E7-12741. Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Fee Changes  

  • Start Preamble June 26, 2007.

    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 June 19, 2007, the International Securities Exchange, LLC (“ISE” or “Exchange”) 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 substantially prepared by the ISE. The ISE has designated this proposal as one establishing or changing a due, fee, or other charge applicable only to a member under Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act [3] and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder,[4] 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 ISE is proposing to amend its Schedule of Fees to establish fees for transactions in options on four Premium Products.[5] The text of the proposed rule change is available at the ISE, at the Commission's Public Reference Room, and on the ISE's Web site (http://www.iseoptions.com/​legal/​proposed_​rule_​changes.asp).

    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 ISE included stat ements 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 ISE 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 is proposing to amend its Schedule of Fees to establish fees for transactions in options on the following four Premium Products: First Trust ISE—Revere Natural Gas Index Fund (“FCG”), First Trust ISE Water Index Fund (“FIW”), the SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (“XME”),[6] and the KBW Mortgage Finance Index (“MFX”). The Exchange represents that FCG, FIW, and XME are eligible for options trading because they constitute “Fund Shares,” as defined by ISE Rule 502(h). The Exchange further represents that MFX meets the standards of ISE Rule 2002(b), which allows the ISE to begin trading this product by filing Form 19b-4(e) at least five business days after commencement of trading this new product pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act.[7] The ISE represents that it submitted Form 19b-4(e) to the Commission on June 19, 2007.

    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 and a comparison fee for all transactions in options on FCG, FIW, XME and MFX.[8] The amount of the execution fee and comparison fee for products covered by this filing shall be $0.15 and $0.03 per contract, respectively, for all Public Customer Orders [9] and Firm Proprietary orders. The amount of the execution fee and comparison fee for all ISE Market Maker transactions shall be equal to the execution fee and comparison fee currently charged by the Exchange for ISE Market Maker transactions in equity options.[10] Finally, the amount of the execution fee and comparison fee for all non-ISE Market Maker transactions shall be $0.37 and $0.03 per contract, respectively.

    Additionally, the Exchange has entered into a license agreement with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. in connection with the listing and trading of options on MFX. As with certain other licensed options, to defray the licensing costs, the Exchange is adopting a surcharge fee of $0.10 per contract for trading in options on MFX. The Exchange believes charging the participants that trade this instrument is the most equitable means of recovering the costs of the license. However, because of competitive pressures in the industry, the Exchange proposes to exclude Public Customer Orders from this surcharge fee. Accordingly, this surcharge fee will only be charged to Exchange members with respect to non-Public Customer Orders (e.g., ISE Market Maker, non-ISE Market Maker & Firm Proprietary orders) and shall apply Start Printed Page 36084to Principal Orders and Principal Acting as Agent Orders.[11]

    Further, since options on XME and MFX are multiply-listed, the Payment for Order Flow fee shall apply to these two 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.

    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

    Because the foregoing rule change establishes or changes a due, fee, or other charge imposed by the Exchange, it has become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) 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 proposed rule change 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 Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, Station Place, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ISE-2007-50. 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 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 the 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 Number SR-ISE-2007-50 and should be submitted on or before July 23, 2007.

    Start Signature

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.[16]

    Florence E. Harmon,

    Deputy Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    5.  “Premium Products” is defined in the Schedule of Fees as the products enumerated therein.

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    6.  “Standard & Poor's®,” “S&P®,” “S&P 500®,” “Standard & Poor's 500®,” “Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts®,” “SPDR®,” and “the S&P® Metals & Mining Select Industry Index,” are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“McGraw-Hill”), and have been licensed for use by State Street Bank and Trust in connection with the listing and trading of XME. XME is not sponsored, sold or endorsed by Standard & Poor's, (“S&P”), a division of McGraw-Hill, and S&P makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in XME. McGraw-Hill 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 XME; or (ii) 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 XME or with making disclosures concerning options on XME under any applicable federal or state laws, rules or regulations. McGraw-Hill and S&P do not sponsor, endorse, or promote such activity by ISE and are not affiliated in any manner with ISE.

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    8.  These fees will be charged only to Exchange members. Under a pilot program that is set to expire on July 31, 2007, these fees will also be charged to Principal Orders and Principal Acting as Agent Orders. See ISE Rule 1900(10). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54204 (July 25, 2006), 71 FR 43548 (August 1, 2006) (SR-ISE-2006-38) (“Linkage Orders Pilot”). Telephone conversation between Samir Patel, Assistant General Counsel, ISE, and Sara Gillis, Attorney, Division of Market Regulation, Commission, on June 26, 2007.

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

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    10.  The execution fee is currently between $0.21 and $0.12 per contract side, depending on the Exchange Average Daily Volume, and the comparison fee is currently $0.03 per contract side.

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    11.  See ISE Rule 1900(10). See also Linkage Orders Pilot, supra note 5.

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    [FR Doc. E7-12741 Filed 6-29-07; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8010-01-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
07/02/2007
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
E7-12741
Pages:
36083-36084 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-55959, File No. SR-ISE-2007-50
EOCitation:
of 2007-06-26
PDF File:
e7-12741.pdf