2011-14516. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Option Expiration Months Open for Trading on the Exchange

June 7, 2011.

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 June 3, 2011, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange has designated the proposed rule change as constituting a non-controversial rule change under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act,^[3] which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. 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 amend its rules to permit the Exchange to list additional expiration months if such expiration months are listed on another exchange. The text of the rule proposal is available on the Exchange's Web site (http://www.cboe.org/​legal), at the Exchange's Office of the Secretary 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 those 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 parts 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 CBOE's Rules to permit the Exchange to list additional expiration months if such expiration months are listed on another exchange. This filing is based on a filing previously submitted by NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc. (“PHLX”) ^[4] and by International Securities Exchange, LLC (“ISE”).^[5]

Pursuant to Interpretation and Policy .03 to Rule 5.5, the Exchange typically opens four (4) expiration months for each class of options open for trading on the Exchange: The first two being the two nearest months, regardless of the quarterly cycle on which that class trades; the third and fourth being the next two months of the quarterly cycle previously designated by the Exchange for that specific class. For example, if the Exchange listed, in late April, a new stock option on a January-April-July-October quarterly cycle, the Exchange would list the two nearest term months (May and June) and the next two expiration months of the cycle (July and October). When the May series expires, the Exchange would add January series. When the June series expires, the Exchange would add August series as the next month, and would not add April.

In 2010, for competitive reasons, the Exchange established a pilot program pursuant to which CBOE would list up to an additional two expiration months, for a total of six expiration months for each class of options open for trading on the Exchange (the “Additional Expiration Months Pilot”).^[6]

PHLX submitted a proposal to adopt rules that permit it to list an unlimited number of expiration months and series for each class of standard options opened for trading on that exchange. Specifically, PHLX amended its rules so that it can open “at least one expiration month” for each class of standard options open for trading on that exchange. CBOE does not believe that its Additional Expiration Months Pilot restricts the total number expirations that CBOE may list under its Rules. However, at least one other exchange (ISE), which has adopted a similar Additional Expiration Months Pilot has filed to expressly permit the listing of additional series if such series are listed on at least one other registered national securities exchange.

For competitive reasons, CBOE proposes to add new Interpretation and Policy .19 to Rule 5.5 and new Interpretation and Policy .12 to Rule 24.9 to permit the Exchange to list additional expiration months on options classes opened for trading on the Exchange if such expiration months are opened for trading on at least one other national securities exchange. This proposed rule change will allow CBOE to match the listing of expiration months that other exchanges list.

The Exchange notes that the proposed rule change affords additional flexibility in that it will permit the exchange to list those additional expiration months that have an actual demand from market participants thereby potentially reducing the proliferation of classes and series. The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is proper, and indeed necessary, in light of the need to have rules that permit the listing of identical expiration months across exchanges for products that multiply-listed and fungible with one another. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change should encourage competition and be beneficial to traders and market participants by providing them with a means to trade on the Exchange securities that are listed and traded on other exchanges.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act ^[7] and the rules and regulations thereunder and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.^[8] Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) ^[9] requirements that the rules of an exchange be designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts, to remove impediments to and to perfect the mechanism for a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. In particular, the proposed rule change will permit the Exchange to accommodate requests made by its Trading Privilege Holders and other market participants to list the additional expiration months and thus encourage competition without harming investors or the public interest.

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 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

No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest, does not impose any significant burden on competition, and, by its terms, does not become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[10] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[11]

The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay. The Commission believes that waiver of the operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because the proposal should promote competition by allowing the Exchange, without undue delay, to list and trade option series that are trading on other options exchanges. Therefore, the Commission designates the proposal operative upon filing.^[12]

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 e-mail to [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-CBOE-2011-053 on the subject line.

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 Number SR-CBOE-2011-053. 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 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 website 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 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the 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-2011-053 and should be submitted on or before July 5, 2011.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[13]

Cathy H. Ahn,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

4.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63700 (January 11, 2011) 76 FR 2931 (January 18, 2011) (SR-PHLX-2011-04).

5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64343 (April 26, 2011), 76 FR 24546 (May 2, 2011) (SR-ISE-2011-26).

6.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63185 (October 27, 2010), 75 FR 67419 (November 2, 2010) (SR-CBOE-2010-97). As stated in footnote 5 at page 67419, CBOE does not believe that Rule 5.5.03 limits the maximum number of expiration months that may be listed. Rule 5.5(a) and 5.5(c) provide CBOE with the flexibility to add additional expiration months, which the Exchange has previously done. By establishing the Additional Series Pilot Program, CBOE did not limit its existing ability.

7.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

8.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

9.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

10.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

11.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the Exchange's intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and 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. The Commission has waived the five-day prefiling requirement in this case.

12.  For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

13.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).