81_FR_3232 81 FR 3220 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to Chapter XV, Entitled “Options Pricing”

81 FR 3220 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to Chapter XV, Entitled “Options Pricing”

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 12 (January 20, 2016)

Page Range3220-3224
FR Document2016-00897

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 12 (Wednesday, January 20, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3220-3224]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00897]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-76886; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2015-166]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to 
Chapter XV, Entitled ``Options Pricing''

January 13, 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 December 30, 2015, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in 
Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the 
Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments 
on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.

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[[Page 3221]]

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

    The Exchange proposes to amend Chapter XV, entitled ``Options 
Pricing,'' at Section 2, which governs pricing for Exchange members 
using the NASDAQ Options Market (``NOM''), the Exchange's facility for 
executing and routing standardized equity and index options.
    The Exchange purposes [sic] to amend it [sic] Customer,\3\ 
Professional \4\ and NOM Market Maker \5\ Penny Pilot Options \6\ 
Rebate to Add Liquidity tiers. While the changes proposed herein are 
effective upon filing, the Exchange has designated the amendments [sic] 
become operative on January 4, 2016.
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    \3\ The term ``Customer'' applies to any transaction that is 
identified by a Participant for clearing in the Customer range at 
The Options Clearing Corporation that is not for the account of 
broker or dealer or for the account of a ``Professional'' (as that 
term is defined in Chapter I, Section 1(a)(48)).
    \4\ 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 NOM Rules at 
Chapter I, Section 1(a)(48). All Professional orders shall be 
appropriately marked by Participants.
    \5\ A ``Non-NOM Market Maker'' is a registered market maker on 
another options exchange that is not a NOM Market Maker. A Non-NOM 
Market Maker must append the proper Non-NOM Market Maker designation 
to orders routed to NOM.
    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 57579 (March 28, 
2008), 73 FR 18587 (April 4, 2008) (SR-NASDAQ-2008-026) (notice of 
filing and immediate effectiveness establishing Penny Pilot); 60874 
(October 23, 2009), 74 FR 56682 (November 2, 2009) (SR-NASDAQ-2009-
091) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness expanding and 
extending Penny Pilot); 60965 (November 9, 2009), 74 FR 59292 
(November 17, 2009) (SR-NASDAQ-2009-097) (notice of filing and 
immediate effectiveness adding seventy-five classes to Penny Pilot); 
61455 (February 1, 2010), 75 FR 6239 (February 8, 2010) (SR-NASDAQ-
2010-013) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness adding 
seventy-five classes to Penny Pilot); 62029 (May 4, 2010), 75 FR 
25895 (May 10, 2010) (SR-NASDAQ-2010-053) (notice of filing and 
immediate effectiveness adding seventy-five classes to Penny Pilot); 
65969 (December 15, 2011), 76 FR 79268 (December 21, 2011) (SR-
NASDAQ-2011-169) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness [sic] 
extension and replacement of Penny Pilot); 67325 (June 29, 2012), 77 
FR 40127 (July 6, 2012) (SR-NASDAQ-2012-075) (notice of filing and 
immediate effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot 
through December 31, 2012); 68519 (December 21, 2012), 78 FR 136 
(January 2, 2013) (SR-NASDAQ-2012-143) (notice of filing and 
immediate effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot 
through June 30, 2013); 69787 (June 18, 2013), 78 FR 37858 (June 24, 
2013) (SR-NASDAQ-2013-082) (notice of filing and immediate 
effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through 
December 31, 2013); 71105 (December 17, 2013), 78 FR 77530 (December 
23, 2013) (SR-NASDAQ-2013-154) (notice of filing and immediate 
effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through 
June 30, 2014); 79 FR 31151 [sic] (May 23, 2014), 79 FR 31151 (May 
30, 2014) (SR-NASDAQ-2014-056) (notice of filing and immediate 
effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through 
December 31, 2014); 73686 (December 2, 2014) [sic], 79 FR 71477 
(November 25, 2014) [sic] (SR-NASDAQ-2014-115) (notice of filing and 
immediate effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot 
through June 30, 2015) and 75283 (June 24, 2015), 80 FR 37347 (June 
30, 2015) (SR-NASDAQ-2015-063) (notice of filing and immediate 
effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot) See also 
NOM Rules, Chapter VI, Section 5.
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    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at the principal office of 
the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

    In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and 
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The 
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in 
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in 
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such 
statements.

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

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes certain amendments to the NOM transaction 
fees set forth at Chapter XV, Section 2 for executing and routing 
standardized equity and index options under the Penny Pilot Options 
program. The proposed changes are as follows:
Note ``c'' of Chapter XV, Section 2(1)
     Proposal to amend note ``c'' criteria, at part (2), to 
decrease the percentage of total industry customer equity and ETF 
option ADV contract per day in a month from 1.40% to 1.30%.
     The Exchange is bolding the numbers and letters in this 
paragraph for ease of reference.
NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot Options Rebate To Add Liquidity Tiers
     Proposal to amend Tier 6 of the NOM Market Maker Penny 
Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity to remove an existing 
qualification from Tier 6.
    These rule changes are described in greater detail below.
Note ``c'' of Chapter XV, Section 2(1)
    The Exchange currently pays Customer and Professional Rebates to 
Add Liquidity based on an eight tier rebate structure. For purposes of 
qualifying for a Customer and Professional Rebate to Add Liquidity 
tier, the Exchange determines the applicable percentage of total 
industry customer equity and ETF option average daily volume by 
including the Participant's Penny Pilot and Non-Penny Pilot volume that 
adds liquidity.\7\
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    \7\ Tiers 6 and 7 are exceptions because these tiers are 
calculated based on Total Volume. Total Volume is defined as 
Customer, Professional, Firm, Broker-Dealer, Non-NOM Market Maker, 
and NOM Market Maker volume in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny 
Pilot Options which either adds or removes liquidity on NOM. See 
note ``b'' in Section 2(1) of Chapter XV. The Exchange utilizes data 
from The Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') to determine the 
total industry customer equity and ETF options ADV figure. OCC 
classifies equity and ETF options volume under the equity options 
category. Also, both customer and professional orders that are 
transacted on options exchanges clear in the customer range at OCC 
and therefore both customer and professional volume would be 
included in the total industry figure to calculate rebate tiers.
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    The Exchange proposes, beginning January 4, 2016, to amend note 
``c,'' which permits Participants that qualify for the Tier 8 Customer 
and Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity \8\ to 
achieve a higher rebate. Currently, note ``c'' states: ``[P]articipants 
that (1) add Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or 
Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot 
Options of 1.15% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF 
option ADV contracts per day in a month will receive an additional 
$0.02 per contract Penny Pilot Options Customer Rebate to Add Liquidity 
for each transaction which adds liquidity in Penny Pilot Options in 
that month; or (2) add Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market 
Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-
Penny Pilot Options of 1.40% or more of total industry customer equity 
and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month will receive an 
additional $0.05 per contract Penny Pilot Options Customer Rebate to 
Add Liquidity for each transaction

[[Page 3222]]

which adds liquidity in Penny Pilot Options in that month; or (3)(a) 
add Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-
Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options 
above 0.75% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV 
contracts per day in a month and (b) has added liquidity in all 
securities through one or more of its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs that 
represent 1.10% or more of Consolidated Volume in a month will receive 
an additional $0.03 per contract Penny Pilot Options Customer Rebate to 
Add Liquidity for each transaction which adds liquidity in Penny Pilot 
Options in a month.'' \9\
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    \8\ Tier 8 of the Customer and Professional Rebate to Add 
Liquidity Tiers currently pays a $0.48 per contract rebate to 
Participants that add Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market 
Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or 
Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.75% or more of total industry 
customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month or 
Participant adds (1) Customer and/or Professional liquidity in Penny 
Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 30,000 or more 
contracts per day in a month and (2) the Participant has certified 
for the Investor Support Program set forth in Rule 7014.
    \9\ Consolidated Volume means the total consolidated volume 
reported to all consolidated transaction reporting plans by all 
exchanges and trade reporting facilities during a month in equity 
securities, excluding executed orders with a size of less than one 
round lot. For purposes of calculating Consolidated Volume and the 
extent of an equity member's trading activity, expressed as a 
percentage of or ratio to Consolidated Volume, the date of the 
annual reconstitution of the Russell Investments Indexes shall be 
excluded from both total Consolidated Volume and the member's 
trading activity.
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    The Exchange proposes to amend the criteria in note ``c'' at part 
(2) to decrease the percentage of total industry customer equity and 
ETF option ADV contract per day in a month from 1.40% to 1.30%. The 
Exchange believes that this decrease will offer Participants an 
opportunity to qualify for the part (2) incentive and receive a $0.05 
per contract \10\ additional rebate, in addition to the Tier 8 rebate, 
by amending the qualification to require less volume.\11\ The Exchange 
believes that this incentive will continue to encourage Participants to 
add even more liquidity on NOM to earn a higher Tier 8 rebate. The 
Exchange is not amending the other criteria, (1) and (3), in note ``c'' 
to qualify for an additional rebate.
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    \10\ Note ``c'' offers three distinct incentives for 
Participants that qualify for the Tier 8 Customer and Professional 
Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity. The part (2) rebate, as 
amended, would be paid to Participants that added Customer, 
Professional, Firm, NOM Market Maker [sic], Non-NOM Market Maker 
and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-
Penny Pilot Options of 1.30% or more of total industry customer 
equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month.
    \11\ Only Participants that qualify for the Tier 8 Customer and 
Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity are 
eligible for the note ``c'' incentives. The incentives are in 
addition to the Tier 8 rebate.
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    The Exchange also proposes to bold the numbers and letters that 
define the various parts of note `c'' for ease of reference.
NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot Options Rebate To Add Liquidity Tiers
    The Exchange proposes, beginning January 4, 2016, to amend Tier 6 
of the NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot Option Rebate to Add Liquidity to 
eliminate one of the criteria for qualifying for the $0.42 per contract 
Tier 6 rebate. Currently, Participants that add NOM Market Maker 
liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 
0.80% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts 
per day in a month and qualify for the Tier 7 or Tier 8 Customer and/or 
Professional Rebate to Add Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options or 
Participants that add NOM Market Maker liquidity in Penny Pilot Options 
and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.90% of total industry customer 
equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month or Participants 
that add Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker, and/or 
Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot 
Options of 1.40% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF 
option ADV contracts per day in a month receive a $0.42 per contract 
NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity.
    The Exchange proposes to remove the option to qualify for the Tier 
6 NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot Options rebate by adding Customer, 
Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker, and/or Broker-Dealer 
liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 
1.40% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV 
contracts per day in a month. With this proposal, Participants will be 
able to qualify for the Tier 6 NOM Market Maker Rebate by either (1) 
adding NOM Market Maker liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-
Penny Pilot Options above 0.80% of total industry customer equity and 
ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month and qualifies [sic] for the 
Tier 7 or Tier 8 Customer and/or Professional Rebate to Add Liquidity 
in Penny Pilot Options or (2) adding NOM Market Maker liquidity in 
Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.90% of total 
industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a 
month. While the Exchange is eliminating one of the methods to qualify 
for the Tier 6 NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot Options rebate, the 
Exchange believes that the rebate tier will continue to incentivize NOM 
Participants to continue to add liquidity to NOM.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6 of the Act,\12\ in general, and with Section 6(b)(4) and 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\13\ 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 the Exchange operates or controls, and is not designed to permit 
unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. 
Customer volume is important because it continues to attract liquidity 
to the Exchange, which benefits all market participants. Further, with 
respect to Professional liquidity, the Exchange initially established 
Professional pricing in order to ``. . . bring additional revenue to 
the Exchange.'' \14\ The Exchange noted in the Professional Filing that 
it believes ``. . . that the increased revenue from the proposal would 
assist the Exchange to recoup fixed costs.'' \15\ The Exchange noted in 
that filing that it believes that establishing separate pricing for a 
Professional, which ranges between that of a Customer and market maker, 
accomplishes this objective.\16\ NOM Market Makers have obligations to 
the market and regulatory requirements,\17\ which normally do not apply 
to other market participants. A NOM Market Maker has the obligation to 
make continuous markets, engage in a course of dealings reasonably 
calculated to

[[Page 3223]]

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 [sic] course of dealings.\18\
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    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
    \14\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64494 (May 13, 
2011), 76 FR 29014 (May 19, 2011) (SR-NASDAQ-2011-066) 
(``Professional Filing''). In this filing, the Exchange addressed 
the perceived favorable pricing of Professionals who were assessed 
fees and paid rebates like a Customer prior to the filing. The 
Exchange noted in that filing that a Professional, unlike a retail 
Customer, has access to sophisticated trading systems that contain 
functionality not available to retail Customers.1
    \15\ See Professional Filing.
    \16\ See Professional Filing. The Exchange also [sic] in the 
Professional Filing that it believes the role of the retail Customer 
in the marketplace is distinct from that of the Professional and the 
Exchange's fee proposal at that time accounted for this distinction 
by pricing each market participant according to their roles and 
obligations.
    \17\ Pursuant to Chapter VII (Market Participants), Section 5 
(Obligations of Market Makers), in registering as a market maker, an 
Options Participant commits himself to various obligations. 
Transactions of a Market Maker in its market making capacity must 
constitute a course of dealings reasonably calculated to contribute 
to the maintenance of a fair and orderly market, and Market Makers 
should not make bids or offers or enter into transactions that are 
inconsistent with such course of dealings. Further, all Market 
Makers are designated as specialists on NOM for all purposes under 
the Act or rules thereunder. See Chapter VII, Section 5.
    \18\ Id.
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    The Commission and the courts have repeatedly expressed their 
preference for competition over regulatory intervention in determining 
prices, products, and services in the securities markets. In Regulation 
NMS, for example, the Commission indicated that market forces should 
generally determine the price of non-core market data because national 
market system regulation ``has been remarkably successful in promoting 
market competition in its broader forms that are most important to 
investors and listed companies.'' \19\ Likewise, in NetCoalition v. 
NYSE Arca, Inc. \20\ (``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.\21\ 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.'' \22\
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    \19\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 at 37499 (June 9, 
2005) (``Regulation NMS Adopting Release'').
    \20\ NetCoalition v. NYSE Arca, Inc., 615 F.3d 525 (D.C. Cir. 
2010).
    \21\ See NetCoalition, at 534.
    \22\ 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' . . . .'' \23\ 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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    \23\ Id. at 539 (quoting ArcaBook Order, 73 FR at 74782-74783).
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Note ``c'' of Chapter XV, Section 2(1)
    The Exchange's proposal to amend note ``c,'' at part (2) to 
decrease the percentage of total industry customer equity and ETF 
option ADV contract per day in a month from 1.40% to 1.30% in part (2) 
to qualify for the additional Tier 8 NOM Market Maker [sic] Penny Pilot 
Option rebate is reasonable because additional Participants may qualify 
for this incentive because of the lower volume requirement. The 
Exchange believes that this incentive will continue to encourage 
Participants to add even more liquidity on NOM to earn a higher rebate. 
Participants that qualify for this incentive would be paid the Tier 8 
Customer and Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity 
of $0.48 per contract plus the additional part (2) note ``c'' rebate of 
$0.05 per contract for a total rebate of $0.53 per contract.
    The Exchange's proposal to amend note ``c,'' at part (2) to 
decrease the percentage of total industry customer equity and ETF 
option ADV contract per day in a month from 1.40% to 1.30% in part (2) 
to qualify for the additional Tier 8 NOM Market Maker [sic] Penny Pilot 
Option rebate is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because, 
today, all Participants may qualify for the Tier 8 Customer and 
Professional Rebate to Add Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and 
therefore are qualified to earn the additional note ``c'' rebates.\24\ 
The Exchange will uniformly pay the Tier 8 and additional note ``c'' 
rebates to all Participants that transact the qualifying volume, 
respectively.
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    \24\ Note ``c'' offers three distinct incentives for 
Participants that qualify for the Tier 8 Customer and Professional 
Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity.
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    The Exchange's proposal to bold the numbers and letters in note 
``c'' is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because 
it will provide an easier point of reference for each criteria and 
rebate. Also, this proposed amendment is non-substantive.
NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot Options Rebate To Add Liquidity Tiers
    The Exchange's proposal to amend Tier 6 of the NOM Market Maker 
Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity to eliminate one of the 
criteria to qualify for the $0.42 per contract Tier 6 rebate is 
reasonable because, despite the elimination of one of the methods to 
qualify for the Tier 6 NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot Options rebate, the 
Exchange believes that the Tier 6 rebate will continue to incentivize 
Participants to add liquidity to NOM in order to receive the rebate.
    The Exchange's proposal to amend Tier 6 of the NOM Market Maker 
Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity to eliminate one of the 
criteria to qualify for the $0.42 per contract Tier 6 rebate is 
equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because the elimination of 
the qualifying language in Tier 6 of the NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot 
Options Rebate to Add Liquidity will uniformly apply to all 
Participants. No Participant will be entitled to the Tier 6 NOM Market 
Maker Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity by adding Customer, 
Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker, and/or Broker-Dealer 
liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 
1.40% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV 
contracts per day in a month. Also, it is important to note that NOM 
Market Makers have obligations to the market and regulatory 
requirements,\25\ which normally do not apply to other market 
participants. The Exchange believes that offering rebates to these 
market participants is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory in 
light of their obligations.
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    \25\ See note 17 above.
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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. In terms of inter-market 
competition, the Exchange notes that it operates in a highly 
competitive market in which market participants can readily favor 
competing venues if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be 
excessive, or rebate opportunities available at other venues to be more 
favorable. In such an environment, the Exchange must continually adjust 
its fees to remain competitive with other exchanges and with 
alternative trading systems that have been exempted from compliance 
with the statutory standards applicable to exchanges. Because 
competitors are free to modify their own fees in response and because 
market participants may readily adjust their order routing practices, 
the Exchange believes that the degree to which fee changes in this 
market may impose any burden on competition is extremely limited.
    In this instance, the proposed amendments to the Customer, 
Professional and NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add 
Liquidity tiers do not impose an undue burden on inter-market 
competition because the Exchange's execution services are completely 
voluntary and subject to extensive competition.
Note ``c'' of Chapter XV, Section 2(1)
    The Exchange's proposal to amend note ``c,'' at part (2) to 
decrease the

[[Page 3224]]

percentage of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV 
contract per day in a month from 1.40% to 1.30% to qualify for the 
additional Tier 8 rebate does not impose an undue burden on intra-
market competition because, today, all Participants may qualify for the 
Tier 8 Customer and Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebates to Add 
Liquidity and qualify to earn the note ``c'' additional rebates. The 
Exchange will uniformly pay the Tier 8 and additional note ``c'' 
rebates to all Participants that transact the qualifying volume, 
respectively.
    Customer liquidity is critically important to the market and 
benefits all market participants. Greater customer liquidity benefits 
all market participants by providing more trading opportunities and 
attracting greater participation by specialists and market makers. An 
increase in the activity of these market participants in turn 
facilitates tighter spreads. All Participants are eligible for these 
rebates if they transact the requisite volume. All Participants are 
eligible for the note ``c'' incentives if they transact the requisite 
volume. Also, the Exchange believes that encouraging Participants to 
add Professional liquidity creates competition among options exchanges, 
because the Exchange believes that the rebates may cause market 
participants to select NOM as a venue to send Professional order flow.
    The Exchange's proposal to bold the numbers and letters in note 
``c'' do not impose an undue burden on intra-market competition because 
the amendment is non-substantive.
NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot Options Rebate To Add Liquidity Tiers
    The Exchange's proposal to amend Tier 6 of the NOM Market Maker 
Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity to eliminate one of the 
criteria to qualify for the $0.42 per contract Tier 6 rebate does not 
impose an undue burden on intra-market competition because the 
elimination of the qualifying language in Tier 6 of the NOM Market 
Maker Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity will uniformly apply 
to all Participants. No Participant will be entitled to the Tier 6 NOM 
Market Maker Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity by adding 
Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker, and/or Broker-
Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options 
of 1.40% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV 
contracts per day in a month. The Exchange believes that offering 
rebates to these market participants is equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory in light of their obligations.\26\
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    \26\ See note 17 above.
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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.\27\
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    \27\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is: (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-NASDAQ-2015-166 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2015-166. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To 
help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all 
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are 
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to 
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other 
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the 
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All 
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does 
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2015-166, and should 
be submitted on or before February 10, 2016.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\28\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-00897 Filed 1-19-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                              3220                       Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 20, 2016 / Notices

                                              designated as the Settling Bank to settle                 (xvi) insert the title of the Guide on               by allowing DTC to collect net debits
                                              with DTC on the Participant’s behalf;                   the Guide’s front page.                                and release net credits within scheduled
                                                 (iv) clarify that certain online reports               Implementation. The effective date of                timeframes, which will limit the
                                              DTC provides Participants and Settling                  the proposed rule change will be                       settlement risk to DTC. As such, the
                                              Banks through the processing day reflect                announced via a DTC Important Notice.                  Commission believes that the proposal
                                              ‘‘intraday’’ gross debits and credits, and                                                                     is consistent with Rule 17Ad–22(d)(5).21
                                                                                                      II. Discussion and Commission
                                              net debit and credit balances;
                                                 (v) clarify that a Settling Bank’s end-              Findings                                               III. Conclusion
                                              of-day net-net settlement balance                          Section 19(b)(2)(C) of the Act 16
                                              includes the Settling Bank’s own                        directs the Commission to approve a                      On the basis of the foregoing, the
                                              settlement obligations as a Participant if              proposed rule change of a self-                        Commission finds that the proposal is
                                              it settles for itself;                                  regulatory organization if it finds that               consistent with the requirements of the
                                                 (vi) add text for the purpose of                     such proposed rule change is consistent                Act and in particular with the
                                              context, consistent with the Rules, that                with the requirements of the Act and                   requirements of Section 17A of the
                                              each Participant is obligated to settle                 rules and regulations thereunder                       Act 22 and the rules and regulations
                                              timely with DTC and if its Settling Bank                applicable to such organization. The                   thereunder.
                                              refuses to settle for it then it must make              Commission believes the proposal is                      It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
                                              alternative arrangements to make                        consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of                Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, that
                                              payment to DTC via Fedwire;                             the Act 17 and Rule 17Ad–22(d)(5),18 as                proposed rule change SR–DTC–2015–
                                                 (vii) add text for the purpose of                    described in detail below.                             011 be, and hereby is, approved.23
                                              context, consistent with the Rules, that                   Consistency with Section 17A(b)(3)(F)
                                              a Participant that acts as its own Settling             of the Act. Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the                  For the Commission, by the Division of
                                              Bank may not refuse to settle for itself                Act requires, among other things, that                 Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                              and that it will be in default if it does               the rules of a clearing agency be                      authority.24
                                              not fund its settlement obligation;                     designed to promote the prompt and                     Robert W. Errett,
                                                 (viii) for clarity, change the heading to            accurate clearance and settlement of                   Deputy Secretary.
                                              an existing example of how a Settling                   securities transactions.19 As described                [FR Doc. 2016–00898 Filed 1–19–16; 8:45 am]
                                              Bank’s settlement balance is calculated                 above, the change will reduce delays in
                                                                                                                                                             BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                              from ‘‘Settlement Example’’ to                          the settlement process by allowing DTC
                                              ‘‘Example of the Calculation of a DTC                   to collect net debits and release net
                                              Settling Bank’s Net-Net Settlement                      credits within scheduled timeframes                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                              Balance’’;                                              despite the failure of a Settling Bank to              COMMISSION
                                                 (ix) remove the provision from the                   affirmatively acknowledge its end-of-
                                              Guide indicating that that a Settling                   day net-net settlement balance or notify
                                              Bank that settles only for itself will need             DTC of its refusal to settle for a                     [Release No. 34–76886; File No. SR–
                                              to affirmatively opt out in order to not                Participant for which it is the                        NASDAQ–2015–166]
                                              be required to affirmatively                            designated Settling Bank on a timely
                                              acknowledge its settlement balance, and                                                                        Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
                                                                                                      basis. This requirement will reduce
                                              add text simply stating that a Settling                                                                        NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of
                                                                                                      uncertainty and associated risks that
                                              Bank that settles only for itself will not              may currently arise from Failure to                    Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
                                              be required to acknowledge its                          Acknowledge, thus facilitating the                     Proposed Rule Change to Chapter XV,
                                              settlement balance;                                     prompt and accurate clearance and                      Entitled ‘‘Options Pricing’’
                                                 (x) clarify the interest charged to                  settlement of securities transactions.                 January 13, 2016.
                                              Participants for a failure to settle;                      Consistency with Rule 17Ad–22(d)(5).
                                                 (xi) delete references to a Settling                 Rule 17Ad–22(d)(5) under the Act                          Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                              Bank’s failure to timely settle its                     requires a clearing agency, such as DTC,               Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                              settlement balance from being referred                  to establish, implement, maintain and                  (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                              to as a ‘‘failure to settle’’ and remove                enforce written policies and procedures                notice is hereby given that on December
                                              references to related procedures as being               reasonably designed to employ money                    30, 2015, The NASDAQ Stock Market
                                              ‘‘failure-to-settle’’ procedures, as the                settlement arrangements that eliminate                 LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed
                                              terminology could be confused with an                   or strictly limit the clearing agency’s                with the Securities and Exchange
                                              individual Participant’s failure to meet                settlement bank risks and require funds                Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’)
                                              its settlement obligation;                              transfers to the clearing agency to be                 the proposed rule change as described
                                                 (xii) rewrite text in the Guide in light             final when effected.20 As described                    in Items I, II, and III below, which Items
                                              of the proposed changes, as applicable,                 above, the change should reduce DTC’s                  have been prepared by the Exchange.
                                              including Addendum A of the Guide, to                   credit and liquidity risk by mitigating                The Commission is publishing this
                                              incorporate proposed changes,                           the risk that end-of-day net-net debit
                                              consolidate text, clarify text for                                                                             notice to solicit comments on the
                                                                                                      settlement balances would not be paid                  proposed rule change from interested
                                              readability and eliminate duplication;                  due to the failure of a Settling Bank to
                                                 (xiii) clarify certain Settling Bank and                                                                    persons.
                                                                                                      respond to DTC after posting of final
                                              settlement processing timeframes;                       settlement figures. The change also
                                                 (xiv) apply initial capitalization as                should create an arrangement that
                                                                                                                                                               21 Id.
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                                                                                                                                                               22 15  U.S.C. 78q–1.
                                              appropriate for the terms ‘‘Participant’’               reduces delays in the settlement process                 23 In approving the proposed rule change, the
                                              and ‘‘Settling Bank’’ where they are
                                                                                                                                                             Commission considered the proposal’s impact on
                                              used as defined terms;                                    16 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(C).                           efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15
                                                 (xv) remove references to Participant                  17 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).                         U.S.C. 78c(f).
                                              Terminal System (PTS) functions,                          18 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(d)(5).                            24 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).

                                              which are no longer used for DTC                          19 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).                            1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

                                              settlement processing; and                                20 17 CFR 240.17Ad–22(d)(5).                            2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.




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                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 20, 2016 / Notices                                                     3221

                                              I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                          While the changes proposed herein are                Note ‘‘c’’ of Chapter XV, Section 2(1)
                                              Statement of the Terms of Substance of                     effective upon filing, the Exchange has                 The Exchange currently pays
                                              the Proposed Rule Change                                   designated the amendments [sic]                      Customer and Professional Rebates to
                                                 The Exchange proposes to amend                          become operative on January 4, 2016.                 Add Liquidity based on an eight tier
                                              Chapter XV, entitled ‘‘Options Pricing,’’                     The text of the proposed rule change              rebate structure. For purposes of
                                              at Section 2, which governs pricing for                    is available on the Exchange’s Web site              qualifying for a Customer and
                                              Exchange members using the NASDAQ                          at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at               Professional Rebate to Add Liquidity
                                              Options Market (‘‘NOM’’), the                              the principal office of the Exchange, and            tier, the Exchange determines the
                                              Exchange’s facility for executing and                      at the Commission’s Public Reference                 applicable percentage of total industry
                                              routing standardized equity and index                      Room.                                                customer equity and ETF option average
                                              options.                                                                                                        daily volume by including the
                                                 The Exchange purposes [sic] to amend                    II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                   Participant’s Penny Pilot and Non-
                                              it [sic] Customer,3 Professional 4 and                     Statement of the Purpose of, and                     Penny Pilot volume that adds liquidity.7
                                              NOM Market Maker 5 Penny Pilot                             Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  The Exchange proposes, beginning
                                              Options 6 Rebate to Add Liquidity tiers.                   Change                                               January 4, 2016, to amend note ‘‘c,’’
                                                                                                           In its filing with the Commission, the             which permits Participants that qualify
                                                 3 The term ‘‘Customer’’ applies to any transaction
                                                                                                         Exchange included statements                         for the Tier 8 Customer and Professional
                                              that is identified by a Participant for clearing in the                                                         Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add
                                              Customer range at The Options Clearing                     concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                              Corporation that is not for the account of broker or       the proposed rule change and discussed               Liquidity 8 to achieve a higher rebate.
                                              dealer or for the account of a ‘‘Professional’’ (as that   any comments it received on the                      Currently, note ‘‘c’’ states:
                                              term is defined in Chapter I, Section 1(a)(48)).
                                                                                                         proposed rule change. The text of these              ‘‘[P]articipants that (1) add Customer,
                                                 4 The term ‘‘Professional’’ means any person or
                                                                                                         statements may be examined at the                    Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market
                                              entity that (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities,
                                              and (ii) places more than 390 orders in listed             places specified in Item IV below. The               Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in
                                              options per day on average during a calendar month         Exchange has prepared summaries, set                 Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny
                                              for its own beneficial account(s). See NOM Rules
                                                                                                         forth in sections A, B, and C below, of              Pilot Options of 1.15% or more of total
                                              at Chapter I, Section 1(a)(48). All Professional                                                                industry customer equity and ETF
                                              orders shall be appropriately marked by                    the most significant aspects of such
                                              Participants.                                              statements.                                          option ADV contracts per day in a
                                                 5 A ‘‘Non-NOM Market Maker’’ is a registered                                                                 month will receive an additional $0.02
                                              market maker on another options exchange that is           A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                    per contract Penny Pilot Options
                                              not a NOM Market Maker. A Non-NOM Market                   Statement of the Purpose of, and                     Customer Rebate to Add Liquidity for
                                              Maker must append the proper Non-NOM Market                Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                              Maker designation to orders routed to NOM.                                                                      each transaction which adds liquidity in
                                                 6 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 57579        Change                                               Penny Pilot Options in that month; or
                                              (March 28, 2008), 73 FR 18587 (April 4, 2008) (SR–         1. Purpose                                           (2) add Customer, Professional, Firm,
                                              NASDAQ–2008–026) (notice of filing and                                                                          Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-
                                              immediate effectiveness establishing Penny Pilot);
                                              60874 (October 23, 2009), 74 FR 56682 (November
                                                                                                           The Exchange proposes certain                      Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options
                                              2, 2009) (SR–NASDAQ–2009–091) (notice of filing            amendments to the NOM transaction                    and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of
                                              and immediate effectiveness expanding and                  fees set forth at Chapter XV, Section 2              1.40% or more of total industry
                                              extending Penny Pilot); 60965 (November 9, 2009),          for executing and routing standardized               customer equity and ETF option ADV
                                              74 FR 59292 (November 17, 2009) (SR–NASDAQ–
                                              2009–097) (notice of filing and immediate                  equity and index options under the                   contracts per day in a month will
                                              effectiveness adding seventy-five classes to Penny         Penny Pilot Options program. The                     receive an additional $0.05 per contract
                                              Pilot); 61455 (February 1, 2010), 75 FR 6239               proposed changes are as follows:                     Penny Pilot Options Customer Rebate to
                                              (February 8, 2010) (SR–NASDAQ–2010–013)                                                                         Add Liquidity for each transaction
                                              (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness adding       Note ‘‘c’’ of Chapter XV, Section 2(1)
                                              seventy-five classes to Penny Pilot); 62029 (May 4,
                                              2010), 75 FR 25895 (May 10, 2010) (SR–NASDAQ–                 • Proposal to amend note ‘‘c’’ criteria,            7 Tiers 6 and 7 are exceptions because these tiers

                                              2010–053) (notice of filing and immediate                                                                       are calculated based on Total Volume. Total
                                              effectiveness adding seventy-five classes to Penny
                                                                                                         at part (2), to decrease the percentage of           Volume is defined as Customer, Professional, Firm,
                                              Pilot); 65969 (December 15, 2011), 76 FR 79268             total industry customer equity and ETF               Broker-Dealer, Non-NOM Market Maker, and NOM
                                              (December 21, 2011) (SR–NASDAQ–2011–169)                   option ADV contract per day in a month               Market Maker volume in Penny Pilot Options and/
                                              (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness [sic]        from 1.40% to 1.30%.                                 or Non-Penny Pilot Options which either adds or
                                              extension and replacement of Penny Pilot); 67325                                                                removes liquidity on NOM. See note ‘‘b’’ in Section
                                              (June 29, 2012), 77 FR 40127 (July 6, 2012) (SR–              • The Exchange is bolding the                     2(1) of Chapter XV. The Exchange utilizes data from
                                              NASDAQ–2012–075) (notice of filing and                     numbers and letters in this paragraph                The Options Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) to
                                              immediate effectiveness and extension and                  for ease of reference.                               determine the total industry customer equity and
                                              replacement of Penny Pilot through December 31,                                                                 ETF options ADV figure. OCC classifies equity and
                                              2012); 68519 (December 21, 2012), 78 FR 136                NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot                         ETF options volume under the equity options
                                              (January 2, 2013) (SR–NASDAQ–2012–143) (notice                                                                  category. Also, both customer and professional
                                                                                                         Options Rebate To Add Liquidity Tiers                orders that are transacted on options exchanges
                                              of filing and immediate effectiveness and extension
                                              and replacement of Penny Pilot through June 30,                                                                 clear in the customer range at OCC and therefore
                                              2013); 69787 (June 18, 2013), 78 FR 37858 (June 24,
                                                                                                           • Proposal to amend Tier 6 of the                  both customer and professional volume would be
                                              2013) (SR–NASDAQ–2013–082) (notice of filing               NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot                         included in the total industry figure to calculate
                                              and immediate effectiveness and extension and              Options Rebate to Add Liquidity to                   rebate tiers.
                                              replacement of Penny Pilot through December 31,                                                                   8 Tier 8 of the Customer and Professional Rebate
                                                                                                         remove an existing qualification from
                                              2013); 71105 (December 17, 2013), 78 FR 77530                                                                   to Add Liquidity Tiers currently pays a $0.48 per
                                              (December 23, 2013) (SR–NASDAQ–2013–154)
                                                                                                         Tier 6.                                              contract rebate to Participants that add Customer,
                                              (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness and            These rule changes are described in                Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or
                                              extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through                                                                Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/
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                                                                                                         greater detail below.
                                              June 30, 2014); 79 FR 31151 [sic] (May 23, 2014),                                                               or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.75% or more
                                              79 FR 31151 (May 30, 2014) (SR–NASDAQ–2014–                                                                     of total industry customer equity and ETF option
                                              056) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness         replacement of Penny Pilot through June 30, 2015)    ADV contracts per day in a month or Participant
                                              and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot               and 75283 (June 24, 2015), 80 FR 37347 (June 30,     adds (1) Customer and/or Professional liquidity in
                                              through December 31, 2014); 73686 (December 2,             2015) (SR–NASDAQ–2015–063) (notice of filing         Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot
                                              2014) [sic], 79 FR 71477 (November 25, 2014) [sic]         and immediate effectiveness and extension and        Options of 30,000 or more contracts per day in a
                                              (SR–NASDAQ–2014–115) (notice of filing and                 replacement of Penny Pilot) See also NOM Rules,      month and (2) the Participant has certified for the
                                              immediate effectiveness and extension and                  Chapter VI, Section 5.                               Investor Support Program set forth in Rule 7014.



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                                              3222                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 20, 2016 / Notices

                                              which adds liquidity in Penny Pilot                       NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot                          2. Statutory Basis
                                              Options in that month; or (3)(a) add                      Options Rebate To Add Liquidity Tiers                    The Exchange believes that the
                                              Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM                                                                           proposed rule change is consistent with
                                              Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer                            The Exchange proposes, beginning
                                                                                                        January 4, 2016, to amend Tier 6 of the               Section 6 of the Act,12 in general, and
                                              liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or                                                                         with Section 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the
                                              Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.75%                       NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot Option
                                                                                                        Rebate to Add Liquidity to eliminate                  Act,13 in particular, in that it provides
                                              of total industry customer equity and                                                                           for the equitable allocation of reasonable
                                                                                                        one of the criteria for qualifying for the
                                              ETF option ADV contracts per day in a                                                                           dues, fees, and other charges among
                                                                                                        $0.42 per contract Tier 6 rebate.
                                              month and (b) has added liquidity in all                                                                        members and issuers and other persons
                                                                                                        Currently, Participants that add NOM
                                              securities through one or more of its                                                                           using any facility or system which the
                                                                                                        Market Maker liquidity in Penny Pilot
                                              Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs that                                                                                 Exchange operates or controls, and is
                                                                                                        Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot
                                              represent 1.10% or more of                                                                                      not designed to permit unfair
                                                                                                        Options above 0.80% of total industry
                                              Consolidated Volume in a month will                                                                             discrimination between customers,
                                                                                                        customer equity and ETF option ADV
                                              receive an additional $0.03 per contract                                                                        issuers, brokers, or dealers. Customer
                                                                                                        contracts per day in a month and qualify              volume is important because it
                                              Penny Pilot Options Customer Rebate to                    for the Tier 7 or Tier 8 Customer and/
                                              Add Liquidity for each transaction                                                                              continues to attract liquidity to the
                                                                                                        or Professional Rebate to Add Liquidity               Exchange, which benefits all market
                                              which adds liquidity in Penny Pilot                       in Penny Pilot Options or Participants
                                              Options in a month.’’ 9                                                                                         participants. Further, with respect to
                                                                                                        that add NOM Market Maker liquidity                   Professional liquidity, the Exchange
                                                 The Exchange proposes to amend the                     in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-                    initially established Professional pricing
                                              criteria in note ‘‘c’’ at part (2) to                     Penny Pilot Options above 0.90% of                    in order to ‘‘. . . bring additional
                                              decrease the percentage of total industry                 total industry customer equity and ETF                revenue to the Exchange.’’ 14 The
                                              customer equity and ETF option ADV                        option ADV contracts per day in a                     Exchange noted in the Professional
                                              contract per day in a month from 1.40%                    month or Participants that add                        Filing that it believes ‘‘. . . that the
                                              to 1.30%. The Exchange believes that                      Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM                 increased revenue from the proposal
                                              this decrease will offer Participants an                  Market Maker, and/or Broker-Dealer                    would assist the Exchange to recoup
                                              opportunity to qualify for the part (2)                   liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or               fixed costs.’’ 15 The Exchange noted in
                                              incentive and receive a $0.05 per                         Non-Penny Pilot Options of 1.40% or                   that filing that it believes that
                                              contract 10 additional rebate, in addition                more of total industry customer equity                establishing separate pricing for a
                                              to the Tier 8 rebate, by amending the                     and ETF option ADV contracts per day                  Professional, which ranges between that
                                              qualification to require less volume.11                   in a month receive a $0.42 per contract               of a Customer and market maker,
                                              The Exchange believes that this                           NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot                          accomplishes this objective.16 NOM
                                              incentive will continue to encourage                      Options Rebate to Add Liquidity.                      Market Makers have obligations to the
                                              Participants to add even more liquidity                      The Exchange proposes to remove the                market and regulatory requirements,17
                                              on NOM to earn a higher Tier 8 rebate.                    option to qualify for the Tier 6 NOM                  which normally do not apply to other
                                              The Exchange is not amending the other                    Market Maker Penny Pilot Options                      market participants. A NOM Market
                                              criteria, (1) and (3), in note ‘‘c’’ to                   rebate by adding Customer,                            Maker has the obligation to make
                                              qualify for an additional rebate.                         Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market                    continuous markets, engage in a course
                                                                                                        Maker, and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in              of dealings reasonably calculated to
                                                 The Exchange also proposes to bold
                                              the numbers and letters that define the                   Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny                    12 15  U.S.C. 78f.
                                              various parts of note ‘c’’ for ease of                    Pilot Options of 1.40% or more of total                 13 15  U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
                                              reference.                                                industry customer equity and ETF                         14 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64494
                                                                                                        option ADV contracts per day in a                     (May 13, 2011), 76 FR 29014 (May 19, 2011) (SR–
                                                 9 Consolidated Volume means the total
                                                                                                        month. With this proposal, Participants               NASDAQ–2011–066) (‘‘Professional Filing’’). In this
                                                                                                                                                              filing, the Exchange addressed the perceived
                                              consolidated volume reported to all consolidated          will be able to qualify for the Tier 6                favorable pricing of Professionals who were
                                              transaction reporting plans by all exchanges and          NOM Market Maker Rebate by either (1)                 assessed fees and paid rebates like a Customer prior
                                              trade reporting facilities during a month in equity       adding NOM Market Maker liquidity in                  to the filing. The Exchange noted in that filing that
                                              securities, excluding executed orders with a size of                                                            a Professional, unlike a retail Customer, has access
                                              less than one round lot. For purposes of calculating
                                                                                                        Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny
                                                                                                                                                              to sophisticated trading systems that contain
                                              Consolidated Volume and the extent of an equity           Pilot Options above 0.80% of total                    functionality not available to retail Customers.1
                                              member’s trading activity, expressed as a                 industry customer equity and ETF                         15 See Professional Filing.
                                              percentage of or ratio to Consolidated Volume, the        option ADV contracts per day in a                        16 See Professional Filing. The Exchange also [sic]
                                              date of the annual reconstitution of the Russell
                                              Investments Indexes shall be excluded from both
                                                                                                        month and qualifies [sic] for the Tier 7              in the Professional Filing that it believes the role
                                                                                                        or Tier 8 Customer and/or Professional                of the retail Customer in the marketplace is distinct
                                              total Consolidated Volume and the member’s                                                                      from that of the Professional and the Exchange’s fee
                                              trading activity.                                         Rebate to Add Liquidity in Penny Pilot                proposal at that time accounted for this distinction
                                                 10 Note ‘‘c’’ offers three distinct incentives for
                                                                                                        Options or (2) adding NOM Market                      by pricing each market participant according to
                                              Participants that qualify for the Tier 8 Customer and     Maker liquidity in Penny Pilot Options                their roles and obligations.
                                              Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add                                                                     17 Pursuant to Chapter VII (Market Participants),
                                              Liquidity. The part (2) rebate, as amended, would         and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above
                                                                                                                                                              Section 5 (Obligations of Market Makers), in
                                              be paid to Participants that added Customer,              0.90% of total industry customer equity               registering as a market maker, an Options
                                              Professional, Firm, NOM Market Maker [sic], Non-          and ETF option ADV contracts per day                  Participant commits himself to various obligations.
                                              NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity           in a month. While the Exchange is                     Transactions of a Market Maker in its market
                                              in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot                                                                   making capacity must constitute a course of
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                                              Options of 1.30% or more of total industry                eliminating one of the methods to
                                                                                                                                                              dealings reasonably calculated to contribute to the
                                              customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per          qualify for the Tier 6 NOM Market                     maintenance of a fair and orderly market, and
                                              day in a month.                                           Maker Penny Pilot Options rebate, the                 Market Makers should not make bids or offers or
                                                 11 Only Participants that qualify for the Tier 8                                                             enter into transactions that are inconsistent with
                                                                                                        Exchange believes that the rebate tier
                                              Customer and Professional Penny Pilot Options                                                                   such course of dealings. Further, all Market Makers
                                              Rebate to Add Liquidity are eligible for the note ‘‘c’’
                                                                                                        will continue to incentivize NOM                      are designated as specialists on NOM for all
                                              incentives. The incentives are in addition to the         Participants to continue to add liquidity             purposes under the Act or rules thereunder. See
                                              Tier 8 rebate.                                            to NOM.                                               Chapter VII, Section 5.



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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 20, 2016 / Notices                                               3223

                                              contribute to the maintenance of a fair                 8 NOM Market Maker [sic] Penny Pilot                    of the qualifying language in Tier 6 of
                                              and orderly market, and not make bids                   Option rebate is reasonable because                     the NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot
                                              or offers or enter into transactions that               additional Participants may qualify for                 Options Rebate to Add Liquidity will
                                              are inconsistent with a [sic] course of                 this incentive because of the lower                     uniformly apply to all Participants. No
                                              dealings.18                                             volume requirement. The Exchange                        Participant will be entitled to the Tier
                                                 The Commission and the courts have                   believes that this incentive will                       6 NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot
                                              repeatedly expressed their preference                   continue to encourage Participants to                   Options Rebate to Add Liquidity by
                                              for competition over regulatory                         add even more liquidity on NOM to                       adding Customer, Professional, Firm,
                                              intervention in determining prices,                     earn a higher rebate. Participants that                 Non-NOM Market Maker, and/or
                                              products, and services in the securities                qualify for this incentive would be paid                Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot
                                              markets. In Regulation NMS, for                         the Tier 8 Customer and Professional                    Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot
                                              example, the Commission indicated that                  Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add                       Options of 1.40% or more of total
                                              market forces should generally                          Liquidity of $0.48 per contract plus the                industry customer equity and ETF
                                              determine the price of non-core market                  additional part (2) note ‘‘c’’ rebate of                option ADV contracts per day in a
                                              data because national market system                     $0.05 per contract for a total rebate of                month. Also, it is important to note that
                                              regulation ‘‘has been remarkably                        $0.53 per contract.                                     NOM Market Makers have obligations to
                                              successful in promoting market                             The Exchange’s proposal to amend                     the market and regulatory
                                              competition in its broader forms that are               note ‘‘c,’’ at part (2) to decrease the                 requirements,25 which normally do not
                                              most important to investors and listed                  percentage of total industry customer                   apply to other market participants. The
                                              companies.’’ 19 Likewise, in                            equity and ETF option ADV contract per                  Exchange believes that offering rebates
                                              NetCoalition v. NYSE Arca, Inc. 20                      day in a month from 1.40% to 1.30% in                   to these market participants is equitable
                                              (‘‘NetCoalition’’) the D.C. Circuit upheld              part (2) to qualify for the additional Tier             and not unfairly discriminatory in light
                                              the Commission’s use of a market-based                  8 NOM Market Maker [sic] Penny Pilot                    of their obligations.
                                              approach in evaluating the fairness of                  Option rebate is equitable and not                      B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                              market data fees against a challenge                    unfairly discriminatory because, today,                 Statement on Burden on Competition
                                              claiming that Congress mandated a cost-                 all Participants may qualify for the Tier
                                              based approach.21 As the court                          8 Customer and Professional Rebate to                      The Exchange does not believe that
                                              emphasized, the Commission ‘‘intended                   Add Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options                    the proposed rule change will impose
                                              in Regulation NMS that ‘market forces,                  and therefore are qualified to earn the                 any burden on competition not
                                              rather than regulatory requirements’                                                                            necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                                                                                      additional note ‘‘c’’ rebates.24 The
                                              play a role in determining the market                                                                           of the purposes of the Act. In terms of
                                                                                                      Exchange will uniformly pay the Tier 8
                                              data . . . to be made available to                                                                              inter-market competition, the Exchange
                                                                                                      and additional note ‘‘c’’ rebates to all
                                              investors and at what cost.’’ 22                                                                                notes that it operates in a highly
                                                                                                      Participants that transact the qualifying
                                                 Further, ‘‘[n]o one disputes that                                                                            competitive market in which market
                                                                                                      volume, respectively.
                                              competition for order flow is ‘fierce.’                                                                         participants can readily favor competing
                                                                                                         The Exchange’s proposal to bold the
                                              . . . As the SEC explained, ‘[i]n the U.S.                                                                      venues if they deem fee levels at a
                                                                                                      numbers and letters in note ‘‘c’’ is
                                              national market system, buyers and                                                                              particular venue to be excessive, or
                                                                                                      reasonable, equitable and not unfairly
                                              sellers of securities, and the broker-                                                                          rebate opportunities available at other
                                                                                                      discriminatory because it will provide
                                              dealers that act as their order-routing                                                                         venues to be more favorable. In such an
                                                                                                      an easier point of reference for each
                                              agents, have a wide range of choices of                                                                         environment, the Exchange must
                                                                                                      criteria and rebate. Also, this proposed
                                              where to route orders for execution’;                                                                           continually adjust its fees to remain
                                                                                                      amendment is non-substantive.
                                              [and] ‘no exchange can afford to take its                                                                       competitive with other exchanges and
                                              market share percentages for granted’                   NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot                            with alternative trading systems that
                                              because ‘no exchange possesses a                        Options Rebate To Add Liquidity Tiers                   have been exempted from compliance
                                              monopoly, regulatory or otherwise, in                      The Exchange’s proposal to amend                     with the statutory standards applicable
                                              the execution of order flow from broker                 Tier 6 of the NOM Market Maker Penny                    to exchanges. Because competitors are
                                              dealers’ . . . .’’ 23 Although the court                Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity to                free to modify their own fees in
                                              and the SEC were discussing the cash                    eliminate one of the criteria to qualify                response and because market
                                              equities markets, the Exchange believes                 for the $0.42 per contract Tier 6 rebate                participants may readily adjust their
                                              that these views apply with equal force                 is reasonable because, despite the                      order routing practices, the Exchange
                                              to the options markets.                                 elimination of one of the methods to                    believes that the degree to which fee
                                                                                                      qualify for the Tier 6 NOM Market                       changes in this market may impose any
                                              Note ‘‘c’’ of Chapter XV, Section 2(1)                                                                          burden on competition is extremely
                                                                                                      Maker Penny Pilot Options rebate, the
                                                The Exchange’s proposal to amend                      Exchange believes that the Tier 6 rebate                limited.
                                              note ‘‘c,’’ at part (2) to decrease the                                                                            In this instance, the proposed
                                                                                                      will continue to incentivize Participants
                                              percentage of total industry customer                                                                           amendments to the Customer,
                                                                                                      to add liquidity to NOM in order to
                                              equity and ETF option ADV contract per                                                                          Professional and NOM Market Maker
                                                                                                      receive the rebate.
                                              day in a month from 1.40% to 1.30% in                                                                           Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add
                                                                                                         The Exchange’s proposal to amend
                                              part (2) to qualify for the additional Tier                                                                     Liquidity tiers do not impose an undue
                                                                                                      Tier 6 of the NOM Market Maker Penny
                                                                                                                                                              burden on inter-market competition
                                                                                                      Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity to
                                                18 Id.                                                                                                        because the Exchange’s execution
                                                                                                      eliminate one of the criteria to qualify
                                                19 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 at
                                                                                                                                                              services are completely voluntary and
                                                                                                      for the $0.42 per contract Tier 6 rebate
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                                              37499 (June 9, 2005) (‘‘Regulation NMS Adopting                                                                 subject to extensive competition.
                                              Release’’).                                             is equitable and not unfairly
                                                20 NetCoalition v. NYSE Arca, Inc., 615 F.3d 525      discriminatory because the elimination                  Note ‘‘c’’ of Chapter XV, Section 2(1)
                                              (D.C. Cir. 2010).
                                                21 See NetCoalition, at 534.                            24 Note ‘‘c’’ offers three distinct incentives for
                                                                                                                                                                The Exchange’s proposal to amend
                                                22 Id. at 537.
                                                                                                      Participants that qualify for the Tier 8 Customer and   note ‘‘c,’’ at part (2) to decrease the
                                                23 Id. at 539 (quoting ArcaBook Order, 73 FR at       Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add
                                              74782–74783).                                           Liquidity.                                               25 See   note 17 above.



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                                              3224                       Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 20, 2016 / Notices

                                              percentage of total industry customer                   unfairly discriminatory in light of their                Commission, and all written
                                              equity and ETF option ADV contract per                  obligations.26                                           communications relating to the
                                              day in a month from 1.40% to 1.30% to                                                                            proposed rule change between the
                                                                                                      C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                              qualify for the additional Tier 8 rebate                                                                         Commission and any person, other than
                                                                                                      Statement on Comments on the
                                              does not impose an undue burden on                                                                               those that may be withheld from the
                                              intra-market competition because,                       Proposed Rule Change Received From                       public in accordance with the
                                              today, all Participants may qualify for                 Members, Participants, or Others                         provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                              the Tier 8 Customer and Professional                      No written comments were either                        available for Web site viewing and
                                              Penny Pilot Options Rebates to Add                      solicited or received.                                   printing in the Commission’s Public
                                              Liquidity and qualify to earn the note                  III. Date of Effectiveness of the                        Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
                                              ‘‘c’’ additional rebates. The Exchange                                                                           Washington, DC 20549 on official
                                                                                                      Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
                                              will uniformly pay the Tier 8 and                                                                                business days between the hours of
                                                                                                      Commission Action
                                              additional note ‘‘c’’ rebates to all                                                                             10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
                                              Participants that transact the qualifying                  The foregoing rule change has become                  filing also will be available for
                                              volume, respectively.                                   effective pursuant to Section                            inspection and copying at the principal
                                                 Customer liquidity is critically                     19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.27                            office of the Exchange. All comments
                                              important to the market and benefits all                   At any time within 60 days of the                     received will be posted without change;
                                              market participants. Greater customer                   filing of the proposed rule change, the                  the Commission does not edit personal
                                              liquidity benefits all market participants              Commission summarily may                                 identifying information from
                                              by providing more trading opportunities                 temporarily suspend such rule change if                  submissions. You should submit only
                                              and attracting greater participation by                 it appears to the Commission that such                   information that you wish to make
                                              specialists and market makers. An                       action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in               available publicly. All submissions
                                              increase in the activity of these market                the public interest; (ii) for the protection             should refer to File Number SR–
                                              participants in turn facilitates tighter                of investors; or (iii) otherwise in                      NASDAQ–2015–166, and should be
                                              spreads. All Participants are eligible for              furtherance of the purposes of the Act.                  submitted on or before February 10,
                                              these rebates if they transact the                      If the Commission takes such action, the                 2016.
                                              requisite volume. All Participants are                  Commission shall institute proceedings
                                                                                                                                                                 For the Commission, by the Division of
                                              eligible for the note ‘‘c’’ incentives if               to determine whether the proposed rule                   Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                              they transact the requisite volume. Also,               should be approved or disapproved.                       authority.28
                                              the Exchange believes that encouraging                                                                           Robert W. Errett,
                                                                                                      IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                              Participants to add Professional                                                                                 Deputy Secretary.
                                              liquidity creates competition among                       Interested persons are invited to
                                                                                                                                                               [FR Doc. 2016–00897 Filed 1–19–16; 8:45 am]
                                              options exchanges, because the                          submit written data, views, and
                                                                                                      arguments concerning the foregoing,                      BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                              Exchange believes that the rebates may
                                              cause market participants to select NOM                 including whether the proposed rule
                                              as a venue to send Professional order                   change is consistent with the Act.
                                                                                                                                                               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                              flow.                                                   Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                                                                                                                               COMMISSION
                                                 The Exchange’s proposal to bold the                  the following methods:
                                              numbers and letters in note ‘‘c’’ do not                                                                         Sunshine Act Meeting
                                                                                                      Electronic Comments
                                              impose an undue burden on intra-
                                              market competition because the                            • Use the Commission’s Internet                          Notice is hereby given, pursuant to
                                              amendment is non-substantive.                           comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                        the provisions of the Government in the
                                                                                                      rules/sro.shtml); or                                     Sunshine Act, Public Law 94–409, that
                                              NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot                              • Send an email to rule-comments@                      the Securities and Exchange
                                              Options Rebate To Add Liquidity Tiers                   sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                  Commission Investor Advisory
                                                 The Exchange’s proposal to amend                     NASDAQ–2015–166 on the subject line.                     Committee will hold a meeting on
                                              Tier 6 of the NOM Market Maker Penny                                                                             Thursday, January 21, 2016, in Multi-
                                              Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity to                Paper Comments
                                                                                                                                                               Purpose Room LL–006 at the
                                              eliminate one of the criteria to qualify                   • Send paper comments in triplicate                   Commission’s headquarters, 100 F
                                              for the $0.42 per contract Tier 6 rebate                to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                    Street NE., Washington, DC. The
                                              does not impose an undue burden on                      Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                            meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. (ET)
                                              intra-market competition because the                    Washington, DC 20549–1090.                               and will be open to the public. Seating
                                              elimination of the qualifying language                  All submissions should refer to File                     will be on a first-come, first-served
                                              in Tier 6 of the NOM Market Maker                       Number SR–NASDAQ–2015–166. This                          basis. Doors will open at 9:00 a.m.
                                              Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add                       file number should be included on the                    Visitors will be subject to security
                                              Liquidity will uniformly apply to all                   subject line if email is used. To help the               checks. The meeting will be webcast on
                                              Participants. No Participant will be                    Commission process and review your                       the Commission’s Web site at
                                              entitled to the Tier 6 NOM Market                       comments more efficiently, please use                    www.sec.gov.
                                              Maker Penny Pilot Options Rebate to                     only one method. The Commission will                       On December 23, 2015, the
                                              Add Liquidity by adding Customer,                       post all comments on the Commission’s                    Commission issued notice of the
                                              Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market                      Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                   Committee meeting (Release No. 33–
                                              Maker, and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in                rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                          10000), indicating that the meeting is
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                                              Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny                    submission, all subsequent                               open to the public (except during that
                                              Pilot Options of 1.40% or more of total                 amendments, all written statements                       portion of the meeting reserved for an
                                              industry customer equity and ETF                        with respect to the proposed rule                        administrative work session during
                                              option ADV contracts per day in a                       change that are filed with the                           lunch), and inviting the public to
                                              month. The Exchange believes that                                                                                submit written comments to the
                                              offering rebates to these market                          26 See   note 17 above.
                                              participants is equitable and not                         27 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).                         28 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).



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Document Created: 2016-01-19 23:44:02
Document Modified: 2016-01-19 23:44:02
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 3220 

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