E9-5779. Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Fee Changes  

  • Start Preamble March 12, 2009.

    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 6, 2009, the International Securities Exchange, LLC (the “Exchange” or the “ISE”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “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.

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

    The ISE is proposing to amend its Schedule of Fees to establish fees for transactions in options on 2 Premium Products.[3] The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site (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 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 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. Start Printed Page 11623

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

    1. Purpose

    The Exchange is proposing to amend its Schedule of Fees to establish fees for transactions in options on the iShares U.S. Preferred Stock Index Fund (“PFF”) [4] and the United States 12 Month Oil Fund, LP (“USL”).[5] The Exchange represents that PFF and USL are eligible for options trading because they constitute “Exchange-Traded Fund Shares,” as defined by ISE Rule 502(h).

    All of the applicable fees covered by this filing are identical to fees charged by the Exchange for all other Premium Products. Specifically, the Exchange is proposing to adopt an execution fee for all transactions in options on PFF and USL.[6] The amount of the execution fee for products covered by this filing shall be $0.18 per contract for all Public Customer Orders [7] and $0.20 per contract for all Firm Proprietary orders. The amount of the execution fee for all ISE Market Maker transactions shall be equal to the execution fee currently charged by the Exchange for ISE Market Maker transactions in equity options.[8] Finally, the amount of the execution fee for all non-ISE Market Maker transactions shall be $0.45 per contract.[9] Further, since options on PFF and USL are multiply-listed, the Exchange's Payment for Order Flow fee shall apply to all these products. The Exchange believes the proposed rule change will further the Exchange's goal of introducing new products to the marketplace that are competitively priced.

    Further, the Exchange proposes to amend its Schedule of Fees to remove the surcharge fee previously adopted for transactions in options on the iShares S&P MidCap 400 Index Fund (“IJH”), the iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund (“IJR”),[10] and the iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Value Index Fund (“IJS”).[11] The Exchange is proposing to remove the surcharge fee from its Schedule of Fees because it no longer pays a license fee to Standard & Poor's in connection with transactions in options on IJH, IJR and IJS. Accordingly, there is no longer a need for this surcharge fee. The Exchange will, however, continue to charge an execution fee for transactions in options on IJH, IJR and IJS.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the objectives of Section 6 of the Act,[12] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4),[13] in 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.

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

    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 has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3) of the Act [14] and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) [15] thereunder. At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed 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, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

    IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposal is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

    Electronic Comments

    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 No. SR-ISE-2009-12. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail 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 Start Printed Page 11624Internet 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 changes 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, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of ISE. 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 No. SR-ISE-2009-12 and should be submitted on or before April 8, 2009.

    Start Signature

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[16]

    Florence E. Harmon,

    Deputy Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    3.  Premium Products is defined in the Schedule of Fees as the products enumerated therein.

    Back to Citation

    4.  iShares® is a registered trademark of Barclays Global Investors, N.A. (“BGI”). “Standard & Poor's®” and “S&P®” are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“McGraw-Hill”) and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by BGI. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. iShares U.S. Preferred Stock Index Fund (“PFF”) is not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor's, (“S&P”), a division of McGraw-Hill, and S&P makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in PFF. BGI and S&P have not licensed or authorized ISE to (i) engage in the creation, listing, provision of a market for trading, marketing, and promotion of options on PFF or (ii) to use and refer to any of their trademarks or service marks in connection with the listing, provision of a market for trading, marketing, and promotion of options on PFF or with making disclosures concerning options on PFF under any applicable federal or state laws, rules or regulations. BGI and S&P do not sponsor, endorse, or promote such activity by ISE, and are not affiliated in any manner with ISE.

    Back to Citation

    5.  The United States 12 Month Oil Fund, LP (“USL”) is distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ALPS”), administered by Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”) and United States Commodity Fund, LLC (“USCF”) is the General Partner. ALPS, BBH and USCF have not licensed or authorized ISE to (i) engage in the creation, listing, provision of a market for trading, marketing, and promotion of options on USL or (ii) to use and refer to any of their trademarks or service marks in connection with the listing, provision of a market for trading, marketing, and promotion of options on USL or with making disclosures concerning options on USL under any applicable federal or state laws, rules or regulations. ALPS, BBH and USCF do not sponsor, endorse, or promote such activity by ISE, and are not affiliated in any manner with ISE.

    Back to Citation

    6.  These fees will be charged only to Exchange members. Under a pilot program that is set to expire on July 31, 2009, these fees will also be charged to Linkage Principal Orders (“Linkage P Orders”) and Linkage Principal Acting as Agent Orders (“Linkage P/A Orders”). The amount of the execution fee charged by the Exchange for Linkage P Orders and Linkage P/A Orders is $0.27 per contract side and $0.18 per contract side, respectively. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58143 (July 11, 2008), 73 FR 41388 (July 18, 2008) (SR-ISE-2008-52).

    Back to Citation

    7.  Public Customer Order is defined in Exchange Rule 100(a)(39) as an order for the account of a Public Customer. Public Customer is defined in Exchange Rule 100(a)(38) as a person or entity that is not a broker or dealer in securities.

    Back to Citation

    8.  The Exchange applies a sliding scale, between $0.01 and $0.18 per contract side, based on the number of contracts an ISE market maker trades in a month.

    Back to Citation

    9.  The amount of the execution fee for non-ISE Market Maker transactions executed in the Exchange's Facilitation and Solicitation Mechanisms is $0.20 per contract.

    Back to Citation

    10.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-49557 (April 12, 2004), 69 FR 20955 (April 19, 2004).

    Back to Citation

    11.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-54414 (September 7, 2006), 71 FR 54546 (September 15, 2006).

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. E9-5779 Filed 3-17-09; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

Document Information

Published:
03/18/2009
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
E9-5779
Pages:
11622-11624 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-59567, File No. SR-ISE-2009-12
EOCitation:
of 2009-03-12
PDF File:
e9-5779.pdf