Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on November 27, 2007, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (“CBOE” 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 CBOE. The Exchange filed the proposal pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(3) thereunder, 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.
17 CFR 240.19b-4.
17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(3).
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The CBOE proposes to amend Exchange Rule 2.1 pertaining to the appointment of the chairman and members of CBOE's Business Conduct Committee (“BCC”). The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange, on the Exchange's Web site at http://www.cboe.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 purpose of the proposed rule change is to amend CBOE Rule 2.1 by modifying the BCC appointment process. Currently, the Exchange's Vice Chairman of the Board (“member Vice Chairman”), a member position, has the authority to: (i) Appoint the chairman and members of the BCC, with the approval of the Board; (ii) remove members in the BCC, with or without cause; and (iii) fill a vacancy in the BCC for the remainder of the term (collectively referred to as the “Appointment Process”). CBOE proposes to transfer the Appointment Process authority from the member Vice Chairman to the President of the Exchange. CBOE believes that the modification to this rule will enhance CBOE's disciplinary process because the BCC Appointment Process will now be the responsibility of a non-member executive officer, who is not subject to the Exchange's disciplinary jurisdiction.
See CBOE Rule 2.1(a).
CBOE's President is the chief operating officer of CBOE, and, among other duties, oversees the Member and Regulatory Services Division of CBOE.
CBOE believes that this rule amendment is similar to the International Securities Exchange (“ISE”) Rule 200, which grants its CEO the authority to appoint members of committees, including ISE's Business Conduct Committee with Board approval. See ISE Rule 200.
2. Statutory Basis
In modifying the BCC Appointment Process to place the responsibility with a non-member executive officer who is not subject to the Exchange's disciplinary jurisdiction, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act in general, and with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act in particular, which requires, among other things, that the rules of the Exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation among persons engaged in facilitating securities transactions, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange 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 has neither solicited nor received written comments on the proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
The Exchange has designated this proposal as concerned solely with the administration of the Exchange under Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act, and Rule 19b-4(f)(3) thereunder, which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission.
17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(3).
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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-CBOE-2007-141 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-CBOE-2007-141. 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 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-2007-141 and should be submitted on or before January 3, 2008.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-24120 Filed 12-12-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P