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 Securities and Exchange Commission [Release No. 34-66427; File No. SR-BATS-2012-011]
 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 February 
                    ( print page 11609)
                    8, 2012, BATS Exchange, Inc. (“BATS” 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 prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to institute a fee change in connection with an incentive program for Exchange-registered market makers (“Market Makers”) in securities listed on the Exchange. Changes to the Exchange's fees pursuant to this proposal will be effective upon filing. The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange's Web site at 
                    *http://www.batstrading.com,*
                     at the principal office of the Exchange, 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 parts of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose On August 30, 2011, the Exchange received approval of rules applicable to the qualification, listing and delisting of securities of issuers on the Exchange.[3]
                    
                     More recently, the Exchange received approval to operate a program that is designed to incentivize certain market makers registered with the Exchange as Competitive Liquidity Providers (“CLPs”) to enhance liquidity on the Exchange in securities listed on the Exchange (the “Competitive Liquidity Provider Program” or “CLP Program”).[4]
                    
                     The Exchange proposes to adopt financial incentives for the Competitive Liquidity Provider Program, as described below. These incentives include competition amongst CLPs for daily rebates awarded based on quoting activity and the ability to earn free executions in Exchange auctions of Exchange-listed securities. Daily Rebates Pursuant to the CLP Program, the Exchange will measure the performance of CLPs in assigned securities by calculating Size Event Tests (“SETs”) in each second of trading during every day on which the Exchange is open for business. At a randomly selected point in time during Regular Trading Hours, at least once per second, the Exchange will measure each CLP's quoted size at the NBB and NBO. The CLP with the greatest aggregate size at the NBB and NBO at each SET (
                    *i.e.,*
                     the combined size at the NBB and NBO) will be considered to have a “winning SET.” A CLP must have at least 10% of the winning SETs on any trading day in order meet its daily quoting requirement and to be eligible for the daily rebates proposed below. As proposed, any Market Maker registered in a security as a CLP that has satisfied the daily quoting requirement will be eligible to receive a single daily financial rebate for each day's quoting activity as follows: Class of security
Amount of total daily rebate
Allocation of daily rebateTier I Securities Listed on the Exchange Pursuant to Rule 14.8 for Six Months Commencing from the Date of Initial Listing on the Exchange
$500 per day
80% ($400) to CLP with highest number of winning SETs; 20% ($100) to CLP with second highest number of winning SETs.Tier I Securities Listed on the Exchange Pursuant to Rule 14.8 for Remaining Time Subject to CLP Program
250 per day
80% ($200) to CLP with highest number of winning SETs; 20% ($50) to CLP with second highest number of winning SETs.Tier II Securities Listed on the Exchange Pursuant to Rule 14.9
100 per day
100% to CLP with highest number of winning SETs.ETPs Listed Pursuant to Rule 14.11
250 per day
80% ($200) to CLP with highest number of winning SETs; 20% ($50) to CLP with second highest number of winning SETs.
 As set forth in the chart above, for all Tier I securities and exchange traded products (“ETPs”) listed on the Exchange, the Exchange proposes to offer quoting incentives to the two CLPs with the highest number of winning SETs during Regular Trading Hours on the Exchange. For each award, the Exchange will provide 80% of the incentive to the first-place CLP and 20% of the incentive to the second-place CLP. In the event only one CLP is eligible for the daily rebate, 100% of such rebate will be provided to such CLP. In the event that multiple CLPs have an equal number of winning SETs, the CLP with the highest executed volume in the security will be awarded the applicable daily rebate. For Tier II securities listed on the Exchange, the Exchange will provide 100% of the quoting incentive to the first-place CLP. The Exchange proposes to offer a daily quoting incentive of $500 for CLPs ($400 for the first-place CLP and $100 for the second-place CLP) CLPs for the first six months that a Tier I corporate security is listed on the Exchange pursuant to Rule 14.8. Such listing could either be the result of an issuers initial public offering (“IPO”) on the Exchange or due to the transfer of an issuer from another exchange to the Exchange. For the remainder of the time a Tier I corporate security is listed on the Exchange, and for all ETPs, the Exchange proposes to offer a $250 daily quoting incentive ($200 for the first-place CLP and $50 for the second-place CLP). Finally, the Exchange proposes to offer a daily quoting incentive of $100 for Tier II securities listed on the Exchange pursuant to Rule 14.9.
                    ( print page 11610) Waiver of Fees for Auction Executions In order to further incentivize Members to register as CLPs and participate in the CLP Program, the Exchange proposes to waive applicable execution fees in Exchange auctions for any CLP that receives a daily rebate for a specific Exchange-listed security on at least two (2) trading days during a calendar month. The auction fee waiver will be provided on a security-by-security basis in the subsequent calendar month for CLPs that qualify. Further, because a CLP cannot qualify for this incentive until at least the second calendar month of a security's listing, in the initial calendar month of a security's listing on the Exchange, a CLP that is assigned the security will not be charged for any executions in the security that occur in any auction of the security that is conducted by the Exchange pursuant to Rule 11.23. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder that are applicable to a national securities exchange, and, in particular, with the requirements of Section 6 of the Act.[5]
                    
                     Specifically, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Sections 6(b)(4) and (b)(5) of the Act,[6]
                    
                     in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among issuers, and it does not unfairly discriminate between customers, issuers, brokers or dealers. At the outset, the Exchange believes that the proposal is not unfairly discriminatory due to the fact that registration as an Exchange Market Maker, and, in turn, as a CLP, is equally available to all Members that satisfy the requirements of Rule 11.8. The Exchange believes that by allocating pricing benefits to CLPs that make tangible commitments to enhancing market quality for securities listed on the Exchange, the proposal will encourage the development of new financial products, provide a better trading environment for investors in Exchange-listed securities, and generally encourage greater competition between listing venues. As proposed, the CLP Program is designed to enhance the Exchange's competitiveness as a listing venue and to strengthen its market quality for Exchange-listed securities. The Exchange is launching its listings business at a time in which there are two dominant primary listing venues, the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. The Exchange believes that the proposed change would increase competition by incenting Exchange Market Makers to register as CLPs, which will enhance the quality of quoting in Exchange-listed securities and will further assist the Exchange to develop an alternative to Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange for an issuer seeking to list its securities. Accordingly, the Exchange believes that the proposal will compliment the Exchange's program for listing securities on the Exchange, which will, in turn, provide issuers with another option for raising capital in the public markets, thereby promoting the principles discussed in Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.[7] The Exchange believes that the proposed quoting incentives are fair and equitable in that registered CLPs will be competing for rewards that are calculated based solely on the Exchange's measurement of SETs, and the quoting incentive provided varies only depending on the type of security for which such CLP is registered. The Exchange further believes that differentiation between various types of Exchange-listed securities is fair and equitable and not unreasonably discriminatory because the risks and necessary incentives for a market maker to make a market in different securities vary, as described in further detail below. The Exchange proposes a lower quoting incentive for Tier II corporate issues than other Exchange listed securities. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to provide an incentive of $100 per day for the CLP with the highest number of winning SETs during the applicable trading day with respect to a Tier II corporate issue subject to the CLP Program. The Exchange has also chosen not to offer a quoting incentive to the CLP with the second highest number of winning SETs during the applicable trading day for Tier II corporate issues. The Exchange believes that this quoting incentive structure for Tier II corporate issues is reasonable because the Exchange does not expect to have as many registered CLPs for Tier II corporate issues as compared to Tier I corporate issues and ETPs. This is because if there is indeed less competition in Tier II issues, then the registered CLPs in Tier II issues will have a better opportunity to receive the daily quoting incentive. Also, because the quoting incentive is lower, the Exchange believes it is reasonable to simply provide a single quoting incentive to the CLP with the highest number of winning SETs during the applicable trading day for Tier II corporate issues. The Exchange proposes a daily quoting incentive of $250 per day for ETPs listed pursuant to Exchange Rule 14.11, with $200 for the first-place CLP and $50 for the second-place CLP. The Exchange believes that this quoting incentive is reasonable because the Exchange expects to have several competing CLPs for each ETP, and thus, the daily quoting incentive must be slightly larger (to incent competition even by CLPs that may receive the incentive less frequently). Due to the additional competition, the Exchange also believes it is reasonable to provide a quoting incentive to both the first and second-place CLP for ETPs. The Exchange also expects to have several competing CLPs for Tier I corporate issues. While the value of an ETP can be readily monitored and updated based on analysis conducted of the underlying securities or products, market making for a corporate issue requires additional analysis and imposes different risks. Due to the additional risks, the Exchange believes that additional incentives are necessary and appropriate in order to encourage CLPs to register as CLPs for Tier I corporate issues listed on the Exchange pursuant to Rule 14.8 for a six-month period commencing from the date of initial listing on the Exchange. Based on the additional risks and the additional competition, the Exchange believes that the proposed quoting incentive for Tier I corporate issues of $500 is reasonable for the first six months that a security is listed on the Exchange. After six months, because CLPs should become more familiar with the market for the applicable issue, the Exchange believes it is reasonable to provide the same quoting incentive as it provides for ETPs. Finally, as described above, in order to further incentivize Members to register as CLPs and participate in the CLP Program, the Exchange proposes to waive applicable execution fees in Exchange auctions for any CLP that receives a daily rebate for a specific Exchange-listed security on at least two (2) trading days during a calendar month. The Exchange believes that the waiver of auction fees is equitable and not unreasonably discriminatory because it will be available to all CLPs registered for the applicable issue and will be awarded based on objective criteria. Also, as noted above, registration as an Exchange Market Maker, and, in turn, as a CLP, is equally available to all Members that satisfy the requirements of Rule 11.8. The 
                    ( print page 11611)
                    Exchange believes that the waiver of auction fees is reasonable because it is based on a relatively low threshold, and thus, will help to incentivize Members to register as CLPs and participate in the CLP Program and to stay registered in the CLP Program even if such Members rarely receive the applicable daily quoting incentive. B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change imposes any burden on competition. 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. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action Pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act [8]
                    
                     and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder,[9]
                    
                     the Exchange has designated this proposal as establishing or changing a due, fee, or other charge applicable to the Exchange's Members and non-members, which renders the proposed rule change effective upon filing. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend 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 email to*rule-comments@sec.gov*. Please include File Number SR-BATS-2012-011 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-BATS-2012-011. 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 the Exchange. 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 publicly available. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BATS-2012-011 and should be submitted on or before March 19, 2012. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.10 Kevin M. O'Neill, Deputy Secretary.


# Footnotes

1.
    
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). Back to Citation
 2.
    
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4. Back to Citation
 3.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 65225 (August 30, 2011), 76 FR 55148 (September 6, 2011) (SR-BATS-2011-018). Back to Citation
 4.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66307 (February 2, 2012), 77 FR 6608 (February 8, 2012) (SR-BATS-2011-051). Back to Citation
 5.
    
                         15 U.S.C. 78f. Back to Citation
 6.
    
                         15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (b)(5). Back to Citation
 7.
    
                         15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). Back to Citation
 8.
    
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii). Back to Citation
 9.
    
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2). Back to Citation
 10.
    
                         17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). Back to Citation


[FR Doc. 2012-4401 Filed 2-24-12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P