80 FR 64464 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Mini Options

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 205 (October 23, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 205 (Friday, October 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64464-64465]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26915]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-76191; File No. SR-PHLX-2015-82]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to 
Mini Options

October 19, 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 October 13, 2015, NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (``Phlx'' or ``Exchange'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items 
have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this 
notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested 
persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend Commentary .13 to Rule 1012 (Series 
of Options Open for Trading), entitled ``Mini Options Contracts.'' 
Specifically, the Exchange proposes to replace the name ``Google Inc.'' 
with ``Alphabet Inc.''
    The Exchange requests that the Commission waive the 30-day 
operative delay period contained in Exchange Act Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii).\3\
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    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
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    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://nasdaqomxphlx.cchwallstreet.com/, at the principal 
office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

    In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and 
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The 
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in 
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in 
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant 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 Commentary .13 to Rule 1012, 
regarding Mini Options traded on Phlx, to replace the name ``Google 
Inc.'' with ``Alphabet Inc.'' Google Inc. (``Google'') recently 
announced plans to reorganize and create a new public holding company, 
which will be called Alphabet Inc. (``Alphabet''). As a result of the 
holding company reorganization, each share of Class A Common Stock 
(``GOOGL''), which the Exchange has listed as a Mini Option, will 
automatically convert into an equivalent corresponding share of 
Alphabet Inc. stock.\4\ The symbol ``GOOGL'' remains unchanged.
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    \4\ The Class C Capital Stock (``GOOG'') which is also impacted 
by the reorganization are not eligible to be listed as Mini Options 
on the Exchange, only the Class A Common Stock.
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    The Exchange is proposing to make this change to Commentary .13 to 
Rule 1012 to enable the continued trading of Mini Options on Google's, 
now Alphabet's Class A shares. The Exchange is proposing to make this 
change because, on October 5, 2015 Google reorganized and as a result 
underwent a name change.
    The purpose of this change is to ensure that Commentary .13 to Rule 
1012 properly reflects the intention and practice of the Exchange to 
trade Mini Options on only an exhaustive list of underlying securities 
outlined in Commentary .13 to Rule 1012. This change is meant to 
continue the inclusion of Class A shares of Google in the current list 
of underlying securities that Mini Options can be traded on, while 
continuing to make clear that class C shares of Google are not part of 
that list as that class of options has not been approved for Mini 
Options trading. As a result, the proposed change will help avoid 
confusion.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') and the rules and 
regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular, 
the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\5\ Specifically, the 
Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
Section 6(b)(5) \6\ requirements that the rules of an exchange be 
designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to 
promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation 
and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, 
settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating 
transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, 
in general, to protect investors and the public interest. Additionally, 
the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
Section 6(b)(5) \7\ requirement that the rules of an exchange not be 
designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, 
brokers, or dealers.
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \7\ Id.
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    In particular, the proposed rule change to change the name Google 
to Alphabet to reflect the new ownership structure is consistent with 
the Act because the proposed change is merely updating the current name 
associated with the stock symbol GOOGL to allow for continued mini 
option trading on Google's class A shares. The proposed change will 
allow for continued benefit

[[Page 64465]]

to investors by providing them with additional investment alternatives.

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

    Phlx does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any 
burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed change does not 
impose any burden on intra-market competition because it applies to all 
members and member organizations uniformly. There is no burden on 
inter-market competition because the Exchange is merely attempting to 
continue to permit trading of GOOGL as a Mini Options, as is the case 
today. As a result, there will be no substantive changes to the 
Exchange's operations or its rules.

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

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    Because the proposed rule change does not (i) significantly affect 
the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any 
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 
days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the 
Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors 
and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \8\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
thereunder.\9\
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) 
requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the 
Exchange's intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a 
brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least 
five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule 
change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The 
Commission deems this requirement to have been met.
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    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \10\ normally 
does not become operative for 30 days after the date of filing. 
However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) \11\ the Commission may 
designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest.
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    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
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    The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative 
delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon 
filing. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay 
is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, 
as it will allow the Exchange to continue to list mini options on the 
Google Class A shares, now Alphabet's Class A shares, following 
Google's reorganization. For this reason, the Commission designates the 
proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.\12\
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    \12\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-PHLX-2015-82 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-PHLX-2015-82. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all 
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are 
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to 
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other 
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the 
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All 
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does 
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-PHLX-2015-82, and should be 
submitted on or before November 13, 2015.
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    \13\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\13\
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-26915 Filed 10-22-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P