[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77754-77755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30590]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-71124; File No. SR-CBOE-2013-123]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange,
Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a
Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Credit Option Margin Pilot Program
December 18, 2013.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given
that on December 12, 2013, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated
(the ``Exchange'' or ``CBOE'') filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described
in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the
Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments
on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to extend its Credit Option Margin Pilot
Program through January 16, 2015. The text of the proposed rule change
is available on the Exchange's Web site (http://www.cboe.com/AboutCBOE/CBOELegalRegulatoryHome.aspx), at the Exchange's Office of the
Secretary, 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
On February 2, 2011, the Commission approved the Exchange's
proposal to establish a Credit Option Margin Pilot Program
(``Program'').\3\ The proposal became effective on a pilot basis to run
on a parallel track with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
(``FINRA'') Rule 4240 that similarly operates on an interim pilot
basis.\4\
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\3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63819 (February 2,
2011), 76 FR 6838 (February 8, 2011) order approving (SR-CBOE-2010-
106). To implement the Program, the Exchange amended Rule 12.3(l),
Margin Requirements, to make CBOE's margin requirements for Credit
Options consistent with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
(``FINRA'') Rule 4240, Margin Requirements for Credit Default Swaps.
CBOE's Credit Options (i.e., Credit Default Options and Credit
Default Basket Options) are analogous to credit default swaps.
\4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59955 (May 22,
2009), 74 FR 25586 (May 28, 2009) (Notice of Filing and Order
Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change; SR-FINRA-
2009-012).
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On January 17, 2012, the Exchange filed a rule change to, among
other things, decouple the Program with the FINRA program and to extend
the expiration date of the Program to January 17, 2013.\5\ The Program,
however, continues to be substantially similar to the provisions of the
FINRA program. Subsequently, the Exchange filed a rule change to extend
the program until January 17, 2014.\6\ The Exchange believes that
extending the expiration date of the Program further will allow for
further analysis of the Program and a determination of how the Program
should be structured in the future. Thus, the Exchange is now currently
proposing to extend the duration of the Program until January 16, 2015.
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\5\ See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 66163 (January
17, 2012), 77 FR 3318 (January 23, 2012) (SR-CBOE-2012-007).
\6\ See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 68539 (December
27, 2012), 78 FR 138 (January 2, 2013) (SR-CBOE-2012-125).
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The Exchange notes that there are currently Credit Options listed
for trading on the Exchange that have open interest. As a result, the
Exchange believes that is in the public interest for the Program to
continue uninterrupted. In the future, if the Exchange proposes an
additional extension of the Credit Option Margin Pilot Program or
proposes to make the Program permanent, then the Exchange will submit a
filing proposing such amendments to the Program.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with
the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to the
Exchange and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the
Act.\7\ Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is
consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) \8\ requirements that the rules of
an exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster
cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating,
clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and
facilitation transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and
perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market
system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
Additionally, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is
consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) \9\ requirement that the rules of
an exchange not be designed to permit unfair discrimination between
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. In particular, the Exchange
believes that the proposed rule change will further the purposes of the
Act because, consistent with the goals of the Commission at the initial
adoption of the program, the margin requirements set forth by the
proposed rule change will help to stabilize the financial markets. In
addition, the proposed rule
[[Page 77755]]
change is substantially similar to existing FINRA Rule 4240.
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\7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
\9\ Id.
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
CBOE does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any
burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Specifically, the Exchange
believes that, by extending the expiration of the Program, the proposed
rule change will allow for further analysis of the Program and a
determination of how the Program shall be structured in the future. In
doing so, the proposed rule change will also serve to promote
regulatory clarity and consistency, thereby reducing burdens on the
marketplace and facilitating investor protection.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received from Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the
proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not:
A. Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public
interest;
B. impose any significant burden on competition; and
C. become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was
filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has
become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \10\ and
Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \11\ thereunder.
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\10\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). As required under Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written
notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a
brief description and the text of the proposed rule change, at least
five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule
change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission.
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At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission will institute proceedings to
determine whether the proposed rule change 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-CBOE-2013-123 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2013-123. 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-CBOE-2013-123 and should be
submitted on or before January 14, 2014.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\12\
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\12\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-30590 Filed 12-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P