Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Extend Pilot Programs Relating to FLEX Exercise Settlement Values and Minimum Value Sizes

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”), and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on March 14, 2011, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (“Exchange” or “CBOE”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange has designated the proposal as a “non-controversial” proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder. 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 is proposing to extend the operation of its pilot programs regarding permissible exercise settlement values and the elimination of minimum value sizes for Flexible Exchange Options (“FLEX Options”), which pilot programs are currently set to expire on March 28, 2011, through March 30, 2012. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site ( http://www.cboe.org/Legal ), at the Exchange'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, 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 those 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 January 28, 2010, the Exchange received approval of a rule change that established two pilot programs regarding permissible exercise settlement values and the elimination of minimum value sizes for FLEX Options. The pilot programs are currently set to expire on March 28, 2011, unless otherwise extended or made permanent. The purpose of this rule change filing is to extend the two pilot programs through March 30, 2012. This filing does not propose any substantive changes to the pilot programs and contemplates that all other terms of FLEX Options will remain the same.

Background on the Pilots

Exercise Settlement Values Pilot for FLEX Index Options

Under Rules 24A.4, Terms of FLEX Options, and 24B.4, Terms of FLEX Options, FLEX Options may expire on any business day specified as to day, month and year, not to exceed a maximum term of fifteen years. In addition, the exercise settlement value for FLEX Index Options can be specified as the index value determined by reference to the reported level of the index as derived from the opening or closing prices of the component securities (“a.m. settlement” or “p.m. settlement,” respectively) or as a specified average, provided that the average index value must conform to the averaging parameters established by the Exchange. However, prior to the initiation of the exercise settlement values pilot, only a.m. settlements were permitted if a FLEX Index Option expires on, or within two business days of, a third-Friday-of-the-month expiration (“Expiration Friday”).

Under the exercise settlement values pilot, this restriction on p.m. and specified average price settlements in FLEX Index Options was eliminated. The exercise settlement values pilot is operating for a period of fourteen months and is currently set to expire on March 28, 2011.

Minimum Value Size Pilot for All FLEX Options

Prior to the initiation of the pilot eliminating the minimum value size requirements, the minimum value size requirements under Rules 24A.4 and 24B.4 were as follows:

• For opening transactions in any FLEX series in which there is no open interest at the time a FLEX RFQ or FLEX Order, as applicable, is submitted, the minimum value size was (i) for FLEX Equity Options, the lesser of 250 contracts or the number of contracts overlying $1 million in the underlying securities; and (ii) for FLEX Index Options, $10 million Underlying Equivalent Value. Under a prior pilot program (which was superseded by the minimum value size pilot program), the “250 contracts” component above had been reduced to “150 contracts.”

• For a transaction in any currently-opened FLEX series resulting from an RFQ or from trading against the electronic book (other than FLEX Quotes responsive to a FLEX Request for Quotes and FLEX Orders submitted to rest in the electronic book), the minimum value size was (i) for FLEX Equity Options, the lesser of 100 contracts or the number of contracts overlying $1 million in the underlying securities in the case of opening transactions, and 25 contracts in the case of closing transactions; and (ii) for FLEX Index Options, $1 million Underlying Equivalent Value in the case of both opening and closing transactions; or (iii) in either case the remaining underlying size or Underlying Equivalent Value on a closing transaction, whichever is less.
• The minimum value size for FLEX Quotes responsive to an RFQ and FLEX Orders (undecremented size) submitted to rest in the electronic book was 25 contracts in the case of FLEX Equity Options, and $1 million Underlying Equivalent Value in the case of FLEX Index Options, or in either case the remaining underlying size or Underlying Equivalent Value on a closing transaction, whichever is less. In addition, with respect to FLEX Index Appointed Market-Makers, FLEX Quotes and FLEX Orders (undecremented size) must have been for at least $10 million Underlying Equivalent Value or the dollar amount indicated in the Request for Quote (if applicable), whichever is less.

Under the minimum value size pilot, these minimum value size requirements were eliminated. Like the exercise settlement values pilot mentioned above, the minimum value size pilot is operating for a period of fourteen months and is currently set to expire on March 28, 2011.

Proposal

CBOE is proposing to extend the two pilot programs through March 30, 2012. CBOE believes the pilot programs have been successful and well received by its membership and the investing public for the period that they have been in operation as pilots.

In support of the proposed extension of the pilot programs, and as required by the pilot programs' Approval Order, the Exchange has submitted to the Commission pilot program reports regarding the two pilots, which detail the Exchange's experience with the two programs. Specifically, for the expiration settlement values pilot, the Exchange provided the Commission an annual report analyzing volume and open interest for each broad-based FLEX Index Options class overlying an Expiration Friday, p.m.-settled FLEX Index Options series. The annual report also contained information and analysis of FLEX Options trading patterns. The Exchange also provided the Commission, on a periodic basis, interim reports of volume and open interest. For the minimum value size pilot, the Exchange provided the Commission an annual report containing data and analysis of open interest and trading volume, and analysis of the types of investors that initiated opening FLEX Equity and Index Options transactions (i.e., institutional, high net worth, or retail). The reports were provided to the Commission on a confidential basis.

The Exchange believes there is sufficient investor interest and demand in the pilot programs to warrant their extensions. The Exchange believes that the programs have provided investors with additional means of managing their risk exposures and carrying out their investment objectives. Furthermore, the Exchange has not experienced any adverse market effects with respect to the pilot programs.

If, in the future, the Exchange proposes an additional extension of the pilot programs, or should the Exchange propose to make the pilot programs permanent (which the Exchange currently intends to do), the Exchange will submit, along with any filing proposing such amendments to the pilot programs, additional pilot program reports covering the extended period during which the pilot programs was in effect and including the details referenced above and consistent with the pilot programs' Approval Order. In addition, with respect to the minimum value size pilot report in particular, the Exchange will include information on the underlying equivalent values. These pilot program reports would be submitted to the Commission at least two months prior to the new expiration date of the pilot programs. The Exchange will also continue, on a periodic basis, to submit interim reports of volume and open interest consistent with the terms of the exercise settlement values pilot program as described in the pilot programs' Approval Order. All such pilot reports would continue to be provided on a confidential basis. As noted in the pilot programs' Approval Order, any positions established under the respective pilot programs would not be impacted by the expiration of the pilot programs.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act, in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act, 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 engaging 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. Specifically, the Exchange believes that the proposed extension of the pilot programs, which permit additional exercise settlement values and eliminate minimum value size requirements, would provide greater opportunities for investors to manage risk through the use of FLEX Options. Further, the Exchange notes that it has not experienced any adverse effects from the operation of the pilot programs.

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

CBOE 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 neither solicited nor received comments on the proposal.

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

The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder. Because the proposed rule change does not (i) significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay to permit the current pilot to continue uninterrupted. In support of this, CBOE notes, among other things, that it is only proposing to extend the existing pilots and is not proposing any substantive changes to the pilot programs.

The Commission finds that waiver of the operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Commission notes in waiving the 30-day operative delay that CBOE's original pilot was published for comment in the Federal Register and the Commission only received comments in support of the pilots. Further, CBOE is proposing to extend the existing pilots on the same terms and conditions as they were originally approved by the Commission. This includes, as described in more detail above, a representation that CBOE will continue to monitor the pilots and submit certain interim reports during the extended pilot period, as well as a final report covering the pilot period should the Exchange decide to extend or file for permanent approval of the pilots. Finally, the Commission notes that the Exchange has represented that it has not experienced any adverse market effects with respect to the pilot programs. Based on the above, the Commission finds that it is consistent with investor protection and the public interest to waive the 30-day operative delay in accordance with Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) so that the pilots can continue on an uninterrupted bases, and therefore designates the proposal operative upon filing.

At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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 e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-CBOE-2011-024 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-CBOE-2011-024. 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 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 available publicly. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-CBOE-2011-024 and should be submitted on or before April 19, 2011.