

[Federal Register: July 25, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 142)]
[Notices]               
[Page 42141-42142]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25jy06-115]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-54161; File No. SR-Amex-2006-62]

 
Self-Regulatory Organizations; American Stock Exchange LLC; 
Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed 
Rule Change To Extend the Linkage Fee Pilot Program

 July 17, 2006.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on June 28, 2006, 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 Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change from interested persons and is approving the 
proposal on an accelerated basis for a pilot period through July 31, 
2007.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    The Exchange proposes to extend for one (1) year until July 31, 
2007, the current pilot program regarding transaction fees for trades 
executed through the intermarket options linkage (the ``Linkage'') on 
the Exchange. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the 
Amex's Web site at (http://www.amex.com), at the Amex's Office of the 

Secretary, 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, Amex 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 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 Amex is proposing to extend for one (1) year until July 31, 
2007, the current pilot program establishing Exchange fees for 
Principal Orders (``P Orders'') and Principal Acting as Agent Orders 
(``P/A Orders'') submitted through the Linkage and executed on the 
Exchange. The fees in connection with the pilot program are scheduled 
to expire on July 31, 2006.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 52150 (July 28, 
2005), 70 FR 44703 (August 3, 2005) (Amex File No. 2005-079).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The current fees applicable to P Orders and P/A Orders executed on 
the Exchange are as follows: (i) $0.10 per contract side options 
transaction fee for equity options (exchange traded fund share 
(``ETF'') options, QQQQ options and trust issued receipt options); (ii) 
$0.21 per contract side options transaction fee for index options 
(including MNX and NDX options); (iii) $0.05 per contract side options 
comparison fee; (iv) $0.05 per contract side options floor brokerage 
fee; and (v) an options licensing fee for certain ETF and index option 
products ranging from $0.20 per contract side to $0.05 per contract 
side depending on the particular ETF or index option.\4\ These are the 
same fees charged to specialists and registered option traders 
(``ROTs'') for transactions executed on the Exchange. The Exchange does 
not charge for the execution of Satisfaction Orders sent through the 
Linkage.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See the Options Licensing Fee section of the Amex Options 
Fee Schedule available at http://www.amex.com.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As was the case in the original pilot program and subsequent 
extensions, the Exchange believes that the existing fees currently 
charged to Exchange specialists and ROTs should also apply to 
executions resulting from Linkage Orders.
    Based on the experience to date, the Exchange believes that an 
extension of the pilot program for one (1) year until July 31, 2007 is 
appropriate.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \5\ regarding the equitable allocation 
of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among exchange members and 
other persons using exchange facilities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    The Exchange believes that 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. 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-Amex-2006-62 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-2006-62. 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. Copies of the filing 
also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal 
office of the Exchange. All

[[Page 42142]]

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-2006-62 and should be 
submitted on or before August 15, 2006.

IV. Commission's Findings and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of 
the Proposed Rule Change

    After careful consideration, the Commission finds that the proposed 
rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the 
rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities 
exchange,\6\ and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of 
the Act \7\ and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Commission 
finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(4) 
of the Act, \8\ which requires that the rules of the Exchange provide 
for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges 
among its members and other persons using its facilities. The 
Commission believes that the extension of the Linkage fee pilot until 
July 31, 2007 will give the Exchange and the Commission further 
opportunity to evaluate whether such fees are appropriate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ In approving this proposal, the Commission has considered 
the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital 
formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission finds good cause, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of 
the Act,\9\ for approving the proposed rule change prior to the 
thirtieth day after publication of notice thereof in the Federal 
Register. The Commission believes that granting accelerated approval of 
the proposed rule change will preserve the Exchange's existing pilot 
program for Linkage fees without interruption as the Exchange and the 
Commission further consider the appropriateness of Linkage fees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

V. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\10\ that the proposed rule change (SR-Amex-2006-62) is hereby 
approved on an accelerated basis for a pilot period to expire on July 
31, 2007.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ Id.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-11795 Filed 7-24-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-P
