81_FR_10733 81 FR 10693 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Section II of the Exchange's Pricing Schedule

81 FR 10693 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Section II of the Exchange's Pricing Schedule

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 40 (March 1, 2016)

Page Range10693-10698
FR Document2016-04357

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10693-10698]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04357]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-77221; File No. SR-Phlx-2016-26]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Section II 
of the Exchange's Pricing Schedule

February 24, 2016.
    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 February 10, 2016, NASDAQ PHLX LLC (``Phlx'' or the ``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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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend the Exchange's Pricing Schedule 
(``Pricing Schedule'') at section II, entitled ``Multiply Listed 
Options Fees,'' \3\ to: (1) Exclude floor volume from the Monthly 
Market Maker Cap; (2) increase the assessment for select Firm 
electronic simple orders; and (3) state that Phlx members that have 
executed MARS Eligible Contracts may receive the MARS Payment.\4\
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    \3\ Multiply Listed Options Fees include options overlying 
equities, exchange traded funds (``ETFs''), exchange traded notes 
(``ETNs'') and indexes which are Multiply Listed.
    \4\ Monthly Market Maker Cap and MARS are discussed below.
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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 the 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The purpose of this filing is to amend the Exchange's Pricing 
Schedule at section II to: (1) Exclude floor volume from the Monthly 
Market Maker Cap; (2) increase the assessment for select Firm 
electronic simple orders; and (3) state

[[Page 10694]]

that Phlx members that have executed MARS Eligible Contracts may 
receive the MARS Payment.
Change 1--Multiply Listed Options Fees--Monthly Market Maker Cap
    In Change 1 the Exchange proposes to exclude floor volume from the 
calculation of the Monthly Market Maker Cap. Offering the Monthly 
Market Maker Cap as proposed, and as discussed below, will continue to 
incentivize market participants to bring liquidity and order flow to 
the Exchange for the benefit of all market participants. Liquidity 
benefits all market participants by providing more trading 
opportunities, which attracts Specialists and Market Makers. An 
increase in the activity of these market participants in turn 
facilitates tighter spreads, which may cause an additional 
corresponding increase in order flow from other market participants.
    Currently, the Monthly Market Maker Cap in section II in the 
Pricing Schedule states:
     Specialists and Market Makers are subject to a ``Monthly 
Market Maker Cap'' of $500,000 for: (i) Electronic and floor Option 
Transaction Charges; and (ii) QCC Transaction Fees (as defined in 
Exchange Rule 1080(o) and Floor QCC Orders, as defined in 1064(e)). The 
trading activity of separate Specialist and Market Maker member 
organizations will be aggregated in calculating the Monthly Market 
Maker Cap if there is Common Ownership between the member 
organizations. All dividend, merger, short stock interest, reversal and 
conversion, jelly roll and box spread strategy executions (as defined 
in this section II) will be excluded from the Monthly Market Maker Cap. 
Specialists or Market Makers that (i) are on the contra-side of an 
electronically-delivered and executed Customer order, excluding 
responses to a PIXL auction; and (ii) have reached the Monthly Market 
Maker Cap will be assessed fees as follows:
Fee per contract
    $0.05 per contract Fee for Adding Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options.
    $0.18 per contract Fee for Removing Liquidity in Penny Pilot 
Options.
    $0.18 per contract in Non-Penny Pilot Options.
    $0.18 per contract in a non-Complex electronic auction, including 
the Quote Exhaust auction and, for purposes of this fee, the opening 
process. A Complex electronic auction includes, but is not limited to, 
the Complex Order Live Auction (``COLA''). Transactions which execute 
against an order for which the Exchange broadcast an order exposure 
alert in an electronic auction will be subject to this fee.
    Today, the Exchange applies certain caps \5\ on Multiply Listed 
Option Fees assessed to Customer,\6\ Professional,\7\ Specialist,\8\ 
Market Maker,\9\ Broker-Dealer,\10\ and Firm.\11\ Today, Specialists 
and Market Makers are subject to a ``Monthly Market Maker Cap'' of 
$500,000 for: (i) electronic and floor Option Transaction Charges; and 
(ii) qualified contingent cross (``QCC'') Transaction Fees (as defined 
in Exchange Rule 1080(o) and Floor QCC Orders,\12\ as defined in 
1064(e)).\13\ The trading activity of separate Specialist and Market 
Maker member organizations is aggregated in calculating the Monthly 
Market Maker Cap if there is Common Ownership \14\ between the member 
organizations. All dividend, merger, short stock interest, reversal and 
conversion, jelly roll,\15\ and box spread strategy executions (as 
defined in Section II in the Pricing Schedule) are excluded from the 
Monthly Market Maker Cap (together the ``excluded strategies'').\16\ 
The Exchange proposes to exclude floor volume from the Monthly Market 
Maker Cap.
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    \5\ These caps reflect different levels for different 
strategies. For example, there is a $1,500 cap for certain dividend, 
merger and short stock interest strategies; and there is a $700 cap 
for certain reversal and conversion, jelly roll and box spread floor 
option transaction strategies. The Exchange further separately caps 
each member organization for dividend, merger, short stock interest, 
reversal and conversion, jelly roll and box spread strategy 
executions in Multiply Listed Options, combined in a month when 
trading in their own proprietary accounts (``Monthly Strategy Cap'') 
at $65,000 per member organization, per month.
    \6\ The term ``Customer'' applies to any transaction that is 
identified by a member or member organization for clearing in the 
Customer range at The Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') which 
is not for the account of broker or dealer or for the account of a 
``Professional'' (as that term is defined in Rule 1000(b)(14).
    \7\ The term ``Professional'' means any person or entity that 
(i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) places more 
than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a 
calendar month for its own beneficial account(s). See Rule 
1000(b)(14).
    \8\ A ``Specialist'' is an Exchange member who is registered as 
an options specialist pursuant to Rule 1020(a).
    \9\ A ``Market Maker'' includes Registered Options Traders (Rule 
1014(b)(i) and (ii)), which includes Streaming Quote Traders (see 
Rule 1014(b)(ii)(A)) and Remote Streaming Quote Traders (see Rule 
1014(b)(ii)(B)). Directed Participants are also Market Makers.
    \10\ The term ``Broker-Dealer'' applies to any transaction which 
is not subject to any of the other transaction fees applicable 
within a particular category.
    \11\ The term ``Firm'' applies to any transaction that is 
identified by a member or member organization for clearing in the 
Firm range at OCC.
    \12\ A QCC Order is comprised of an order to buy or sell at 
least 1000 contracts that is identified as being part of a qualified 
contingent trade, as that term is defined in Rule 1080(o)(3), 
coupled with a contra-side order to buy or sell an equal number of 
contracts. A Floor QCC Order must: (i) Be for at least 1,000 
contracts, (ii) meet the six requirements of Rule 1080(o)(3) which 
are modeled on the Qualified Contingent Trade (``QCT'') Exemption, 
(iii) be executed at a price at or between the National Best Bid and 
Offer (``NBBO''); and (iv) be rejected if a Customer order is 
resting on the Exchange book at the same price. See Rule 1064(e). 
See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64688 (June 16, 2011), 
76 FR 36606 (June 22, 2011) (SR-Phlx-2011-56).
    \13\ Certain strategy executions, discussed below, will be 
excluded from the Monthly Market Maker Cap.
    \14\ The term ``Common Ownership'' means members or member 
organizations under 75% common ownership or control.
    \15\ A dividend strategy is defined as transactions done to 
achieve a dividend arbitrage involving the purchase, sale and 
exercise of in-the-money options of the same class, executed the 
first business day prior to the date on which the underlying stock 
goes ex-dividend. A merger strategy is defined as transactions done 
to achieve a merger arbitrage involving the purchase, sale and 
exercise of options of the same class and expiration date, executed 
the first business day prior to the date on which shareholders of 
record are required to elect their respective form of consideration, 
i.e., cash or stock. A short stock interest strategy is defined as 
transactions done to achieve a short stock interest arbitrage 
involving the purchase, sale and exercise of in-the-money options of 
the same class. A reversal or conversion strategies is a transaction 
that employ calls and puts of the same strike price and the 
underlying stock.
    \16\ Specialists or Market Makers that (i) are on the contra-
side of an electronically-delivered and executed Customer order, 
excluding responses to a PIXL auction; and (ii) have reached the 
Monthly Market Maker Cap will be assessed separately. A member may 
electronically submit for execution an order it represents as agent 
on behalf of a public customer, broker-dealer, or any other entity 
(``PIXL Order'') against principal interest or against any other 
order (except as provided in Rule 1080(n)(i)(F)) it represents as 
agent (``Initiating Order'') provided it submits the PIXL order for 
electronic execution into the PIXL Auction (``Auction'') pursuant to 
Rule 1080. See Exchange Rule 1080(n). Non-Initiating Order interest 
could be a PIXL Auction Responder or a resting order or quote that 
was on the Phlx book prior to the auction. PIXL is the Exchange's 
price improvement mechanism known as Price Improvement XL or PIXL. 
See Rule 1080(n).
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    The Exchange's proposal to exclude floor volume from the 
calculation of the Monthly Market Maker Cap is reasonable and proper 
because, despite the change, the Exchange will, through the Monthly 
Market Maker Cap, continue to offer members an opportunity to pay lower 
fees. The trading activity of separate Specialist and Market Maker 
member organizations will continue to be aggregated in calculating the 
Monthly Market Maker Cap if there is Common Ownership between the 
member organizations. Specialists and Market Makers will continue to be 
subject to the Monthly Market Maker Cap, and once the Monthly Market 
Maker Cap of $500,000 is reached, the members to whom the cap applies 
will not have to pay for additional strategy executions

[[Page 10695]]

(sans excluded strategies) for the remainder of that month as a result 
of the fee cap.
    The Exchange is making the proposal to exclude floor volume from 
the calculation of the Monthly Market Maker Cap because the Exchange 
floor incurs additional costs (e.g., personnel, equipment, 
surveillance) related to a business model that includes floor-based 
trading. This proposal helps the Exchange to recover such costs while 
continuing to offer the Monthly Market Cap, which incentivizes market 
participants to bring liquidity and order flow to the Exchange.
Change 2--Multiply Listed Options Fees--Firm Electronic Simple Orders
    In Change 2 the Exchange proposes to increase the assessment for 
select Firm electronic simple (non-complex) \17\ orders because the 
Exchange is trying to keep up with rising expenses and this modest fee 
increase will help the Exchange to defray them.
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    \17\ A complex order is any order involving the simultaneous 
purchase and/or sale of two or more different options series in the 
same underlying security, priced at a net debit or credit based on 
the relative prices of the individual components, for the same 
account, for the purpose of executing a particular investment 
strategy. A complex order can also be a stock-option order. See 
Exchange Rule 1080, Commentary .07(a)(i).
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    The select symbols AAPL, BAC, EEM, FB, FXI, IWM, QQQ, TWTR, VXX and 
XLF are high volume Penny Pilot \18\ Options listed on the Exchange. 
The Exchange is proposing a modest increase in the assessment from 
$0.34 to $0.37, so that as proposed Note 12 will read as follows:
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    \18\ The Penny Pilot was established in January 2007 and was 
last extended in 2015. See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 
55153 (January 23, 2007), 72 FR 4553 (January 31, 2007) (SR-Phlx-
2006-74) (notice of filing and approval order establishing Penny 
Pilot); and 75286 (June 24, 2015), 80 FR 37333 (June 30, 2015) (SR-
Phlx-2015-54) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness 
extending the Penny Pilot through June 30, 2016). Penny Pilot 
Options listed on the Exchange can be found at http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/Micro.aspx?id=phlx.

    ``\12\Firm electronic simple orders in AAPL, BAC, EEM, FB, FXI, 
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IWM, QQQ, TWTR, VXX and XLF will be assessed $0.37.''

    The proposed increase for the Firm electronic simple orders in the 
noted options is not an outlier; rather, it is similar to and 
competitive with what is offered by other options markets.\19\ The 
Exchange believes that the Multiply Listed Options Fees schedule 
continues as constructed to be competitive and encourage market 
participants to bring liquidity to the Exchange.
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    \19\ See, e.g., the pricing schedule of NYSE AMEX OPTIONS (AMEX) 
at https://www.nyse.com/publicdocs/nyse/markets/amex-options/NYSE_Amex_Options_Fee_Schedule.pdf, and of MIAX OPTIONS (MIAX) at 
http://www.miaxoptions.com/content/fees. See also, e.g., the pricing 
schedule of NASDAQ PHLX LLC (``Phlx'') and NASDAQ Options Market 
(``NOM'').
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Change 3--Other Transaction Fees--MARS Payment
    The Exchange proposes to state that Phlx members that have executed 
the required MARS Eligible Contracts may receive the Market Access and 
Routing Subsidy (``MARS'') Payment on all their MARS Eligible 
Contracts. The Exchange believes that, as discussed below, expanding 
who is eligible to receive MARS Payment will incentivize market 
participants to bring liquidity and order flow to the Exchange for the 
benefit of all market participants. Liquidity benefits all market 
participants by providing more trading opportunities.
    Currently, section IV E. in the Pricing Schedule states:

MARS Payment

    Phlx members that have System Eligibility and have executed the 
Eligible Contracts in a month may receive the MARS Payment of $0.10 
per contract. This MARS Payment will be paid only on executed Firm 
orders routed to Phlx through a participating Phlx member's System. 
No payment will be made with respect to orders that are routed to 
Phlx, but not executed.

    Currently, a MARS Payment will be paid only on executed Firm orders 
routed to Phlx through a participating Phlx member's System.
    Today, to qualify for MARS, a Phlx member's routing system 
(``System'') would be required to: (1) enable the electronic routing of 
orders to all of the U.S. options exchanges, including Phlx; (2) 
provide current consolidated market data from the U.S. options 
exchanges; and (3) be capable of interfacing with Phlx's application 
program interface (``API'') to access current Phlx match engine 
functionality. Further, the member's System would also need to cause 
Phlx to be the one of the top three default destination exchanges for 
individually executed marketable orders if Phlx is at the NBBO, 
regardless of size or time, but allow any user to manually override 
Phlx as a default destination on an order-by-order basis.\20\ Today, 
MARS Payment is only on Firm orders routed to Phlx through a 
participating Phlx member's System. The Exchange proposes to expand the 
participant types besides Firm (BD, JBO, Professional) that are 
eligible for MARS Payment.\21\
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    \20\ Notwithstanding the above, complex orders would not be 
required to enable the electronic routing of orders to all of the 
U.S. options exchanges or provide current consolidated market data 
from the U.S. options exchanges. Any Phlx member would be permitted 
to avail itself of this arrangement, provided that its order routing 
functionality incorporates the features described above and 
satisfies Phlx that it appears to be robust and reliable. The member 
remains solely responsible for implementing and operating its 
system. Section IV E. in the Pricing Schedule.
    \21\ To be eligible, as discussed, Eligible Contracts must be 
routed through a participating Phlx member's System.
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    The Exchange proposes to indicate what qualifying volume will be 
eligible for MARS Payment (no longer only Firm) and to state that Phlx 
members that have executed the prerequisite MARS Eligible Contracts may 
receive the MARS Payment of $0.10 per contract. For the purpose of 
qualifying for the MARS Payment, Eligible Contracts include the 
following: Firm, Broker-Dealer, Joint Back Office or ``JBO'' or 
Professional equity option orders that are electronically delivered and 
executed.\22\ A MARS Payment will be made to Phlx members that have 
System Eligibility and have routed at least 30,000 Eligible Contracts 
daily in a month, which were executed on Phlx.
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    \22\ The Exchange is removing the word ``may'' to tighten up the 
language regarding what Eligible Contracts qualify for MARS Payment. 
Eligible Contracts do not include floor-based orders, qualified 
contingent cross or ``QCC'' orders, price improvement or ``PIXL'' 
orders, Mini Option orders or Singly Listed Orders.
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    As proposed Section IV E. in the Pricing Schedule will read as 
follows:

MARS Payment

    Phlx members that have System Eligibility and have executed the 
Eligible Contracts in a month may receive the MARS Payment of $0.10 
per contract for all Eligible Contracts routed to Phlx through a 
participating Phlx member's System. No payment will be made with 
respect to orders that are routed to Phlx, but not executed.

    The Exchange believes that the fees and rebates in its Pricing 
Schedule are structured to attract liquidity. Despite the proposed 
changes, Phlx members and the Phlx market will continue to be 
encouraged to transact greater liquidity on the Exchange.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal to amend its Pricing 
Schedule is consistent with section 6(b) of the Act \23\ in general, 
and furthers the objectives of section 6(b)(4) and (b)(5) of the Act 
\24\ in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of 
reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members and issuers and 
other persons using any facility or system which Phlx operates or 
controls, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between 
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
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    \23\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4), (5).
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    The Commission and the courts have repeatedly expressed their 
preference

[[Page 10696]]

for competition over regulatory intervention in determining prices, 
products, and services in the securities markets. In Regulation NMS, 
while adopting a series of steps to improve the current market model, 
the Commission highlighted the importance of market forces in 
determining prices and SRO revenues and, also, recognized that current 
regulation of the market system ``has been remarkably successful in 
promoting market competition in its broader forms that are most 
important to investors and listed companies.'' \25\ Likewise, in 
NetCoalition v. Securities and Exchange Commission \26\ 
(``NetCoalition'') the D.C. Circuit upheld the Commission's use of a 
market-based approach in evaluating the fairness of market data fees 
against a challenge claiming that Congress mandated a cost-based 
approach. \27\ As the court emphasized, the Commission ``intended in 
Regulation NMS that `market forces, rather than regulatory 
requirements' play a role in determining the market data . . . to be 
made available to investors and at what cost.'' \28\
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    \25\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 at 37499 (June 9, 
2005) (``Regulation NMS Adopting Release'').
    \26\ NetCoalition v. SEC, 615 F.3d 525 (D.C. Cir. 2010).
    \27\ See id. at 534-535.
    \28\ See id. at 537.
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    Further, ``[n]o one disputes that competition for order flow is 
`fierce.' . . . As the SEC explained, `[i]n the U.S. national market 
system, buyers and sellers of securities, and the broker-dealers that 
act as their order-routing agents, have a wide range of choices of 
where to route orders for execution'; [and] `no exchange can afford to 
take its market share percentages for granted' because `no exchange 
possesses a monopoly, regulatory or otherwise, in the execution of 
order flow from broker dealers'. . . .'' \29\ Although the court and 
the SEC were discussing the cash equities markets, the Exchange 
believes that these views apply with equal force to the options 
markets.
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    \29\ Id. at 539 (quoting Securities Exchange Release No. 59039 
(December 2, 2008), 73 FR 74770 (December 9, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-
2006-21) at 73 FR at 74782-74783).
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Change 1--Multiply Listed Options Fees--Monthly Market Maker Cap
    In Change 1 the Exchange proposes to exclude floor volume from the 
calculation of the Monthly Market Maker Cap that applies to Specialists 
and Market Makers when calculating the Monthly Market Maker Cap.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed change is reasonable, 
equitable and not unfairly discriminatory for the following reasons.
    The Exchange's proposal to exclude floor volume from the 
calculation of the Monthly Market Maker Cap is reasonable because, 
despite the change, the Exchange will continue to offer members an 
opportunity to pay lower fees. The trading activity of separate 
Specialist and Market Maker member organizations will continue to be 
aggregated in calculating the Monthly Market Maker Cap if there is 
Common Ownership between the member organizations. Specialists and 
Market Makers \30\ will continue to be subject to the Monthly Market 
Maker Cap, and once the Monthly Market Maker Cap of $500,000 is 
reached, the members to whom the cap applies will not have to pay for 
additional strategy executions for the remainder of that month as a 
result of the fee cap.
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    \30\ Specialists and Market Makers on the Exchange are valuable 
market participants that provide liquidity in the marketplace. They 
also have obligations to the market and regulatory requirements, 
which normally do not apply to other market participants. These 
obligations include: to make continuous markets, engage in a course 
of dealings reasonably calculated to contribute to the maintenance 
of a fair and orderly market, and not make bids or offers or enter 
into transactions that are inconsistent with a course of dealings. 
See Rule 1014 titled ``Obligations and Restrictions Applicable to 
Specialists and Registered Options Traders.''
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    Excluding floor Options Transaction Charges from the Monthly Market 
Maker Cap is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly discriminatory 
because electronic Options Transaction Charges would continue to be 
capped as part of the Monthly Market Maker Cap, which applies only to 
Specialists and Market Makers. The Exchange would include floor option 
transaction charges related to reversal and conversion, jelly roll and 
box spread strategies in the Monthly Strategy Cap for Professionals, 
and Broker Dealers, when such members are trading in their own 
proprietary accounts, because these market participants are not subject 
to the Monthly Firm Fee Cap or other similar cap. While Specialists and 
Market Makers are subject to a Monthly Market Maker Cap on electronic 
options transaction charges, reversal and conversion, jelly roll and 
box spread transactions, which are included in the Monthly Strategy 
Cap, are excluded from the Monthly Market Maker Cap. The Exchange 
believes also that its proposal to exclude floor transactions from the 
Monthly Market Maker Cap is reasonable because the Exchange floor 
incurs additional costs (e.g., personnel, equipment, surveillance) 
related to a business model that includes floor-based trading.
    For the reasons described above, the Exchange believes that 
continuing to offer the Monthly Market Maker Cap as proposed will 
continue to incentivize market participants to bring liquidity and 
order flow to the Exchange for the benefit of all market participants. 
Liquidity benefits all market participants by providing more trading 
opportunities, which attracts Specialists and Market Makers. An 
increase in the activity of these market participants in turn 
facilitates tighter spreads, which may cause an additional 
corresponding increase in order flow from other market participants. 
Specialists and Market Makers have obligations to make continuous 
markets, engage in a course of dealings reasonably calculated to 
contribute to the maintenance of a fair and orderly market, and not 
make bids or offers or enter into transactions that are inconsistent 
with a course of dealings. Moreover, the proposed change to the fee 
structure and rebate structure will be applied uniformly to all.
Change 2--Multiply Listed Options Fees--Firm Electronic Simple Orders
    In Change 2 the Exchange proposes to increase the assessment from 
$0.34 to $0.37 per contract for select Firm electronic simple orders in 
AAPL, BAC, EEM, FB, FXI, IWM, QQQ, TWTR, VXX, and XLF. The assessment 
for the noted simple orders is in the Multiply Listed Options Fees 
schedule for options overlying equities, ETFs, ETNs, and certain 
indexes.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed change for the Firm 
electronic simple orders in the noted options, which are high volume 
Penny Pilot Options listed on the Exchange,\31\ is reasonable. This is 
because the proposed change is very modest and is not an outlier; 
rather, it is similar to and competitive with what is offered by other 
options markets.\32\ The the [sic] Multiply Listed Options Fees 
schedule continues as constructed to be competitive and encourage 
market participants to bring liquidity to the Exchange. The Exchange 
believes that despite the proposed increase, which will help the 
Exchange to recover costs, Firms will continue to be incentivized

[[Page 10697]]

to transact electronic simple orders in AAPL, BAC, EEM, FB, FXI, IWM, 
QQQ, TWTR, VXX, and XLF on the Exchange.
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    \31\ The high volume in the noted options is present across 
other options exchanges.
    \32\ See, e.g., the pricing schedule of NYSE AMEX OPTIONS (AMEX) 
at https://www.nyse.com/publicdocs/nyse/markets/amex-options/NYSE_Amex_Options_Fee_Schedule.pdf, and of MIAX OPTIONS (MIAX) at 
http://www.miaxoptions.com/content/fees. See also, e.g., the pricing 
schedule of NASDAQ PHLX LLC (``Phlx'') and NASDAQ Options Market 
(``NOM'').
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    The Exchange believes that the modest change from $0.34 to $0.37 in 
Note 12 is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because the 
assessment is modest and will be applied uniformly to all Firms that 
send in electronic simple orders in AAPL, BAC, EEM, FB, FXI, IWM, QQQ, 
TWTR, VXX, and XLF.\33\
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    \33\ The Exchange notes that, as discussed, Note 12 continues to 
apply only to certain Firm orders. Note 12 does not apply to other 
fee liable members (e.g., Broker Dealer, Specialist and Market 
Maker, Professional, Customer), and as such the proposed change does 
not effectively change the fee relationship between Firms and such 
members.
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Change 3--Other Transaction Fees--MARS Payment
    In Change 3 the Exchange proposes to state that Phlx members that 
have executed MARS Eligible Contracts may receive the MARS Payment.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed change is reasonable, 
equitable and not unfairly discriminatory.
    Where currently a MARS Payment will be paid only on executed Firm 
orders, the proposed change would allow all qualifying MARS volume to 
receive a MARS Payment. With the proposed change, all Phlx members that 
have executed MARS Eligible Contracts may receive the MARS Payment of 
$0.10 per contract. The Exchange believes that this is reasonable 
because it incentivizes more Phlx members to rout Eligible Contracts 
for execution on the Exchange.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed change is equitable and not 
unfairly discriminatory because the increased ability to receive MARS 
Payment will be applied uniformly to all. Thus, a MARS Payment will be 
made to Phlx members that have System Eligibility and have routed at 
least 30,000 Eligible Contracts daily in a month, which were executed 
on Phlx.\34\
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    \34\ For the purpose of qualifying for the MARS Payment, 
Eligible Contracts include the following: Firm, Broker-Dealer, Joint 
Back Office or ``JBO'' or Professional equity option orders that are 
electronically delivered and executed. Eligible Contracts must be 
routed through a participating Phlx member's System and do not 
include floor-based orders, qualified contingent cross or ``QCC'' 
orders, price improvement or ``PIXL'' orders, Mini Option orders or 
Singly Listed Orders.
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    The Exchange desires to continue to incentivize members and member 
organizations, through the Exchange's rebate and fee structure, to 
select Phlx as a venue for bringing liquidity and trading by offering 
competitive pricing. Such competitive, differentiated pricing exists 
today on other options exchanges. The Exchange's goal is creating and 
increasing incentives to attract orders to the Exchange that will, in 
turn, benefit all market participants through increased liquidity at 
the Exchange.

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 its 
proposal to exclude floor volume from the Monthly Market Maker Cap, 
increase the assessment for select Firm electronic simple orders, and 
state that all Phlx members that have executed MARS Eligible Contracts 
may receive the MARS Payment does not impose a burden on competition. 
The Exchange's proposal will continue to encourage eligible market 
participants to transact orders on the Exchange in order to obtain the 
Monthly Market Maker Cap and MARS Payments.
    The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market, comprised of 
at least twelve options exchanges, in which market participants can 
easily and readily direct order flow to competing venues if they deem 
fee levels at a particular venue to be excessive or rebates to be 
inadequate. Accordingly, the fees that are assessed and the rebates 
paid by the Exchange described in the above proposal are influenced by 
these robust market forces and therefore must remain competitive with 
fees charged and rebates paid by other venues and therefore must 
continue to be reasonable and equitably allocated to those members that 
opt to direct orders to the Exchange rather than competing venues.

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to section 
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.\35\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is: (i) 
Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the 
protection of investors; or (iii) otherwise in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the 
Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the 
proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-Phlx-2016-26 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-2016-26. 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-

[[Page 10698]]

2016-26, and should be submitted on or before March 22, 2016.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\36\
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. 2016-04357 Filed 2-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices                                                      10693

                                                    Summary of the Application                              any fees paid to the Affiliated Sub-                    notice is hereby given that on February
                                                                                                            Adviser.                                                10, 2016, NASDAQ PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’
                                                      1. The Adviser will serve as the                         3. Applicants agree that any order                   or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
                                                    investment adviser to the Funds                         granting the requested relief will be                   Securities and Exchange Commission
                                                    pursuant to an investment advisory                      subject to the terms and conditions                     (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed
                                                    agreement with the Trust (the ‘‘Advisory                stated in the Application. Such terms                   rule change as described in Items I, II,
                                                    Agreement’’).2 The Adviser will provide                 and conditions provide for, among other                 and III below, which Items have been
                                                    the Funds with continuous and                           safeguards, appropriate disclosure to                   prepared by the Exchange. The
                                                    comprehensive investment management                     Fund shareholders and notification                      Commission is publishing this notice to
                                                    services subject to the supervision of,                 about sub-advisory changes and                          solicit comments on the proposed rule
                                                    and policies established by, each Fund’s                enhanced Board oversight to protect the                 change from interested persons.
                                                    board of trustees (‘‘Board’’). The                      interests of the Funds’ shareholders.
                                                    Advisory Agreement permits the                             4. Section 6(c) of the Act provides that             I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    Adviser, subject to the approval of the                 the Commission may exempt any                           Statement of the Terms of Substance of
                                                    Board, to delegate to one or more sub-                  person, security, or transaction or any                 the Proposed Rule Change
                                                    advisers (each, a ‘‘Sub-Adviser’’ and                   class or classes of persons, securities, or                The Exchange proposes to amend the
                                                    collectively, the ‘‘Sub-Advisers’’) the                 transactions from any provisions of the                 Exchange’s Pricing Schedule (‘‘Pricing
                                                    responsibility to provide the day-to-day                Act, or any rule thereunder, if such                    Schedule’’) at section II, entitled
                                                    portfolio investment management of                      relief is necessary or appropriate in the               ‘‘Multiply Listed Options Fees,’’ 3 to: (1)
                                                    each Fund, subject to the supervision                   public interest and consistent with the                 Exclude floor volume from the Monthly
                                                    and direction of the Adviser. The                       protection of investors and purposes                    Market Maker Cap; (2) increase the
                                                    primary responsibility for managing the                 fairly intended by the policy and                       assessment for select Firm electronic
                                                    Funds will remain vested in the                         provisions of the Act. Applicants                       simple orders; and (3) state that Phlx
                                                    Adviser. The Adviser will hire,                         believe that the requested relief meets                 members that have executed MARS
                                                    evaluate, allocate assets to and oversee                this standard because, as further                       Eligible Contracts may receive the
                                                    the Sub-Advisers, including                             explained in the Application, the                       MARS Payment.4
                                                    determining whether a Sub-Adviser                       Advisory Agreements will remain                            The text of the proposed rule change
                                                    should be terminated, at all times                      subject to shareholder approval, while                  is available on the Exchange’s Web site
                                                    subject to the authority of the Board.                  the role of the Sub-Advisers is                         at http://
                                                      2. Applicants request an exemption to                 substantially similar to that of                        nasdaqomxphlx.cchwallstreet.com, at
                                                    permit the Adviser, subject to Board                    individual portfolio managers, so that                  the principal office of the Exchange, and
                                                    approval, to hire certain Sub-Advisers                  requiring shareholder approval of Sub-                  at the Commission’s Public Reference
                                                                                                            Advisory Agreements would impose                        Room.
                                                    pursuant to Sub-Advisory Agreements
                                                                                                            unnecessary delays and expenses on the
                                                    and materially amend existing Sub-                                                                              II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                            Funds. Applicants believe that the
                                                    Advisory Agreements without obtaining                                                                           Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                                                                            requested relief from the Disclosure
                                                    the shareholder approval required under                                                                         Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                                                                            Requirements meets this standard
                                                    section 15(a) of the Act and rule 18f–2                                                                         Change
                                                                                                            because it will improve the Adviser’s
                                                    under the Act.3 Applicants also seek an
                                                                                                            ability to negotiate fees paid to the Sub-                In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                    exemption from the Disclosure
                                                                                                            Advisers that are more advantageous for                 Exchange included statements
                                                    Requirements to permit a Fund to
                                                                                                            the Funds.                                              concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                                    disclose (as both a dollar amount and a
                                                    percentage of the Fund’s net assets): (a)                 For the Commission, by the Division of                the proposed rule change and discussed
                                                    The aggregate fees paid to the Adviser                  Investment Management, under delegated                  any comments it received on the
                                                                                                            authority.                                              proposed rule change. The text of these
                                                    and any Affiliated Sub-Adviser; and (b)
                                                                                                            Robert W. Errett,                                       statements may be examined at the
                                                    the aggregate fees paid to Sub-Advisers
                                                    other than Affiliated Sub-Advisers                      Deputy Secretary.                                       places specified in Item IV below. The
                                                    (collectively, ‘‘Aggregate Fee                          [FR Doc. 2016–04352 Filed 2–29–16; 8:45 am]             Exchange has prepared summaries, set
                                                    Disclosure’’). For any Fund that                        BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                  forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
                                                    employs an Affiliated Sub-Adviser, the                                                                          the most significant aspects of such
                                                    Fund will provide separate disclosure of                                                                        statements.
                                                                                                            SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                                                                            COMMISSION                                              A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                      2 Applicants  request relief with respect to any                                                              Statement of the Purpose of, and the
                                                    existing and any future series of the Trust and any     [Release No. 34–77221; File No. SR–Phlx–
                                                    other registered open-end management company or
                                                                                                                                                                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                                                                            2016–26]                                                Change
                                                    series thereof that: (a) Is advised by LoCorr or its
                                                    successor or by a person controlling, controlled by,
                                                    or under common control with LoCorr or its              Self-Regulatory Organizations;                          1. Purpose
                                                    successor (each, also an ‘‘Adviser’’); (b) uses the     NASDAQ PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing                          The purpose of this filing is to amend
                                                    manager of managers structure described in the          and Immediate Effectiveness of                          the Exchange’s Pricing Schedule at
                                                    application; and (c) complies with the terms and        Proposed Rule Change To Amend
                                                    conditions of the application (any such series, a                                                               section II to: (1) Exclude floor volume
                                                    ‘‘Fund’’ and collectively, the ‘‘Funds’’). For          Section II of the Exchange’s Pricing                    from the Monthly Market Maker Cap; (2)
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    purposes of the requested order, ‘‘successor’’ is       Schedule                                                increase the assessment for select Firm
                                                    limited to an entity that results from a
                                                    reorganization into another jurisdiction or a change    February 24, 2016.                                      electronic simple orders; and (3) state
                                                    in the type of business organization.                      Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                       3 The requested relief will not extend to any Sub-                                                             3 Multiply Listed Options Fees include options
                                                                                                            Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                    Adviser that is an affiliated person, as defined in                                                             overlying equities, exchange traded funds (‘‘ETFs’’),
                                                    section 2(a)(3) of the Act, of a Fund or the Adviser,
                                                                                                            (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                 exchange traded notes (‘‘ETNs’’) and indexes which
                                                    other than by reason of serving as a sub-adviser to                                                             are Multiply Listed.
                                                                                                              1 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                    one or more of the Funds (‘‘Affiliated Sub-                                                                       4 Monthly Market Maker Cap and MARS are

                                                    Adviser’’).                                               2 17   CFR 240.19b–4.                                 discussed below.



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                                                    10694                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices

                                                    that Phlx members that have executed                    exposure alert in an electronic auction                    calculating the Monthly Market Maker
                                                    MARS Eligible Contracts may receive                     will be subject to this fee.                               Cap if there is Common Ownership 14
                                                    the MARS Payment.                                          Today, the Exchange applies certain                     between the member organizations. All
                                                                                                            caps 5 on Multiply Listed Option Fees                      dividend, merger, short stock interest,
                                                    Change 1—Multiply Listed Options                        assessed to Customer,6 Professional,7                      reversal and conversion, jelly roll,15 and
                                                    Fees—Monthly Market Maker Cap                           Specialist,8 Market Maker,9 Broker-                        box spread strategy executions (as
                                                       In Change 1 the Exchange proposes to                 Dealer,10 and Firm.11 Today, Specialists                   defined in Section II in the Pricing
                                                    exclude floor volume from the                           and Market Makers are subject to a                         Schedule) are excluded from the
                                                    calculation of the Monthly Market                       ‘‘Monthly Market Maker Cap’’ of                            Monthly Market Maker Cap (together
                                                    Maker Cap. Offering the Monthly                         $500,000 for: (i) electronic and floor                     the ‘‘excluded strategies’’).16 The
                                                    Market Maker Cap as proposed, and as                    Option Transaction Charges; and (ii)                       Exchange proposes to exclude floor
                                                    discussed below, will continue to                       qualified contingent cross (‘‘QCC’’)                       volume from the Monthly Market Maker
                                                    incentivize market participants to bring                Transaction Fees (as defined in                            Cap.
                                                    liquidity and order flow to the Exchange                Exchange Rule 1080(o) and Floor QCC                           The Exchange’s proposal to exclude
                                                    for the benefit of all market participants.             Orders,12 as defined in 1064(e)).13 The                    floor volume from the calculation of the
                                                    Liquidity benefits all market                           trading activity of separate Specialist                    Monthly Market Maker Cap is
                                                    participants by providing more trading                  and Market Maker member                                    reasonable and proper because, despite
                                                    opportunities, which attracts Specialists               organizations is aggregated in                             the change, the Exchange will, through
                                                    and Market Makers. An increase in the                                                                              the Monthly Market Maker Cap,
                                                    activity of these market participants in                   5 These caps reflect different levels for different     continue to offer members an
                                                    turn facilitates tighter spreads, which                 strategies. For example, there is a $1,500 cap for         opportunity to pay lower fees. The
                                                                                                            certain dividend, merger and short stock interest
                                                    may cause an additional corresponding                   strategies; and there is a $700 cap for certain
                                                                                                                                                                       trading activity of separate Specialist
                                                    increase in order flow from other market                reversal and conversion, jelly roll and box spread         and Market Maker member
                                                    participants.                                           floor option transaction strategies. The Exchange          organizations will continue to be
                                                       Currently, the Monthly Market Maker                  further separately caps each member organization           aggregated in calculating the Monthly
                                                                                                            for dividend, merger, short stock interest, reversal
                                                    Cap in section II in the Pricing Schedule               and conversion, jelly roll and box spread strategy         Market Maker Cap if there is Common
                                                    states:                                                 executions in Multiply Listed Options, combined in         Ownership between the member
                                                       • Specialists and Market Makers are                  a month when trading in their own proprietary              organizations. Specialists and Market
                                                    subject to a ‘‘Monthly Market Maker                     accounts (‘‘Monthly Strategy Cap’’) at $65,000 per         Makers will continue to be subject to the
                                                                                                            member organization, per month.
                                                    Cap’’ of $500,000 for: (i) Electronic and                  6 The term ‘‘Customer’’ applies to any transaction
                                                                                                                                                                       Monthly Market Maker Cap, and once
                                                    floor Option Transaction Charges; and                   that is identified by a member or member                   the Monthly Market Maker Cap of
                                                    (ii) QCC Transaction Fees (as defined in                organization for clearing in the Customer range at         $500,000 is reached, the members to
                                                    Exchange Rule 1080(o) and Floor QCC                     The Options Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) which           whom the cap applies will not have to
                                                                                                            is not for the account of broker or dealer or for the
                                                    Orders, as defined in 1064(e)). The                     account of a ‘‘Professional’’ (as that term is defined
                                                                                                                                                                       pay for additional strategy executions
                                                    trading activity of separate Specialist                 in Rule 1000(b)(14).
                                                    and Market Maker member                                    7 The term ‘‘Professional’’ means any person or            14 The term ‘‘Common Ownership’’ means

                                                    organizations will be aggregated in                     entity that (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities,   members or member organizations under 75%
                                                                                                            and (ii) places more than 390 orders in listed             common ownership or control.
                                                    calculating the Monthly Market Maker                    options per day on average during a calendar month            15 A dividend strategy is defined as transactions
                                                    Cap if there is Common Ownership                        for its own beneficial account(s). See Rule                done to achieve a dividend arbitrage involving the
                                                    between the member organizations. All                   1000(b)(14).                                               purchase, sale and exercise of in-the-money options
                                                    dividend, merger, short stock interest,                    8 A ‘‘Specialist’’ is an Exchange member who is         of the same class, executed the first business day
                                                                                                            registered as an options specialist pursuant to Rule       prior to the date on which the underlying stock goes
                                                    reversal and conversion, jelly roll and                                                                            ex-dividend. A merger strategy is defined as
                                                                                                            1020(a).
                                                    box spread strategy executions (as                         9 A ‘‘Market Maker’’ includes Registered Options        transactions done to achieve a merger arbitrage
                                                    defined in this section II) will be                     Traders (Rule 1014(b)(i) and (ii)), which includes         involving the purchase, sale and exercise of options
                                                    excluded from the Monthly Market                        Streaming Quote Traders (see Rule 1014(b)(ii)(A))          of the same class and expiration date, executed the
                                                                                                            and Remote Streaming Quote Traders (see Rule               first business day prior to the date on which
                                                    Maker Cap. Specialists or Market                                                                                   shareholders of record are required to elect their
                                                                                                            1014(b)(ii)(B)). Directed Participants are also Market
                                                    Makers that (i) are on the contra-side of               Makers.                                                    respective form of consideration, i.e., cash or stock.
                                                    an electronically-delivered and                            10 The term ‘‘Broker-Dealer’’ applies to any            A short stock interest strategy is defined as
                                                                                                                                                                       transactions done to achieve a short stock interest
                                                    executed Customer order, excluding                      transaction which is not subject to any of the other
                                                                                                                                                                       arbitrage involving the purchase, sale and exercise
                                                    responses to a PIXL auction; and (ii)                   transaction fees applicable within a particular
                                                                                                                                                                       of in-the-money options of the same class. A
                                                    have reached the Monthly Market Maker                   category.
                                                                                                                                                                       reversal or conversion strategies is a transaction that
                                                                                                               11 The term ‘‘Firm’’ applies to any transaction that
                                                    Cap will be assessed fees as follows:                                                                              employ calls and puts of the same strike price and
                                                                                                            is identified by a member or member organization           the underlying stock.
                                                    Fee per contract                                        for clearing in the Firm range at OCC.                        16 Specialists or Market Makers that (i) are on the
                                                                                                               12 A QCC Order is comprised of an order to buy
                                                                                                                                                                       contra-side of an electronically-delivered and
                                                      $0.05 per contract Fee for Adding                     or sell at least 1000 contracts that is identified as      executed Customer order, excluding responses to a
                                                    Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options.                       being part of a qualified contingent trade, as that        PIXL auction; and (ii) have reached the Monthly
                                                      $0.18 per contract Fee for Removing                   term is defined in Rule 1080(o)(3), coupled with a         Market Maker Cap will be assessed separately. A
                                                                                                            contra-side order to buy or sell an equal number of        member may electronically submit for execution an
                                                    Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options.                       contracts. A Floor QCC Order must: (i) Be for at           order it represents as agent on behalf of a public
                                                      $0.18 per contract in Non-Penny Pilot                 least 1,000 contracts, (ii) meet the six requirements      customer, broker-dealer, or any other entity (‘‘PIXL
                                                    Options.                                                of Rule 1080(o)(3) which are modeled on the                Order’’) against principal interest or against any
                                                      $0.18 per contract in a non-Complex                   Qualified Contingent Trade (‘‘QCT’’) Exemption,
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                                       other order (except as provided in Rule
                                                    electronic auction, including the Quote                 (iii) be executed at a price at or between the             1080(n)(i)(F)) it represents as agent (‘‘Initiating
                                                                                                            National Best Bid and Offer (‘‘NBBO’’); and (iv) be        Order’’) provided it submits the PIXL order for
                                                    Exhaust auction and, for purposes of                    rejected if a Customer order is resting on the             electronic execution into the PIXL Auction
                                                    this fee, the opening process. A                        Exchange book at the same price. See Rule 1064(e).         (‘‘Auction’’) pursuant to Rule 1080. See Exchange
                                                    Complex electronic auction includes,                    See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64688         Rule 1080(n). Non-Initiating Order interest could be
                                                    but is not limited to, the Complex Order                (June 16, 2011), 76 FR 36606 (June 22, 2011) (SR–          a PIXL Auction Responder or a resting order or
                                                                                                            Phlx–2011–56).                                             quote that was on the Phlx book prior to the
                                                    Live Auction (‘‘COLA’’). Transactions                      13 Certain strategy executions, discussed below,        auction. PIXL is the Exchange’s price improvement
                                                    which execute against an order for                      will be excluded from the Monthly Market Maker             mechanism known as Price Improvement XL or
                                                    which the Exchange broadcast an order                   Cap.                                                       PIXL. See Rule 1080(n).



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                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices                                                        10695

                                                    (sans excluded strategies) for the                       as constructed to be competitive and                    proposes to expand the participant
                                                    remainder of that month as a result of                   encourage market participants to bring                  types besides Firm (BD, JBO,
                                                    the fee cap.                                             liquidity to the Exchange.                              Professional) that are eligible for MARS
                                                       The Exchange is making the proposal                                                                           Payment.21
                                                    to exclude floor volume from the                         Change 3—Other Transaction Fees—                           The Exchange proposes to indicate
                                                    calculation of the Monthly Market                        MARS Payment                                            what qualifying volume will be eligible
                                                    Maker Cap because the Exchange floor                        The Exchange proposes to state that                  for MARS Payment (no longer only
                                                    incurs additional costs (e.g., personnel,                Phlx members that have executed the                     Firm) and to state that Phlx members
                                                    equipment, surveillance) related to a                    required MARS Eligible Contracts may                    that have executed the prerequisite
                                                    business model that includes floor-                      receive the Market Access and Routing                   MARS Eligible Contracts may receive
                                                    based trading. This proposal helps the                   Subsidy (‘‘MARS’’) Payment on all their                 the MARS Payment of $0.10 per
                                                    Exchange to recover such costs while                     MARS Eligible Contracts. The Exchange                   contract. For the purpose of qualifying
                                                    continuing to offer the Monthly Market                   believes that, as discussed below,                      for the MARS Payment, Eligible
                                                    Cap, which incentivizes market                           expanding who is eligible to receive                    Contracts include the following: Firm,
                                                    participants to bring liquidity and order                MARS Payment will incentivize market                    Broker-Dealer, Joint Back Office or
                                                    flow to the Exchange.                                    participants to bring liquidity and order               ‘‘JBO’’ or Professional equity option
                                                                                                             flow to the Exchange for the benefit of                 orders that are electronically delivered
                                                    Change 2—Multiply Listed Options                         all market participants. Liquidity                      and executed.22 A MARS Payment will
                                                    Fees—Firm Electronic Simple Orders                       benefits all market participants by                     be made to Phlx members that have
                                                      In Change 2 the Exchange proposes to                   providing more trading opportunities.                   System Eligibility and have routed at
                                                    increase the assessment for select Firm                     Currently, section IV E. in the Pricing              least 30,000 Eligible Contracts daily in
                                                    electronic simple (non-complex) 17                       Schedule states:                                        a month, which were executed on Phlx.
                                                    orders because the Exchange is trying to                                                                            As proposed Section IV E. in the
                                                                                                             MARS Payment
                                                    keep up with rising expenses and this                                                                            Pricing Schedule will read as follows:
                                                    modest fee increase will help the                          Phlx members that have System Eligibility
                                                    Exchange to defray them.                                 and have executed the Eligible Contracts in             MARS Payment
                                                      The select symbols AAPL, BAC, EEM,                     a month may receive the MARS Payment of                   Phlx members that have System Eligibility
                                                                                                             $0.10 per contract. This MARS Payment will              and have executed the Eligible Contracts in
                                                    FB, FXI, IWM, QQQ, TWTR, VXX and                         be paid only on executed Firm orders routed
                                                    XLF are high volume Penny Pilot 18                                                                               a month may receive the MARS Payment of
                                                                                                             to Phlx through a participating Phlx                    $0.10 per contract for all Eligible Contracts
                                                    Options listed on the Exchange. The                      member’s System. No payment will be made                routed to Phlx through a participating Phlx
                                                    Exchange is proposing a modest                           with respect to orders that are routed to Phlx,         member’s System. No payment will be made
                                                    increase in the assessment from $0.34 to                 but not executed.                                       with respect to orders that are routed to Phlx,
                                                    $0.37, so that as proposed Note 12 will                     Currently, a MARS Payment will be                    but not executed.
                                                    read as follows:                                         paid only on executed Firm orders                          The Exchange believes that the fees
                                                      ‘‘12Firm electronic simple orders in AAPL,             routed to Phlx through a participating                  and rebates in its Pricing Schedule are
                                                    BAC, EEM, FB, FXI, IWM, QQQ, TWTR, VXX                   Phlx member’s System.                                   structured to attract liquidity. Despite
                                                    and XLF will be assessed $0.37.’’                           Today, to qualify for MARS, a Phlx                   the proposed changes, Phlx members
                                                      The proposed increase for the Firm                     member’s routing system (‘‘System’’)                    and the Phlx market will continue to be
                                                    electronic simple orders in the noted                    would be required to: (1) enable the                    encouraged to transact greater liquidity
                                                    options is not an outlier; rather, it is                 electronic routing of orders to all of the              on the Exchange.
                                                    similar to and competitive with what is                  U.S. options exchanges, including Phlx;
                                                    offered by other options markets.19 The                  (2) provide current consolidated market                 2. Statutory Basis
                                                    Exchange believes that the Multiply                      data from the U.S. options exchanges;                      The Exchange believes that its
                                                    Listed Options Fees schedule continues                   and (3) be capable of interfacing with                  proposal to amend its Pricing Schedule
                                                                                                             Phlx’s application program interface                    is consistent with section 6(b) of the
                                                      17 A complex order is any order involving the          (‘‘API’’) to access current Phlx match                  Act 23 in general, and furthers the
                                                    simultaneous purchase and/or sale of two or more         engine functionality. Further, the                      objectives of section 6(b)(4) and (b)(5) of
                                                    different options series in the same underlying          member’s System would also need to
                                                    security, priced at a net debit or credit based on the
                                                                                                                                                                     the Act 24 in particular, in that it
                                                    relative prices of the individual components, for the    cause Phlx to be the one of the top three               provides for the equitable allocation of
                                                    same account, for the purpose of executing a             default destination exchanges for                       reasonable dues, fees and other charges
                                                    particular investment strategy. A complex order can      individually executed marketable orders                 among members and issuers and other
                                                    also be a stock-option order. See Exchange Rule          if Phlx is at the NBBO, regardless of size              persons using any facility or system
                                                    1080, Commentary .07(a)(i).
                                                      18 The Penny Pilot was established in January
                                                                                                             or time, but allow any user to manually                 which Phlx operates or controls, and is
                                                    2007 and was last extended in 2015. See Securities       override Phlx as a default destination on               not designed to permit unfair
                                                    Exchange Act Release Nos. 55153 (January 23,             an order-by-order basis.20 Today, MARS                  discrimination between customers,
                                                    2007), 72 FR 4553 (January 31, 2007) (SR–Phlx–           Payment is only on Firm orders routed                   issuers, brokers, or dealers.
                                                    2006–74) (notice of filing and approval order                                                                       The Commission and the courts have
                                                    establishing Penny Pilot); and 75286 (June 24,
                                                                                                             to Phlx through a participating Phlx
                                                    2015), 80 FR 37333 (June 30, 2015) (SR–Phlx–2015–        member’s System. The Exchange                           repeatedly expressed their preference
                                                    54) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness
                                                    extending the Penny Pilot through June 30, 2016).          20 Notwithstanding the above, complex orders             21 To be eligible, as discussed, Eligible Contracts

                                                    Penny Pilot Options listed on the Exchange can be                                                                must be routed through a participating Phlx
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                             would not be required to enable the electronic
                                                    found at http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/                    routing of orders to all of the U.S. options            member’s System.
                                                    Micro.aspx?id=phlx.                                      exchanges or provide current consolidated market           22 The Exchange is removing the word ‘‘may’’ to
                                                      19 See, e.g., the pricing schedule of NYSE AMEX        data from the U.S. options exchanges. Any Phlx          tighten up the language regarding what Eligible
                                                    OPTIONS (AMEX) at https://www.nyse.com/                  member would be permitted to avail itself of this       Contracts qualify for MARS Payment. Eligible
                                                    publicdocs/nyse/markets/amex-options/NYSE_               arrangement, provided that its order routing            Contracts do not include floor-based orders,
                                                    Amex_Options_Fee_Schedule.pdf, and of MIAX               functionality incorporates the features described       qualified contingent cross or ‘‘QCC’’ orders, price
                                                    OPTIONS (MIAX) at http://www.miaxoptions.com/            above and satisfies Phlx that it appears to be robust   improvement or ‘‘PIXL’’ orders, Mini Option orders
                                                    content/fees. See also, e.g., the pricing schedule of    and reliable. The member remains solely                 or Singly Listed Orders.
                                                                                                                                                                        23 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
                                                    NASDAQ PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’) and NASDAQ                    responsible for implementing and operating its
                                                    Options Market (‘‘NOM’’).                                system. Section IV E. in the Pricing Schedule.             24 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4), (5).




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                                                    10696                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices

                                                    for competition over regulatory                         discriminatory for the following                       business model that includes floor-
                                                    intervention in determining prices,                     reasons.                                               based trading.
                                                    products, and services in the securities                   The Exchange’s proposal to exclude                     For the reasons described above, the
                                                    markets. In Regulation NMS, while                       floor volume from the calculation of the               Exchange believes that continuing to
                                                    adopting a series of steps to improve the                                                                      offer the Monthly Market Maker Cap as
                                                                                                            Monthly Market Maker Cap is
                                                    current market model, the Commission                                                                           proposed will continue to incentivize
                                                                                                            reasonable because, despite the change,
                                                    highlighted the importance of market                                                                           market participants to bring liquidity
                                                                                                            the Exchange will continue to offer
                                                    forces in determining prices and SRO                                                                           and order flow to the Exchange for the
                                                                                                            members an opportunity to pay lower
                                                    revenues and, also, recognized that                                                                            benefit of all market participants.
                                                                                                            fees. The trading activity of separate
                                                    current regulation of the market system                                                                        Liquidity benefits all market
                                                                                                            Specialist and Market Maker member                     participants by providing more trading
                                                    ‘‘has been remarkably successful in                     organizations will continue to be
                                                    promoting market competition in its                                                                            opportunities, which attracts Specialists
                                                                                                            aggregated in calculating the Monthly                  and Market Makers. An increase in the
                                                    broader forms that are most important to                Market Maker Cap if there is Common
                                                    investors and listed companies.’’ 25                                                                           activity of these market participants in
                                                                                                            Ownership between the member                           turn facilitates tighter spreads, which
                                                    Likewise, in NetCoalition v. Securities                 organizations. Specialists and Market
                                                    and Exchange Commission 26                                                                                     may cause an additional corresponding
                                                                                                            Makers 30 will continue to be subject to               increase in order flow from other market
                                                    (‘‘NetCoalition’’) the D.C. Circuit upheld              the Monthly Market Maker Cap, and
                                                    the Commission’s use of a market-based                                                                         participants. Specialists and Market
                                                                                                            once the Monthly Market Maker Cap of                   Makers have obligations to make
                                                    approach in evaluating the fairness of                  $500,000 is reached, the members to
                                                    market data fees against a challenge                                                                           continuous markets, engage in a course
                                                                                                            whom the cap applies will not have to                  of dealings reasonably calculated to
                                                    claiming that Congress mandated a cost-                 pay for additional strategy executions
                                                    based approach. 27 As the court                                                                                contribute to the maintenance of a fair
                                                                                                            for the remainder of that month as a                   and orderly market, and not make bids
                                                    emphasized, the Commission ‘‘intended                   result of the fee cap.
                                                    in Regulation NMS that ‘market forces,                                                                         or offers or enter into transactions that
                                                    rather than regulatory requirements’                       Excluding floor Options Transaction                 are inconsistent with a course of
                                                    play a role in determining the market                   Charges from the Monthly Market Maker                  dealings. Moreover, the proposed
                                                    data . . . to be made available to                      Cap is reasonable, equitable and not                   change to the fee structure and rebate
                                                    investors and at what cost.’’ 28                        unfairly discriminatory because                        structure will be applied uniformly to
                                                       Further, ‘‘[n]o one disputes that                    electronic Options Transaction Charges                 all.
                                                    competition for order flow is ‘fierce.’                 would continue to be capped as part of                 Change 2—Multiply Listed Options
                                                    . . . As the SEC explained, ‘[i]n the U.S.              the Monthly Market Maker Cap, which                    Fees—Firm Electronic Simple Orders
                                                    national market system, buyers and                      applies only to Specialists and Market
                                                                                                            Makers. The Exchange would include                       In Change 2 the Exchange proposes to
                                                    sellers of securities, and the broker-                                                                         increase the assessment from $0.34 to
                                                    dealers that act as their order-routing                 floor option transaction charges related
                                                                                                            to reversal and conversion, jelly roll and             $0.37 per contract for select Firm
                                                    agents, have a wide range of choices of                                                                        electronic simple orders in AAPL, BAC,
                                                    where to route orders for execution’;                   box spread strategies in the Monthly
                                                                                                            Strategy Cap for Professionals, and                    EEM, FB, FXI, IWM, QQQ, TWTR, VXX,
                                                    [and] ‘no exchange can afford to take its                                                                      and XLF. The assessment for the noted
                                                    market share percentages for granted’                   Broker Dealers, when such members are
                                                                                                            trading in their own proprietary                       simple orders is in the Multiply Listed
                                                    because ‘no exchange possesses a                                                                               Options Fees schedule for options
                                                    monopoly, regulatory or otherwise, in                   accounts, because these market
                                                                                                            participants are not subject to the                    overlying equities, ETFs, ETNs, and
                                                    the execution of order flow from broker                                                                        certain indexes.
                                                    dealers’. . . .’’ 29 Although the court                 Monthly Firm Fee Cap or other similar
                                                                                                            cap. While Specialists and Market                        The Exchange believes that the
                                                    and the SEC were discussing the cash                                                                           proposed change for the Firm electronic
                                                    equities markets, the Exchange believes                 Makers are subject to a Monthly Market
                                                                                                                                                                   simple orders in the noted options,
                                                    that these views apply with equal force                 Maker Cap on electronic options
                                                                                                                                                                   which are high volume Penny Pilot
                                                    to the options markets.                                 transaction charges, reversal and
                                                                                                                                                                   Options listed on the Exchange,31 is
                                                                                                            conversion, jelly roll and box spread
                                                    Change 1—Multiply Listed Options                                                                               reasonable. This is because the
                                                                                                            transactions, which are included in the
                                                    Fees—Monthly Market Maker Cap                                                                                  proposed change is very modest and is
                                                                                                            Monthly Strategy Cap, are excluded
                                                                                                                                                                   not an outlier; rather, it is similar to and
                                                      In Change 1 the Exchange proposes to                  from the Monthly Market Maker Cap.
                                                                                                                                                                   competitive with what is offered by
                                                    exclude floor volume from the                           The Exchange believes also that its
                                                                                                                                                                   other options markets.32 The the [sic]
                                                    calculation of the Monthly Market                       proposal to exclude floor transactions
                                                                                                                                                                   Multiply Listed Options Fees schedule
                                                    Maker Cap that applies to Specialists                   from the Monthly Market Maker Cap is
                                                                                                                                                                   continues as constructed to be
                                                    and Market Makers when calculating                      reasonable because the Exchange floor
                                                                                                                                                                   competitive and encourage market
                                                    the Monthly Market Maker Cap.                           incurs additional costs (e.g., personnel,              participants to bring liquidity to the
                                                      The Exchange believes that the                        equipment, surveillance) related to a                  Exchange. The Exchange believes that
                                                    proposed change is reasonable,                                                                                 despite the proposed increase, which
                                                    equitable and not unfairly                                 30 Specialists and Market Makers on the Exchange
                                                                                                                                                                   will help the Exchange to recover costs,
                                                                                                            are valuable market participants that provide
                                                                                                            liquidity in the marketplace. They also have           Firms will continue to be incentivized
                                                      25 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 at
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                                                                                                            obligations to the market and regulatory
                                                    37499 (June 9, 2005) (‘‘Regulation NMS Adopting
                                                                                                            requirements, which normally do not apply to other       31 The high volume in the noted options is
                                                    Release’’).
                                                      26 NetCoalition v. SEC, 615 F.3d 525 (D.C. Cir.
                                                                                                            market participants. These obligations include: to     present across other options exchanges.
                                                                                                            make continuous markets, engage in a course of           32 See, e.g., the pricing schedule of NYSE AMEX
                                                    2010).                                                  dealings reasonably calculated to contribute to the
                                                      27 See id. at 534–535.
                                                                                                                                                                   OPTIONS (AMEX) at https://www.nyse.com/
                                                                                                            maintenance of a fair and orderly market, and not      publicdocs/nyse/markets/amex-options/NYSE_
                                                      28 See id. at 537.
                                                                                                            make bids or offers or enter into transactions that    Amex_Options_Fee_Schedule.pdf, and of MIAX
                                                      29 Id. at 539 (quoting Securities Exchange Release    are inconsistent with a course of dealings. See Rule   OPTIONS (MIAX) at http://www.miaxoptions.com/
                                                    No. 59039 (December 2, 2008), 73 FR 74770               1014 titled ‘‘Obligations and Restrictions             content/fees. See also, e.g., the pricing schedule of
                                                    (December 9, 2008) (SR–NYSEArca–2006–21) at 73          Applicable to Specialists and Registered Options       NASDAQ PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’) and NASDAQ
                                                    FR at 74782–74783).                                     Traders.’’                                             Options Market (‘‘NOM’’).



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                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices                                               10697

                                                    to transact electronic simple orders in                 The Exchange’s goal is creating and                      of investors; or (iii) otherwise in
                                                    AAPL, BAC, EEM, FB, FXI, IWM, QQQ,                      increasing incentives to attract orders to               furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
                                                    TWTR, VXX, and XLF on the Exchange.                     the Exchange that will, in turn, benefit                 If the Commission takes such action, the
                                                       The Exchange believes that the                       all market participants through                          Commission shall institute proceedings
                                                    modest change from $0.34 to $0.37 in                    increased liquidity at the Exchange.                     to determine whether the proposed rule
                                                    Note 12 is equitable and not unfairly                                                                            should be approved or disapproved.
                                                    discriminatory because the assessment                   B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    is modest and will be applied uniformly                 Statement on Burden on Competition                       IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                    to all Firms that send in electronic                       The Exchange does not believe that
                                                                                                            the proposed rule change will impose                       Interested persons are invited to
                                                    simple orders in AAPL, BAC, EEM, FB,
                                                                                                            any burden on competition not                            submit written data, views, and
                                                    FXI, IWM, QQQ, TWTR, VXX, and
                                                                                                            necessary or appropriate in furtherance                  arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                    XLF.33
                                                                                                            of the purposes of the Act. The                          including whether the proposed rule
                                                    Change 3—Other Transaction Fees—                        Exchange believes that its proposal to                   change is consistent with the Act.
                                                    MARS Payment                                            exclude floor volume from the Monthly                    Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                       In Change 3 the Exchange proposes to                 Market Maker Cap, increase the                           the following methods:
                                                    state that Phlx members that have                       assessment for select Firm electronic                    Electronic comments
                                                    executed MARS Eligible Contracts may                    simple orders, and state that all Phlx
                                                    receive the MARS Payment.                               members that have executed MARS                            • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                       The Exchange believes that the                       Eligible Contracts may receive the                       comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                    proposed change is reasonable,                          MARS Payment does not impose a                           rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                    equitable and not unfairly                              burden on competition. The Exchange’s                      • Send an email to rule-comments@
                                                    discriminatory.                                         proposal will continue to encourage                      sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
                                                       Where currently a MARS Payment                       eligible market participants to transact
                                                    will be paid only on executed Firm                                                                               Phlx–2016–26 on the subject line.
                                                                                                            orders on the Exchange in order to
                                                    orders, the proposed change would                       obtain the Monthly Market Maker Cap                      Paper comments
                                                    allow all qualifying MARS volume to                     and MARS Payments.
                                                    receive a MARS Payment. With the                           The Exchange operates in a highly                       • Send paper comments in triplicate
                                                    proposed change, all Phlx members that                  competitive market, comprised of at                      to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities
                                                    have executed MARS Eligible Contracts                   least twelve options exchanges, in                       and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
                                                    may receive the MARS Payment of                         which market participants can easily                     NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.
                                                    $0.10 per contract. The Exchange                        and readily direct order flow to                         All submissions should refer to File
                                                    believes that this is reasonable because                competing venues if they deem fee                        Number SR–Phlx–2016–26. This file
                                                    it incentivizes more Phlx members to                    levels at a particular venue to be                       number should be included on the
                                                    rout Eligible Contracts for execution on                excessive or rebates to be inadequate.                   subject line if email is used. To help the
                                                    the Exchange.                                           Accordingly, the fees that are assessed                  Commission process and review your
                                                       The Exchange believes that the                       and the rebates paid by the Exchange                     comments more efficiently, please use
                                                    proposed change is equitable and not                    described in the above proposal are                      only one method. The Commission will
                                                    unfairly discriminatory because the                     influenced by these robust market forces
                                                    increased ability to receive MARS                                                                                post all comments on the Commission’s
                                                                                                            and therefore must remain competitive                    Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                    Payment will be applied uniformly to                    with fees charged and rebates paid by
                                                    all. Thus, a MARS Payment will be                                                                                rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                                                                                            other venues and therefore must                          submission, all subsequent
                                                    made to Phlx members that have System                   continue to be reasonable and equitably
                                                    Eligibility and have routed at least                                                                             amendments, all written statements
                                                                                                            allocated to those members that opt to                   with respect to the proposed rule
                                                    30,000 Eligible Contracts daily in a                    direct orders to the Exchange rather
                                                    month, which were executed on Phlx.34                                                                            change that are filed with the
                                                                                                            than competing venues.                                   Commission, and all written
                                                       The Exchange desires to continue to
                                                    incentivize members and member                          C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                        communications relating to the
                                                    organizations, through the Exchange’s                   Statement on Comments on the                             proposed rule change between the
                                                    rebate and fee structure, to select Phlx                Proposed Rule Change Received From                       Commission and any person, other than
                                                    as a venue for bringing liquidity and                   Members, Participants, or Others                         those that may be withheld from the
                                                    trading by offering competitive pricing.                                                                         public in accordance with the
                                                                                                              No written comments were either
                                                    Such competitive, differentiated pricing                                                                         provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                                                                            solicited or received.
                                                    exists today on other options exchanges.                                                                         available for Web site viewing and
                                                                                                            III. Date of Effectiveness of the                        printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                      33 The  Exchange notes that, as discussed, Note 12    Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                      Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                    continues to apply only to certain Firm orders. Note    Commission Action                                        Washington, DC 20549 on official
                                                    12 does not apply to other fee liable members (e.g.,
                                                                                                               The foregoing rule change has become                  business days between the hours of
                                                    Broker Dealer, Specialist and Market Maker,                                                                      10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such
                                                    Professional, Customer), and as such the proposed       effective pursuant to section
                                                    change does not effectively change the fee              19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.35                            filing also will be available for
                                                    relationship between Firms and such members.               At any time within 60 days of the                     inspection and copying at the principal
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                      34 For the purpose of qualifying for the MARS
                                                                                                            filing of the proposed rule change, the                  office of the Exchange. All comments
                                                    Payment, Eligible Contracts include the following:                                                               received will be posted without change;
                                                    Firm, Broker-Dealer, Joint Back Office or ‘‘JBO’’ or    Commission summarily may
                                                    Professional equity option orders that are              temporarily suspend such rule change if                  the Commission does not edit personal
                                                    electronically delivered and executed. Eligible         it appears to the Commission that such                   identifying information from
                                                    Contracts must be routed through a participating        action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in               submissions. You should submit only
                                                    Phlx member’s System and do not include floor-                                                                   information that you wish to make
                                                    based orders, qualified contingent cross or ‘‘QCC’’     the public interest; (ii) for the protection
                                                    orders, price improvement or ‘‘PIXL’’ orders, Mini
                                                                                                                                                                     available publicly. All submissions
                                                    Option orders or Singly Listed Orders.                    35 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).                       should refer to File Number SR–Phlx–


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                                                    10698                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices

                                                    2016–26, and should be submitted on or                    Budget, Room 10102, New Executive                     submissions. This figure is based upon
                                                    before March 22, 2016.                                    Office Building, Washington, DC 20503,                past submissions. It is estimated that
                                                      For the Commission, by the Division of                  or by sending an email to: Shagufta_                  each respondent will submit
                                                    Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                Ahmed@omb.eop.gov; and (ii) Pamela                    approximately one response. The staff
                                                    authority.36                                              Dyson, Director/Chief Information                     estimates that the average number of
                                                    Robert W. Errett,                                         Officer, Securities and Exchange                      hours necessary to comply with the
                                                    Deputy Secretary.                                         Commission, c/o Remi Pavlik-Simon,                    requirements of Rule 19d–3 will be
                                                    [FR Doc. 2016–04357 Filed 2–29–16; 8:45 am]               100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549                approximately eighteen hours. The
                                                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                              or send an email to: PRA_Mailbox@                     average cost per hour, to complete each
                                                                                                              sec.gov. Comments must be submitted to                submission, is approximately $101.
                                                                                                              OMB within 30 days of this notice.                    Therefore, it is estimated the internal
                                                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                     Dated: February 24, 2016.                           labor cost of compliance for all
                                                    COMMISSION                                                Robert W. Errett,                                     respondents is approximately $10,908 (6
                                                                                                                                                                    submissions × 18 hours per response ×
                                                                                                              Deputy Secretary.
                                                    Submission for OMB Review;                                                                                      $101 per hour).
                                                                                                              [FR Doc. 2016–04441 Filed 2–29–16; 8:45 am]             Written comments are invited on: (a)
                                                    Comment Request
                                                                                                              BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                Whether the proposed collection of
                                                    Upon Written Request Copies Available
                                                                                                                                                                    information is necessary for the proper
                                                     From: Securities and Exchange
                                                                                                                                                                    performance of the functions of the
                                                     Commission, Office of FOIA Services,                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               Commission, including whether the
                                                     100 F Street NE., Washington, DC                         COMMISSION                                            information shall have practical utility;
                                                     20549–2736.
                                                                                                              Proposed Collection; Comment                          (b) the accuracy of the Commission’s
                                                    Extension:                                                                                                      estimates of the burden of the proposed
                                                      Form S–1, SEC File No. 270–058, OMB                     Request
                                                                                                                                                                    collection of information; (c) ways to
                                                        Control No. 3235–0065.                                Upon Written Request, Copies Available                enhance the quality, utility and clarity
                                                       Notice is hereby given that, pursuant                   From: Securities and Exchange                        of the information collected; and (d)
                                                    to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                     Commission, Office of FOIA Services,                 ways to minimize the burden of the
                                                    (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities                   100 F Street NE., Washington, DC                     collection of information on
                                                    and Exchange Commission                                    20549–2736.                                          respondents, including through the use
                                                    (‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the                     Extension: Rule 19d–3, SEC File No. 270–              of automated collection techniques or
                                                    Office of Management and Budget                               245, OMB Control No. 3235–0204.                   other forms of information technology.
                                                    (‘‘OMB’’) this request for an extension of                                                                      Consideration will be given to
                                                    the previously approved collection of                        Notice is hereby given that pursuant
                                                                                                              to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                comments and suggestions submitted in
                                                    information discussed below.                                                                                    writing within 60 days of this
                                                       Form S–1 (17 CFR 239.11) is the form                   (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (‘‘PRA’’), the
                                                                                                              Securities and Exchange Commission                    publication.
                                                    used by issuers to register the offer and                                                                         An agency may not conduct or
                                                    sale of securities under the Securities                   (‘‘Commission’’) is soliciting comments
                                                                                                                                                                    sponsor, and a person is not required to
                                                    Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.) when                  on the existing collection of information
                                                                                                                                                                    respond to, a collection of information
                                                    no other form is authorized or                            provided for in Rule 19d–3 (17 CFR
                                                                                                                                                                    under the PRA unless it displays a
                                                    prescribed. The information collected is                  240.19d–3) under the Securities
                                                                                                                                                                    currently valid OMB control number.
                                                    intended to ensure that the information                   Exchange Act of 1934 (17 U.S.C. 78a et
                                                                                                                                                                      Please direct your written comments
                                                    required to be filed by the Commission                    seq.) (‘‘Exchange Act’’). The
                                                                                                                                                                    to: Pamela C. Dyson, Director/Chief
                                                    permits verification of compliance with                   Commission plans to submit this
                                                                                                                                                                    Information Officer, Securities and
                                                    securities law requirements and assures                   existing collection of information to the
                                                                                                                                                                    Exchange Commission, c/o Remi Pavlik-
                                                    the public availability of such                           Office of Management and Budget
                                                                                                                                                                    Simon, 100 F Street NE., Washington,
                                                    information. Form S–1 takes                               (‘‘OMB’’) for extension and approval.
                                                                                                                 Rule 19d–3 prescribes the form and                 DC 20549 or send an email to: PRA_
                                                    approximately 667 hours per response                                                                            Mailbox@sec.gov.
                                                    and is filed by approximately 901                         content of applications to the
                                                    respondents. We estimate that 25% of                      Commission by persons seeking                           Dated: February 24, 2016.
                                                    the 667 hours per response (166.75                        Commission review of final disciplinary               Robert W. Errett,
                                                    hours) is prepared by the registrant for                  actions against them taken by self-                   Deputy Secretary.
                                                    a total annual reporting burden of                        regulatory organizations (‘‘SROs’’) for               [FR Doc. 2016–04349 Filed 2–29–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    150,242 hours (166.75 hours per                           which the Commission is the                           BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                    response × 901 responses).                                appropriate regulatory agency. The
                                                       An agency may not conduct or                           Commission uses the information
                                                    sponsor, and a person is not required to                  provided in the application filed                     SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
                                                    respond to, a collection of information                   pursuant to Rule 19d–3 to review final
                                                    unless it displays a currently valid OMB                  actions taken by SROs including: (1)                  [Disaster Declaration #14639 and #14640]
                                                    control number.                                           Final disciplinary sanctions; (2) denial
                                                       The public may view the background                     or conditioning of membership,                        New Jersey Disaster #NJ–00045
                                                    documentation for this information                        participation or association; and (3)
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                                    AGENCY: U.S. Small Business
                                                    collection at the following Web site,                     prohibitions or limitations of access to              Administration.
                                                    www.reginfo.gov. Comments should be                       services offered by a SRO or member                   ACTION: Notice.
                                                    directed to: (i) Desk Officer for the                     thereof.
                                                    Securities and Exchange Commission,                          It is estimated that approximately six             SUMMARY:   This is a notice of an
                                                    Office of Information and Regulatory                      respondents will utilize this application             Administrative declaration of a disaster
                                                    Affairs, Office of Management and                         procedure annually, with a total burden               for the State of NEW JERSEY dated 02/
                                                                                                              of approximately 108 hours, for all                   22/2016.
                                                      36 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            respondents to complete all                             Incident: Severe Winter Snow Storm.


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Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:59:57
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:59:57
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 Citation81 FR 10693 

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