E8-21761. Self-Regulatory Organizations; American Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Related to the Listing and Trading of Options on Section 107 Securities

September 11, 2008.

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 September 3, 2008, the American Stock Exchange LLC (“Amex” or “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. Amex filed the proposal pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[3] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 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 Exchange proposes to add new Commentary .11 to Rule 915 and new Commentary .12 to Rule 916 to enable the listing and trading of options on securities meeting the requirements of Sections 107D, 107E, 107F, 107G, 107H or 107I of the Amex Company Guide (the “Company Guide”).

The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Amex's Web site at http://www.amex.com,, the Office of the Secretary, the Amex 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 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

The Exchange proposes to adopt new Commentary .11 to Rule 915 and new Commentary .12 to Rule 916 to enable the listing and trading of options on index-linked securities (“Index-Linked Securities”), commodity-linked securities (“Commodity-Linked Securities”), currency-linked securities (“Currency-Linked Securities”), fixed income-linked securities (“Fixed Income-Linked Securities”), futures-linked securities (“Futures-Linked Securities”) and combination-linked securities (“Combination-Linked Securities”) (collectively known as “Section 107 Securities” as defined in Sections 107D, 107E, 107F, 107G, 107H and 107I, respectively, of the Company Guide) that are principally traded on a national securities exchange and an “NMS Stock” (as defined in Rule 600 of Regulation NMS under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”)).

Section 107 Securities are designed for investors who desire to participate in a specific market segment by providing exposure to one or more identifiable underlying securities, commodities, currencies, derivative instruments or market indexes of the foregoing (“Underlying Index” or “underlying Indexes”). Section 107 Securities are the non-convertible debt of an issuer that have a term of at least one (1) year but not greater than thirty (30) years. Despite the fact that Section 107 Securities are linked to an underlying index, each trades as a single, exchange-listed security. Accordingly, rules pertaining to the listing and trading of standard equity options will apply to Section 107 Securities. The Exchange does not propose any changes to rules pertaining to Stock Index Options.

Listing Criteria

The Exchange will consider listing and trading options on Section 107 Securities provided the Section 107 Securities meet the criteria for underlying securities set forth in Commentary .01 to Rule 915. The Exchange proposes that Section 107 Securities deemed appropriate for options trading represent ownership of a security that provides for the payment at maturity, as described below.

• Index-Linked Securities are securities that provide for the payment at maturity of a cash amount based on the performance of an underlying index or indexes of equity securities (“Equity Reference Asset”).
• Commodity-Linked Securities are securities that provide for the payment at maturity of a cash amount based on the performance of one or more physical commodities or commodity futures, options or other commodity derivatives or Commodity-Based Trust Shares or a basket or index of any of the foregoing (“Commodity Reference Asset”).
• Currency-Linked Securities are securities that provide for the payment at maturity of a cash amount based on the performance of one or more currencies, or options or currency futures or other currency derivatives or Currency Trust Shares ^[5] or a basket or index of any of the foregoing (“Currency Reference Asset”).

• Fixed Income-Linked Securities are securities that provide for the payment at maturity of a cash amount based on the performance of one or more notes, bonds, debentures or evidence of indebtedness that include, but are not limited to, U.S. Department of the Treasury securities (“Treasury Securities”), government-sponsored entity securities (“GSE Securities”), municipal securities, trust preferred securities, supranational debt and debt of a foreign country or a subdivision thereof or a basket or index of any of the foregoing (“Fixed Income Reference Asset”);
• Futures-Linked Securities are securities that provide for the payment at maturity of a cash amount based on the performance of an index of (a) futures on Treasury Securities, GSE Securities, supranational debt and debt of a foreign country or a subdivision thereof, or options or other derivatives on any of the foregoing; or (b) interest rate futures or options or derivatives on the foregoing in this subparagraph (b) (“Futures Reference Asset”); and
• Combination-Linked Securities are securities that provide for the payment at maturity of a cash amount based on the performance of any combination of two or more Equity Reference Assets, Commodity Reference Assets, Currency Reference Assets, Fixed Income Reference Assets or Futures Reference Assets (“Combination Reference Asset”).

For the purposes of Commentary .11 to Rule 915, Equity Reference Assets, Commodity Reference Assets, Currency Reference Assets, Fixed Income Reference Assets, Futures Reference Assets and Combination Reference Assets, will be collectively referred to as “Reference Assets,” as defined in Sections 107D, 107E, 107F, 107G, 107H and 107I, respectively, of the Company Guide. Section 107 Securities must meet the criteria and guidelines for underlying securities set forth in Commentary .01 to Rule 915, or the Section 107 Securities must be redeemable at the option of the holder at least on a weekly basis through the issuer at a price related to the applicable underlying Reference Asset. In addition, the issuing company is obligated to issue or repurchase the securities in aggregation units for cash or cash equivalents satisfactory to the issuer of Section 107 Securities which underlie the option as described in the Section 107 Securities prospectus.

Continued Listing Requirements

Options on Section 107 Securities will be subject to all Exchange rules governing the trading of equity options. The current continuing or maintenance listing standards for options traded on the Amex will continue to apply.

The Exchange proposes to establish Commentary .12 to Rule 916 which will include criteria related to the continued listing of options on Section 107 Securities.

Under the applicable continued listing criteria in proposed Commentary .12 to Rule 916, options on Section 107 Securities initially approved for trading pursuant to proposed Commentary .11 to Rule 915 may be subject to the suspension of opening transactions as follows: (1) Non-compliance with the terms of proposed Commentary .11 to Rule 915; (2) non-compliance with the terms of Commentary .01 to Rule 916, except that in the case of options covering Section 107 Securities approved pursuant to proposed Commentary .11(c)(2) to Rule 915 that are redeemable at the option of the holder at least on a weekly basis, then option contracts of the class covering such Securities may only continue to be open for trading as long as the Securities are listed on a national securities exchange and are an “NMS stock” as defined in Rule 600 of Regulation NMS; (3) in the case of any Section 107 Security trading pursuant to Commentary .11 to Rule 915, the value of the Reference Asset is no longer calculated or available; or (4) such other event shall occur or condition exist that in the opinion of the Exchange makes further dealing in such options on the Exchange inadvisable.

The Exchange represents that the listing and trading of options on Section 107 Securities pursuant to proposed Commentary .11 to Rule 915 will not have any effect on the rules pertaining to position and exercise limits ^[6] or margin.^[7]

The Exchange will implement surveillance procedures for options on Section 107 Securities, including adequate comprehensive surveillance sharing agreements with markets trading in non-U.S. components, as applicable. The Amex represents that these procedures will be adequate to properly monitor Exchange trading of options on these securities and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with Section 6 of the Act,^[8] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5),^[9] in particular, in that it is 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 facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. The Exchange submits that the instant proposal to adopt generic initial and continued listing criteria for options on Section 107 Securities will serve to provide enhanced risk management tools for investors that, to date, have been absent in connection with Section 107 Securities. In addition, the Exchange further believes that the proposed listing criteria together with the Exchange's surveillance procedures will serve to protect investors and the public interest.

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

No written comments were solicited nor 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: (1) Does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) does not impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) by its terms does not become operative for 30 days after the date of this filing, 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 ^[10] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[11]

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange requests that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay so that the Exchange is able to compete with other options exchanges that are currently permitted to list and trade options on Section 107 Securities. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest.^[12] The Commission notes the proposal is substantively identical to proposals that were recently approved by the Commission, and does not raise any new regulatory issues.^[13] For these reasons, the Commission designates the proposed rule change as operative upon filing.

At any time within 60 days of the filing of the 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

• 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-Amex-2008-69 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-Amex-2008-69. 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 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-Amex-2008-69 and should be submitted on or before October 9, 2008.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[14]

Florence E. Harmon,

Acting Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

4.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

5.  See Amex Rule 1200B-AEMI(b). The term “Currency Trust Shares” means a security that (i) is issued by a trust that holds a specified non-U.S. currency deposited with the trust; (ii) when aggregated in some specified minimum number may be surrendered to the trust by the beneficial owner to receive the specified non-U.S. currency; and (iii) pays beneficial owners interest and other distributions on the deposited non-U.S. currency, if any, declared and paid by the trust.

6.  See Amex Rules 904 and 905.

7.  See Amex Rules 462.

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 a self-regulatory organization to provide the Commission with written notice of its 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 Exchange has fulfilled this requirement.

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.  See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 58203 (July 22, 2008), 73 FR 43812 (July 28, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2008-57) and 58204 (July 22, 2008), 73 FR 43807 (July 28, 2008) (SR-CBOE-2008-64).

14.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).