Why are there some larger companies that have no options up for trading? Is there a way to start trading options on a stock that has no options up for trade?
Email the CBOE and request that they list them. I think they are happy to accomodate if there is any interest. There are a few conditions that need to be met before they list options. There needs to be a certain amount of liquidity, (X shares traded annually), and insiders can't hold more than (X% of the float). There may be other rules, but those are the two big ones.
I don't think THI (Tim Horton's) meets those conditions and options are already available. IPO 2 weeks ago. Wendies owns 85% of shares. But then maybe being spun off from Wendies might not apply in this situation.
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.
Approved October 19, 1993 (93-08). .05 (a) In determining whether an equity security (the "Restructure Security") issued or anticipated to be issued in a spin-off, reorganization, recapitalization, restructuring or similar corporate transaction (a "Restructuring Transaction") satisfies the guidelines set forth in paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of Interpretation and Policy .01 above, the Exchange may rely on the trading volume and market price history of the related equity security in respect of which the Restructure Security was or is to be issued (the "Original Security") determined prior to the ex-date for the Restructuring Transaction, but only if (i) both the trading volume and the market price history of the Original Security are used for this purpose for any trading days when either is so used, (ii) once the Exchange commences to rely on the trading volume and market price history of the Restructure Security for any trading day, the Exchange may not rely on the trading volume and market price history of the Original Security for any trading day thereafter, and (iii) at least one of the following conditions is met: (1) At least one of (A) the aggregate market value of the Restructure Security, (B) the aggregate book value of the assets attributed to the business represented by the Restructure Security, or (C) the revenues attributed to the business represented by the Restructure Security is no less than the Relevant Percentage of the same measure determined with respect to the Original Security or the business represented by the Original Security, as applicable, calculated in a comparable manner, provided that in the case of the qualification of a Restructure Security under clause (B), the aggregate book value of the assets attributed to the business represented by the Restructure Security is not less than $50 million, and in the case of the qualification of a Restructure Security under clause (C), the revenues attributed to the business represented by the Restructure Security are not less than $50 million. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Relevant Percentage is 25% when the applicable measure determined with respect to the Original Security or the business it represents reflects the inclusion of the business represented by the Restructure Security, and the Relevant Percentage is 33 1/3% when the applicable measure determined with respect to the Original Security or the business it represents reflects the exclusion of the business represented by the Restructure Security. (2) The aggregate market value represented by the Restructure Security is at least five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000). For purposes of the foregoing, (i) the aggregate market value represented by the Restructure Security may be determined from "when issued" prices, if available; (ii) comparative aggregate market value calculations shall be based upon share prices that are either all closing prices in the primary market on the last business day preceding the selection date of the Restructure Security as an underlying security, or are all opening prices in the primary market on the selection date of the Restructure Security as an underlying security; and (iii) comparative asset values and revenues shall be derived from the later of the most recent annual or most recently available comparable interim (not less than three months) financial statements of each of the respective issuers, which may be audited or unaudited, and pro forma. (b) Option contracts may not initially be listed for trading in respect of a Restructure Security until such time as shares of the Restructure Security are issued and outstanding and are the subject of trading that is not on a "when issued" basis or in any other way contingent on the issuance or distribution of the shares. (c) In certifying a Restructure Security for options trading, the Exchange may determine that the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of Interpretation and Policy .01 above are satisfied based on the facts and circumstances that will exist on the intended date for listing the option rather than at the time the Restructure Security is so selected. In the case of a transaction within the scope of this Interpretation and Policy .05 in which shares of a Restructure Security are issued or distributed to the holders of shares of an Original Security, this determination may either be based on the public ownership and number of shareholders of the Original Security, or the Exchange may assume that one or both of these requirements will be satisfied if either of the following conditions is met on the date the Restructure Security is selected for options trading: (i) the Restructure Security will be listed on an exchange or automatic quotation system subject to initial listing requirements in respect of public ownership of shares or number of shareholders or both that are no less stringent than the requirements assumed to be satisfied, or (ii) at least 40,000,000 shares of the Restructure Security will be issued and outstanding on the intended date for listing the option, unless in the case of (i) or (ii) above the Exchange, after reasonable investigation, has determined that such requirements will in fact not be satisfied on that date. Any determination by the Exchange that such requirements will be satisfied based on an assumption made pursuant to this paragraph is subject to the right of any objecting exchange to demonstrate that such requirements will in fact not be satisfied. (d) In the case of a Restructuring Transaction that satisfies either or both of the conditions of subparagraphs (a)(1) or (a)(2) above in which shares of a Restructure Security are sold in a public offering or pursuant to a rights distribution: (i) the Exchange may assume the satisfaction of one or both of the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of Interpretation and Policy .01 above on the date the Restructure Security is selected for options trading only if (A) the applicable conditions set forth in clause (i) of paragraph (c) above are met with respect to whichever of these requirements is assumed to be satisfied, or (B) the condition set forth in clause (ii) of paragraph (c) above is met, in either case subject to the limitations stated in said paragraph (c); (ii) the Exchange may certify that the market price of the Restructure Security satisfies the requirement of paragraph (b)(2) of Interpretation and Policy .01 above by relying on the market price history of the Original Security prior to the ex-date for the Restructuring Transaction in the manner described in paragraph (a) above, but only if the Restructure Security has traded "regular way" on an exchange or automatic quotation system for at least five trading days immediately preceding the date of selection, and at the close of trading on each trading day preceding the date of selection, as well as at the opening of trading on the date of selection the market price of the Restructure Security was at least $7.50, or, if the Restructure Security is a Covered Security, as defined in paragraph (b)(2) of Interpretation and Policy .01 above, the market price of the Restructure Security was at least $3.00. (iii) the Exchange may certify that the trading volume of the Restructure Security satisfies the requirement of paragraph (b)(1) of Interpretation and Policy .01 above only if the trading volume in the Restructure Security has been at least 2,400,000 shares during a period of twelve months or less ending on the date the Restructure Security is selected for options trading.
Approved July 24, 1995 (95-11); amended March 22, 1996 (95-58). .06 Securities deemed appropriate for options trading shall include shares or other securities ("Units") that represent interests in registered investment companies (or series thereof) organized as open-end management investment companies, unit investment trusts or similar entities that are principally traded on a national securities exchange or through the facilities of a national securities association and reported as "national market" securities, and that hold portfolios of securities comprising or otherwise based on or representing investments in indexes or portfolios of securities (or that hold securities in one or more other registered investment companies that themselves hold such portfolios of securities); provided that all of the following conditions are met: (A) any non-U.S. component securities of the index or portfolio on which the Units are based that are not subject to comprehensive surveillance agreements do not in the aggregate represent more than 50% of the weight of the index or portfolio; (B) securities for which the primary market is in any one country that is not subject to a comprehensive surveillance agreement do not represent 20% or more of the weight of the index; (C) securities for which the primary market is in any two countries that are not subject to comprehensive surveillance agreements do not represent 33% or more of the weight of the index; and (D) either (x) the Units meet the criteria and guidelines set forth in Rule 5.3 and Interpretation and Policy .01 thereunder, or (y) the Units are available for creation or redemption each business day from or through the investment company in cash or in kind at a price related to net asset value, and the investment company is obligated to issue Units in a specified aggregate number even if some or all of the securities required to be deposited have not been received by the investment company, subject to the condition that the person obligated to deposit the securities has undertaken to deliver the securities as soon as possible and such undertaking is secured by the delivery and maintenance of collateral consisting of case or cash equivalents satisfactory to the investment company, all as described in the investment company prospectus. Approved July 2, 1998 (97-03). Amended August 3, 2000 (00-31); August 29, 2002 (02-47). .07 Securities deemed appropriate for options trading shall include shares or other securities ("Trust Issued Receipts") that are principally traded on a national securities exchange or through the facilities of a national securities association and reported as a national market security, and that represent ownership of the specific deposited securities held by a trust, provided: (a) (i) the Trust Issued Receipts meet the criteria and guidelines for underlying securities set forth in Interpretation and Policy .01 to this Rule 5.3; or (ii) the Trust Issued Receipts must be available for issuance or cancellation each business day from the Trust in exchange for the underlying deposited securities; and (b) not more than 20% of the weight of the Trust Issued Receipt is represented by ADRs on securities for which the primary market is not subject to a comprehensive surveillance agreement. Approved July 17, 2000 (00-25). .08 A member may submit to the Secretary of the Exchange a written request that the Exchange list a particular option class whether or not the option class is traded on any other exchange or market. The request shall specify the reasons why the member believes the Exchange should list the option class. The Exchange shall make every reasonable effort to consider and make a decision regarding the request and in any event shall consider and make a decision regarding the request within 35 days of its receipt. If the Exchange denies the request or approves the request subject to conditions or limitations, the Exchange shall provide the member that submitted the request with a written response setting forth the rationale for its decision within 10 days of making the decision. If, in denying a request or approving a request subject to conditions or limitations, the Exchange relies upon a factor of other bona fide business considerations, the Exchange shall, in addition to providing the member with a written response specifying that the Exchange has relied upon other bona fide business considerations, maintain a record of the bona fide business considerations supporting its decision. In the event the Exchange determines to list an option class requested to be listed pursuant to this paragraph, the allocation of the option class shall be governed by Rule 8.95. Approved June 27, 2001 (01-10). Amended March 21, 2006 (06-15). .09 In deciding whether or not to list an option class, or to place any conditions or limitations on such listing, the Exchange will consider one or more of the following factors: (i) whether the proposed option class satisfies applicable listing criteria; (ii) processing capacity; (iii) cost to the Exchange of listing the option class; (iv) legal or regulatory impediments to listing the option class; (v) the anticipated level of Exchange contract volume and market share in the option class; (vi) member and customer interest in trading the option class; (vii) operational factors; and (viii) other bona fide business considerations. These criteria shall apply to all option classes considered by the Exchange for listing, whether based on a member request or otherwise. Approved June 27, 2001 (01-10); Amended January 22, 2003 (02-62).