00-31800. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by the International Securities Exchange LLC Relating to a Marketing Fee To Fund Payment for Order Flow  

  • Start Preamble December 7, 2000.

    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 1, 2000, the International Securities Exchange LLC (the “Exchange” or the “ISE”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“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.

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

    The Exchange is proposing to establish a new marketing fee to fund a payment for order flow program. This will be an interim fee, pending both approval of the Exchange's permanent payment for order flow program (“Permanent Program”) and the establishment of fees under that program.[3] The fee will be $.75 a contract on all Primary Market Maker (“PMM”) and Competitive Market Maker executions against customer orders. This fee will terminate at the earlier of January 15, 2001, or the effectiveness of a fee to fund the Permanent Program.

    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 purpose of the proposed rule change is to provide a source of funding for a payment for order flow program. This will be an interim program expiring on the earlier of January 15, 2001, or Commission approval of the Permanent Program and the establishment of a fee to fund that Program.

    The Exchange will segregate the funds the fees generate proportionately to the groups of securities (or “bins”) that generated the funds. The PMM in each bin will have full and exclusive discretion on how to use those funds to pay for order flow. The Exchange will make the payments to Electronic Access Members based on the PMM's directives.

    The Exchange will be issuing appropriate circulars to its members emphasizing their disclosure and best execution obligations. The Exchange also will be providing to members various reports and other information demonstrating the quality of executions that they receive on the Exchange.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The Exchange states that the basis for the proposed rule change is the requirement under section 6(b)(4) of the Act [4] that an exchange have an equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its members and other persons using its facilities.

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

    The Exchanges believes that the proposed rule change does not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

    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, which establishes or changes a due, fee, or other charge applicable to members of the Exchange, has become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) [5] of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.[6] At any time within 60 days of the filing of the rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate 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, Start Printed Page 78234or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

    IV. Solicitation of Comments

    The Commission has frequently raised serious concerns about payment for order flow and internalization.[7] Payment for order flow is of concern because brokers who are paid to send their customers' orders to one exchange have a conflict of interest that may reduce their commitment to the duty they owe their customers to find the best execution available. While payment for order flow has been a common practice in the equities markets for some time, only recently has payment for order flow developed in the options markets. Despite these concerns, however, the ISE's proposal involves the imposition of a fee, and the Act gives exchanges wide latitude to establish, revise, and collect fees and other charges without prior Commission approval. The Commission invites interested persons to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. In particular, the Commission asks persons who submit comments whether the payment for order flow facilitated by the ISE's proposal raises greater or different concerns than payment for order flow at other option exchanges. After receiving comments, and at any time within 60 days from the date the ISE filed its proposal, the Commission can decide to require the ISE to stop collecting the fee and await Commission approval of the Permanent Program.

    Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. 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 inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the ISE. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-ISE-00-24, and should be submitted by January 4, 2001.

    Start Signature

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.[8]

    Margaret H. McFarland,

    Deputy Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    3.  On September 12, 2000, the Exchange filed with the Commission a rule change proposing to establish the Permanent Program. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 43462 (October 19, 2000), 65 FR 64466 (October 27, 2000). By the terms of that proposal, the Exchange would be required to submit a separate rule change filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act each time it sets the specific amount of any fees authorized under the program.

    Back to Citation

    7.  See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 43290 (September 13, 2000), 65 FR 57213 (September 21, 2000); 43228 (August 30, 2000), 65 FR 54330 (September 7, 2000); 43177 (August 18, 2000), 65 FR 51889 (August 25, 2000); 43112 (August 3, 2000), 65 FR 49040 (August 10, 2000); 42450 (February 23, 2000), 65 FR 10577 (February 28, 2000); 34902 (October 27, 1994), 59 FR 55006 (November 2, 1994). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 43590 (November 17, 2000), 65 FR 75414 (December 1, 2000).

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. 00-31800 Filed 12-13-00; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8010-01-M

Document Information

Published:
12/14/2000
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
00-31800
Pages:
78233-78234 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-43688, File No. SR-ISE-00-24
EOCitation:
of 2000-12-07
PDF File:
00-31800.Pdf