Rule 5.3. Criteria for Underlying Securities
(a) Underlying securities in respect of which put or call option contracts are approved for listing and trading on the Exchange must meet the following criteria:
(1) the security must be duly registered and be an "NMS stock" as defined in Rule 600 of Regulation NMS of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) the security shall be characterized by a substantial number of outstanding shares which are widely held and actively traded.
(b) In addition, the Board of Directors shall from time to time establish guidelines to be considered by the Exchange in evaluating potential underlying securities for Exchange option transactions. There are, however, many relevant factors which must be considered in arriving at such a determination. The fact that a particular security may meet the guidelines established by the Board does not necessarily mean that it will be approved as an underlying security. Further, in exceptional circumstances an underlying security may be approved by the Exchange even though it does not meet all of the guidelines. The Exchange may also give consideration to maintaining diversity among various industries and issuers in selecting underlying securities.
Amended January 3, 1975; December 9, 1976 (76-18); November 24, 1981; May 31, 1985; February 5, 1986 (86-03); August 29, 1991, effective October 21, 1991 (86-15); November 16, 2005 (04-37).
. . . Interpretations and Policies:
.01 The Board of Directors has established guidelines to be considered by the Exchange in evaluating potential underlying securities for Exchange option transactions. Absent exceptional circumstances with respect to Paragraphs (a)(1) or (2), or (b)(1) or (2) listed below, at the time the Exchange selects an underlying security for Exchange option transactions, the following guidelines with respect to the issuer shall be met.
(a) Guidelines applicable to the issuer of the security are:
(1) There are a minimum of 7,000,000 shares of the underlying security which are owned by persons other than those required to report their stock holdings under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
(2) There are a minimum of 2,000 holders of the underlying security.
(3) The issuer is in compliance with any applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
(b) Guidelines applicable to the market for the security are:
(1) Trading volume (in all markets in which the underlying security is traded) has been at least 2,400,000 shares in the preceding twelve months.
(2)
(A) If the underlying security is a "covered security" as defined under Section 18(b)(1)(A) of the Securities Act of 1933, the market price per share of the underlying security has been at least $3.00 for the previous five consecutive business days preceding the date on which the Exchange submits a certificate to the Options Clearing Corporation for listing and trading. For purposes of this Interpretation .01(b)(2)(A), the market price of such underlying security is measured by the closing price reported in the primary market in which the underlying security is traded.
(B) If the underlying security is not a "covered security", the market price per share of the underlying security has been at least $7.50 for the majority of business days during the three calendar months preceding the date of selection, as measured by the lowest closing price reported in any market in which the underlying security traded on each of the subject days.
Issued December 1, 1975; amended December 9, 1976 (76-18); November 24, 1981; February 5, 1986 (86-03); August 29, 1991, effective October 21, 1991 (86-15).
.02 In considering underlying securities, the Exchange shall ordinarily rely on information made publicly available by the issuer and/or the markets in which the security is traded.
Issued June 20, 1985; amended August 29, 1991, effective October 21, 1991 (86-15).
.03 The word "security" shall be broadly interpreted to mean any equity security, as defined in Rule 3a11-1, promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which is appropriate for option trading. The word "shares" shall mean the unit of trading of such security. Securities deemed appropriate for options trading shall include non-convertible preferred stock issues and American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") if they meet the criteria and guidelines set forth in Rule 5.3 and the Interpretations thereunder and if, in the case of ADRs: (i) the Exchange has in place an effective surveillance agreement with the primary exchange in the home country where the security underlying the ADR is traded; (ii) the combined trading volume of the ADR and other related ADRs and securities (as defined below) occurring in the U.S. ADR market or in markets with which the Exchange has in place an effective surveillance sharing agreement represents (on a share equivalent basis) at least 50% of the combined worldwide trading volume in the ADR, the security underlying the ADR, other classes of common stock related to the underlying security, and ADRs overlying such other stock (together, "other related ADRs and securities") over the three month period preceding the date of selection of the ADR for options trading; (iii) (a) the combined trading volume of the ADR and other related ADRs and securities occurring in the U.S. ADR market and in markets where the Exchange has in place an effective surveillance agreement, represents (on a share equivalent basis) at least 20% of the combined worldwide trading volume in the ADR and in other related ADRs and securities over the three month period preceding the date of selection of the ADR for options trading, (b) the average daily trading volume for the security in the U.S. markets over the three months preceding the selection of the ADR for options trading is 100,000 or more shares, and (c) the trading volume is at least 60,000 shares per day in U.S. markets on a majority of the trading days for the three months preceding the date of selection of the ADR for options trading ("Daily Trading Volume Standard") or (iv) the Securities and Exchange Commission otherwise authorizes the listing.
Approved August 29, 1991, effective October 21, 1991 (86-15); November 27, 1992 (91-34), effective December 1, 1992; amended January 31, 1994 (93-38); May 13, 1994 (91-34); October 30, 1995 (95-32).
.04 Securities deemed appropriate for options trading shall include shares issued by registered closed-end management investment companies that invest in the securities of issuers based in one or more foreign countries ("International Funds") if they meet the criteria and guidelines set forth in Rule 5.3 and the Interpretations thereunder and either: (i) the Exchange has a market information sharing agreement with the primary home exchange for each of the securities held by the fund, or (ii) the International Fund is classified as a diversified fund as that term is defined by section 5(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the securities held by the fund are issued by issuers based in five or more countries. A "market information sharing agreement" for purposes of this Rule is an agreement that would permit the Exchange to obtain trading information relating to the securities held by the fund including the identity of the member of the foreign exchange executing a trade. International Fund shares not meeting criteria (i) or (ii) shall be deemed appropriate for options trading if the Commission specifically authorizes the listing.