[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 25, 2014)] [Notices] [Pages 16411-16412] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2014-06458] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-71744; File No. SR-CBOE-2014-024] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Appointment Cost for CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) Options March 19, 2014. 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 March 14, 2014, the 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change CBOE proposes to amend CBOE Rule 8.3 (Appointment of Market-Makers) relating to the appointment cost for options on the CBOE Volatility index (``VIX''). 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. 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 self-regulatory organization 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 those 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 parts of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose The purpose of this rule change is to amend CBOE Rule 8.3 relating to the appointment cost for VIX options. Presently, VIX options have an appointment cost of .50. CBOE proposes to reduce the appointment cost to .499, effective April 1, 2014. Market-Makers then could utilize the excess appointment capacity of .001 to hold an appointment and quote electronically in an additional Hybrid option class, which promotes competition and efficiency. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes the proposed rule changes are consistent with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\3\ Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule changes are consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) \4\ requirements that the rules of an exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange believes that reducing the appointment cost for VIX options will foster competition by enabling Market-Makers to use the excess capacity resulting from the reduced appointment cost in VIX options to quote an additional Hybrid option class. The Exchange believes that the appointment cost reduction for VIX options will promote competition and efficiency. The Exchange believes that the marketplace will benefit because the Exchange is incentivizing Market- Makers to quote electronically an additional Hybrid option class. [[Page 16412]] 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 not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Specifically, CBOE believes that the appointment cost reduction for VIX options will enhance competition among market participants and benefit of [sic] investors and the marketplace because Market-Makers with an appointment in VIX options may use the excess capacity to quote electronically an additional Hybrid option class. C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action Because the proposed rule change does not (i) significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \5\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\6\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). \6\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative on April 1, 2014. According to the Exchange, waiving the 30-day operative delay will allow Market-Makers with an appointment in VIX options to electronically quote an additional Hybrid option class and thus promote competition and efficiency without undue delay. Based on the Exchange's statements, the Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay so that the proposed rule change may become operative on April 1, 2014, is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Accordingly, the Commission hereby grants the Exchange's request and designates the proposal operative on April 1, 2014.\7\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \7\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 CommentsUse 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-2014-024 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-CBOE-2014-024. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the CBOE. 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-2014-024 and should be submitted on or before April 15, 2014. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\8\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \8\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin M. O'Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014-06458 Filed 3-24-14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P