E7-25569. Self-Regulatory Organizations; American Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Options Licensing Fee Changes

December 27, 2007.

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 December 21, 2007, 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 substantially prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange has designated this proposal as one establishing or changing a due, fee, or other charge applicable only to a member, pursuant to 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

Amex proposes to modify its Options Fee Schedule.

The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange, on the Exchange's Web site at http://www.amex.com, 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 has entered into numerous agreements with index providers for the purpose of trading index options. The requirement to pay an index license fee to such third parties is a condition to the listing and trading of these index options. In many cases, the Exchange is required to pay a significant licensing fee to issuers or index owners that may not be reimbursed. In an effort to recoup the costs associated with index licenses, the Exchange has previously established a per-contract licensing fee for firms, specialists, registered options traders (“ROTs”), remote registered options traders (“RROTs”), supplemental registered options traders (“SROTs”), non-member market makers, and broker-dealers that is collected on every transaction in designated products in which a firm, specialist, ROT, RROT, SROT, non-member market maker, or broker-dealer is a party. The licensing fees currently imposed are set forth in the Exchange's Options Fee Schedule.

The Exchange is proposing to amend its Options Fee Schedule to increase the licensing fees for options on the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and Mini-Nasdaq-100 Index (MNX). Currently, the licensing fees for these index options are $0.15 per contract side. As a result of a recent change to the licensing agreement for NDX and MNX, the Exchange is now being charged a higher license fee. Accordingly, the Exchange now proposes to charge $ 0.16 per contract side for NDX and MNX options, effective January 2, 2008.

The Exchange submits that the proposed license fee will provide the Exchange with additional revenue and allow the Exchange to recoup its costs associated with the trading of NDX and MNX options. Furthermore, the Amex believes that this fee will help to allocate to those firms, specialists, ROTs, RROTs, SROTs, non-member market makers, and broker-dealers transacting in NDX and MNX options a fair share of the related costs of offering such options. Accordingly, the Exchange believes that the proposed fee is reasonable.

The Exchange asserts that the proposal is equitable as required by section 6(b)(4) of the Act.^[5]

2. Statutory Basis

The proposed fee change is consistent with section 6(b)(4) of the Act ^[6] regarding the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among exchange members and other persons using exchange 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

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 rule change is establishing or changing a due, fee, or other charge applicable only to a member, it has become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act ^[7] and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder.^[8] 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

• 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-2007-140 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

• Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Amex-2007-140. 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 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-2007-140 and should be submitted on or before January 24, 2008.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[9]

Nancy M. Morris,

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)(ii).

4.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

5.  Section 6(b)(4) requires that the rules of a national securities exchange provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its members and issuers and other persons using its facilities. 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).

7.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).

8.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

9.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).