79 FR 224 pgs. 69168-69170 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; ISE Gemini, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Schedule of Fees

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Type: NOTICEVolume: 79Number: 224Pages: 69168 - 69170

Docket number: [Release No. 34-73600; File No. SR-ISEGemini-2014-28]

FR document: [FR Doc. 2014-27450 Filed 11-19-14; 8:45 am]

Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission

Official PDF Version: PDF Version

Pages: 69168, 69169, 69170

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-73600; File No. SR-ISEGemini-2014-28]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; ISE Gemini, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Schedule of Fees

November 14, 2014.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"),¹and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,²notice is hereby given that on November 3, 2014, ISE Gemini, LLC (the "Exchange" or "ISE Gemini") 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 self-regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

Footnotes:

¹ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

² 17 CFR 240.19b-4.

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

ISE Gemini is proposing to amend its Schedule of Fees to introduce a new higher maker rebate for certain Market Maker orders. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Internet Web site at http://www.ise.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 self-regulatory organization 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 purpose of the proposed rule change is to amend the Schedule of Fees to introduce a new higher maker rebate for certain Market Maker³orders. The Exchange's Schedule of Fees has separate tables for fees applicable to Standard Options and Mini Options. The Exchange notes that while the discussion below relates to fees for Standard Options, the fees for Mini Options, which are not discussed below, are and shall continue to be 1/10th of the fees for Standard Options.

Footnotes:

³ The term Market Maker refers to "Competitive Market Makers" and "Primary Market Makers" collectively. Market Makers orders sent to the Exchange by an Electronic Access Member are assessed fees and rebates at the same level as Market Maker orders. See footnote 2, Schedule of Fees, Section I and II.

Currently, Market Maker orders that add liquidity on ISE Gemini are provided a maker rebate in Penny Symbols⁴and SPY of $0.30 per contract for Tier 1, $0.32 per contract for Tier 2, $0.34 per contract for Tier 3, $0.37 per contract for Tier 4, and $0.38 per contract for Tier 5. In Non-Penny Symbols⁵this maker rebate is $0.40 per contract for Tier 1, $0.42 per contract for Tier 2, and $0.44 per contract for Tier 3, $0.47 per contract for Tier 4, and $0.49 per contract for Tier 5. In order to incentivize Market Makers to quote more aggressively on ISE Gemini, the Exchange now proposes to provide a higher maker rebate to Tier 2 members that meet an additional average daily volume ("ADV") threshold with respect to Market Maker orders executed in a given month.⁶In particular, Market Makers that achieve Tier 2 and execute an ADV of 100,000 to 124,999 contracts in a given month, including both maker and taker volume, will qualify for a maker rebate of $0.33 per contract in Penny Symbols and SPY, and $0.43 per contract in Non-Penny Symbols.

Footnotes:

⁴ "Penny Symbols" are options overlying all symbols listed on ISE Gemini that are in the Penny Pilot Program.

⁵ "Non-Penny Symbols" are options overlying all symbols excluding Penny Symbols.

⁶ A Tier 2 member is a member that executes a Total Affiliated Member ADV of 50,000 to 124,999 contracts, Priority Customer Maker ADV of 20,000 to 49,999 contracts, or a Total Affiliated Member ADV of 40,000 to 99,999 contracts with a minimum Priority Customer Maker ADV of 15,000 contracts.

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2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,⁷in general, and Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,⁸in particular, in that it is designed to provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its members and other persons using its facilities.

Footnotes:

⁷ 15 U.S.C. 78f.

⁸ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).

The Exchange believes that the proposed fee change is reasonable and equitable as the new maker rebate is designed to attract additional volume from Market Makers that do not qualify for Tier 3 or higher maker rebates. The Exchange believes that providing higher maker rebates for orders executed by Market Makers that have achieved the volume threshold for this new "sub-tier" will attract that order flow to ISE Gemini, and thereby create additional liquidity to the benefit of all market participants who trade on the Exchange. The Exchange further believes that the proposed rule change is not unfairly discriminatory as all Market Makers that achieve the new volume threshold will receive the same maker rebate. The Exchange does not believe that it is unfairly discriminatory to offer this higher rebate only to Market Maker orders as Market Makers are subject to additional requirements and obligations (such as quoting requirements) that other market participants are not. Moreover, the Exchange believes that the proposed fee change will encourage Market Makers to quote more aggressively on the Exchange in order to qualify for the new maker rebate, which will benefit all market participants.

The Exchange notes that it has determined to charge fees and provide rebates in Mini Options at a rate that is 1/10th the rate of fees and rebates the Exchange provides for trading in Standard Options. The Exchange believes it is reasonable and equitable and not unfairly discriminatory to assess lower fees and rebates to provide market participants an incentive to trade Mini Options on the Exchange. The Exchange believes the proposed fees and rebates are reasonable and equitable in light of the fact that Mini Options have a smaller exercise and assignment value, specifically 1/10th that of a standard option contract, and, as such, is providing fees and rebates for Mini Options that are 1/10th of those applicable to Standard Options.

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

In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,⁹the Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on intermarket or intramarket competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. To the contrary, the Exchange believes that the proposed fee change will promote competition as it is designed to allow ISE Gemini to better compete for order flow by offering higher rebates to orders executed by Market Makers that meet the new volume threshold for the new "sub tier." The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily direct their order flow to competing venues. In such an environment, the Exchange must continually review, and consider adjusting, its fees to remain competitive with other exchanges. For the reasons described above, the Exchange believes that the proposed fee changes reflect this competitive environment.

Footnotes:

⁹ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).

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

The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received any unsolicited written comments from members or other interested parties.

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,¹⁰and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder,¹¹because it establishes a due, fee, or other charge imposed by ISE Gemini.

Footnotes:

¹⁰ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).

¹¹ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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 Comments

• Use the Commission's Internet comment form ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ); or

• Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-ISEGemini-2014-28 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

[top] All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ISEGemini-2014-28. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ISEGemini-2014-28, and should be submitted on or before December 11, 2014.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.¹²

Footnotes:

¹² 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

Kevin M. O'Neill,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2014-27450 Filed 11-19-14; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P