Title:

How are executions allocated when an order receives a partial fill because an insufficient quantity is available to complete the allocation of shares/contracts to sub-accounts?

Overview:

From time-to-time, one may experience an allocation order which is partially executed and is canceled prior to being completed (i.e. market closes, contract expires, halts due to news, prices move in an unfavorable direction, etc.). In such cases, IB determines which customers (who were originally included in the order group and/or profile) will receive the executed shares/contracts. The methodology used by IB to impartially determine who receives the shares/contacts in the event of a partial fill is described in this article.

Background:

Before placing an order CTAs and FAs are given the ability to predetermine the method by which an execution is to be allocated amongst client accounts. They can do so by first creating a group (i.e. ratio/percentage) or profile (i.e. specific amount) wherein a distinct number of shares/contracts are specified per client account (i.e. pre-trade allocation). These amounts can be prearranged based on certain account values including the clients’ Net Liquidation Total, Available Equity, etc., or indicated prior to the order execution using Ratios, Percentages, etc. Each group and/or profile is generally created with the assumption that the order will be executed in full. However, as we will see, this is not always the case. Therefore, we are providing examples that describe and demonstrate the process used to allocate partial executions with pre-defined groups and/or profiles and how the allocations are determined.

Here is the list of allocation methods with brief descriptions about how they work.

·         AvailableEquity
Use sub account’ available equality value as ratio. 

·         NetLiq
Use subaccount’ net liquidation value as ratio

·         EqualQuantity
Same ratio for each account

·         PctChange¹:Portion of the allocation logic is in Trader Workstation (the initial calculation of the desired quantities per account).

·         Profile

The ratio is prescribed by the user

Basic Examples:

Details:

CTA/FA has 3-clients with a predefined profile titled “XYZ commodities” for orders of 50 contracts which (upon execution) are allocated as follows:

Account (A) = 25 contracts

Account (B) = 15 contracts

Account (C) = 10 contracts

Example #1:

CTA/FA creates a DAY order to buy 50 Sept 2016 XYZ future contracts and specifies “XYZ commodities” as the predefined allocation profile. Upon transmission at 10 am (ET) the order begins to execute²but in very small portions and over a very long period of time. At 2 pm (ET) the order is canceled prior to being executed in full. As a result, only a portion of the order is filled (i.e., 7 of the 50 contracts are filled or 14%). For each account the system initially allocates by rounding fractional amounts down to whole numbers:

Account (A) = 14% of 25 = 3.5 rounded down to 3

Account (B) = 14% of 15 = 2.1 rounded down to 2

Account (C) = 14% of 10 = 1.4 rounded down to 1

To Summarize:

A: initially receives 3 contracts, which is 3/25 of desired (fill ratio = 0.12)

B: initially receives 2 contracts, which is 2/15 of desired (fill ratio = 0.134)

C: initially receives 1 contract, which is 1/10 of desired (fill ratio = 0.10)

The system then allocates the next (and final) contract to an account with the smallest ratio (i.e. Account C which currently has a ratio of 0.10).

A: final allocation of 3 contracts, which is 3/25 of desired (fill ratio = 0.12)

B: final allocation of 2 contracts, which is 2/15 of desired (fill ratio = 0.134)

C: final allocation of 2 contract, which is 2/10 of desired (fill ratio = 0.20)

The execution(s) received have now been allocated in full.

Example #2:

CTA/FA creates a DAY order to buy 50 Sept 2016 XYZ future contracts and specifies “XYZ commodities” as the predefined allocation profile. Upon transmission at 11 am (ET) the order begins to be filled³ but in very small portions and over a very long period of time. At 1 pm (ET) the order is canceled prior being executed in full. As a result, only a portion of the order is executed (i.e., 5 of the 50 contracts are filled or 10%).For each account, the system initially allocates by rounding fractional amounts down to whole numbers:

Account (A) = 10% of 25 = 2.5 rounded down to 2

Account (B) = 10% of 15 = 1.5 rounded down to 1

Account (C) = 10% of 10 = 1 (no rounding necessary)

To Summarize:

A: initially receives 2 contracts, which is 2/25 of desired (fill ratio = 0.08)

B: initially receives 1 contract, which is 1/15 of desired (fill ratio = 0.067)

C: initially receives 1 contract, which is 1/10 of desired (fill ratio = 0.10)

The system then allocates the next (and final) contract to an account with the smallest ratio (i.e. to Account B which currently has a ratio of 0.067).

A: final allocation of 2 contracts, which is 2/25 of desired (fill ratio = 0.08)

B: final allocation of 2 contracts, which is 2/15 of desired (fill ratio = 0.134)

C: final allocation of 1 contract, which is 1/10 of desired (fill ratio = 0.10)

The execution(s) received have now been allocated in full.

Example #3:

CTA/FA creates a DAY order to buy 50 Sept 2016 XYZ future contracts and specifies “XYZ commodities” as the predefined allocation profile. Upon transmission at 11 am (ET) the order begins to be executed²  but in very small portions and over a very long period of time. At 12 pm (ET) the order is canceled prior to being executed in full. As a result, only a portion of the order is filled (i.e., 3 of the 50 contracts are filled or 6%). Normally the system initially allocates by rounding fractional amounts down to whole numbers, however for a fill size of less than 4 shares/contracts, IB first allocates based on the following random allocation methodology.

In this case, since the fill size is 3, we skip the rounding fractional amounts down.

For the first share/contract, all A, B and C have the same initial fill ratio and fill quantity, so we randomly pick an account and allocate this share/contract. The system randomly chose account A for allocation of the first share/contract.

To Summarize³:

A: initially receives 1 contract, which is 1/25 of desired (fill ratio = 0.04)

B: initially receives 0 contracts, which is 0/15 of desired (fill ratio = 0.00)

C: initially receives 0 contracts, which is 0/10 of desired (fill ratio = 0.00)

Next, the system will perform a random allocation amongst the remaining accounts (in this case accounts B & C, each with an equal probability) to determine who will receive the next share/contract.

The system randomly chose account B for allocation of the second share/contract.

A: 1 contract, which is 1/25 of desired (fill ratio = 0.04)

B: 1 contract, which is 1/15 of desired (fill ratio = 0.067)

C: 0 contracts, which is 0/10 of desired (fill ratio = 0.00)

The system then allocates the final [3] share/contract to an account(s) with the smallest ratio (i.e. Account C which currently has a ratio of 0.00).

A: final allocation of 1 contract, which is 1/25 of desired (fill ratio = 0.04)

B: final allocation of 1 contract, which is 1/15 of desired (fill ratio = 0.067)

C: final allocation of 1 contract, which is 1/10 of desired (fill ratio = 0.10)

The execution(s) received have now been allocated in full.

Available allocation Flags

Besides the allocation methods above, user can choose the following flags, which also influence the allocation:

·         Strict per-account allocation.
For the initially submitted order if one or more subaccounts are rejected by the credit checking, we reject the whole order.

·         “Close positions first”¹.This is the default handling mode for all orders which close a position (whether or not they are also opening position on the other side or not). The calculation are slightly different and ensure that we do not start opening position for one account if another account still has a position to close, except in few more complex cases.

Other factor affects allocations:

1)      Mutual Fund: the allocation has two steps. The first execution report is received before market open. We allocate based onMonetaryValue for buy order and MonetaryValueShares for sell order. Later, when second execution report which has the NetAssetValue comes, we do the final allocation based on first allocation report.

2)      Allocate in Lot Size: if a user chooses (thru account config) to prefer whole-lot allocations for stocks, the calculations are more complex and will be described in the next version of this document.

3)      Combo allocation¹: we allocate combo trades as a unit, resulting in slightly different calculations.

4)      Long/short split¹: applied to orders for stocks, warrants or structured products. When allocating long sell orders, we only allocate to accounts which have long position: resulting in calculations being more complex.

5)      For non-guaranteed smart combo: we do allocation by each leg instead of combo.

6)      In case of trade bust or correction¹: the allocations are adjusted using more complex logic.

7)      Account exclusion¹: Some subaccounts could be excluded from allocation for the following reasons, no trading permission, employee restriction, broker restriction, RejectIfOpening, prop account restrictions, dynamic size violation, MoneyMarketRules restriction for mutual fund. We do not allocate to excluded accountsand we cancel the order after other accounts are filled. In case of partial restriction (e.g. account is permitted to close but not to open, or account has enough excess liquidity only for a portion of the desired position).

Footnotes:

1.        Details of these calculations will be included in the next revision of this document.

2.        To continue observing margin in each account on a real-time basis, IB allocates each trade immediately (behind the scenes) however from the CTA and/or FA (or client’s) point of view, the final distribution of the execution at an average price typically occurs when the trade is executed in full, is canceled or at the end of day (whichever happens first).

3.       If no account has a ratio greater than 1.0 or multiple accounts are tied in the final step (i.e. ratio = 0.00), the first step is skipped and allocation of the first share/contract is decided via step two (i.e. random allocation).

INTRODUCTION

Option exercise limits, along with position limits (See KB1252), have been in place since the inception of standardized trading of U.S. securities options. Their purpose is to prevent manipulative actions in underlying securities (e.g., corners or squeezes) as well as disruptions in option markets where illiquidity in a given option class exists.  These limits serve to prohibit an account, along with its related accounts, from cumulatively exercising within any five consecutive business day period, a number of options contracts in excess of the defined limit for a given equity options class (i.e., option contracts associated with a particular underlying security). This includes both early exercises and expiration exercises.

OVERVIEW

U.S. securities option exercise limits are established by FINRA and the U.S. options exchanges.  The exercise limits are generally the same as position limits and they can vary by option class as they take into consideration factors such as the number of shares outstanding and trading volume of the underlying security. Limits are also subject to adjustment and therefore can vary over time.  The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC), the central clearinghouse for U.S. exchange traded securities options, publishes a daily file with these limits on its public website. The link is as follows: http://www.optionsclearing.com/webapps/position-limits.  FINRA Rule 2360(b)(4) addresses exercise limits and can be found via the following website link: http://finra.complinet.com/en/display/display.html?rbid=2403&record_id=16126&element_id=6306&highlight=2360#r16126).

Note that exercise limits are applied based upon the the side of the market represented by the option position. Accordingly, all exercises of call options over the past five business days are aggregated for purposes of determining the limit for the purposes of purchasing the underlying security.  Similarly, a separate computation whereby all put exercises over the past five business days are aggregated is required for purposes of determining sales of the underlying.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

It's important to note that while exercise limits may be set at levels identical to position limits, it is possible for an account holder to reach an exercise limit without violating positions limits for a given option class.  This is because exercise limits are cumulative and one could conceivably purchase options up to the position limit, exercise those options and purchase additional options which, if allowed to be exercised within the five business day window, would exceed the limit.

Account holders are responsible for monitoring their cumulative options exercises as well as the exercise limit quantities to ensure compliance.  In addition, IB reserves the right to prohibit the exercise of any options, regardless of their intrinsic value or remaining maturity, if the effect of that exercise would be to violate the exercise limit rule.

EINFÜHRUNG

Die Ausübung einer Aktien-Call-Option vor Ende der Laufzeit bietet im Regelfall keine finanziellen Vorteile, denn:

• es bedeutet, das jeglicher verbleibende Zeitwert der Option verfällt;
• es erfordert einen höheren Kapitaleinsatz zur Zahlung oder Finanzierung der Bereitstellung der Aktien; und
• für den Inhaber der Option steigt unter Umständen das Risiko eines Verlustes an den Aktien im Verhältnis zur Optionsprämie.

Dennoch kann es für Depotinhaber, die über die Voraussetzungen verfügen, um erhöhte Kapital- oder Leihanforderungen zu erfüllen und das ggf. erhöhte Verlustrisiko tragen zu können, finanziell von Vorteil sein, die vorzeitige Ausübung einer amerikanischen Call-Option zu beantragen, um von einer bevorstehenden Dividendenausschüttung zu profitieren.

HINTERGRUND

Als Informationshintergrund sei erwähnt, der Inhaber einer Call-Option nicht berechtigt ist, eine Dividende auf die zugrunde liegende Aktie zu beziehen, da der Anspruch auf diese Dividende ausschließlich für den Inhaber der Dividende zum Dividendenstichtag entsteht.  Bei ansonsten gleichen Bedingungen sollte der Kurs der Aktie um den Betrag sinken, der der Höhe der Dividende am Ex-Tag entspricht. Während die Optionspreistheorie davon ausgeht, dass der Call-Kurs den diskontierten Wert der erwarteten Dividendenausschüttungen über die Laufzeit hinweg abbildet, kann dieser jedoch auch am Ex-Tag fallen. Die folgenden Umstände machen den Eintritt dieses Szenarios besonders wahrscheinlich und die vorzeitige Ausübung der Option vorteilhaft:

1. Die Option steht tief im Geld und verfügt über einen Delta-Wert von 100.

2. Die Option verfügt lediglich über einen geringen oder keinen verbleibenden Zeitwert.

3. Der Dividendenbetrag ist relativ hoch und der Ex-Tag liegt vor dem Fälligkeitsdatum der Option. 

BEISPIELE

Um die Auswirkungen dieser Umstände mit Blick auf die Entscheidung über eine vorzeitige Ausübung zu veranschaulichen, sei als Beispiel ein Depot gegeben, in dem sich Long-Cash-Guthaben in Höhe von $9,000  und eine Long-Call-Position auf eine fiktive Aktie „ABC“ mit einem Ausübungskurs von $90.00 und einer verbleibenden Laufzeit von 10 Tagen befindet. ABC wird aktuell zu einem Kurs von $100.00 gehandelt und es wurde eine Dividendenausschüttung in Höhe von $2.00 pro Aktie mit dem morgigen Tag als Ex-Tag angekündigt. Weiterhin sei angenommen, dass der Kurs der Option und der Aktienkurs sich ähnlich verhalten und am Ex-Tag um den Dividendenbetrag fallen.

Unter diesen Voraussetzungen werden wir die Ausübungsentscheidung unter der Absicht betrachten, die 100-Aktien-Delta-Position beizubehalten und das Gesamteigenkapital zu maximieren, indem wir zwei Optionskursannahmen verwenden: Im ersten Fall wird die Option bei Parität verkauft und im zweiten Fall über Parität.

SZENARIO 1: Optionskurs bei Parität - $10.00
Wird eine Option bei Parität gehandelt, ermöglicht die vorzeitige Ausübung die Erhaltung des Delta der Position und umgeht den Wertverlust in der Long-Option, wenn die Aktie ex-Dividende gehandelt wird. In diesem Fall werden die Barerträge vollständig eingesetzt, um die Aktien bei Ausübung zu kaufen. Die Optionsprämie verfällt und die Aktie (abzüglich des Dividendenbetrags) und die zahlbare Dividende werden dem Depot gutgeschrieben. Das gleiche Endergebnis kann durch den Verkauf der Option vor dem Ex-Tag und den Kauf der Aktie erzielt werden:

SZENARIO 2: Optionskurs über Parität - $11.00
Wird eine Option oberhalb der Paritätsgrenze gehandelt, ist die vorzeitige Ausübung der Option zur Ausnutzung des Abschlags zwar besser als keinerlei Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, aber nicht unbedingt finanziell vorteilhaft. In diesem Szenario würde die vorzeitige Ausübung zu einem Verlust von $100 Optionszeitwert führen, während Untätigkeit einen Verlust der $200 Dividendenwert bedeuten würde. Die beste Vorgehensweise wäre hier der Verkauf der Option zur Gewinnung des Zeitwerts und der Kauf der Aktie, um die Dividende zu erhalten.

HINWEIS: Depotinhaber, die eine Long-Call-Position als Bestandteil eines Spreads halten, sollten insbesondere die Risiken einer Nicht-Ausübung der Long-Seite des Spreads in Anbetracht der Wahrscheinlichkeit einer Zuteilung für die Short-Seite des Spreads bedenken. Bitte beachten Sie, dass die Zuteilung eines Short-Calls zu einer Short-Position für die entsprechende Aktie führt und Inhaber von Short-Positionen einer Aktie zum Dividendenstichtag verpflichtet sind, die Dividende an den Verleiher der Aktien zu zahlen. Darüber hinaus erlaubt der Bearbeitungsprozess für Ausübungsanträge der Clearingstelle keine Einreichung von Ausübungsanträgen als Reaktion auf eine Zuteilung.

Nehmen wir als Beispiel einen Credit-Call-(Baisse-)Spread für den SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), bestehend aus 100 Short-Kontrakten für März '13 $146 und 100 Long-Kontrakten für März '13 $147. Am 14. März 2013 kündigte der SPY Trust eine Dividende von $0.69372 pro Aktie mit Ausschüttung am 30. April 2013 für registrierte Aktieninhaber zum Stand vom 19. März 2013 als Stichtag an. Angesichts der Abwicklungsfrist von 3 Geschäftstagen für US-Aktien hätte der Kauf der Aktien oder die Ausübung der Call-Option spätestens am  14. März 2013 erfolgen müssen, um Anspruch auf die Dividende zu erhalten, da die Aktie ab dem folgenden Tag ex-Dividende gehandelt wurde. 

Am 14. März 2013, mit einem verbleibenden Handelstag bis zur Fälligkeit, wurden die beiden Optionskontrakte bei Parität gehandelt, was einem maximalen Risiko von 100 US-Dollar pro Kontrakt bzw. 10,000 US-Dollar für die Position von 100 Kontrakten entspricht. Jedoch wurde die Gelegenheit versäumt, die Long-Kontrakte auszuüben um die Dividende zu erhalten und sich für den wahrscheinlichen Fall einer Zuteilung für die Short-Kontrakte aufgrund anderer nach der Dividende strebender Anleger abzusichern. In der Folge entstand ein zusätzliches Risiko von $67.372 pro Kontrakt bzw. $6,737.20 für die Gesamtposition, was der Dividendenzahlungsverpflichtung im Falle einer Zuteilung aller Short-Calls entspricht. Wie sich der nachstehenden Tabelle entnehmen lässt, wäre das maximale Risiko bei Ermittlung der endgültigen Abwicklungskurse am 15. März 2013 bei $100 pro Kontrakt verblieben, wenn für die Short-Optionsseite keine Zuteilung erfolgt wäre.

Weitere Informationen dazu, wie Sie einen Antrag auf vorzeitige Ausübung einreichen, erhalten Sie auf der IB-Website.

Der vorstehende Artikel wird ausschließlich zu Informationszwecken bereitgestellt. Er stellt keine Empfehlung oder Handelsberatung dar und vertritt nicht die Einschätzung, dass die vorzeitige Ausübung von Optionen für alle Kunden und Transaktionen gewinnbringend oder angemessen ist. Depotinhaber sollten einen Steuerexperten konsultieren, um zu ermitteln, ob und in welcher Form eine vorzeitige Ausübung zu steuerlichen Konsequenzen führen kann, und sollten besonderes Augenmerk auf mögliche Risiken beim Ersatz einer Long-Optionsposition durch eine Long-Aktienposition richten.