2014-07633. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Renew an Existing Pilot Program

April 1, 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 25, 2014, 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.

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

The Exchange proposes to renew an existing pilot program until November 3, 2014. Under the existing pilot program, the Exchange is permitted to list P.M.-settled options on broad-based indexes that expire on: (a) Any Friday of the month, other than the third Friday-of-the-month (“End of Week Expirations” or “EOWs”), and (b) the last trading day of the month (“End of Month Expirations” or “EOMs”). The text of the proposed rule change is provided below. (additions are italicized; deletions are [bracketed])

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Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated

Rules

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Rule 24.9. Terms of Index Option Contracts

(a)-(d) No change.

(e) End of Week/End of Month Expirations Pilot Program (“EOW/EOM Pilot Program”)

(1) End of Week (“EOW”) Expirations. The Exchange may open for trading EOWs on any broad-based index eligible for regular options trading to expire on any Friday of the month, other than the third Friday-of-the-month. EOWs shall be subject to all provisions of this Rule and treated the same as options on the same underlying index that expire on either the Saturday following the third Friday of the month, for series expiring prior to February 1, 2015, or on the third Friday of the expiration month, for series expiring on or after February 1, 2015; provided, however, that EOWs shall be P.M.-settled.

(2) End of Month (“EOM”) Expirations. The Exchange may open for trading EOMs on any broad-based index eligible for regular options trading to expire on last trading day of the month. EOMs shall be subject to all provisions of this Rule and treated the same as options on the same underlying index that expire on either the Saturday following the third Friday of the month, for series expiring prior to February 1, 2015, or on the third Friday of the expiration month, for series expiring on or after February 1, 2015; provided, however, that EOMs shall be P.M.-settled.

(3) Duration of EOW/EOM Pilot Program. The EOW/EOM Pilot Program shall be through [April 14, 2014] November 3, 2014.

(4) EOW/EOM Trading Hours on the Last Trading Day. On the last trading day, transactions in expiring EOWs and EOMs may be effected on the Exchange between the hours of 8:30 a.m. (Chicago time) and 3:00 p.m. (Chicago time). This subsection (4) applies to all outstanding expiring EOW and EOM Expirations listed on or before May 6, 2011 and all EOWs and EOMs listed thereafter under the EOW/EOM Pilot Program.

. . . Interpretations and Policies:

.01-.14 No change

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The text of the proposed rule change is also 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 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 September 14, 2010, the Commission approved a CBOE proposal to establish a pilot program under which the Exchange is permitted to list P.M.-settled options on broad-based indexes to expire on (a) any Friday of the month, other than the third Friday-of-the-month, and (b) the last trading day of the month.^[3] Under the terms of the End of Week/End of Month Expirations Pilot Program (“Program”), EOWs and EOMs are permitted on any broad-based index that is eligible for regular options trading. EOWs and EOMs are cash-settled and have European-style exercise. The proposal became effective on a pilot basis for a period of fourteen months that commenced on the next full month after approval was received to establish the Program ^[4] and was subsequently extended.^[5] The Program is scheduled to expire on April 14, 2014. The Exchange believes that the Program has been successful and well received by its Trading Permit Holders and the investing public during that the time that it has been in operation. The Exchange hereby proposes to extend the Program until November 3, 2014. This proposal does not request any other changes to the Program.

Pursuant to the order approving the establishment of the Program, two months prior to the conclusion of the pilot period, CBOE is required to submit an annual report to the Commission, which addresses the following areas: Analysis of Volume & Open Interest, Monthly Analysis of EOW & EOM Trading Patterns and Provisional Analysis of Index Price Volatility. The Exchange has submitted, under separate cover, the annual report in connection with the present proposed rule change. Confidential treatment under the Freedom of Information Act is requested regarding the annual report.

If, in the future, the Exchange proposes an additional extension of the Program, or should the Exchange propose to make the Program permanent (which the Exchange currently intends to do), the Exchange will submit an annual report (addressing the same areas referenced above and consistent with the order approving the establishment of the Program) to the Commission at least two months prior to the expiration date of the Program. The annual report will be provided to the Commission on a confidential basis. Any positions established under the Program will not be impacted by the expiration of the Program.

The Exchange believes there is sufficient investor interest and demand in the Program to warrant its extension. The Exchange believes that the Program has provided investors with additional means of managing their risk exposures and carrying out their investment objectives. Furthermore, the Exchange has not experienced any adverse market effects with respect to the Program.

The Exchange believes that the proposed extension of the Program will not have an adverse impact on capacity.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is 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.^[6] Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) ^[7] 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) ^[8] 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 Program has been successful to date and states that it has not encountered any problems with the Program. The proposed rule change allows for an extension of the Program for the benefit of market participants. Additionally, the Exchange believes that there is demand for the expirations offered under the Program and believes that that EOWs and EOMs will continue to provide the investing public and other market participants increased opportunities to better manage their risk exposure.

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 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 if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[9] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.^[10]

The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, as it will allow the pilot program to continue uninterrupted, thereby avoiding investor confusion that could result from a temporary interruption in the pilot program. For this reason, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.^[11]

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.

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 [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-CBOE-2014-027 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-2014-027. 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 at 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090 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-CBOE-2014-027, and should be submitted on or before April 28, 2014.

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

Kevin M. O'Neill,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62911 (September 14, 2010), 75 FR 57539 (September 21, 2010) (order approving SR-CBOE-2009-075).

4.  Id.

5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 65741 (November 14, 2011), 76 FR 72016 (November 21, 2011) (immediately effective rule change extending the Program through February 14, 2013). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68933 (February 14, 2013), 78 FR 12374 (February 22, 2013) (immediately effective rule change extending the Program through April 14, 2014).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

7.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

8.  Id.

9.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

10.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii). 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.

11.  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).

12.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).