Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change Related to FLEX Options

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”), and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on December 20, 2011, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (“Exchange” or “CBOE”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

The Exchange is proposing to adopt certain rules pertaining to the electronic auction trading of Flexible Exchange Options (“FLEX Options”) on the Exchange's FLEX Hybrid Trading System platform. 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.

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, Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

The Exchange is proposing to make modified versions of the Automated Improvement Mechanism (“AIM”) and Solicitation Auction Mechanism (“SAM”)—which are currently available for non-FLEX Options under Rules 6.74A and 6.74B, respectively—available for FLEX Options. The FLEX versions of the AIM and SAM mechanisms will operate substantially similar to the AIM and SAM mechanisms for non-FLEX Options. Significant distinctions are described below.

Automated Improvement Mechanism

The Exchange is proposing to establish an AIM mechanism for FLEX Options, which mechanism will electronically auction certain orders for price improvement. Under the AIM process, a FLEX Trader (referred to as an “Initiating Trading Permit Holder” or “Initiating TPH”) that represents agency orders may submit an order it represents as agent (an “Agency Order”) along with a second order (a principal order and/or solicited order(s) for the same amount as the Agency Order) into the AIM Auction where other FLEX Trader participants could compete with the Initiating TPH's second order to execute against the Agency Order.

To be eligible, the Agency Order must be in a FLEX class designated as eligible for AIM Auctions and within the designated AIM Auction order eligibility size parameters. Such classes and size parameters will be determined by the Exchange and announced via circular to FLEX Traders. When submitting an Agency Order, an Initiating TPH must mark the Agency Order for AIM Auction processing and must also submit a contra-side second order for the same size as the Agency Order. This second order guarantees that the Agency Order will receive an execution (i.e., it acts as a stop). In connection with the stop of the Agency Order, the Initiating TPH must stop the entire Agency Order with the second order at the better of the best bid or offer (“BBO”) or the Agency Order's limit price. The Initiating TPH may enter the second order in one of two formats: (i) A specified single price at which it seeks to cross the Agency Order with the second order (a “single-priced submission”), or (ii) a non-price specific commitment for the second order to automatically match the price and size of all auction responses that are received during the auction (an “auto-match”), in which case the Agency Order will be stopped at the better of the BBO or the Agency Order's limit price. When using the auto-match feature, the Initiating TPH would have no control over the ultimate match price. Once the Initiating TPH has submitted an Agency Order for AIM processing, such submission cannot be cancelled by the Initiating TPH.

Upon receipt of an Agency Order (and second order), the Exchange would commence the AIM Auction by issuing a request for responses (“RFR”), detailing the side and size of the Agency Order. The duration of the RFR response period (i.e., the auction period) would be established by the Exchange on a class-by-class basis and shall not be less than three (3) seconds. During that period, RFR responses may be submitted by FLEX Traders. These responses must specify price and size and may not cross the Exchange's BBO on the opposite side of the market. All RFR responses are “blind,” that is they are not visible to any other participants. CBOE believes this aspect of the AIM Auction will encourage more aggressive quoting and superior price improvement. RFR responses may be modified or cancelled so long as they are modified or cancelled before the conclusion of the RFR response period. Lastly, the minimum price increment for RFR responses and for an Initiating TPH's single price submission shall be set by the Exchange at no less than one cent.

Normally, an AIM Auction ends at the conclusion of the RFR response period (which will be no less than 3 seconds). However, the proposal provides that the AIM Auction would end prior to the conclusion of the RFR response period any time an RFR response matches the BBO on the opposite side of the market from the RFR responses.

At the conclusion of the AIM Auction, the Agency Order would be allocated at the best price(s) and contra-side interest will be ranked and matched based on price-time priority, subject to the following: First, such best prices may include non-AIM Auction FLEX Orders (to the extent the Exchange has determined to make available an electronic book). Second, public customers and non-Trading Permit Holder broker-dealers RFR responses and FLEX Orders would have priority. Third, no FLEX Appointed Market-Maker participation entitlement would apply with respect to the AIM Auction. Fourth, if the best price equals the Initiating TPH's single-price submission, the Initiating TPH's single-price submission shall be allocated the greater of one contract or a certain percentage of the order, which percentage would be determined by the Exchange and may not be larger than 40%. However, if only one other FLEX Trader matches the Initiating TPH's single price submission, then the Initiating TPH may be allocated up to 50% of the order. Fifth, if the Initiating TPH selected the auto-match option of the AIM Auction, the Initiating TPH shall be allocated its full size at each price point until a price point is reached where the balance of the order can be fully executed. At such price point, the Initiating TPH shall be allocated the greater of one contract or a certain percentage of the remainder of the Agency Order, which percentage would be determined by the Exchange and may not be larger than 40%. Sixth, any remaining RFR responses and FLEX Orders will be allocated based on time priority. The Initiating TPH would not participate on any such balance unless the Agency Order would otherwise go unfilled. Finally, seventh, if the final AIM Auction price locks a public customer or non-Trading Permit Holder broker-dealer order in the electronic book on the same side of the market as the Agency Order, then, unless there is sufficient size in the AIM Auction responses to execute both the Agency Order and the booked public customer or non-Trading Permit Holder broker-dealer order (in which case they will both execute at the final AIM Auction price), the Agency Order will execute against RFR responses at one minimum RFR response increment worse than the final AIM Auction price against the AIM Auction participants that submitted the final AIM Auction price and any balance shall trade against the public customer or non-Trading Permit Holder broker-dealer order in the book at such order's limit price.

Lastly, the Exchange proposes certain interpretation and policy provisions applicable to the AIM Auction mechanism. First, the AIM Auction may only be used where there is a genuine intention to execute a bona fide transaction. Second, it would be deemed conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade and a violation of CBOE Rule 4.1 to engage in a patter [sic] of conduct where the Initiating TPH breaks-up an Agency Order into separate orders for two (2) or few contracts for the purpose of gaining a higher allocation percentage than the Initiating TPH would have otherwise received in accordance with the allocation procedures. Third, initially, and for at least a pilot period expiring on July 18, 2012, there will be no minimum size requirement for orders to be eligible for the AIM Auction. During this Pilot Period, the Exchange will submit certain data, periodically as required by the Commission, to provide supporting evidence that, among other things, there is a meaningful competition for all size orders and that there is an active and liquid market functioning on the Exchange outside of the AIM Auction. Any data which is submitted to the Commission will be provided on a confidential basis. Fourth, any solicited orders submitted by the Initiating TPH to trade against the Agency Order may not be for the account of a FLEX Market-Maker assigned to the option class. Fifth, the Exchange may determine on a class-by-class basis to make the AIM Auction available for complex orders. In such classes, complex orders may be executed through the AIM Auction at a net debit or net credit price provided the AIM Auction eligibility requirements are satisfied and the Agency Order is eligible for the AIM Auction considering its complex order type, order origin code (i.e., non-broker-dealer public customer, broker-dealers that are not Market-Makers or specialists on an options exchange, and/or Market-Makers or specialists on an options exchange), class, and marketability as determined by the Exchange. Complex orders will only be eligible to trade with other complex orders through the AIM Auction. To the extent the Exchange determines to make an electronic book available for resting FLEX Orders, there will be no “legging” of complex orders with FLEX Orders that may be represented in the individual series legs represented in the electronic book. Order allocation shall be the same as would be applicable for simple orders. In addition, the individual series legs of a complex order would not trade through equivalent bids (offers) in the individual series legs represented in the electronic book and at least one leg must better the corresponding bid (offer) of public customers and non-Trading Permit Holder broker-dealers in the electronic book. Sixth, any determinations made by the Exchange pursuant to the proposed rule, such as eligible classes, order size parameters and the minimum price increment, would be communicated in a circular.

Solicitation Auction Mechanism

The Exchange is also proposing to establish a SAM mechanism for FLEX Options, which is another mechanism that will electronically auction certain orders for price improvement. Under the SAM process, an Initiating TPH that represents agency orders may submit an Agency Order along with a second order (a solicited order(s) for the same amount as the Agency Order) into the SAM Auction where other FLEX Trader participants could compete with the Initiating TPH's second order to execute against the Agency Order. As explained in more detail below, the SAM mechanism is to be used for larger-sized Agency Orders that are to be executed against solicited orders.

To be eligible, the Agency Order must be in a FLEX class designated as eligible for SAM Auctions and within the designated SAM Auction order eligibility size parameters determined by the Exchange (however, the eligible order size would not be less than 500 contracts). Such classes and size parameters will be determined by the Exchange and announced via circular to FLEX Traders. As explained in more detail below, each order entered into the SAM Auction would also be designated in the System as all-or-none (i.e., an order will be executed in its entirety or not at all). In addition, the second order may only be entered in a single-priced submission format (i.e., unlike AIM Auctions, there is no “auto-match” feature for SAM Auctions). Once the Initiating TPH has submitted an Agency Order for SAM processing, such submission cannot be cancelled by the Initiating TPH.

Upon receipt of an Agency Order (and second order), the Exchange would commence the SAM Auction by issuing an RFR, detailing the price and size [sic] the Agency Order. The duration of the RFR response period (i.e., the auction period) would be established by the Exchange on a class-by-class basis and shall not be less than three (3) seconds. During that period, RFR responses may be submitted by FLEX Traders. These responses must specify price and size. Responses may not be entered for the account of an options Market-Maker from another options exchange. As with AIM Auctions, for SAM Auctions all RFR responses are “blind.” CBOE believes this aspect of the SAM Auction will encourage more aggressive quoting and superior price improvement. RFR responses may be modified or cancelled so long as they are modified or cancelled before the conclusion of the RFR response period. Lastly, the minimum price increment for RFR responses and for an Initiating TPH's single price submission shall be set by the Exchange at no less than one cent.

Normally, a SAM Auction ends at the conclusion of the RFR response period (which will be no less than 3 seconds). However, as with AIM Auctions, the proposal provides that the SAM Auction would end prior to the conclusion of the RFR response period any time an RFR response matches the BBO on the opposite side of the market from the RFR responses.

At the conclusion of the SAM Auction, the Agency Order would be executed against the second/solicited order unless there is sufficient size to execute the entire Agency Order at a price (or prices) that improves the proposed crossing price. In the case where there is one or more public customers or non-Trading Permit Holder broker-dealers at the proposed execution price on the opposite side of the Agency Order, the second/solicited order would be cancelled and the Agency Order would be executed against other bids (offers) if there is sufficient size at the bid (offer) to execute the entire size of the Agency Order (size would be measured considering RFR responses and resting FLEX Orders, to the extent the Exchange has determined to make available an electronic book)). If there is not sufficient size to execute the entire Agency Order, the proposed cross would not be executed and both the Agency Order and second/solicited order would be cancelled. Additionally, the proposed cross would not be executed and both the Agency Order and second/solicited order would be cancelled if the execution price would be inferior to the BBO.

In the event the Agency Order is executed at an improved price(s) or at the proposed execution price against RFR responses and FLEX Orders, the allocation at a given price would be as follows: (i) RFR responses and FLEX Orders for the account of public customers and non-Trading Permit Holder broker-dealers will participate in the execution based on time priority; (ii) any RFR responses and FLEX Orders that are subject to a FLEX Appointed Market-Maker participation entitlement will participate in the execution based on a participation entitlement formula specified in Rule 24B.5(d)(2)(ii); then (iii) all other RFR responses and FLEX Orders will participate in the execution based on time priority.

Lastly, the Exchange proposes certain interpretation and policy provisions applicable to the SAM Auction mechanism. First, the Exchange is also proposing to apply the SAM Auction mechanism to complex orders. As proposed, the Exchange may determine on a class-by-class basis to make the SAM Auction available for complex orders. In such classes, complex orders may be executed through the SAM Auction at a net debit or net credit price provided the SAM Auction eligibility requirements are satisfied and the Agency Order is eligible for the SAM Auction considering its complex order type, order origin code (i.e., non-broker-dealer public customer, broker-dealers that are not Market-Makers or specialists on an options exchange, and/or Market-Makers or specialists on an options exchange), class, and marketability as determined by the Exchange. Complex orders will only be eligible to trade with other complex orders through the SAM Auction. To the extent the Exchange determines to make an electronic book available for resting FLEX Orders, there will be no “legging” of complex orders with FLEX Orders that may be represented in the individual series legs represented in the electronic book. Order allocation shall be the same as would be applicable for simple orders. In addition, the individual series legs of a complex order would not trade through equivalent bids (offers) in the individual series legs represented in the electronic book and at least one leg must better the corresponding bid (offer) of public customers and non-Trading Permit Holder broker-dealers in the electronic book. Second, the proposed rule would also require Trading Permit Holders to deliver to customers a written document describing the terms and conditions of the SAM Auction mechanism prior to executing Agency Orders using the SAM Auction mechanism. Such written document would be required to be in a form approved by the Exchange. Third, the proposed rule would also specify that Trading Permit Holders may not use the SAM Auction mechanism to circumvent the Exchange's rules limiting principal order transactions. Additionally, the Exchange notes that for purposes of paragraph (e) to Rule 6.9, which paragraph prohibits anticipatory hedging activities prior to the entry of an order on the Exchange, the terms of an order would be considered “disclosed” to the trading crowd on the Exchange when the order is entered into the SAM Auction mechanism. Finally, fourth, any determinations made by the Exchange pursuant to the proposed SAM Auction rule, such as eligible classes, order size parameters and the minimum price increment, would be communicated in a circular.

Section 11(a)(1) of the Act

Finally, the Exchange believes the proposed AIM and SAM Auctions for FLEX Options are consistent with Section 11(a)(1) of the Act and the rules promulgated thereunder. Generally, Section 11(a)(1) of the Act restricts any member of a national securities exchange from effecting any transaction on such exchange for (i) the member's own account, (ii) the account of a person associated with the member, or (iii) an account over which the member or a person associated with the member exercises discretion, unless a specific exemption is available. Examples of common exemptions include the exemption for transactions by broker dealers acting in the capacity of a market maker under Section 11(a)(1)(A), the “G” exemption for yielding priority to non-members under Section 11(a)(1)(G) of the Act and Rule 11a1-1(T) thereunder, and “Effect vs. Execute” exemption under Rule 11a2-2(T) under the Act. In this regard, we note that, Trading Permit Holders effecting transactions through the AIM and SAM Auctions and relying on the G exemption would yield priority to any public customer and non-TPH broker-dealer interest pursuant to the applicable allocation algorithms.

The Exchange also believes the proposed AIM and SAM Auctions meet the requirements of the Effect vs. Execution exemption under Rule 11A2-2(T). Rule 11a2-2(T) permits an exchange member, subject to certain conditions, to effect transactions for covered accounts by arranging for an unaffiliated member to execute the transactions directly on the exchange floor. To comply with the rule's conditions, a member (i) must transmit the order from off the exchange floor, (ii) may not participate in the execution of the transaction once it has been transmitted to the member performing the execution, (iii) may not be affiliated with the executing member, and (iv) with respect to an account over which the member or an associated person has investment discretion, neither the member nor its associated person may retain any compensation in connection with effecting the transaction without express written consent from the person authorized to transact business for the account in accordance with the rule.

Off-Floor Transmission: The requirement in Rule 11a2-2(T) for orders to be transmitted from off the exchange floor reflects Congress' intent that Section 11(a) should operate to put member money managers and non-member money managers on the same footing for purposes of their transactions for covered accounts. In considering other automated systems, the Commission and the staff have stated that the off-floor transmission requirement would be met if a covered account order is transmitted from off the floor directly to the exchange floor by electronic means. To the extent that orders and responses to AIM and SAM Auctions will be electronically submitted directly to the FLEX System from remote terminals, the Exchange believes the orders and responses transmitted for execution through AIM and SAM Auctions satisfy the off-floor transmission requirement.

Non-Participation in Order Execution and Execution Through Unaffiliated Member: Rule 11a2-2(T) further provides that the exchange member and its associated persons may not participate in the execution of a transaction once the order has been transmitted to the exchange floor. This requirement was included to prevent members with their own brokers on the exchange floor from using those persons to influence or guide their orders' execution. This requirement does not preclude members from canceling or modifying orders, or from modifying the instructions for executing orders, after they have been transmitted to the floor. Such cancellations or modifications, however, also must be transmitted from off the exchange floor.

In a release discussing both the COMEX and the PACE systems, the Commission noted that a member relinquishes any ability to influence or guide the execution of its order at the time the order is transmitted into the systems and, although the execution is automatic, the design of these systems insures that members do not posses any special or unique trading advantages in handling orders after transmission to the trading floor. Similarly, orders and responses submitted to AIM and SAM Auctions will enter the FLEX System and be executed based on an established matching algorithm. To the extent that users of the AIM and SAM Auctions will relinquish control of their orders and responses upon transmission to the FLEX System, and will not be able to influence or guide the execution of their orders, the Exchange believes that this requirement is met with respect to orders and responses that are executed automatically through the AIM and SAM Auctions.

Furthermore, although Rule 11a2-2(T) contemplates having an order executed by an exchange member who is unaffiliated with the member initiating the order, the Commission has recognized that this requirement is not applicable when automated exchange facilities are used. For example, in considering the operation of COMEX and PACE, the Commission noted that while there is no independent executing exchange member, the execution of an order is automatic once it has been transmitted into the systems. Because the design of these systems ensures that members do not possess any special or unique trading advantages in handling their orders after transmitting them to the exchange floors, the Commission has stated that executions obtained through these systems satisfy the independent execution requirement of Rule 11a2-2(T). Similarly, to the extent that the design of the AIM and SAM Auctions ensure that members do not possess any special or unique trading advantages in the handling of their orders after transmission, a member effecting a transaction through the AIM and SAM Auctions satisfies the requirement for execution through an unaffiliated member.

Non-Retention of Compensation for Discretionary Accounts: The Exchange notes that members who intend to rely on Rule 11a2-2(T) in connection with transactions using the AIM and SAM Auctions must comply with the requirements of Section (a)(2)(iv) of the rule.

2. Statutory Basis

The proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act, in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act, in particular, in that it should promote just and equitable principles of trade, serve to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and protect investors and the public interest. In particular, the Exchange believes that the use of FLEX Options provide CBOE Trading Permit Holders and investors with additional tools to trade customized options in an exchange environment and greater opportunities to manage risk. The Exchange believes that making modified versions of the AIM and SAM mechanisms available for FLEX Options should serve to further those objectives and encourage use of FLEX Options by enhancing the existing processes for auctioning FLEX Orders, which should make the system more efficient and effective for the FLEX Option investor community.

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 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 neither solicited nor received comments on the proposal.

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

Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:

(A) By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change, or

(B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved.

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 email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-CBOE-2011-123 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-2011-123. This file number should be included on the subject line if email 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 Web site 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 such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of CBOE. 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-2011-123 and should be submitted on or before January 25, 2012.