
                                              STANS methodology. Due to certain                         first moment is the expected value of an                 moneyness 17 of the given Cliquet
                                              features of Asian Options and Cliquet                     Asian Option’s value based on the                        Option. OCC represents that its
                                              Options described below, OCC proposed                     option’s implied volatility, the second                  calculation of forward moneyness will
                                              adding new pricing models into its                        moment accounts for the statistical                      include an adjustment to account for
                                              STANS methodology so that OCC may                         volatility of the option’s value, and the                any known Observations of the
                                              compute appropriate margin                                third moment accounts for the statistical                underlying interest for a given Cliquet
                                              requirements for clearing members                         skewness of the option’s value. OCC                      Option. OCC further states that the
                                              holding positions in Asian Options and                    represents that the moments are                          known implied volatility skew will
                                              Cliquet Options.12                                        intended to account for variability in the               subsequently be utilized within the
                                              Asian Options                                             arithmetic average value of an Asian                     Black-Scholes Partial Differential
                                                                                                        Option’s underlying index. OCC states                    Equation so that OCC will be able to
                                                Asian Options differ from the Current                   that the shifted lognormal distribution
                                              Index Flex Options currently cleared by                                                                            derive the price of a given Cliquet
                                                                                                        (i.e., the lognormal probability                         Option, which will then be utilized
                                              OCC due to the option’s exercise                          distribution derived using the first
                                              settlement amount being a function of                                                                              within the STANS methodology for
                                                                                                        through third moments above) is then                     purposes of computing clearing member
                                              the arithmetic average of the underlying                  priced through the standard Black-
                                              index on certain observation dates,                                                                                margin requirements on a Cliquet
                                                                                                        Scholes equation.14 OCC further states                   Options.
                                              rather than the value of the underlying                   that the shift parameters are then
                                              index of a given option on the exercise                   adjusted out of the Black-Scholes price                  III. Discussion and Commission
                                              date or expiration date. Based on this                    in order to derive a price for a given                   Findings
                                              phenomenon, OCC proposed to add a                         Asian Option that is appropriate to be
                                              new pricing model for Asian Options                                                                                  Section 19(b)(2)(C) of the Act 18
                                                                                                        utilized within the STANS methodology
                                              that will be a shifted lognormal model 13                                                                          directs the Commission to approve a
                                                                                                        for the purposes of computing clearing
                                              to accommodate the fact that Asian                                                                                 proposed rule change of a self-
                                                                                                        member margin on Asian Options.
                                              Options will have an arithmetic average                                                                            regulatory organization if the
                                                                                                        Cliquet Options                                          Commission finds that such proposed
                                              for a given Observation Date will be the lesser of          Similar to Asian Options, the price of                 rule change is consistent with the
                                              the actual observation period-to-observation period       a given Cliquet Options is based on                      requirements of the Act and the rules
                                              return or the observation cap. For example, if the                                                                 and regulations thereunder applicable to
                                              actual return of the underlying index was 1.75%           monthly Observations of an underlying
                                              and the designated capped return for a Cliquet            index. OCC states that while a shifted                   such self-regulatory organization.
                                              Option was 2%, the 1.75% value will be included           lognormal model is an appropriate                        Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act 19
                                              (and not the 2%) as the value for the Observation         pricing model for Asian Options, the                     requires, among other things, that the
                                              Date. Using this same example, if the actual return                                                                rules of a clearing agency are designed
                                              of the underlying index was 3.30%, the 2% value           capped return feature of Cliquet Options
                                              will be included (and not the 3.30%) as the value         makes the numerical solution to the                      to assure the safeguarding of securities
                                              for the Observation Date.                                 Black-Scholes Partial Differential                       and funds which are in the custody or
                                                 12 OCC explains that it currently computes the
                                                                                                        Equation 15 the appropriate pricing                      control of the clearing agency or for
                                              price of Current Index Flex Options on indices
                                                                                                        model for Cliquet Options.16 OCC                         which it is responsible. In addition,
                                              through standard pricing models (i.e., the Black-
                                              Scholes pricing model) that consider: (i) The value
                                              of the option’s underlying index, (ii) the implied           14 In connection with using the standard Black-       Locally Capped Contracts.’’ SIAM Journal on
                                              volatility of an option’s underlying index, (iii) time    Sholes equation, OCC will also compute each of the       Financial Mathematics, 353–371 (2013). See also
                                              until expiration, (iv) risk-free interest rate, and (v)   three moments using a random shifted lognormal           Hagan, P. S., Kumar, D., & Lesniewski, A. S.,
                                              the strike price of the option.                           variable.                                                ‘‘Managing Smile Risk.’’ Wilmott Magazine, 84–108
                                                 13 See Andreasen, J., ‘‘The pricing of discretely         15 OCC represents that the differential equation      (2002). See also Hull, John C., ‘‘Options Futures and
                                              sampled Asian and lookback options: a change of           model incorporates boundary conditions, which are        other Derivatives.’’ McGraw Hill (2000). See also
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                                              numeraire approach,’’ Journal of Computational            necessary in order to solve differential equations, to   Kjaer, M., ‘‘Fast pricing of cliquet options with
                                              Finance, September 2000. See also Brigo, D.,              ensure that the value of a given Cliquet Option is       global floor.’’ Journal of Derivatives, 14(2), 47–60
                                              Mercurio, F., Rapidsarda, F., Scotti, R.,                 consistent throughout the equation.                      (2006).
                                                                                                                                                                   17 OCC describes forward moneyness as the ratio
                                              ‘‘Approximated moment-matching dynamics for                  16 See Andreasen, J., ‘‘The pricing of discretely

                                              basket-options simulation,’’ EFMA Lugano                  sampled Asian and lookback options: a change of          of the strike to the current value of the implied
                                              meetings, November 2001. See also Haug, E.G. and          numeraire approach.’’ Journal of Computational           forward for the index.
                                                                                                                                                                   18 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(C).
                                              Margrabe, W., ‘‘Asian Pyramid Power,’’ Wilmott            Finance (2000). See also Bernard, C., & Li, W. V.,
                                              Magazine, March 2003.                                     ‘‘Pricing and Hedging of Cliquet Options and               19 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).




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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 136 / Thursday, July 16, 2015 / Notices                                                       42141

                                              Rule 17Ad–22(b)(2) 20 requires                              For the Commission, by the Division of               II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                              registered clearing agencies, among                      Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated              Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                              other things, to establish, implement,                   authority.27                                            Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                              maintain, and enforce written policies                   Jill M. Peterson,                                       Change
                                              and procedures reasonably designed to                    Assistant Secretary.                                       In its filing with the Commission, the
                                              use margin requirements to limit its                     [FR Doc. 2015–17400 Filed 7–15–15; 8:45 am]             Exchange included statements
                                              credit exposures to participants under                                                                           concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                                                                                       BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                              normal market conditions and use risk-                                                                           the proposed rule change and discussed
                                              based models and parameters to set                                                                               any comments it received on the
                                              margin requirements.                                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                 proposed rule change. The text of these
                                                 The Commission finds that the                         COMMISSION                                              statements may be examined at the
                                              proposed rule change is consistent with                                                                          places specified in Item IV below. The
                                              Section 17A of the Act 21 and the rules                                                                          Exchange has prepared summaries, set
                                                                                                       [Release No. 34–75422; File No. SR–BATS–
                                              thereunder applicable to OCC. The                                                                                forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
                                                                                                       2015–52]
                                              proposal will integrate new pricing                                                                              the most significant parts of such
                                              models into the STANS methodology to                     Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS                     statements.
                                              accommodate the manner in which the                      Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
                                              exercise settlement amount for Asian                                                                             A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                       Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed                   Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                              Options and Cliquet Options is
                                                                                                       Rule Change Related to Fees for Use                     Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                              determined. The Commission believes
                                                                                                       of BATS Exchange, Inc.                                  Change
                                              these changes are designed to enable
                                              OCC to accurately compute margin                         July 10, 2015.                                          1. Purpose
                                              requirements for Asian Option and
                                                                                                          Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the                     The Exchange proposes to modify the
                                              Cliquet Option positions through its
                                                                                                       Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the                    ‘‘Options Pricing’’ section of its fee
                                              STANS methodology, therefore
                                                                                                       ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                  schedule, effective immediately, in
                                              reducing the risk that clearing member
                                                                                                       notice is hereby given that on July 1,                  order to modify pricing charged by the
                                              margin assets would be insufficient
                                                                                                       2015, BATS Exchange, Inc. (the                          Exchange’s options platform (‘‘BATS
                                              should OCC need to use such assets to
                                                                                                       ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BATS’’) filed with the                Options’’) including: (i) Amend footnote
                                              close-out the positions of a defaulted
                                                                                                       Securities and Exchange Commission                      2 to remove Professional 6 orders from
                                              clearing member. The Commission
                                                                                                       (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule                      the Professional and Firm Penny Pilot
                                              therefore believes that the proposed rule
                                                                                                       change as described in Items I, II and III              Add Volume Tiers related to the pricing
                                              change is reasonably designed to limit
                                                                                                       below, which Items have been prepared                   for Professional and Firm 7 orders that
                                              OCC’s credit exposures to participants
                                                                                                       by the Exchange. The Exchange has                       add liquidity in Penny Pilot Securities; 8
                                              under normal market conditions and
                                                                                                       designated the proposed rule change as                  (ii) further amend footnote 2 to change
                                              use risk-based models and parameters to
                                                                                                       one establishing or changing a member                   the standards for meeting Tiers 1 and 2,
                                              set margin requirements, consistent
                                                                                                       due, fee, or other charge imposed by the                changing the rebate for Tier 2, and
                                              with the requirements of Rule 17Ad–
                                                                                                       Exchange under section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii)                  adding a new Tier 3; (iii) amend the
                                              22(b)(2).22 Accordingly, the Commission
                                                                                                       of the Act 3 and Rule 19b–4(f)(2)                       standard rebate associated with Fee
                                              believes that the proposed rule change
                                                                                                                                                               Code PF for Firm orders that add
                                              is designed to assure the safeguarding of                thereunder,4 which renders the
                                                                                                                                                               liquidity in Penny Pilot Securities; (iv)
                                              securities and funds in OCC’s custody                    proposed rule change effective upon
                                                                                                                                                               create a new Fee Code NF for Firm
                                              or control or for which it is responsible,               filing with the Commission. The
                                                                                                                                                               orders that add liquidity in non-Penny
                                              consistent with section 17A(b)(3)(F) of                  Commission is publishing this notice to
                                                                                                                                                               Pilot Securities; (v) create a new
                                              the Act.23                                               solicit comments on the proposed rule
                                                                                                                                                               footnote 8 titled ‘‘Firm Non-Penny Pilot
                                                                                                       change from interested persons.
                                              IV. Conclusion                                                                                                   Add Volume Tiers;’’ (vi) add a new Tier
                                                                                                       I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       3 to the Market Maker Penny Pilot Add
                                                On the basis of the foregoing, the
                                                                                                       Statement of the Terms of Substance of                  Volume Tiers; (vii) amend the fees that
                                              Commission finds that the proposal is
                                                                                                       the Proposed Rule Change                                the Exchange charges for orders routed
                                              consistent with the requirements of the
                                                                                                                                                               by the Exchange for execution at other
                                              Act and in particular with the                              The Exchange filed a proposal to                     venues, including those associated with
                                              requirements of section 17A of the                       amend its fees and rebates applicable to                Fee Codes 2C, CC, CF, HF, and OF; and
                                              Act 24 and the rules and regulations                     Members 5 of the Exchange pursuant to                   (viii) amend the Options Physical
                                              thereunder.                                              Rule 15.1(a) and (c).                                   Connection Fees for both 1G and 10G
                                                It is therefore ordered, pursuant to                                                                           physical ports.
                                              section 19(b)(2) of the Act,25 that the                     The text of the proposed rule change
                                              proposed rule change (File No. SR–                       is available at the Exchange’s Web site                 Professional Orders in Penny Pilot
                                              OCC–2015–010) be, and hereby is,                         at www.batstrading.com, at the                          Securities
                                              approved.26                                              principal office of the Exchange, and at
                                                                                                                                                                 The Exchange proposes to remove
                                                                                                       the Commission’s Public Reference
                                                                                                                                                               Professional orders from inclusion in
                                                20 17  CFR 240.17Ad–22(b)(2).
                                                                                                       Room.                                                   the Professional and Firm Penny Pilot
                                                21 15  U.S.C. 78q–1.
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                                                 22 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(b)(2).                               27 17
                                                                                                               CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                              6 ‘‘Professional’’ applies to any transaction
                                                 23 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).                               1 15
                                                                                                              U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                identified by a Member as such pursuant to
                                                 24 15 U.S.C. 78q–1.                                     2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                                                                                                                               Exchange Rule 16.1.
                                                 25 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).                                 3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).                           7 ‘‘Firm’’ applies to any transaction identified by
                                                 26 In approving the proposed rule change, the           4 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).                             a Member for clearing in the Firm range at the OCC.
                                              Commission considered the proposal’s impact on             5 A Member is defined as ‘‘any registered broker        8 ‘‘Penny Pilot Securities’’ are those issues quoted

                                              efficiency, competition and capital formation. 15        or dealer that has been admitted to membership in       pursuant to Exchange Rule 21.5, Interpretation and
                                              U.S.C. 78c(f).                                           the Exchange.’’ See Exchange Rule 1.5(n).               Policy .01.



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Document Created: 2015-12-15 13:13:39
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 13:13:39
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 42139 

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