Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade Options That Overlie a Reduced Value of the FTSE China 50 Index

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 October 30, 2015, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (the “Exchange” or “CBOE”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “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 is proposing to amend its rules to list and trade options that overlie a reduced value of the FTSE China 50 Index.

The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site ( http://www.cboe.com/AboutCBOE/CBOELegalRegulatoryHome.aspx ), 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 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 Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

The purpose of this proposed rule change is to permit the Exchange to list and trade options that overlie a reduced value of the FTSE China 50 Index (“China 50 options”). China 50 options would be A.M., cash-settled contracts with European-style exercise.

FTSE China 50 Index Design, Methodology and Dissemination

The FTSE China 50 Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the performance of 50 of the largest and most liquid Chinese stocks (H Shares, Red Chips and P Chips ) listed and trading on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK).

The FTSE China 50 Index was launched on April 19, 2001 and is calculated by FTSE International Limited (“FTSE”), which is a provider of investment support tools. The FTSE China 50 Index is calculated and published on a real-time basis in Hong Kong dollars during Hong Kong trading hours. The methodology used to calculate the FTSE China 50 Index is similar to the methodology used to calculate the value of other benchmark market-capitalization weighted indexes. Specifically, the FTSE China 50 Index is governed by the FTSE Ground Rules for the FTSE China 50 Index. The level of the FTSE China 50 Index reflects the free float-adjusted market value of the component stocks relative to a particular base date and is computed by dividing the total market value of the companies in the FTSE China 50 Index by the index divisor.

The FTSE China 50 Index is monitored and maintained by FTSE. Adjustments to the FTSE China 50 Index could be made on a daily basis with respect to corporate events and dividends. FTSE reviews the FTSE China 50 Index quarterly (March, June, September and December) according to rules for inserting and deleting companies that “are designed to provide stability in the selection of constituents of the FTSE China 50 Index while ensuring that the [FTSE China 50] Index continues to be representative of the market by including or excluding those companies which have risen or fallen significantly.”

Real-time data is distributed at least every 15 seconds while the index is being calculated using FTSE's real-time calculation engine to Bloomberg L.P. (“Bloomberg”), Thomson Reuters (“Reuters”) and other major vendors. End of day data is distributed daily to clients through FTSE as well as through major quotation vendors, including Bloomberg and Reuters.

The Exchange proposes to base trading in options on a fraction of the full size FTSE China 50 Index. In particular, the Exchange proposes to list FTSE China 50 options that are based on one one-hundredth of the value of the FTSE China 50 Index. The Exchange believes that listing options on the reduced value of the index will attract a greater source of customer business than if options were based on the full value of the FTSE China 50 Index. The Exchange further believes that listing options on a reduced value of the FTSE China 50 Index will provide an opportunity for investors to hedge, or speculate on, the market risk associated with the stocks comprising the FTSE China 50 Index. Additionally, by reducing the value of the FTSE China 50 Index, investors will be able to use this trading vehicle while extending a smaller outlay of capital. The Exchange believes this should attract additional investors, and, in turn, create a more active and liquid trading environment.

Initial and Maintenance Listing Criteria

The FTSE China 50 Index meets the definition of a broad-based index as set forth in Rule 24.1(i)(1). In addition, the Exchange proposes to create specific initial and maintenance listing criteria for options on the reduced value of the FTSE China 50 Index. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to add new Interpretation and Policy .02(a) to Rule 24.2, Designation of the Index, to provide that the Exchange may trade China 50 options if each of the following conditions is satisfied: (1) The index is broad-based, as defined in Rule 24.1(i)(1); (2) Options on the index are designated as A.M.-settled index options; (3) The index is capitalization-weighted, price-weighted, modified capitalization-weighted or equal dollar-weighted; (4) The index consists of 45 or more component securities; (5) Each of the component securities of the index will have a market capitalization of greater than $100 million; (6) No single component security accounts for more than fifteen percent (15%) of the weight of the index, and the five highest weighted component securities in the index do not, in the aggregate, account for more than fifty percent (50%) of the weight of the index; (7) Non-U.S. component securities (stocks or ADRs) that are not subject to comprehensive surveillance agreements do not, in the aggregate, represent more than twenty percent (20%) of the weight of the Index; (8) The Exchange may continue to trade China 50 options after trading in all component securities has closed for the day and the index level is no longer widely disseminated at least once every fifteen (15) seconds by one or more major market data vendors, provided that China 50 futures contracts are trading and prices for those contracts may be used as a proxy for the current index value; (9) The Exchange reasonably believes it has adequate system capacity to support the trading of options on the index, based on a calculation of the Exchange's current Independent System Capacity Advisor (ISCA) allocation and the number of new messages per second expected to be generated by options on such index; and (10) The Exchange has written surveillance procedures in place with respect to surveillance of trading of options on the index.

Additionally, the Exchange proposes to add new Interpretation and Policy .02(b) to Rule 24.2, Designation of the Index, to set forth the following maintenance listing standards for China 50 Options: (1) The conditions set forth in subparagraphs .02(a) (1), (2), (3), (4), (7), (8), (9) and (10) must continue to be satisfied. The conditions set forth in subparagraphs .02(a)(5) and (6) must be satisfied only as of the first day of January and July in each year; and (2) The total number of component securities in the index may not increase or decrease by more than ten percent (10%) from the number of component securities in the index at the time of its initial listing. In the event a class of index options listed on the Exchange fails to satisfy the maintenance listing standards set forth herein, the Exchange shall not open for trading any additional series of options of that class unless the continued listing of that class of index options has been approved by the Commission under Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act.

The Exchange believes that A.M. settlement is appropriate for China 50 options due to the nature of the index that encompasses the Chinese market. The components of the FTSE China 50 Index open with the start of trading on the SEHK at approximately 8:30 p.m. (Chicago time) (prior day) and close with the end of trading on the SEHK at approximately 3:00 a.m. (Chicago time) (next day). The closing FTSE China 50 Index level is distributed by FTSE between approximately 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. (Chicago time) each trading day. Thus, between 8:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. (Chicago time) the FTSE China 50 Index level is a static value that market participants can access via data vendors.

As a result, there will not be a current FTSE China 50 Index level calculated and disseminated while China 50 options would be traded. However, the E-Mini FTSE China 50 Index future contracts based on the FTSE China 50 Index that trades on CME will be trading during this time period. The Exchange believes that the E-Mini FTSE China 50 Index futures prices would be a proxy for the current FTSE China 50 Index level. Therefore, the Exchange believes that China 50 options should be permitted to trade after trading in all component securities has closed for the day and the index level is no longer widely disseminated at least once every fifteen (15) seconds by one or more major market data vendors, provided that E-Mini FTSE China 50 Index future contracts are trading and prices for those contracts may be used as a proxy for the current index value.

Because the FTSE China 50 Index is comprised of 50 of the largest and most liquid Chinese stocks traded on the SEHK, the Exchange believes that the initial listing requirements are appropriate to trade options on this index. In addition, similar to other broad based indexes, the Exchange proposes various maintenance requirements, which require continual compliance and periodic compliance.

Options Trading

Exhibit 3 presents contract specifications for China 50 options.

The contract multiplier for China 50 options would be $100. China 50 options would be quoted in index points and one point would equal $100. The minimum tick size for series trading below $3 would be 0.05 ($5.00) and at or above $3 will be 0.10 ($10.00).

Initially, the Exchange would list in-, at- and out-of-the-money strike prices. Additional series may be opened for trading as the underlying index level moves up or down. The minimum strike price interval for China 50 options series would be 2.5 points if the strike price is less than 200. When the strike price is 200 or above, strike price intervals would be no less than 5 points. New series would be permitted to be added up to the fifth business day prior to expiration.

The Exchange would be permitted to list up to twelve near-term expiration months. The Exchange would also be permitted to list up to ten expirations in Long-Term Index Option Series (“LEAPS”) on the reduced value of the FTSE China 50 index and the index would be eligible for all other expirations permitted for other broad-based index options, e.g., End of Week/End of Month Expirations, Short Term Option Series and Quarterly Option Series.

The trading hours for China 50 options would be from 8:30 a.m. (Chicago time) to 3:15 p.m. (Chicago time).

Exercise and Settlement

The proposed China 50 options would expire on the third Friday of the expiring month. Trading in expiring China 50 options would cease at 3:15 p.m. (Chicago time) one business day prior (usually a Thursday) to the day on which the exercise-settlement value is calculated (usually a Friday). When the last trading day/expiration date is moved because of an Exchange holiday or closure, the last trading day/expiration date for expiring options would be the immediately preceding business day.

Exercise would result in delivery of cash on the business day following expiration. China 50 options would be A.M.-settled, in that the expiring contract would cease trading on the business day (usually a Thursday) before the expiration date (generally a Friday). The exercise settlement value would be one-hundredth (1/100th) of the official closing value of the FTSE China 50 Index as reported by FTSE on the last trading day of the expiring contract, which occurs between approximately 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. (Chicago time).

The exercise settlement amount would be equal to the difference between the exercise-settlement value and the exercise price of the option, multiplied by the contract multiplier ($100).

If the exercise settlement value is not available or the normal settlement procedure cannot be utilized due to a trading disruption or other unusual circumstance, the settlement value would be determined in accordance with the rules and bylaws of The Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”).

Position and Exercise Limits

The Exchange proposes to apply the default position limits for broad-based index options to China 50 options. Specifically, the chart set forth in Rule 24.4(a), Position Limits for Broad-Based Index Options, provides that the positions limits applicable to “other broad-based indexes” is 25,000 contracts (standard limit/on the same side of the market) and 15,000 contracts (near-term limit). Pursuant to Rule 24.5, Exercise Limits, the exercise limits for China 50 options would be equivalent to the position limits for China 50 options. All position limit hedge exemptions would apply.

Margin

The Exchange proposes that China 50 options be margined as “broad-based index” options, and under CBOE rules, especially, Rule 12.3(c)(5)(A), the margin requirement for a short put or call shall be 100% of the current market value of the contract plus 15% of the “product of the current index group value and the applicable index multiplier,” reduced by any out-of-the-money amount. There would be a minimum margin requirement of 100% of the current market value of the contract plus: 10% of the aggregate put exercise price amount in the case of puts, and 10% of the product of the current index group value and the applicable index multiplier in the case of calls. Additional margin may be required pursuant to Rules 12.3(h) and 12.10 (Margin Required is Minimum).

The Exchange believes that FTSE China 50 Index options are an eligible product for portfolio margining under CBOE Rule 12.4. Accordingly, the Exchange proposes that FTSE China 50 Index options be allowed in portfolio margin accounts. In the portfolio margining construct, a Class Group for the FTSE China 50 Index already exists and it is contained within the China Indexes Product Group. This Product Group is a non-high capitalization, broad-based index Product Group. In portfolio margin accounts, the assumed market moves currently utilized in the China Indexes Product Group (which would not be changing) are −10%/+10%, with a 100% offset of gains and losses between all products in the same Class Group. There is a 90% offset of gains and losses between Class Groups.

Exchange Rules Applicable

Except as modified herein, the rules in Chapters I through XIX, XXIV, XXIVA, and XXIVB would equally apply to China 50 options. China 50 options would be subject to the same rules that currently govern other CBOE index options, including sales practice rules, , margin requirements and trading rules.

The Exchange hereby designates China 50 options as eligible for trading as Flexible Exchange Options as provided for in Chapters XXIVA (Flexible Exchange Options) and XXIVB (FLEX Hybrid Trading System).

Surveillance and Capacity

The Exchange represents that it has an adequate surveillance program in place for China 50 options and intends to use the same surveillance procedures currently utilized for each of the Exchange's other index options to monitor trading in China 50 options.

The Exchange is a member of the Intermarket Surveillance Group (“ISG”), which “is comprised of an international group of exchanges, market centers, and market regulators.” The purpose of the ISG is to provide a framework for the sharing of information and the coordination of regulatory efforts among exchanges trading securities and related products to address potential intermarket manipulations and trading abuses. The ISG plays a crucial role in information sharing among markets that trade securities, options on securities, security futures products, and futures and options on broad-based security indexes. A list identifying the current ISG members is available at: https://www.isgportal.org/home.html.

The Exchange is also an affiliate member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (“IOSCO”), which has members from over 100 different countries. The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, the regulator of the market on which the constituent securities trade, is also a member of IOSCO. A list identifying the current ordinary IOSCO members is available at: http://www.iosco.org/about/?subsection=membership&memid=1. Finally, the Exchange has entered into various comprehensive surveillance agreements (“CSAs”) and/or Memoranda of Understanding with various stock exchanges, including the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Given the capitalization of the FTSE China 50 Index and the deep and liquid markets for the securities underlying the Index, the concerns for market manipulation and/or disruption in the underlying markets are greatly reduced.

The Exchange notes that FTSE China 50 ETFs, such as the iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI), are actively traded products. CBOE also lists options overlying those ETFs (FXI options) and those options are actively traded as well.

CBOE has analyzed its capacity and represents that it believes the Exchange and the Options Price Reporting Authority (“OPRA”) have the necessary systems capacity to handle the additional traffic associated with the listing of new series that would result from the introduction of China 50 options. Because the proposal is limited to one new class, the Exchange believes that the additional traffic that would be generated from the introduction of China 50 options would be manageable.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act. Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) requirements that the rules of an exchange be designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts, to remove impediments to and to perfect the mechanism for a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will further the Exchange's goal of introducing new and innovative products to the marketplace. Currently, the Exchange believes that there is unmet market demand for exchange-listed options listed on this popular cash index. As described above, the iShares China Large-Cap ETF is an actively traded product, as are the options on that ETF. E-Mini FTSE China 50 Index Futures are listed for trading on CME. As a result, CBOE believes that China 50 options are designed to provide different and additional opportunities for investors to hedge or speculate on the market risk on the FTSE China 50 Index by listing an option directly on the FTSE China 50 Index.

The Exchanges believes that the FTSE China 50 Index is not easily susceptible to manipulation. The index is a broad-based index and has high market capitalization. The FTSE China 50 Index is comprised of 50 of the largest and most liquid Chinese stocks traded on the SEHK and no single component comprises more than 15% of the index, making it not easily subject to market manipulation.

Additionally, the iShares China Large-Cap ETF is an actively traded product, as are options on that ETF. Because the index has 50 of the largest and most liquid Chinese stocks that trade on the SEHK and trade a large volume with respect to ETFs and options on those ETFs, the Exchange believes that the initial listing requirements are appropriate to trade options on the index. In addition, similar to other broad-based indexes, the Exchange proposes to adopt various maintenance criteria, which would require continual compliance and periodic compliance.

China 50 options would be subject to the same rules that currently govern other CBOE index options, including sales practice rules, margin requirements and trading rules. The Exchange would apply the same default position limits for broad-based index options to China 50 options. Specifically, the applicable position limits would be 25,000 contracts (standard limit/on the same side of the market) and 15,000 contracts (near-term limit). The exercise limit for China 50 options would be equivalent to the position limit for China 50 options. These same position and exercise limits would apply to FLEX trading. All position limit hedge exemptions would apply. The Exchange would apply existing index option margin requirements for the purchase and sale of China 50 options.

The Exchange represents that it has an adequate surveillance program in place for China 50 options. The Exchange also represents that it has the necessary systems capacity to support the new option series.

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 not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Specifically, CBOE believes that the introduction of new cash index options will enhance competition among market participants and will provide a new type of options to compete with domestic products such as FXI options, E-Mini FTSE China 50 Index Future and European-traded derivatives on the FTSE China 50 Index to the benefit of investors and the marketplace.

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 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the Exchange consents, the Commission will:

A. By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change, or

B. institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved.

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-CBOE-2015-099 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

• Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2015-099. 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 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the 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-CBOE-2015-099 and should be submitted on or before December 1, 2015.