2015-11873. Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to NASDAQ Options Market Fees and Rebates

May 12, 2015.

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 April 29, 2015, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ” or “Exchange”) 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 NASDAQ. 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

NASDAQ proposes to amend the Exchange's transaction fees at Chapter XV, Section 2 entitled “NASDAQ Options Market—Fees and Rebates,” which governs pricing for NASDAQ members using the NASDAQ Options Market (“NOM”), NASDAQ's facility for executing and routing standardized equity and index options.

While the changes proposed herein are effective upon filing, the Exchange has designated the amendments become operative on May 1, 2015.

The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://www.nasdaq.cchwallstreet.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. 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 Exchange proposes to amend the Penny Pilot Options ^[3] Rebates to Add Liquidity for Customers ^[4] and Professionals.^[5] Today, the Exchange pays Customers and Professionals a Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity based on the following tiered rebate structure:

Monthly volume	Rebate to add liquidity
Tier 1 Participant adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of up to 0.10% of total industry customer equity and ETF option average daily volume (“ADV”) contracts per day in a month	$0.20.
Tier 2  Participant adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.10% to 0.20% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month	$0.25.
Tier 3  Participant adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.20% to 0.30% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month	$0.42.
Tier 4  Participant adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.30% to 0.40% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month	$0.43.
Tier 5  Participant adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.40% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month, or Participant adds (1) Customer and/or Professional liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 25,000 or more contracts per day in a month, (2) the Participant has certified for the Investor Support Program set forth in Rule 7014, and (3) the Participant executed at least one order on NASDAQ's equity market	$0.45.
Tier 6  Participant has Total Volume of 100,000 or more contracts per day in a month, of which 25,000 or more contracts per day in a month must be Customer and/or Professional liquidity in Penny Pilot Options	$0.45.
Tier 7  Participant has Total Volume of 150,000 or more contracts per day in a month, of which 50,000 or more contracts per day in a month must be Customer and/or Professional liquidity in Penny Pilot Options	$0.47.
Tier 8  Participant adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 0.75% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month	$0.48 (Customer) and $0.47 (Professional).

The Exchange is proposing to amend Tier 5 of the Customer and Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity which currently pays a $0.45 per contract rebate if Participant adds Customer, Professional, Firm,^[6] Non-NOM Market Maker ^[7] and/or Broker-Dealer ^[8] liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.40% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month, or Participant adds (1) Customer and/or Professional liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 25,000 or more contracts per day in a month, (2) the Participant has certified for the Investor Support Program set forth in Rule 7014, and (3) the Participant executed at least one order on NASDAQ's equity market. The Exchange proposes to continue to pay a $0.45 per contract rebate, but amend the qualifier to apply to a Participant that adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.40% to 0.75% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month. The Exchange is proposing this amendment to distinguish the Tier 5 qualification from the qualification for Tier 8 of the Penny Pilot Rebates for Customers and Professionals.

Additionally, the Exchange is proposing to amend Tier 8 of the Customer and Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity which currently pays a $0.48 per contract rebate to Customers and a $0.47 per contract rebate to Professionals if Participant adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 0.75% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month. The Exchange proposes to amend the rebate to $0.48 per contract for Professionals, thereby increasing the Professional Tier 8 rebate from $0.47 to $0.48 per contract if the Participant adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.75% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month or Participant adds (1) Customer and/or Professional liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 30,000 or more contracts per day in a month, (2) the Participant has certified for the Investor Support Program ^[9] set forth in Rule 7014, and (3) the Participant qualifies for rebates under the Qualified Market Maker (“QMM”) Program ^[10] set forth in Rule 7014. Customers will continue to receive the $0.48 per contract rebate. The Exchange is offering Participants additional avenues to qualify for the Tier 8 Customer and Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity in different ways with this proposed rule change.

With respect to Tier 8, Participants that qualify for Tier 8 will continue to be eligible to be assessed a Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker, NOM Market Maker or Broker-Dealer Fee for Removing Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options of $0.48 per contract and a Customer Fee for Removing Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options of $0.47 per contract.^[11] Also, with respect to Tier 8, Participants that add Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non- Penny Pilot Options of 1.25% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month will receive an additional $0.02 per contract Penny Pilot Options Customer Rebate to Add Liquidity for each transaction which adds liquidity in Penny Pilot Options in that month.^[12]

The Exchange is not amending the Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity for any other market participant.

Finally, the Exchange is proposing to amend note “a” to attribute it to Tier 8 and amend the text of note “a” to add Tier 8 as well. The Exchange's proposal to qualify for Tier 8 will include certification in the Investor Support Program which is further explained in note “a.” The Exchange is also proposing to remove the reference to note “b” in Tier 8 as the definition of Total Volume is not utilized in Tier 8 and this reference is unnecessary.

2. Statutory Basis

NASDAQ believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,^[13] in general, and with Section 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[14] in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any facility or system which NASDAQ operates or controls, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.

The Exchange's proposal to amend the Tier 5 Customer and Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity is reasonable because the Exchange seeks to cap the current qualifying volume for the Tier 5 rebate to coincide with the amendment to the Tier 8 rebate, which would apply to Participants with similar volume over 0.75% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month. The Exchange desires to continue to encourage Participants to add more liquidity on NOM. The Tier 5 rebate requires Participants to add Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity to obtain the $0.45 per contract rebate. The Exchange will continue to require Participants to add such liquidity above 0.40% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month. The Exchange is adding the qualifier that the liquidity for this Tier 5 is above 0.40% to 0.75% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month.^[15] The Exchange desires to incentivize Participants to continue to add liquidity to NOM.

The Exchange's proposal to amend the Tier 5 Customer and Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because all eligible Participants that qualify for the Tier 5 Customer and Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity will be uniformly paid the rebate. The Exchange will continue to pay all Participants a $0.45 per contract rebate that qualify for the Tier 5 rebate based on the new tier qualifications. All Participants are eligible for the Tier 5 rebate, provided they transact the requisite volume.

The Exchange's proposal to amend the Tier 8 Customer and Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity is reasonable because the Exchange seeks to first adjust the volume level for liquidity to above 0.75% to account for the modification to the Tier 5 volume which is up to 0.75% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month. Any similar volume more than 0.75% would therefore qualify for the Tier 8 Customer or Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity.

The Exchange's proposal to expand the qualifier for the Tier 8 Customer or Professional Rebate to Add Liquidity to offer the rebate to Participants that add (1) Customer and/or Professional liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 30,000 or more contracts per day in a month, (2) the Participant has certified for the Investor Support Program set forth in Rule 7014, and (3) the Participant qualifies for rebates under the Qualified Market Maker (“QMM”) Program set forth in Rule 7014 will provide additional opportunities for Participants to qualify for this rebate. The Exchange offers similar incentives such as these today to qualify for the Tier 5 rebate. The Exchange proposes to similarly incentivize Participants to add even more Customer and/or Professional liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options (30,000 vs. 25,000 contracts), and also continues to offer opportunities to participate in the equities market as a means of qualifying for the Tier 8 rebate.

Today, Participants that add Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 0.75% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month are paid a $0.48 per Customer Rebate to Add Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and a $0.47 per contract Professional Rebate to Add Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options. This proposal would provide Participants with additional opportunities to earn the same Customer rebate and an increased Professional rebate of $0.48 per contract (increase from today's $0.47 per rebate). The Exchange believes that offering these opportunities to earn the Tier 8 rebate will encourage Participants to add liquidity to NOM. It is also reasonable to pay the same Tier 8 rebate of $0.48 per contract for Customer and Professionals as the qualifiers for this rebate are the same.^[16]

The Exchange's proposal to amend the Tier 8 Customer and Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because all eligible Participants that qualify for the Tier 8 Customer and Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity will be uniformly paid the rebate. The Exchange will pay Customers and Professionals alike a $0.48 per contract rebate that qualify for the Tier 8 rebate based on the existing and new tier qualifications. Further, all Participants may qualify to be eligible for these rebates, provided they transact the requisite amount of liquidity. Customer liquidity offers unique benefits to the market which benefits all market participants. Customer liquidity benefits all market participants by providing more trading opportunities, which attracts market makers. An increase in the activity of these market participants in turn facilitates tighter spreads, which may cause an additional corresponding increase in order flow from other market participants. The Exchange believes that encouraging Participants to add Professional liquidity creates competition among options exchanges because the Exchange believes that the rebates may cause market participants to select NOM as a venue to send Professional order flow.

Finally, the Exchange believes that the Exchange's proposal to amend note “a” to attribute it to Tier 8 and amend the text of note “a” to add Tier 8 as well is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because the Exchange desires to further explain what qualifies for inclusion in the Investor Support Program and provide Participants with clarity as to the fees. The Exchange's proposal to remove the reference to note “b” in Tier 8 is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly discriminatory as the definition of Total Volume is not utilized in Tier 8 and this reference is unnecessary.

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

NASDAQ 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. The Exchange believes that amending the Tier 5 rebate to cap the volume at 0.75% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month and amending Tier 8 for volume above 0.75% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month will clarify which volume tier a Participant qualifies for when adding Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options.

Additionally, the Exchange is proposing to add additional qualifiers for the Tier 8 rebate. Both the Tier 5 and 8 rebates permit Participants to add all types of market participant liquidity to qualify for the rebate. This proposal does not create an undue burden on competition, rather the proposal will incentivize market participants to add greater liquidity on NOM. Customer liquidity offers unique benefits to the market which benefits all market participants. Customer liquidity benefits all market participants by providing more trading opportunities, which attract Specialists and Market Makers. An increase in the activity of these market participants in turn facilitates tighter spreads, which may cause an additional corresponding increase in order flow from other market participants. The Exchange believes that encouraging Participants to add Professional liquidity creates competition among options exchanges because the Exchange believes that the rebates may cause market participants to select NOM as a venue to send Professional order flow. The Exchange is offering to pay increased rebates in exchange for additional Professional order flow being executed at the Exchange, which additional order flow should benefit other market participants. Further, all Participants are eligible for the Customer and Professional rebates, provided they transact the requisite volume.

The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which many sophisticated and knowledgeable market participants can readily and do send order flow to competing exchanges if they deem fee levels or rebate incentives at a particular exchange to be excessive or inadequate. These market forces support the Exchange belief that the proposed rebate structure and tiers proposed herein are competitive with rebates and tiers in place on other exchanges. The Exchange believes that this competitive marketplace continues to impact the rebates present on the Exchange today and substantially influences the proposals set forth above.

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

No written comments were either solicited or received.

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.^[17] 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 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-NASDAQ-2015-047 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-NASDAQ-2015-047. 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 the filing will also 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-NASDAQ-2015-047 and should be submitted on or before June 8, 2015.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[18]

Robert W. Errett,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  The Penny Pilot was established in March 2008 is currently expanded and extended through June 30, 2015. See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 57579 (March 28, 2008), 73 FR 18587 (April 4, 2008) (SR-NASDAQ-2008-026) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness establishing Penny Pilot); 60874 (October 23, 2009), 74 FR 56682 (November 2, 2009)(SR-NASDAQ-2009-091) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness expanding and extending Penny Pilot); 60965 (November 9, 2009), 74 FR 59292 (November 17, 2009)(SR-NASDAQ-2009-097) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness adding seventy-five classes to Penny Pilot); 61455 (February 1, 2010), 75 FR 6239 (February 8, 2010) (SR-NASDAQ-2010-013) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness adding seventy-five classes to Penny Pilot); 62029 (May 4, 2010), 75 FR 25895 (May 10, 2010) (SR-NASDAQ-2010-053) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness adding seventy-five classes to Penny Pilot); 65969 (December 15, 2011), 76 FR 79268 (December 21, 2011) (SR-NASDAQ-2011-169) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness extension and replacement of Penny Pilot); 67325 (June 29, 2012), 77 FR 40127 (July 6, 2012) (SR-NASDAQ-2012-075) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through December 31, 2012); 68519 (December 21, 2012), 78 FR 136 (January 2, 2013) (SR-NASDAQ-2012-143) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through June 30, 2013); 69787 (June 18, 2013), 78 FR 37858 (June 24, 2013) (SR-NASDAQ-2013-082) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through December 31, 2013); 71105 (December 17, 2013), 78 FR 77530 (December 23, 2013) (SR-NASDAQ-2013-154) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through June 30, 2014); 79 FR 31151 (May 23, 2014), 79 FR 31151 (May 30, 2014) (SR-NASDAQ-2014-056) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through December 31, 2014); and 73686 (December 2, 2014), 79 FR 71477 (November 25, 2014) (SR-NASDAQ-2014-115) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through June 30, 2015). See also NOM Rules, Chapter VI, Section 5.

4.  The term “Customer” or (“C”) applies to any transaction that is identified by a Participant for clearing in the Customer range at The Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”) which is not for the account of broker or dealer or for the account of a “Professional” (as that term is defined in Chapter I, Section 1(a)(48)).

5.  The term “Professional” or (“P”) means any person or entity that (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) places more than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a calendar month for its own beneficial account(s) pursuant to Chapter I, Section 1(a)(48). All Professional orders shall be appropriately marked by Participants.

6.  The term “Firm” or (“F”) applies to any transaction that is identified by a Participant for clearing in the Firm range at OCC.

7.  The term “NOM Market Maker” or (“M”) is a Participant that has registered as a Market Maker on NOM pursuant to Chapter VII, Section 2, and must also remain in good standing pursuant to Chapter VII, Section 4. In order to receive NOM Market Maker pricing in all securities, the Participant must be registered as a NOM Market Maker in at least one security.

8.  The term “Broker-Dealer” or (“B”) applies to any transaction which is not subject to any of the other transaction fees applicable within a particular category.

9.  For a detailed description of the ISP, see Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63270 (November 8, 2010), 75 FR 69489 (November 12, 2010) (NASDAQ-2010-141) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness) (the “ISP Filing”). See also Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 63414 (December 2, 2010), 75 FR 76505 (December 8, 2010) (NASDAQ-2010-153) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness); and 63628 (January 3, 2011), 76 FR 1201 (January 7, 2011) (NASDAQ-2010-154) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness).

10.  A QMM is a NASDAQ member that makes a significant contribution to market quality by providing liquidity at the national best bid and offer (“NBBO”) in a large number of stocks for a significant portion of the day. In addition, the NASDAQ equity member must avoid imposing the burdens on NASDAQ and its market participants that may be associated with excessive rates of entry of orders away from the inside and/or order cancellation. The designation “QMM” reflects the QMM's commitment to provide meaningful and consistent support to market quality and price discovery by extensive quoting at the NBBO in a large number of securities. In return for its contributions, certain financial benefits are provided to a QMM with respect to a particular MPID (a “QMM MPID”), as described under Rule 7014(e).

11.  See note “d” in Chapter XV, Section 2.

12.  See note “e” in Chapter XV, Section 2.

13.  15 U.S.C. 78f.

14.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).

15.  The Tier 8 Customer and Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity has a qualifier with volume above 0.75% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month. Any volume more than 0.75% would therefore qualify for the Tier 8 Customer or Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity.

16.  Participants that add Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non- Penny Pilot Options of 1.25% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month will continue to receive an additional $0.02 per contract Penny Pilot Options Customer Rebate to Add Liquidity for each transaction which adds liquidity in Penny Pilot Options in that month.

17.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).

18.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).