Document ID: SEC-2007-1656-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: Self-regulatory organizations; proposed rule changes: American Stock Exchange LLC
Posted Date: 2007-12-06T05:00Z

[Federal Register: December 6, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 234)]
[Notices]               
[Page 68914-68918]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06de07-96]                         

[[Page 68914]]

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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-56853; File No. SR-Amex-2007-94]

 
Self-Regulatory Organizations; American Stock Exchange LLC; 
Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto 
Relating to Notes Linked to the Performance of the CBOE S&P 500 
PutWrite Index (PUT\SM\)

November 28, 2007.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 \2\ thereunder, notice is hereby given 
that on August 20, 2007, 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, II, 
and III below, which Items have been substantially prepared by the 
Exchange. On November 27, 2007, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1. The 
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change, as amended, from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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 list and trade notes, the performance of 
which is linked to the CBOE S&P 500 PutWrite Index (PUTSM) 
(the ``PUT Index'' or ``Index''). The text of the proposed rule change 
is available at the Exchange, the Commission's Public Reference Room 
and http://www.amex.com.

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. 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 the 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    Under Section 107A of the Amex Company Guide (``Company Guide''), 
the Exchange may approve for listing and trading securities which 
cannot be readily categorized under the listing criteria for common and 
preferred stocks, bonds, debentures, or warrants.\3\ The Amex proposes 
to list for trading under Section 107A of the Company Guide notes 
linked to the performance of the PUT Index (the ``Notes''). The PUT 
Index is determined, calculated and maintained solely by the Chicago 
Board Options Exchange, Inc. (``CBOE'').\4\ Eksportfinans will issue 
the Notes under the name ``Eksportfinans Index-Linked Notes.'' \5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 27753 (March 1, 
1990), 55 FR 8626 (March 8, 1990) (SR-Amex-89-29).
    \4\ If the CBOE discontinues publication of the Index and the 
CBOE or another entity publishes a successor or substitute index 
that the calculation agent determines, in its sole discretion, to be 
comparable to the Index (a ``Successor Index''), then the 
calculation agent may substitute the Successor Index as calculated 
by the CBOE or any other entity for the Index and calculate the 
Redemption Amount (as defined below) by reference to the Successor 
Index. In the event that the CBOE discontinues publication of the 
Index and (a) the calculation agent does not select or approve a 
Successor Index or (b) the Successor Index is no longer published on 
any of the relevant scheduled trading days, the calculation agent 
will compute a substitute level for the Index in accordance with the 
procedures last used to calculate the level of the Index before any 
discontinuation but using only those securities that comprised the 
Index prior to such discontinuation. If a Successor Index is 
selected or the calculation agent calculates a level as a substitute 
for the Index, the Successor Index or level will be used as a 
substitute for the Index for all purposes going forward even if CBOE 
elects to begin republishing the Index, unless the calculation agent 
decides to use the republished Index. If the CBOE discontinues 
publication of the Index and the calculation agent determines that 
no Successor Index is available at that time, then on each scheduled 
trading day until the earlier to occur of (a) the determination of 
the Redemption Amount or (b) a determination by the calculation 
agent that a Successor Index is available, the calculation agent 
will determine the level that would be used in computing the 
Redemption Amount as if that day were a scheduled trading day.
    Eksportfinans, has been appointed to act as the calculation 
agent. Telephone conversation between Jeffrey P. Burns, Vice 
President and Associate General Counsel, Amex and Ronesha Butler, 
Special Counsel, Division of Trading and Markets, Commission 
(``Division''), Commission, on October 31, 2007.
    \5\ Eksportfinans and Standard & Poor's (``S&P''), a division of 
the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. have entered into a non-exclusive 
license agreement providing for the use of the PUT Index by 
Eksportfinans in connection with certain securities including the 
Notes. S&P is not responsible for and will not participate in the 
issuance and creation of the Notes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Notes will conform to the initial listing guidelines under 
Section 107A \6\ and continued listing guidelines under Sections 1001-
1003 \7\ of the Company Guide. The Notes are a series of medium-term 
debt securities of Eksportfinans that provide for a cash payment at 
maturity or upon earlier exchange at the holder's option, based on the 
performance of the PUT Index as adjusted by an annual index fee (the 
``Index Fee''). The principal amount of each Note is expected to be 
$20. The Notes will not have a minimum principal amount that will be 
repaid and, accordingly, payment on the Notes prior to or at maturity 
may be less than the original issue price of the Notes. In particular, 
the value of the PUT Index must increase for the investor to receive at 
least the $20 principal amount per security at maturity.\8\ The Notes 
will have a term of thirty (30) years. The Notes are not callable by 
the issuer; however, holders will be able to redeem the Notes in 
minimum aggregate amounts of $1,000 on a weekly basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Section 107A of the Company Guide provides the initial 
listing standards for the Notes. Section 107A requires: (1) A 
minimum public distribution of one million units; (2) a minimum of 
400 public shareholders; and (3) a market value of at least $4 
million. In addition, Section 107A provides a limited exception to 
the minimum public distribution and minimum public shareholder 
requirement if an issue is traded in thousand dollar denominations 
or if the securities are redeemable at the option of the holders on 
at least a weekly basis. Because the Notes will be redeemable on a 
weekly basis at the option of the holders, the exception to the 
minimum public distribution and public shareholder requirement in 
Section 107A will apply to the listing of the Notes. In addition, 
the listing guidelines provide that the issuer has assets in excess 
of $100 million, stockholder's equity of at least $10 million, and 
pre-tax income of at least $750,000 in the last fiscal year or in 
two of the three prior fiscal years. In the case of an issuer which 
is unable to satisfy the earning criteria stated in Section 101 of 
the Company Guide, the Exchange will require the issuer to have the 
following: (1) Assets in excess of $200 million and stockholders' 
equity of at least $10 million; or (2) assets in excess of $100 
million and stockholders' equity of at least $20 million.
    \7\ The Exchange's continued listing guidelines are set forth in 
Sections 1001 through 1003 of Part 10 to the Exchange's Company 
Guide. Section 1002(b) of the Company Guide states that the Exchange 
will consider removing from listing any security where, in the 
opinion of the Exchange, it appears that the extent of public 
distribution or aggregate market value has become so reduced to make 
further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. With respect to 
continued listing guidelines for distribution of the Notes, the 
Exchange will rely, in part, on the guidelines for bonds in Section 
1003(b)(iv). Section 1003(b)(iv)(A) provides that the Exchange will 
normally consider suspending dealings in, or removing from the list, 
a security if the aggregate market value or the principal amount of 
bonds publicly held is less than $400,000.
    \8\ Telephone conversation between Jeffrey P. Burns, Vice 
President and Associate General Counsel, Amex and Ronesha Butler, 
Special Counsel, Division, Commission, on October 31, 2007.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The payment that a holder of a Note will receive at maturity or 
redemption (the ``Redemption Amount'') will depend on the relation of 
the final Index value (the ``Final Index Value'') to the closing value 
of the Index on the pricing date (the ``Initial Index Value'') of the 
PUT Index, as adjusted by the Index Fee (as defined below). For 
purposes of determining the amount payable at

[[Page 68915]]

maturity of the Notes, the Redemption Amount will be determined at the 
close of the markets on the maturity date (the ``Final Valuation 
Date).'' In the event that a market disruption event \9\ occurs on the 
Final Valuation Date, such Final Valuation Date will be postponed to 
the next scheduled trading day on which no market disruption event 
occurs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ A ``market disruption event'' is defined as the failure of 
the primary market or related markets to open for trading during 
regular trading hours or the occurrence or existence of any of the 
following events: (i) A trading disruption, if material, at any time 
during the one hour period that ends at the close of trading for the 
applicable exchange; (ii) an exchange disruption, if material, at 
any time during the one hour period that ends at the close of 
trading for the applicable exchange; or (iii) an early closure. A 
``trading disruption'' generally means any suspension of, or 
limitation, imposed on trading by the primary exchange or related 
exchange or otherwise, whether by reason of movements in price 
exceeding limits permitted by the relevant exchange or related 
exchange or otherwise: (i) Relating to securities that comprise 20% 
or more of the level of the S&P 500[supreg] Index (the ``S&P 500''); 
or (ii) in options contracts or futures contracts relating to the 
Index or the S&P 500 on any relevant related exchange. An ``exchange 
disruption'' means any event (other than a scheduled early closure) 
that disrupts or impairs the ability of market participants in 
general to: (i) Effect transactions in, or obtain market values on, 
any primary exchange or related exchange in securities that comprise 
20 percent or more of the level of the S&P 500; or (ii) effect 
transactions in options contracts or futures contracts relating to 
the Index or the S&P 500 on any relevant related exchange. A 
``related exchange'' is an exchange or quotation system on which 
futures or options contracts relating to the Index or the S&P 500 
are traded.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Index Fee will be 1.0%.
    A holder or investor on the maturity date will receive a Redemption 
Amount equal to:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06DE07.000

    The Notes are cash-settled in U.S. dollars and do not give the 
holder any right to receive any of the component securities, dividend 
payments, or any other ownership right or interest in the securities 
comprising the PUT Index. The Notes are designed for investors who 
desire exposure to a covered put selling options strategy on a broad 
market index and who are willing to forego principal protection and 
market interest payments on the Notes during their term.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ Telephone conversation between Jeffrey P. Burns, Vice 
President and Associate General Counsel, Amex and Ronesha Butler, 
Special Counsel, Division, Commission, on October 31, 2007.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission has previously approved the listing on the Amex of 
securities with structures similar to that of the proposed Notes.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 51426 (March 23, 
2005), 70 FR 16315 (March 30, 2005) (approving the listing and 
trading of Morgan Stanley notes linked to the BXM Index); 50719 
(November 22, 2004), 69 FR 69644 (November 30, 2004) (approving the 
listing and trading of Morgan Stanley notes linked to the BXM 
Index); 51634 (April 29, 2005), 70 FR 24138 (May 6, 2006) (approving 
the listing and trading of Wachovia notes linked to the BXM Index); 
and 51840 (June 14, 2005), 70 FR 35468 (June 20, 2005) (approving 
the listing and trading of JPMorgan notes linked to the BXD Index). 
The BXM index is the CBOE S&P 500 BuyWrite Index SM while 
the BXD is the equivalent index using the DJIA as the underlying 
index rather than the S&P 500.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Description of the Index

    The PUT Index is a benchmark index designed to measure the 
performance of a hypothetical investment strategy that overlays short 
S&P 500 puts over a money market account. Developed by the CBOE in 
cooperation with S&P, the Index was initially announced in April 2002. 
The PUT Index was set to an initial value of 100.00 as of June 1, 
1988.\12\ The Exchange states that the CBOE developed the PUT Index in 
response to several factors, including the repeated requests by options 
portfolio managers that the CBOE provide an objective benchmark for 
evaluating the performance of put selling strategies. Further, the CBOE 
developed the PUT Index to provide investors with a relatively 
straightforward indicator of covered put selling which otherwise may 
seem complicated and inordinately risky.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Telephone conversation between Jeffrey P. Burns, Vice 
President and Associate General Counsel, Amex and Ronesha Butler, 
Special Counsel, Division, Commission, on October 31, 2007.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The number of puts in the Index is set to collateralize the 
exposure to S&P 500 downturns. This design provides higher leverage 
than the BXM strategy \13\ but will also capture the potentially 
``rich'' options premium of S&P 500 put options. Short option 
strategies, and especially short put strategies, typically generate 
high risk-adjusted returns.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ The BXM Index is a benchmark index designed to measure the 
performance of a hypothetical ``buy-write'' strategy on the S&P 500. 
A ``buy-write'' is a conservative options strategy in which an 
investor buys a stock or portfolio and writes call options on the 
stock or portfolio. This strategy is also known as a ``covered 
call'' strategy. A buy-write strategy provides option premium income 
to cushion decreases in the value of an equity portfolio, but will 
underperform stocks in a rising market. A buy-write strategy tends 
to lessen overall volatility in a portfolio.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The PUT Index strategy invests cash at one- and three-month 
Treasury Bill rates and sells a sequence of one-month at-the-money S&P 
500 puts (SPX). The short put position is collateralized by the 
Treasury bills.
    The PUT Index portfolio is rebalanced on the third Friday of the 
month when the puts expire and new puts are sold. This procedure is 
referred to as the ``roll.'' On every third roll, the total cash in the 
PUT portfolio is reinvested at the three-month Treasury bill rate. The 
rebalanced portfolio is long three-month Treasury bills and short one-
month SPX puts. On other roll dates, the cash obtained from selling new 
SPX puts is invested at the one-month Treasury bill rate, and the cash 
required to settle expiring in-the-money puts is financed first by one-
month Treasury bills and second by three-month Treasury bills, if 
necessary. On such roll dates, the rebalanced portfolio is typically 
long one and three-month Treasury bills and short one-month SPX puts.
    The theory of the PUT strategy is to trade a premium over Treasury 
bill rates for a leveraged exposure to S&P 500 downturns. It is 
expected that asset managers will find the PUT strategy a convenient 
method to utilize disposable cash to enhance returns.
    From June 1988 to March 2007, the PUT Index had an annualized 
monthly return of 12.79% compared to 12.08% for the S&P 500 Total 
Return Index (SPTR), 11.91% for the BXM and 4.66% for three-month 
Treasury bills. The PUT Index had a smaller standard deviation than the 
BXM and SPTR.
    As expected, PUT Index monthly returns tend to (a) increase with 
the return on the S&P 500, (b) be greater than the returns of the BXM 
and SPTR when SPTR returns are negative or small, and (c) be smaller 
when SPTR returns are larger. More specifically, the PUT Index tends to 
perform better when the monthly return of SPTR is at or below 2.5%. The 
solid relative performance of the PUT Index is explained by the fact 
that this occurred 67% of the time between June 1988 and March 2007.

Construction of PUT Index Portfolio

    The PUT Index tracks the value of an initial investment of $100 in 
a portfolio

[[Page 68916]]

that passively follows the CBOE S&P 500 PUT strategy. The portfolio is 
managed and calculated as follows:
     On June 1, 1988, the inception date, SPX at-the-money put 
options are sold and $100 plus the cash from this sale is invested at 
the three-month Treasury bill rate.\14\ If the puts expire in the money 
at the next roll date, the final settlement loss is financed by the 
Treasury bills, and a new batch of puts is sold. The revenue from the 
sale of the puts is invested at the one-month Treasury bill rate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ The intra-day cash from selling puts at the open is deemed 
to be invested at the close of the roll date. Similarly settlement 
losses are deemed to be financed at the close.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Similarly, on the second roll date, any settlement loss 
from expiring puts is financed first by one-month Treasury bills and if 
this is not sufficient, by three-month Treasury bills. Again, the cash 
from the sale of new puts is invested at the one-month Treasury bill 
rate.
     On the third roll date, both the one- and three-month 
Treasury investments are liquidated and the cash is used to finance 
possible losses from the expiring puts. New puts are sold and the total 
net cash balance is now reinvested at the three-month Treasury bill 
rate.

Final Settlement Price of Expiring Put Options

    At expiration, the put options are settled to a Special Opening 
Quotation (SOQ, ticker ``SET'') of the S&P 500.\15\ The SOQ is a 
special calculation of the S&P 500 Index compiled from the opening 
prices of S&P 500 stocks. The SOQ is calculated when all S&P 500 stocks 
have opened for trading; this typically happens before 11 a.m. Eastern 
Time (``ET'').\16\ The aggregate settlement value of the expiring puts 
is equal to the number of puts times the maximum of 0 and the 
difference between the strike price of the puts and the SOQ.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ If the third Friday is an exchange holiday, the put option 
will be settled against the SOQ on the previous business day and the 
new put option will be selected on that day as well.
    \16\ If one or more stocks in the S&P 500 Index do not open on 
the day the SOQ is calculated, the final settlement price for SPX 
options is determined in accordance with the Rules and By-Laws of 
the Options Clearing Corporation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Selection of the ``At-the-Money'' Strike Price

    The strike price of the new options is the strike price of the 
listed CBOE SPX put option that is closest to but not greater than the 
last value of the S&P 500 Index reported before 11 a.m. ET. For 
example, if the last S&P 500 Index value reported before 11 a.m. ET is 
1433.10 and the closest listed SPX put option strike price below 
1433.10 is 1430 then 1430 strike SPX put options are sold.

Sale Price of Put Options \17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ A slightly different roll procedure is used to calculate 
the historical series of the CBOE S&P 500 Collateralized Put Index. 
This is to take into account the changes in the timing of the 
expiration of S&P 500 options, and to mimic the changes made in the 
calculation of the BXM series over time. Up to November 20, 1992, 
the roll is deemed to take place at the close of the 3rd Friday, the 
strike price of the new put is determined at 4 p.m. ET and the new 
puts are deemed sold at the last bid price before 4 p.m. ET. After 
this date, the index is rolled at 11 a.m. ET instead. And starting 
on March 17, 2006, the new puts were sold at the VWAP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The new put options are deemed sold at a price equal to the volume-
weighted average of the traded prices (``VWAP'') of put options with 
that strike during the half-hour period beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET. The 
CBOE calculates the VWAP in a two-step process. First, the CBOE 
excludes trades between 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. ET that are identified 
as having been executed as part of a ``spread.'' Second, the CBOE then 
calculates the weighted average of all remaining transaction prices at 
that strike between 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. ET, with weights equal to 
the fraction of total non-spread volume transacted at each price during 
this period. The source of the transaction prices used in the 
calculation of the VWAP is CBOE's Market Data Retrieval (``MDR'') 
System.\18\ If no transactions occur at the new put strike between 
11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. ET, the new put options are deemed sold at the 
last bid price reported before 12 p.m. ET.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ Time & Sales information from CBOE's MDR System is 
disseminated through the Options Price Reporting Authority (OPRA) 
and is publicly available through most price quote vendors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of Puts Sold

    The PUT investor sells a different number of puts at every roll. 
The number of puts is chosen to ensure that the maximum final 
settlement loss can be financed by Treasury bills. Therefore, if the 
S&P 500 falls to zero, the value of the PUT portfolio is zero. The 
number of puts sold increases with Treasury bill rates and the price of 
the put and will decrease with the strike price.

Index Calculation

    CBOE calculates the PUT once per day at the close of trading. On 
any given date, the index represents the value of the initial $100 
invested in the CBOE S&P 500 PUT strategy.
    At the close of every business date, the value of the PUT is equal 
to the value of the Treasury bill account less the mark-to-market value 
of the puts:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06DE07.001

where Mt is the Treasury bill balance at the close of 
date t, Nlast is the number of put options sold at the 
last roll date, and Pt is the arithmetic average of the 
last bid and ask prices of the put option reported before 4 p.m. ET 
on date t.

    On all but roll dates, the Treasury bill balance is obtained by 
compounding the one and three-month Treasury balances at the previous 
business close at their respective daily rates.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06DE07.002

where i = 1 and 3 for one and three-month Treasury bills, and 
rit-1 is the corresponding Treasury bill rate 
from the previous to the current close. The Treasury bill rates 
between two roll dates are obtained by compounding the daily rates.

    On every third roll date, the Treasury bills are deemed to mature, 
the cash is used to pay for final settlement of the puts if they expire 
in-the-money, and new puts are sold. The net cash balance available for 
reinvestment is:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06DE07.003

where Kold is the strike price of the put options sold at 
the previous roll date, SOQt is the final settlement 
price on roll date t, Nnew is the number of new puts sold 
and Pvwap is the volume-weighted average price at which 
the new options are sold. This balance is reinvested at the three-
month Treasury bill rate. Therefore, in the month following a third 
roll date, the one-month Treasury balance is zero.

    The number of new puts sold on any roll date t is set such that the 
Treasury balance at the next roll date covers the maximum put 
settlement loss:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN06DE07.004

where Knew is the strike price at which the new puts are 
sold, and Rt is the three-month Treasury bill rate to the 
next roll date.

[[Page 68917]]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Treasury balance
                                                               ---------------------- Number of    Strike      SOQ      Settlement   Put bid
                                                                 1 Month    3 Months     puts      price                   loss
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11/20/03.............................  .......................    22.0826   647.6421     0.6440       1040  .........  ...........  .........  .........
11/21/03.............................  Pre-settlement.........    22.0832   647.6589  .........  .........       1038       1.1978  .........  .........
                                       Post-Settlement........    20.8854   647.6589     0.6612       1030  .........  ...........       18.2    1.00071
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    November 21, 2003 was a third roll date. Daily compounding of the 
one-month and three-months Treasury balances outstanding at the close 
of November 20, 2003 (daily compounding rates 1.000024 and 1.00003, 
respectively) yielded one- and three-month settlement balances of 
$22.08 and $647.66. Since the SOQ was 1038, the 1040 put expired in the 
money with a settlement loss of $1.1978 = .644* (1040-1038). The number 
of new puts sold was N = M / [K/(1+R)-P] = 668.5442/(1030/1.000717-
18.2) = .6612. Equivalently, N*K = (M+N*P)*(1+R) = .6612*1030.
    Assuming that the S&P 500 had decreased to 0 at the next roll date 
(December 19, 2003), the settlement loss on the puts would have been 
N*K= .6612 * 1030. By construction, this would have been exactly 
covered by the Treasury investment. The calculation on other roll dates 
is similar to that on third roll dates but the cash from sale of the 
puts is invested at the one-month Treasury bill rate.
    The daily closing price of the PUT Index is calculated and 
disseminated by the CBOE on its Web site at http://www.cboe.com and via 

the Options Pricing and Reporting Authority (``OPRA'') at the end of 
each trading day.\19\ The value of the S&P 500 Index is disseminated at 
least once every fifteen (15) seconds throughout the scheduled trading 
day. The Exchange believes that the dissemination of the S&P 500 along 
with the ability of investors to obtain S&P 500 put option pricing 
provides sufficient transparency regarding the PUT Index. In addition, 
as indicated above, the value of the PUT Index is calculated once every 
scheduled trading day, thereby, providing investors with a daily value 
of such ``hypothetical'' put selling options strategy on the S&P 500.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ The Commission, in connection with BXM and BXD Index Notes, 
approved the listing and trading of these products where the 
dissemination of the value of the underlying index occurred once per 
trading day. See supra note 11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The CBOE has represented that the PUT Index value will be 
calculated and disseminated by the CBOE once every scheduled trading 
day after the close. The daily change in the PUT Index reflects the 
daily changes in the Treasury bill account and related put options 
positions. Eksportfinans represents that it will seek to arrange to 
have the PUT Index calculated and disseminated on a daily basis through 
a third party if the CBOE ceases to calculate and disseminate the 
Index.\20\ If, however, Eksportfinans is unable to arrange the 
calculation and dissemination of the PUT Index as indicated above, the 
Exchange will undertake to delist the Notes.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ The Exchange represents, that it will file a proposed rule 
change pursuant to Rule 19b-4, seeking approval to continue trading 
the Notes based on a successor or substitute index, and unless 
approved, the Exchange will commence delisting of the Notes. 
Telephone conversation between Jeffrey P. Burns, Vice President and 
Associate General Counsel, Amex and Ronesha Butler, Special Counsel, 
Division, Commission, on October 31, 2007.
    \21\ See supra note 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In order to provide an updated value of the daily Redemption Amount 
for use by investors, the Exchange will disseminate over the 
Consolidated Tape Association's Network B, a daily indicative 
Redemption Amount (the ``Indicative Value''). The Indicative Value will 
be calculated by the Exchange after the close of trading and after the 
CBOE calculates the PUT Index for use by investors the next scheduled 
trading day. Indicative Value is not adjusted on an intra-day 
basis.\22\ It is designed to provide investors with a daily reference 
value of the Index. The Indicative Value may not reflect the precise 
value of the current Redemption Amount or amount payable upon exchange 
or maturity. Therefore, the Indicative Value disseminated by the 
Exchange during trading hours should not be viewed as a real time 
update of the PUT Index, which is calculated only once a day. While the 
Indicative Value that will be disseminated by the Amex is expected to 
be close to the current PUT Index value, the values of the Indicative 
Value and the PUT Index will diverge due to the application of the 
Index Fee.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ The Telephone conversation between Jeffrey P. Burns, Vice 
President and Associate General Counsel, Amex and Ronesha Butler, 
Special Counsel, Division, Commission, on October 31, 2007.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because the PUT Index is not calculated and disseminated every 15 
seconds, the Exchange seeks a limited exception from the generic 
continued listing requirement set forth in Section 107D(h) of the 
Company Guide. In current Commentary .01 to Section 107, the Exchange 
provides that although the BXM and BXD Indexes do not satisfy the 
requirements of Section 107D(h), these Indexes nevertheless may be 
listed and traded pursuant to the generic standards set forth in 
Section 107D. The Exchange believes that the dissemination requirement 
found in Section 107D(h) of the Company Guide is not necessary for the 
PUT Index because the dissemination of the S&P 500 along with the 
ability of investors to obtain put option pricing information provides 
sufficient transparency regarding the Index. Accordingly, the Exchange 
requests that the Commission approve the proposed revision to 
Commentary .01 to Section 107D.
    The Exchange represents that it prohibits the initial and/or 
continued listing of any security that is not in compliance with Rule 
10A-3 under the Act.\23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ 17 CFR 240.10A-3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because the Notes are issued in $20 denominations, the Amex's 
existing equity floor trading rules will apply to the trading of the 
Notes. First, pursuant to Amex Rule 411, the Exchange will impose a 
duty of due diligence on its members and member firms to learn the 
essential facts relating to every customer prior to trading the 
Notes.\24\ Second, the Notes will be subject to the equity margin rules 
of the Exchange.\25\ Third, the Exchange will, prior to trading the 
Notes, distribute a circular to the membership providing guidance with 
regard to member firm compliance responsibilities (including 
suitability recommendations) when handling transactions in the Notes 
and highlighting the special risks and characteristics of the Notes. 
With respect to suitability recommendations and risks, the Exchange 
will require members, member organizations and employees thereof 
recommending a transaction in the Notes: (1) To determine that such 
transaction is suitable for the customer; and (2) to

[[Page 68918]]

have a reasonable basis for believing that the customer can evaluate 
the special characteristics of, and is able to bear the financial risks 
of such transaction. In addition, Eksportfinans will deliver a 
prospectus in connection with the initial sales of the Notes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ Amex Rule 411 requires that every member, member firm or 
member corporation use due diligence to learn the essential facts, 
relative to every customer and to every order or account accepted.
    \25\ See Amex Rule 462 and Section 107D(k) of the Company Guide.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange represents that its surveillance procedures are 
adequate to properly monitor the trading of the Notes. Specifically, 
the Amex will rely on its existing surveillance procedures governing 
equities and options. In addition, the Exchange also has a general 
policy which prohibits the distribution of material, non-public 
information by its employees.
2. Statutory Basis
    The proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the 
Act,\26\ in general, and furthers the objective of Section 6(b)(5) of 
the Act,\27\ in particular, in that it is designed to prevent 
fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and 
equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination 
with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, and to 
remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market and a national market system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ 15 U.S.C.78f(b).
    \27\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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

    Within 35 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 such proposed rule change or
    (B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.
    The Amex has requested accelerated approval of this proposed rule 
change prior to the 30th day after the date of publication of the 
notice of the filing thereof. The Commission has determined that a 15-
day comment period is appropriate in this case.

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-Amex-2007-94 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-2007-94. 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 at (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 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 available publicly.
    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Amex-2007-94 and 
should be submitted on or before December 21, 2007.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\28\
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-23640 Filed 12-5-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P