[Federal Register: July 6, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 129)] [Notices] [Page 37064-37065] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr06jy07-116] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-55975; File No. SR-ISE-2007-48] Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Fee Changes June 28, 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 June 15, 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 ISE. ISE filed the proposal pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) \4\ thereunder, as establishing or changing a due, fee, or other charges applicable to a member, which renders the proposed rule change effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \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). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change ISE is proposing to amend its Schedule of Fees to: (1) Remove the surcharge fee for transactions in options on the iShares Russell 2000[supreg] Index Fund (``IWM''), the iShares Russell 2000[supreg] Value Index Fund (``IWN''), the iShares Russell 2000[supreg] Growth Index Fund (``IWO''), the iShares Russell 1000[supreg] Value Index Fund (``IWD'') and the iShares Russell 1000[supreg] Index Fund (``IWB''); and (2) raise the surcharge fee for transactions in options on the Russell 1000[supreg] Index (``RUI''), the Russell 2000[supreg] Index (``RUT''), and the Mini Russell 2000[supreg] Index (``RMN''). The text of the proposed rule change is available at ISE, http://www.iseoptions.com , and 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 is proposing to amend its Schedule of Fees to: (1) Remove the surcharge fee previously adopted for transactions in options on IWM, IWN, IWO, IWD,\5\ and IWB; \6\ and (2) raise the surcharge fee previously adopted for transactions in options on RUI, RUT and RMN.\7\ The Exchange is proposing to remove the surcharge fee from its Schedule of Fees because it no longer pays a license fee to the Frank Russell [[Page 37065]] Company (``Russell'') in connection with transactions in options on IWM, IWN, IWO, IWD and IWB. Accordingly, there is no longer a need for this surcharge fee. The Exchange will continue to charge an execution fee and a comparison fee for transactions in options on IWM, IWN, IWO, IWD and IWB. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 47075 (December 20, 2002), 67 FR 79673 (December 30, 2002) (SR-ISE-2002-29). \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 47564 (March 24, 2003), 68 FR 15256 (March 28, 2003) (SR-ISE-2003-13). \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51858 (June 16, 2005), 70 FR 36218 (June 22, 2005) (SR-ISE-2005-26). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additionally, pursuant to a revised license agreement between Russell and ISE in connection with the listing and trading of options on RUI, RUT and RMN, and to defray the increased licensing costs, the Exchange is raising its surcharge fee from $0.10 per contract to $0.15 per contract for trading in options on RUI, RUT and RMN. 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 continue excluding Public Customer Orders \8\ from this surcharge fee. Accordingly, this surcharge fee shall continue to be charged only 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 to certain Linkage Orders under a pilot program that is set to expire on July 31, 2007.\9\ The Exchange will, however, continue to charge an execution fee and a comparison fee for transactions in options on RUI, RUT and RMN. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \8\ Public Customer Order is defined in Exchange Rule 100(a)(39) as an order for the account of a Public Customer. Public Customer is defined in Exchange Rule 100(a)(38) as a person that is not a broker or dealer in securities. \9\ Linkage Orders are defined in ISE Rule 1900(10). Under a pilot program that is set to expire on July 31, 2007, these fees will also be charged to Principal Acting as Agent Orders and Principal Orders (as defined in ISE Rule 1900(10)(i)-(ii)). See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54204 (July 25, 2006), 71 FR 43548 (August 1, 2006) (SR-ISE-2006-38). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Statutory Basis The basis under the Act for this proposed rule change is the requirement under Section 6(b)(4) \10\ that the rules of an exchange provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its members and issuers and other persons using its facilities. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition ISE does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in 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 Form 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 interested parties. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action The foregoing proposed rule change has become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act \11\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) \12\ thereunder, because it establishes or changes a due, fee, or other charge applicable only to a member. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii). \12\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 CommentsUse the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml. ); or Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-ISE-2007-48 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-ISE-2007-48. 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 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-2007-48 and should be submitted on or before July 27, 2007. For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.\13\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \13\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florence E. Harmon, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. E7-13070 Filed 7-5-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010-01-P