Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change by the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. Relating to Marketing Fee Procedures

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 May 13, 2003, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. (“CBOE”) 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 CBOE. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change by the CBOE, which relates to marketing fee procedures. At the same time, the Commission is adopting the proposed rule change as a pilot program on an accelerated basis.

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

The CBOE hereby proposes to adopt, on a pilot basis, a new Interpretation and Policy .12 to CBOE Rule 8.7 specifying the procedures by which a trading crowd may determine whether to participate in the CBOE's marketing fee program. The text of the proposed rule change is available at the CBOE 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 CBOE 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 III below. The CBOE 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

Effective August 1, 2001, the CBOE suspended its $.40 per contract marketing fee. As described in SR-CBOE-2003-19, the CBOE has determined to reinstate its marketing fee program, and proposes to adopt the procedures set forth in proposed new Interpretation and Policy .12 to CBOE Rule 8.7 to specify how a trading crowd determines whether or not to participate in the marketing fee program. The CBOE proposes to institute these procedures on a pilot basis to expire one year after Commission approval. The Exchange has requested that the Commission approve the pilot program on an accelerated basis so that it can compete effectively with other exchanges that have marketing fee programs.

As described in SR-CBOE-2003-19, the marketing fee will be assessed only on those market-maker transactions (including DPMs) resulting from orders from customers of payment-accepting firms with which the DPM has agreed to pay for that firm's order flow. In the instant filing, the CBOE proposes that after the marketing fee initially has been in effect for three consecutive calendar months with respect to the option classes located at a particular trading station, the members of a trading crowd may determine not to continue participating in this marketing fee program pursuant to the procedures proposed to be set forth in Interpretation .12 to CBOE Rule 8.7, as described below. The CBOE asserts that these procedures are substantially the same as the procedures contained in Interpretation and Policy .03 to CBOE Rule 8.95. These procedures were utilized by trading crowds in 1999 to indicate that they no longer wish to trade an option class opened for trading prior to May 1, 1987.

The Exchange states that two procedural aspects of the administration of the trading crowd vote are embodied in proposed Interpretation and Policy .12 to CBOE Rule 8.7: (i) To define which trading crowd members are entitled to participate in the vote; and (ii) to adopt voting procedures to be used for purposes of determinations made under the rule. The CBOE states that proposed Interpretation and Policy .12 provides that eligible trading crowd members are those market-makers in the subject trading crowd who have transacted at least 80% of their market-maker contracts and transactions in each of the three immediately preceding calendar months in option classes traded at that trading crowd's station, and who continue to be present in the trading crowd in the capacity of a market maker at the time of the vote. According to the CBOE, this assures that only those members who are currently engaged as market makers in that trading crowd, and who have concentrated their activity in that trading crowd over the last three months, participate in the vote.

Process To Request a Vote

The CBOE asserts that the DPM or any eligible trading crowd member may request that a vote be held by submitting a written request to that effect to the Secretary of the Exchange. The Exchange will provide at least ten calendar days' posted notice to the trading crowd of the time and date of the vote. The Secretary of the Exchange will verify that the member requesting a vote is an eligible trading crowd member and will keep the identity of such individual confidential.

Trading Crowd Participating in Marketing Fee Program

The CBOE states that after a trading crowd has participated in the marketing fee program for the initial three consecutive calendar month period, the trading crowd may determine to opt-out of the program. Proposed Interpretation and Policy .12 to CBOE Rule 8.7 provides that a trading crowd will be deemed to have indicated that it does not wish to continue participating in the marketing fee program only if: (i) The question is put to a vote of the eligible trading crowd members; (ii) a majority of the eligible trading crowd members participate in the vote; and (iii) a majority of the votes cast are in favor of not participating in the marketing fee program. In the event the vote of the members of the trading crowd is tied, the marketing fee program will remain in effect in that trading crowd for the next three consecutive months.

Trading Crowd Not Participating in Marketing Fee Program

According to the Exchange, twenty days after a trading crowd votes not to participate in the marketing fee program, any eligible trading crowd member may then request that another vote be held to determine whether the trading crowd should participate in the marketing fee program. In this case, if a majority of the votes cast are in favor of participating in the marketing fee program, the trading crowd will be deemed to have indicated that it wishes to participate in the marketing fee program and the marketing fee program will be in effect in that trading crowd for the next three consecutive months. In the event that the vote of the members of the trading crowd is tied, the trading crowd will be deemed to have indicated that it does not wish to participate in the marketing fee program.

The CBOE asserts that these voting procedures are substantially similar to the procedures set forth in CBOE Rule 8.95.03 and the procedures set forth in CBOE Rule 2.40(d) concerning recommendations of a market-maker surcharge under that rule. In other respects, a marketing fee oversight committee of the CBOE shall determine administrative procedures for conducting the vote. If a payment accepting firm materially changes its execution status or a DPM transfers its DPM appointment to a separate organization pursuant to CBOE Rule 8.89, any member of the eligible trading crowd may then request that a vote be held to determine whether or not the trading crowd should participate in the marketing fee program by conducting a vote pursuant to the above procedures.

2. Statutory Basis

The CBOE believes that proposed Interpretation .12 to CBOE Rule 8.7 will provide fair and orderly procedures for the administration of the marketing fee program that the CBOE has determined to reinstate, and thus is consistent with and in furtherance of the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act to promote just and equitable principles of trade and to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

The CBOE does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others

The CBOE neither solicited nor received written comments with respect to the proposed rule change.

III. 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. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. 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. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the CBOE. All submissions should refer to file number SR-CBOE-2003-20 and should be submitted by July 2, 2003.

IV. Commission's Findings and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change as a Pilot Program

After careful review, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of section 6(b)(5) of the Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange. Specifically, the Commission believes that this proposal, which allows the appropriate trading crowd to determine after a three-month period whether to continue to participate in the Exchange's marketing fee program, promotes member participation in the procedures of the Exchange. Further, the Commission notes that the contemplated voting procedures are substantially similar to the voting procedures contained in CBOE Rules 8.95.03 and 2.40(d), which have previously been reviewed by the Commission.

Finally, the Commission notes that the Exchange is proposing to institute these procedures as a pilot program that will expire one year after Commission approval, or such earlier time as the Commission has approved the procedures on a permanent basis.

Accordingly, the Commission finds good cause, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the Act, for approving the proposed rule change prior to the thirtieth day after the date of publication of notice thereof in the Federal Register.