83_FR_40530 83 FR 40373 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fee Schedule

83 FR 40373 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fee Schedule

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 157 (August 14, 2018)

Page Range40373-40379
FR Document2018-17393

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 157 (Tuesday, August 14, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40373-40379]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17393]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-83797; File No. SR-MIAX-2018-22]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities 
Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a 
Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fee Schedule

August 8, 2018.
    Pursuant to the provisions of Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice 
is hereby given that on August 1, 2018, Miami International Securities 
Exchange LLC (``MIAX Options'' or the ``Exchange'') filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') a 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.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the 
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange is filing a proposal to amend the MIAX Options Fee 
Schedule (the ``Fee Schedule'').
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at http://www.miaxoptions.com/rule-filings, at MIAX's principal 
office, 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 Exchange proposes to amend its Fee Schedule to (i) increase 
certain fees in certain Tiers for options transactions by MIAX Options 
Market Makers \3\ in standard option classes in the Penny Pilot Program 
\4\ (``Penny classes'') and in standard option classes which are not in 
the Penny Pilot Program (``non-Penny classes'') executed in the complex 
order \5\ book; (ii) increase the per contract surcharge assessed for 
transactions by all market participants, except for Priority 
Customers,\6\ which remove liquidity against a resting Priority 
Customer complex order on the strategy book for options in Penny 
classes and for options in non-Penny classes (``Complex Taker 
Surcharge'') and to broaden the application of the Complex Taker 
Surcharge to other types of transactions (described below) and 
consequently to rename it as the ``Complex Surcharge;'' (iii) increase 
the per contract credit assessable to Agency Orders (defined below) in 
a cPRIME Auction (``cPRIME Agency Order Credit'') by Members \7\ in 
Tier 4 of the Priority Customer Rebate Program (``PCRP'') \8\ and 
establish a limit as to

[[Page 40374]]

how many contracts that the cPRIME Agency Order Credit shall apply; 
(iv) increase the per contract fee for Contra-side Orders (defined 
below) in non-Penny classes in a cPRIME Auction assessable to all 
market participants, except Priority Customers; (v) establish an 
enhanced cPRIME Break-up Credit (defined below) for options in Penny 
classes and non-Penny classes assessable to all market participants who 
experience a greater than sixty percent (60%) break-up of their order 
in a cPRIME Auction; and (vi) remove the discounted cPRIME Response Fee 
(defined below) for Members or its Affiliates that qualify for Priority 
Customer Rebate Program (defined below) volume tiers 3 or higher, for 
standard complex order options in Penny classes and non-Penny classes.
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    \3\ The term ``Market Makers'' refers to Lead Market Makers 
(``LMMs''), Primary Lead Market Makers (``PLMMs''), and Registered 
Market Makers (``RMMs'') collectively. See Exchange Rule 100. A 
Directed Order Lead Market Maker (``DLMM'') and Directed Primary 
Lead Market Maker (``DPLMM'') is a party to a transaction being 
allocated to the LMM or PLMM and is the result of an order that has 
been directed to the LMM or PLMM. See Fee Schedule note 2.
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83515 (June 25, 
2018), 83 FR 30786 (June 29, 2018) (SR-MIAX-2018-12).
    \5\ A ``complex order'' is any order involving the concurrent 
purchase and/or sale of two or more different options in the same 
underlying security (the ``legs'' or ``components'' of the complex 
order), for the same account, in a ratio that is equal to or greater 
than one-to-three (.333) and less than or equal to three-to-one 
(3.00) and for the purposes of executing a particular investment 
strategy. A complex order can also be a ``stock-option'' order, 
which is an order to buy or sell a stated number of units of an 
underlying security coupled with the purchase or sale of options 
contract(s) on the opposite side of the market, subject to certain 
contingencies set forth in the proposed rules governing complex 
orders. For a complete definition of a ``complex order,'' see 
Exchange Rule 518(a)(5). See also Securities Exchange Act Release 
No. 78620 (August 18, 2016), 81 FR 58770 (August 25, 2016) (SR-MIAX-
2016-26).
    \6\ ``Priority Customer'' means a person or entity that (i) is 
not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) does not place more 
than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a 
calendar month for its own beneficial accounts(s). A ``Priority 
Customer Order'' means an order for the account of a Priority 
Customer. See Exchange Rule 100.
    \7\ The term ``Member'' means an individual or organization 
approved to exercise the trading rights associated with a Trading 
Permit. Members are deemed ``members'' under the Exchange Act. See 
Exchange Rule 100.
    \8\ Under the PCRP, MIAX Options credits each Member the per 
contract amount resulting from each Priority Customer order 
transmitted by that Member which is executed electronically on the 
Exchange in all multiply-listed option classes (excluding, in simple 
or complex as applicable, QCC and cQCC Orders, mini-options, 
Priority Customer-to-Priority Customer Orders, C2C and cC2C Orders, 
PRIME and cPRIME AOC Responses, PRIME and cPRIME Contra-side Orders, 
PRIME and cPRIME Orders for which both the Agency and Contra-side 
Order are Priority Customers, and executions related to contracts 
that are routed to one or more exchanges in connection with the 
Options Order Protection and Locked/Crossed Market Plan referenced 
in Exchange Rule 1400), provided the Member meets certain percentage 
thresholds in a month as described in the Priority Customer Rebate 
Program table. See Fee Schedule, Section 1)a)iii.
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Market Maker Complex Transaction Fees
    Section 1(a)(i) of the Fee Schedule sets forth the Exchange's 
Market Maker Sliding Scale for Market Maker Transaction Fees (the 
``Sliding Scale''). The Sliding Scale assesses a per contract 
transaction fee on a Market Maker for the execution of simple orders 
and quotes (collectively, ``simple orders'') and complex orders and 
quotes (collectively, ``complex orders''). The percentage threshold by 
tier is based on the Market Maker's percentage of total national market 
maker volume in all options classes that trade on the Exchange during a 
particular calendar month, or total aggregated volume (``TAV''), and 
the Exchange aggregates the volume executed by Market Makers in both 
simple orders and complex orders for purposes of determining the 
applicable tier and corresponding per contract transaction fee 
amount.\9\ The Sliding Scale applies to all MIAX Options Market Makers 
for transactions in all products (except for mini-options, for which 
there are separate product fees), with fees for standard options in 
both Penny classes and non-Penny classes.
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    \9\ The calculation of the volume thresholds does not include 
QCC and cQCC Orders, PRIME and cPRIME AOC Responses, and unrelated 
MIAX Market Maker quotes or unrelated MIAX Market Maker orders that 
are received during the Response Time Interval and executed against 
the PRIME Order (``PRIME Participating Quotes or Orders'') and 
unrelated MIAX Market Maker complex quotes or unrelated MIAX Market 
Maker complex orders that are received during the Response Time 
Interval and executed against a cPRIME Order (``cPRIME Participating 
Quote or Order'') (herein ``Excluded Contracts''). See Fee Schedule, 
page 2.
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    Additionally, the Exchange assesses one per contract fee for 
complex orders in each tier for Penny classes, and one per contract fee 
for complex orders in non-Penny classes, with a surcharge for removing 
liquidity in a specific scenario, as described below. For simple 
orders, the Sliding Scale assesses a per contract transaction fee, 
which is based upon whether the Market Maker is a ``Maker'' or a 
``Taker.'' \10\ Members that place resting liquidity, i.e., quotes or 
orders on the MIAX Options System,\11\ are assessed the ``maker'' fee 
(each a ``Maker'') and Members that execute against (remove) resting 
liquidity are assessed a higher ``taker'' fee (each a ``Taker''). As an 
incentive for Market Makers to provide liquidity on the Exchange, the 
Exchange's Maker fees are lower than the Taker fees.
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    \10\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 78519 (August 9, 
2016), 81 FR 54162 (August 15, 2016)(SR-MIAX-2016-21); 79157 
(October 26, 2016), 81 FR 75885 (November 1, 2016 (SR-MIAX-2016-38).
    \11\ The term ``System'' means the automated trading system used 
by the Exchange for the trading of securities. See Exchange Rule 
100.
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    Further, the Exchange provides certain discounted Market Maker 
transaction fees for Members and their qualified Affiliates \12\ that 
achieve certain volume thresholds through the submission of Priority 
Customer orders under the Exchange's PCRP, which is set forth on two 
tables: one setting forth the transaction fees applicable to Members 
and their Affiliates that are in PCRP Volume Tier 3 or higher; and the 
other setting forth the transaction fees applicable to Members and 
their Affiliates that are not in PCRP Volume Tier 3 or higher. The 
Sliding Scale also includes Maker and Taker fees in both tables in each 
Tier for simple orders in Penny classes and non-Penny classes where the 
fees are discounted/differentiated between the tables.
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    \12\ For purposes of the MIAX Options Fee Schedule, the term 
``Affiliate'' means (i) an affiliate of a Member of at least 75% 
common ownership between the firms as reflected on each firm's Form 
BD, Schedule A, (``Affiliate''), or (ii) the Appointed Market Maker 
of an Appointed EEM (or, conversely, the Appointed EEM of an 
Appointed Market Maker). An ``Appointed Market Maker'' is a MIAX 
Market Maker (who does not otherwise have a corporate affiliation 
based upon common ownership with an EEM) that has been appointed by 
an EEM and an ``Appointed EEM'' is an EEM (who does not otherwise 
have a corporate affiliation based upon common ownership with a MIAX 
Market Maker) that has been appointed by a MIAX Market Maker, 
pursuant to the following process. A MIAX Market Maker appoints an 
EEM and an EEM appoints a MIAX Market Maker, for the purposes of the 
Fee Schedule, by each completing and sending an executed Volume 
Aggregation Request Form by email to [email protected] no 
later than 2 business days prior to the first business day of the 
month in which the designation is to become effective. Transmittal 
of a validly completed and executed form to the Exchange along with 
the Exchange's acknowledgement of the effective designation to each 
of the Market Maker and EEM will be viewed as acceptance of the 
appointment. The Exchange will only recognize one designation per 
Member. A Member may make a designation not more than once every 12 
months (from the date of its most recent designation), which 
designation shall remain in effect unless or until the Exchange 
receives written notice submitted 2 business days prior to the first 
business day of the month from either Member indicating that the 
appointment has been terminated. Designations will become operative 
on the first business day of the effective month and may not be 
terminated prior to the end of the month. Execution data and reports 
will be provided to both parties.
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    The Exchange proposes to make the following changes for both 
Members and their Affiliates in PCRP Volume Tier 3 or higher and 
Members and their Affiliates not in PCRP Volume Tier 3 or higher: (i) 
Increase the fees in certain Sliding Scale Tiers for options 
transactions in Penny classes executed in the complex order book; and 
(ii) increase the fees in all Sliding Scale Tiers for options 
transactions in non-Penny classes executed in the complex order book. 
Specifically, the Exchange proposes to increase the fees for complex 
orders in options in Penny classes in Tier 2 from $0.19 to $0.24, in 
Tier 3 from $0.12 to $0.21, in Tier 4 from $0.07 to $0.20, and in Tier 
5 from $0.05 to $0.19. The Exchange also proposes to increase the fees 
for complex orders in options in non-Penny classes in Tier 1 from $0.29 
to $0.32, in Tier 2 from $0.23 to $0.29, in Tier 3 from $0.16 to $0.25, 
in Tier 4 from $0.11 to $0.24, and in Tier 5 from $0.09 to $0.23.
Complex Surcharge
    The Exchange does not currently distinguish between a Maker and a 
Taker for complex order executions as it does in the traditional 
construct for simple orders and instead assesses the per contract 
transaction fee for all executions and a potential surcharge of $0.10 
per executed contract for executions in complex orders. The current 
surcharge is assessed to a Market Maker and all other market 
participants except Priority Customers, when they remove liquidity by 
trading against a Priority Customer order that is resting on the 
Strategy Book.\13\ This surcharge is currently referred to as the

[[Page 40375]]

``Complex Taker Surcharge''. This surcharge is similar in structure to 
Cboe Exchange, Inc. (``Cboe'') and NYSE American LLC (``NYSE 
American'') surcharges of the same type.\14\
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    \13\ The ``Strategy Book'' is the Exchange's electronic book of 
complex orders and complex quotes. See Exchange Rule 518(a)(17).
    \14\ See Cboe Fees Schedule, p. 1, and footnote 35 (charging a 
Complex Surcharge of $0.12 per contract per side for noncustomer 
complex order executions that remove liquidity from the COB and 
auction responses in the Complex Order Auction (``COA'') and the 
Automated Improvement Mechanism (``AIM'') in all classes except 
Sector Indexes and Underlying Symbol List A. The surcharge will not 
be assessed, however, on noncustomer complex order executions 
originating from a Floor Broker PAR, electronic executions against 
single leg markets, or for stock-option order executions. Auction 
responses in COA and AIM for noncustomer complex orders in Penny 
classes will be subject to a cap of $0.50 per contract, which 
includes the applicable transaction fee, Complex Surcharge and 
Marketing Fee (if applicable); see also NYSE American Fee Schedule, 
p. 8, footnote 6 (charging $0.12 per contract to any Electronic Non-
Customer Complex Order that executes against a Customer Complex 
Order, regardless of whether the execution occurs in a Complex Order 
Auction (``COA''). The surcharge does not apply to executions in 
CUBE Auctions. NYSE American reduces this per contract surcharge to 
$0.10 for ATP Holders that achieve at least 0.20% of TCADV of 
Electronic Non-Customer Complex Orders in a month).
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    First, the Exchange proposes to increase the Complex Taker 
Surcharge on MIAX Market Makers in the Sliding Scale for both Members 
and their Affiliates in PCRP Volume Tier 3 or higher, and for Members 
and their Affiliates not in PCRP Volume Tier 3 or higher, in Section 
1)a)i) of the Fee Schedule, from $0.10 to $0.12 in all Tiers. The 
Exchange also proposes to increase the Complex Taker Surcharge on other 
market participants (except for Priority Customers), including Public 
Customers \15\ that are not Priority Customers, non-MIAX Market 
Makers,\16\ non-Member Broker-Dealers,\17\ and Firms \18\ 
(collectively, the ``Other Market Participants'') in Section 1)a)ii) of 
the Fee Schedule, from $0.10 to $0.12.
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    \15\ The term ``Public Customer'' means a person that is not a 
broker or dealer in securities. See Exchange Rule 100.
    \16\ A ``non-MIAX Market Maker'' is a market maker registered as 
such on another options exchange. See Fee Schedule, Section 1)a)ii.
    \17\ A ``non-Member Broker-Dealer'' is a broker-dealer that is 
not a member of the OCC, and that is not registered as a Member at 
MIAX or another options exchange. See Fee Schedule, Section 1)a)ii.
    \18\ A ``Firm'' fee is assessed on a MIAX Electronic Exchange 
Member ``EEM'' that enters an order that is executed for an account 
identified by the EEM for clearing in the Options Clearing 
Corporation (``OCC'') ``Firm'' range. See Fee Schedule, Section 
1)a)ii.
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    Second, the Exchange proposes to broaden the application of the 
Complex Taker Surcharge so that it will now apply to a Market Maker and 
Other Market Participants (other than Priority Customers) when trading 
against a Priority Customer (i) on the Strategy Book; or (ii) as a 
Response or unrelated quote or order in a complex order auction other 
than a cPRIME Auction.
    Exchange Rule 518(d) describes the process for determining if a 
complex order is eligible to begin a Complex Order Auction and to 
participate in a Complex Order Auction that is in progress, and 
provides that upon entry into the System or upon evaluation of a 
complex order resting at the top of the Strategy Book, complex auction-
eligible orders may be subject to an automated request for responses 
(``RFR'').\19\ Members may submit Responses to the RFR, which can be 
either a complex Auction or Cancel (``AOC'') order or a complex AOC 
eQuote.
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    \19\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79072 (October 7, 
2016), 81 FR 71131 (October 14, 2016) (SR-MIAX-2016-26).
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    Exchange Rule 518(b)(7) defines a cPRIME Order as a type of complex 
order that is submitted for participation in a cPRIME Auction and 
trading of cPRIME Orders is governed by Rule 515A, Interpretations and 
Policies .12.\20\ cPRIME Orders are processed and executed in the 
Exchange's PRIME mechanism, the same mechanism that the Exchange uses 
to process and execute simple PRIME orders, pursuant to Exchange Rule 
515A.\21\ PRIME is a process by which a Member may electronically 
submit for execution an order it represents as agent (an ``Agency 
Order'') against principal interest and/or solicited interest. The 
Member that submits the Agency Order (``Initiating Member'') agrees to 
guarantee the execution of the Agency Order by submitting a contra-side 
order representing principal interest or solicited interest (``Contra-
Side Order''). When the Exchange receives a properly designated Agency 
Order for Auction processing, an RFR detailing the option, side, size 
and initiating price is broadcasted to MIAX Options participants up to 
an optional designated limit price. Members may submit responses to the 
RFR, which can be either an AOC order or an AOC eQuote. A cPRIME 
Auction is the price-improvement mechanism of the Exchange's System 
pursuant to which an Initiating Member electronically submits a complex 
Agency Order into a cPRIME Auction. The Initiating Member, in 
submitting an Agency Order, must be willing to either (i) cross the 
Agency Order at a single price against principal or solicited interest, 
or (ii) automatically match against principal or solicited interest, 
the price and size of a RFR that is broadcast to MIAX Options 
participants up to an optional designated limit price. Such responses 
are defined as cPRIME AOC Responses or cPRIME eQuotes.
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    \20\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81131 (July 12, 
2017), 82 FR 32900 (July 18, 2017)(SR-MIAX-2017-19). (Order Granting 
Approval of a Proposed Rule Change to Amend MIAX Options Rules 515, 
Execution of Orders and Quotes; 515A, MIAX Price Improvement 
Mechanism (``PRIME'') and PRIME Solicitation Mechanism; and 518, 
Complex Orders).
    \21\ Id.
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    Specifically, the Exchange proposes to broaden the application of 
the Complex Taker Surcharge so that it will apply to an Electronic 
Exchange Member (``EEM''),\22\ for trading against a Priority Customer 
Complex Order for Penny and Non-Penny Classes, when trading against a 
Priority Customer: (i) On the Strategy Book; or (ii) as a Response or 
unrelated order in a complex order auction other than a cPRIME Auction. 
Consequently, the Exchange proposes to change the name of the surcharge 
from ``Complex Taker Surcharge'' to ``Complex Surcharge'' since the 
surcharge will apply to more complex transactions than just those 
transactions which remove liquidity from the Strategy Book. The 
Exchange notes that both Cboe and NYSE American apply their respective 
surcharges in a more expansive manner than the Exchange's current 
application of its surcharge, and similar to how the Exchange is 
proposing to expand its surcharge. However, Cboe caps its fees at $0.50 
per contract in its complex order auction mechanisms. And NYSE American 
does not assess its surcharge in its paired complex auction mechanism. 
As proposed, the Exchange will apply its surcharge in its single-sided 
complex auction mechanism (COA), but it will not apply the surcharge in 
its paired complex auction mechanism (cPRIME). Accordingly, as proposed 
to be expanded, the Exchange's surcharge will be more in line with 
Cboe's and NYSE American's surcharges, but it will be no more expansive 
than either such exchange.\23\
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    \22\ The term ``Electronic Exchange Member'' means the holder of 
a Trading Permit who is not a Market Maker. Electronic Exchange 
Members are deemed ``members'' under the Exchange Act.
    \23\ See supra note 14.
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    Additionally, the Exchange proposes to remove the Discounted cPRIME 
Response Fee of $0.46 per contract for Members or its Affiliates that 
qualify for Priority Customer Rebate Program volume tiers 3 or higher 
and submit a cPRIME AOC Response that is received during the Response 
Time Interval and executed against the cPRIME Order, or a cPRIME 
Participating Quote or Order that is received during the Response Time 
Interval and executed against the cPRIME Order for standard complex 
order options in Penny classes; and

[[Page 40376]]

remove the Discounted cPRIME Response Fee of $0.95 per contract in the 
same tiers, for standard complex order options in non-Penny classes. By 
removing these discounts, the Exchange will charge such Members and 
their Affiliates the standard cPRIME rates in the cPRIME tier that 
otherwise apply to such transactions. The Exchange notes that this is a 
business decision to discontinue offering the discount, and as a 
result, it will align its fees more closely to those of NYSE 
American.\24\
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    \24\ See NYSE American Fee Schedule, p. 17, Complex CUBE Auction 
(charging a RFR Response Fee Non-Customer in Penny Pilot issues of 
$0.50 and an RFR Response Fee Non-Customer in Non-Penny Pilot issues 
of $1.05).
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cPRIME Agency Order Fees
    In the PCRP, the Exchange assesses an Agency Order Credit for 
cPRIME Agency Orders. The Exchange currently credits each Member $0.10 
per contract per leg for each Priority Customer complex order submitted 
into the cPRIME Auction as a cPRIME Agency Order in each Tier. However, 
no credit is paid if the cPRIME Agency Order executes against a Contra-
Side Order which is also a Priority Customer. The Exchange proposes to 
increase the Agency Order Credit for cPRIME Agency Orders submitted by 
Members who are in PCRP Volume Tier 4 from $0.10 to $0.22. The purpose 
of such increase in Tier 4 is to encourage market participants to 
submit more Priority Customer cPRIME Agency Orders and therefore 
increase Priority Customer order flow. The Exchange additionally 
proposes to limit the cPRIME Agency Order Credit to be payable to the 
first 1,000 contracts per leg for each cPRIME Agency Order. Such limit 
will be applicable to all Tiers of the PCRP.
cPRIME Contra-Side Order Fees
    The Exchange assesses a per contract fee to all market participants 
except Priority Customers for Contra-Side Orders in cPRIME Auctions. 
Currently, the cPRIME Contra-Side Order Fee is $0.05 for options in 
Penny classes and non-Penny classes. The Exchange proposes to increase 
the fee assessed to all market participants except Priority Customers 
for cPRIME Contra-Side Orders for options in non-Penny classes from 
$0.05 to $0.07. To implement this change on the Fee Schedule, the 
Exchange is proposing to bifurcate the fee for Penny classes and non-
Penny classes by adding a new column to the table under Section 1)a)vi) 
of the Fee Schedule for the cPRIME Contra-Side Order fees assessable 
for orders in non-Penny classes setting forth the increased fee of 
$0.07 for all market participants except Priority Customers. The 
purpose of increasing such fee for options in non-Penny classes is to 
more closely align the Exchange's fees for cPRIME Contra-Side Orders 
with similar fees of other exchanges.\25\
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    \25\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83532 (June 28, 
2018), 83 FR 31205 (July 3, 2018) (SR-NYSEAMER-2018-32) (Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Change to Modify the 
NYSE American Options Fee Schedule).
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cPRIME Break-Up Credit
    The Exchange applies a break-up credit to an EEM that submitted a 
cPRIME Order for agency contracts that are submitted to the cPRIME 
Auction that trade with a cPRIME AOC Response or a cPRIME Participating 
Quote or Order that trades with the cPRIME Order (``cPRIME Break-up 
Credit''). Currently, the per contract cPRIME Break-up Credit payable 
to all market participants for options in Penny classes is $0.25 and 
for options in non-Penny classes is $0.60. The current cPRIME Break-up 
Credit does not take into account the degree to which the cPRIME Order 
was broken up.
    The Exchange now proposes to take into account the degree to which 
the cPRIME Order was broken up, through paying a higher credit amount 
if the cPRIME Order experienced a greater degree of break-up. In 
particular, the Exchange proposes to pay an enhanced cPRIME Break-up 
Credit to all market participants who experience a greater than sixty 
percent (60%) break-up of their cPRIME Order in a cPRIME Auction, 
instead of the regular cPRIME Break-up Credit specified in the Fee 
Schedule. If the market participant experiences a greater than sixty 
percent (60%) break-up of their cPRIME Order in a cPRIME Auction, then 
it shall be credited $0.28, an additional $0.03 per contract, for 
options in Penny classes, and $0.72, an additional $0.12 per contract, 
for options in non-Penny classes. For example, if the original cPRIME 
Agency Order in a Penny class was for 100 contracts and the Member 
received only 30 contracts of the original cPRIME Order as a result of 
the break-up, and the other 70 contracts traded with a cPRIME AOC 
response or a cPRIME Participating Quote or Order (which equals 70%), 
then they would be credited $0.28 as a cPRIME Break-up Credit. As 
another example, if the original cPRIME Agency Order in a Penny class 
was for 100 contracts and the Member received 40 contracts of the 
original cPRIME Order as a result of the break-up and the other 60 
contracts traded with a cPRIME AOC response or a cPRIME Participating 
Quote or Order (which equals 60%), then they would only be credited 
$0.25 as a cPRIME Break-up Credit. The decision to offer an enhanced 
cPRIME Break-up Credit is based on an analysis of current revenue and 
volume levels and is intended to encourage market participants to 
continue participating in cPRIME Auctions. The Exchange believes that 
by offering Members this enhanced cPRIME Break-up Credit, it will be 
able to further incentivize Members to send cPRIME orders to the 
Exchange, and enable it to better compete with NYSE American. Although 
it is a business decision to bifurcate the Exchange's enhanced cPRIME 
Break-up Credit based on the degree to which the cPRIME Order is broken 
up, the Exchange notes that its credit still remains lower than those 
of NYSE American, which the Exchange believes will serve to enhance 
competition. There are several approaches used by Exchanges to attract 
certain types of order flow, and many approaches often rely on the 
existence of certain conditions and thresholds being met.\26\ This 
proposed approach of offering an enhanced credit based on the degree of 
break-up of a cPRIME Order is another variation of one such type of 
condition.
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    \26\ See for example NYSE American Fee Schedule, p. 18, 
Initiating Participant Credit. (NYSE American offers a ``break-up'' 
credit to Initiating Participants for each contract in a Complex 
Contra Order paired with a Complex CUBE Order that does not trade 
with the Complex CUBE Order because it is replaced at auction. 
Depending on the Tier for which the ATP holder qualifies, it may 
receive anywhere from a $0.20 to a $0.35 credit in Penny Pilot 
issues and anywhere from $0.50 to $0.75 in non-Penny Pilot issues, 
with those who qualify for ACE Tier 5, and execute more than 1% 
TCADV in monthly Initiating Complex CUBE Orders being eligible to 
receive an alternative enhance Initiating Participant Credit of 
$0.45 per contract for Penny Pilot issues and $0.90 per contract for 
non-Penny Pilot issues.
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    The proposed rule changes are scheduled to become operative August 
1, 2018.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal to amend its fee schedule 
is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act \27\ in general, and 
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,\28\ in that it 
is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees and other charges among 
Exchange members and issuers and other persons using its facilities, 
and 6(b)(5) of the Act,\29\ 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 engaged in facilitating transactions in securities,

[[Page 40377]]

to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open 
market and a national market system and, in general, to protect 
investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \28\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
    \29\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1) and (b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed fee increases for the various Sliding Scale tiers in 
Penny and non-Penny classes for complex orders is equitable and not 
unfairly discriminatory because all MIAX Options Market Makers are 
subject to the same fees and access to the Exchange is offered on terms 
that are not unfairly discriminatory. The Exchange initially set its 
complex order fees at the various volume levels based upon business 
determinations and an analysis of current complex order fees and volume 
levels at other exchanges. When the Exchange initially adopted complex 
order fees, it set its complex order fees lower than other exchanges in 
order to encourage its Market Makers to reach for higher volume levels 
in order to achieve greater discounts. For competitive and business 
reasons, the Exchange believes that it is now appropriate to increase 
complex order fees to be more in line with competing exchanges. The 
Exchange notes that the increased complex order fees are comparable to 
those assessed by other exchanges.\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ See supra notes 14, 24, 25 and 26.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Furthermore, the proposed increases to the fees for complex orders 
in Penny and non-Penny classes in the specified tiers promotes just and 
equitable principles of trade, fosters cooperation and coordination 
with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, and 
protects investors and the public interest, because even with the 
increases, the Exchange's proposed fees for Market Makers complex 
orders still remain competitive with certain other options exchanges 
offering comparable pricing models, and should enable the Exchange to 
continue to attract order flow and grow market share. The Exchange 
believes that the amount of such fees, as proposed to be increased, 
will continue to encourage MIAX Options Market Makers to send complex 
orders to the Exchange. To the extent that order flow is increased by 
the proposal, market participants will increasingly compete for the 
opportunity to trade on the Exchange, including sending more orders 
which will have the potential to be assessed lower fees and higher 
rebates than certain other competing options exchanges. The resulting 
increased volume and liquidity will benefit all Exchange participants 
by providing more trading opportunities and tighter spreads.
    The Exchange's proposal to increase the Complex Taker Surcharge and 
broaden its application and rename it as the ``Complex Surcharge'' is 
consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \31\ because it applies 
equally to all market participants (both MIAX Market Makers and Other 
Market Participants, except Priority Customers) that would be charged 
such Complex Surcharge. Assessing the Complex Surcharge to MIAX Market 
Makers and Other Market Participants (except Priority Customers), in a 
broader application, similar to that of other exchanges, is reasonable 
and not unfairly discriminatory because it will provide MIAX Options 
Market Makers and Other Market Participants with equal surcharges when 
trading against a Priority Customer. As stated above, the Complex 
Surcharge is similar to surcharges assessed on Cboe and NYSE 
American.\32\ The Exchange notes that, although the increase of the 
Complex Surcharge represents a slight fee increase, the Exchange 
believes that this increase is fair and equitable because it is in line 
with the amount of surcharges assessed on other options exchanges, when 
trading against Priority Customer Complex Orders, including trading in 
a complex order book, complex order auctions, and complex order price 
improvement mechanisms.\33\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
    \32\ See supra note 14.
    \33\ See Cboe Fees Schedule, footnote 35; see also NYSE American 
Fee Schedule, p. 11; see Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83532 
(June 28, 2018), 83 FR 31206 (July 3, 2018) (SR-NYSEAMER-2018-32).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange's proposal to broaden the application of the Complex 
Taker Surcharge and to rename it as the ``Complex Surcharge'' is also 
consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \34\ because it perfects the 
mechanisms of a free and open market and a national market system and 
protect investors and the public interest by aligning the broader 
application of the Complex Surcharge and the definition of Complex 
Surcharge to that of other options exchanges,\35\ which will help to 
create consistency and uniformity in the marketplace. The proposed 
Complex Surcharge increase is similar to the surcharge increase 
effected by Cboe and NYSE American.\36\ The Exchange believes for these 
reasons that the Complex Surcharge and the broadened application of it, 
is equitable, reasonable and not unfairly discriminatory, and thus 
consistent with the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1) and (b)(5).
    \35\ See supra note 14.
    \36\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange's proposal to remove the Discounted cPRIME Response 
Fee of $0.46 per contract for Members or its Affiliates that qualify 
for Priority Customer Rebate Program volume tiers 3 or higher and 
submit a cPRIME AOC Response that is received during the Response Time 
Interval and executed against the cPRIME Order, or a cPRIME 
Participating Quote or Order that is received during the Response Time 
Interval and executed against the cPRIME Order for standard complex 
order options in Penny classes; and remove the Discounted cPRIME 
Response Fee of $0.95 per contract in the same tiers, for standard 
complex order options in non-Penny classes, is consistent with Section 
6(b)(4) of the Act \37\ because it applies equally to all market 
participants and although by removing this discount, the Exchange notes 
this would increase the cPRIME Response Fee for some market 
participants, it represents a slight increase, and the Exchange 
believes that this increase is fair and equitable because it is in line 
with the amount of surcharges assessed on other options exchanges.\38\ 
Further, the proposal is also consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the 
Act \39\ because it perfects the mechanisms of a free and open market 
and a national market system and protects investors and the public 
interest because it will align the Exchange's rule to that of other 
options exchanges, which will help to create consistency and uniformity 
in the marketplace. In addition, the removal of the discounted for the 
cPRIME Response Fee would align the Exchange's fees closer to those of 
another options exchange.\40\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
    \38\ See supra note 26.
    \39\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1) and (b)(5).
    \40\ See supra note 26.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange's proposal to increase the cPRIME Agency Order Credit 
assessable to cPRIME Agency Orders by Members in Tier 4 of the PCRP is 
consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \41\ because it applies 
equally to all participants in that tier. The Exchange believes that 
the proposed PCRP rebate increase in Tier 4 for Priority Customer 
orders submitted into cPRIME Auctions is fair, equitable, and not 
unreasonably discriminatory. The PCRP is reasonably designed because it 
will incentivize providers of Priority Customer order flow to send that 
Priority Customer order flow to the Exchange in order to obtain the 
highest volume threshold and receive a credit in a manner that enables 
the Exchange to improve its overall competitiveness and strengthen its

[[Page 40378]]

market quality for all market participants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the proposal is also consistent with Section 6(b)(5) 
of the Act \42\ because it perfects the mechanisms of a free and open 
market and a national market system and protects investors and the 
public interest because, while only Priority Customer order flow 
qualifies for the rebate program under the PCRP and specifically only 
order flow by Members in Tier 4 of the PCRP will receive the greater 
rebate, an increase in Priority Customer order flow will bring greater 
volume and liquidity, which benefit all market participants by 
providing more trading opportunities and tighter spreads. To the extent 
Priority Customer order flow is increased by the proposal, market 
participants will increasingly compete for the opportunity to trade on 
the Exchange including sending more orders and providing narrower and 
larger-sized quotations in the effort to trade with such Priority 
Customer order flow.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1) and (b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange's proposal to establish a limit as to how many 
contracts the cPRIME Agency Order Credit shall apply to is consistent 
with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \43\ because it applies equally to all 
market participants who submit cPRIME Agency Orders. Further, the 
proposal is also consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \44\ 
because it perfects the mechanisms of a free and open market and a 
national market system and protects investors and the public interest 
because it will align the Exchange's rule to that of other options 
exchanges, which will help to create consistency and uniformity in the 
marketplace. It is also not novel since other exchanges similarly limit 
a similar rebate to the first 1,000 contracts.\45\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
    \44\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1) and (b)(5).
    \45\ See Cboe Fees Schedule, p. 3; see also NYSE American Fee 
Schedule, p. 18, footnote 2 under Section I.G.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange's proposal to increase the cPRIME Contra-Side Orders 
fees assessable to all market participants except for Priority 
Customers in non-Penny classes is consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of 
the Act \46\ because the Exchange believes that it is reasonable to 
assess lower transaction and credit rates to options in Penny classes 
than non-Penny classes. The Exchange believes that options which trade 
at these wider spreads merit offering greater inducement for market 
participants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \46\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that is equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory that Priority Customers be charged lower fees in cPRIME 
Auctions than other market participants. The exchanges, in general, 
have historically aimed to improve markets for investors and develop 
various features within their market structure for customer benefit. 
The Exchange assesses Priority Customers lower or no transactions fees 
because Priority Customer order flow enhances liquidity on the Exchange 
for the benefit of all market participants. Priority Customer liquidity 
benefits all market participants by providing more trading 
opportunities, which attracts Market Makers. An increase in the 
activity of these market participants in turn facilitates tighter 
spreads, which may cause an additional corresponding increase in order 
flow from other market participants.
    Moreover, the Exchange believes that assessing all other market 
participants that are not Priority Customers a higher transaction fee 
than Priority Customers for cPRIME Order transactions is reasonable, 
equitable, and not unfairly discriminatory because these types of 
market participants are more sophisticated and have higher levels of 
order flow activity and system usage. This level of trading activity 
draws on a greater amount of system resources than that of Priority 
Customers, and thus, generates greater ongoing operational costs. 
Further, the Exchange believes that charging all market participants 
that are not Priority Customers the same fee for all cPRIME 
transactions is not unfairly discriminatory as the fees will apply to 
all these market participants equally.
    In addition, the proposal is also consistent with Section 6(b)(5) 
of the Act \47\ because it perfects the mechanisms of a free and open 
market and a national market system and protects investors and the 
public interest because, within the cPRIME Auction, the fee difference 
between Penny and non-Penny classes provides greater opportunity for 
market participants to offer price improvement. As such, the Exchange 
believes that the opportunity for additional price improvement provided 
by these wider spreads again merits offering greater incentive for 
market participants to increase the potential price improvement for 
customer orders in these transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \47\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1) and (b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange's proposal to pay an enhanced cPRIME Break-up Credit 
for options in Penny classes and non-Penny classes to all market 
participants who experience a greater than sixty percent (60%) break-up 
of their cPRIME Order in a cPRIME Auction is consistent with Section 
6(b)(4) of the Act \48\ because it will encourage market participants 
to continue participating in cPRIME Auctions. The Exchange believes 
that the enhanced cPRIME Break-up Credit should improve market quality 
for all market participants. Additionally, the Exchange believes that 
by offering this enhanced cPRIME Break-up Credit, it will be able to 
incentivize initiating orders in order to compete with NYSE American. 
Although it is a business decision to bifurcate the Exchange's enhanced 
cPRIME Break-up Credit, the Exchange notes that its credit still 
remains lower than those of NYSE American, which the Exchange believes 
will serve to enhance competition.\49\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \48\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
    \49\ See supra note 26.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the proposal is also consistent with Section 6(b)(5) 
of the Act \50\ because it perfects the mechanisms of a free and open 
market and a national market system and protects investors and the 
public interest because it applies equally to all cPRIME orders which 
are subject to a break-up and access to the Exchange is offered on 
terms that are not unfairly discriminatory.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \50\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1) and (b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    The Exchange 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. The Exchange believes that the 
proposed increase in the Complex Surcharge for complex transactions is 
intended to promote narrower spreads and greater liquidity at the best 
prices. The fee-based incentives for market participants to provide 
liquidity by submitting complex orders to the Exchange, and thereby 
improve liquidity on the Exchange, should enable the Exchange to 
attract order flow and compete with other exchanges which also provide 
such incentives to their market participants for similar transactions.
    The Exchange believes that increased complex order flow will bring 
greater volume and liquidity which in turn benefits all market 
participants by providing more trading opportunities and tighter 
spreads. Therefore, any potential effects that the increased Complex 
Surcharge for complex transactions may have on intra-market competition 
are justifiable due to the reasons stated above.

[[Page 40379]]

    The Exchange believes that the proposed changes to the rebates and 
fees for participation in a cPRIME Auction are not going to have an 
impact on intra-market competition based on the total cost for 
participants to transact in such order types versus the cost for 
participants to transact in the other order types available for trading 
on the Exchange. As noted above, the Exchange believes that the 
proposed changes in the rebates and fees for the cPRIME Auction are 
comparable to that of other exchanges offering similar electronic price 
improvement mechanisms for complex orders and the Exchange believes 
that, based on experience with electronic price improvement crossing 
mechanisms on other markets, market participants understand that the 
price-improving benefits offered by the cPRIME Auction justify the 
transaction costs associated with the cPRIME Auction. To the extent 
that there is a difference between non-cPRIME Auction transactions and 
cPRIME Auction transactions, the Exchange does not believe this 
difference will cause participants to refrain from responding to cPRIME 
Auctions.
    With respect to cPRIME Auctions, the Exchange notes that Cboe caps 
its fees at $0.50 per contract in its complex order auction mechanisms. 
And NYSE American does not assess its surcharge in its paired complex 
auction mechanism. As proposed, the Exchange will apply its surcharge 
in its single-sided complex auction mechanism (COA), but it will not 
apply the surcharge in its paired complex auction mechanism (cPRIME). 
Accordingly, as proposed to be expanded, the Exchange's surcharge will 
be more in line with Cboe's and NYSE American's surcharges, but it will 
be no more expansive than either such exchange.\51\ Because the Complex 
Surcharge will not be applied in its cPRIME Auction, the Exchange 
believes that the proposed rule change will not impose any burden on 
competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes 
of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \51\ See supra note 14.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange notes that it operates in a highly competitive market 
in which market participants can readily favor competing venues if they 
deem fee levels at a particular venue to be excessive. In such an 
environment, the Exchange must continually adjust its fees to remain 
competitive with other exchanges and to attract order flow. The 
Exchange believes that the proposed rule change reflects this 
competitive environment because they modify the Exchange's fees in a 
manner that encourages market participants to provide liquidity and to 
send order flow to the Exchange.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,\52\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) \53\ thereunder. 
At any time within 60 days of the filing of the 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. If the Commission takes such 
action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether 
the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \52\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
    \53\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-MIAX-2018-22 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-MIAX-2018-22. 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 website (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 website 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 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. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-MIAX-2018-22, and should be submitted on 
or before September 4, 2018.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\54\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \54\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-17393 Filed 8-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Notices                                                     40373

                                              Electronic Comments                                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                 in certain Tiers for options transactions
                                                                                                        COMMISSION                                              by MIAX Options Market Makers 3 in
                                                • Use the Commission’s internet                                                                                 standard option classes in the Penny
                                              comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                         [Release No. 34–83797; File No. SR–MIAX–
                                                                                                        2018–22]
                                                                                                                                                                Pilot Program 4 (‘‘Penny classes’’) and in
                                              rules/sro.shtml); or                                                                                              standard option classes which are not in
                                                • Send an email to rule-comments@                       Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami                    the Penny Pilot Program (‘‘non-Penny
                                              sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                   International Securities Exchange LLC;                  classes’’) executed in the complex
                                              CboeBYX–2018–013 on the subject line.                     Notice of Filing and Immediate                          order 5 book; (ii) increase the per
                                                                                                        Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule                        contract surcharge assessed for
                                              Paper Comments                                            Change To Amend Its Fee Schedule                        transactions by all market participants,
                                                                                                                                                                except for Priority Customers,6 which
                                                 • Send paper comments in triplicate                    August 8, 2018.                                         remove liquidity against a resting
                                              to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                        Pursuant to the provisions of Section                Priority Customer complex order on the
                                              Commission, 100 F Street NE,                              19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act                 strategy book for options in Penny
                                              Washington, DC 20549–1090.                                of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4                      classes and for options in non-Penny
                                              All submissions should refer to File                      thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that                classes (‘‘Complex Taker Surcharge’’)
                                              Number SR–CboeBYX–2018–013. This                          on August 1, 2018, Miami International                  and to broaden the application of the
                                              file number should be included on the                     Securities Exchange LLC (‘‘MIAX                         Complex Taker Surcharge to other types
                                              subject line if email is used. To help the                Options’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with               of transactions (described below) and
                                              Commission process and review your                        the Securities and Exchange                             consequently to rename it as the
                                                                                                        Commission (‘‘Commission’’) a                           ‘‘Complex Surcharge;’’ (iii) increase the
                                              comments more efficiently, please use
                                                                                                        proposed rule change as described in                    per contract credit assessable to Agency
                                              only one method. The Commission will
                                                                                                        Items I, II, and III below, which Items                 Orders (defined below) in a cPRIME
                                              post all comments on the Commission’s                     have been prepared by the Exchange.                     Auction (‘‘cPRIME Agency Order
                                              internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                     The Commission is publishing this                       Credit’’) by Members 7 in Tier 4 of the
                                              rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                           notice to solicit comments on the                       Priority Customer Rebate Program
                                              submission, all subsequent                                proposed rule change from interested                    (‘‘PCRP’’) 8 and establish a limit as to
                                              amendments, all written statements                        persons.
                                              with respect to the proposed rule                                                                                    3 The term ‘‘Market Makers’’ refers to Lead

                                              change that are filed with the                            I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Market Makers (‘‘LMMs’’), Primary Lead Market
                                              Commission, and all written                               Statement of the Terms of the Substance                 Makers (‘‘PLMMs’’), and Registered Market Makers
                                                                                                        of the Proposed Rule Change                             (‘‘RMMs’’) collectively. See Exchange Rule 100. A
                                              communications relating to the                                                                                    Directed Order Lead Market Maker (‘‘DLMM’’) and
                                              proposed rule change between the                             The Exchange is filing a proposal to                 Directed Primary Lead Market Maker (‘‘DPLMM’’) is
                                              Commission and any person, other than                     amend the MIAX Options Fee Schedule                     a party to a transaction being allocated to the LMM
                                              those that may be withheld from the                       (the ‘‘Fee Schedule’’).                                 or PLMM and is the result of an order that has been
                                                                                                           The text of the proposed rule change                 directed to the LMM or PLMM. See Fee Schedule
                                              public in accordance with the                                                                                     note 2.
                                                                                                        is available on the Exchange’s website at
                                              provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                                                                                  4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83515
                                                                                                        http://www.miaxoptions.com/rule-                        (June 25, 2018), 83 FR 30786 (June 29, 2018) (SR–
                                              available for website viewing and
                                                                                                        filings, at MIAX’s principal office, and                MIAX–2018–12).
                                              printing in the Commission’s Public                       at the Commission’s Public Reference                       5 A ‘‘complex order’’ is any order involving the
                                              Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,                          Room.                                                   concurrent purchase and/or sale of two or more
                                              Washington, DC 20549, on official                                                                                 different options in the same underlying security
                                                                                                        II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      (the ‘‘legs’’ or ‘‘components’’ of the complex order),
                                              business days between the hours of                                                                                for the same account, in a ratio that is equal to or
                                              10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such                   Statement of the Purpose of, and                        greater than one-to-three (.333) and less than or
                                              filing will also be available for                         Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  equal to three-to-one (3.00) and for the purposes of
                                              inspection and copying at the principal                   Change                                                  executing a particular investment strategy. A
                                                                                                                                                                complex order can also be a ‘‘stock-option’’ order,
                                              office of the Exchange. All comments                         In its filing with the Commission, the               which is an order to buy or sell a stated number
                                              received will be posted without change.                   Exchange included statements                            of units of an underlying security coupled with the
                                              Persons submitting comments are                           concerning the purpose of and basis for                 purchase or sale of options contract(s) on the
                                                                                                                                                                opposite side of the market, subject to certain
                                              cautioned that we do not redact or edit                   the proposed rule change and discussed                  contingencies set forth in the proposed rules
                                              personal identifying information from                     any comments it received on the                         governing complex orders. For a complete
                                              comment submissions. You should                           proposed rule change. The text of these                 definition of a ‘‘complex order,’’ see Exchange Rule
                                                                                                        statements may be examined at the                       518(a)(5). See also Securities Exchange Act Release
                                              submit only information that you wish                                                                             No. 78620 (August 18, 2016), 81 FR 58770 (August
                                              to make available publicly. All                           places specified in Item IV below. The                  25, 2016) (SR–MIAX–2016–26).
                                              submissions should refer to File                          Exchange has prepared summaries, set                       6 ‘‘Priority Customer’’ means a person or entity

                                              Number SR–CboeBYX–2018–013 and                            forth in sections A, B, and C below, of                 that (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and
                                              should be submitted on or before                          the most significant aspects of such                    (ii) does not place more than 390 orders in listed
                                                                                                        statements.                                             options per day on average during a calendar month
                                              September 4, 2018.                                                                                                for its own beneficial accounts(s). A ‘‘Priority
                                                                                                        A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Customer Order’’ means an order for the account of
                                                For the Commission, by the Division of                                                                          a Priority Customer. See Exchange Rule 100.
                                              Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                Statement of the Purpose of, and                           7 The term ‘‘Member’’ means an individual or

                                              authority.19                                              Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  organization approved to exercise the trading rights
                                                                                                        Change
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1




                                                                                                                                                                associated with a Trading Permit. Members are
                                              Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                                                                                                                                deemed ‘‘members’’ under the Exchange Act. See
                                              Assistant Secretary.                                      1. Purpose                                              Exchange Rule 100.
                                                                                                                                                                   8 Under the PCRP, MIAX Options credits each
                                              [FR Doc. 2018–17394 Filed 8–13–18; 8:45 am]                  The Exchange proposes to amend its
                                                                                                                                                                Member the per contract amount resulting from
                                              BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                    Fee Schedule to (i) increase certain fees               each Priority Customer order transmitted by that
                                                                                                                                                                Member which is executed electronically on the
                                                                                                          1   15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                              Exchange in all multiply-listed option classes
                                                19 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                              2   17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                                                             Continued




                                         VerDate Sep<11>2014     19:13 Aug 13, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000    Frm 00162    Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM   14AUN1


                                              40374                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Notices

                                              how many contracts that the cPRIME                      Sliding Scale applies to all MIAX                         certain volume thresholds through the
                                              Agency Order Credit shall apply; (iv)                   Options Market Makers for transactions                    submission of Priority Customer orders
                                              increase the per contract fee for Contra-               in all products (except for mini-options,                 under the Exchange’s PCRP, which is
                                              side Orders (defined below) in non-                     for which there are separate product                      set forth on two tables: one setting forth
                                              Penny classes in a cPRIME Auction                       fees), with fees for standard options in                  the transaction fees applicable to
                                              assessable to all market participants,                  both Penny classes and non-Penny                          Members and their Affiliates that are in
                                              except Priority Customers; (v) establish                classes.                                                  PCRP Volume Tier 3 or higher; and the
                                              an enhanced cPRIME Break-up Credit                         Additionally, the Exchange assesses                    other setting forth the transaction fees
                                              (defined below) for options in Penny                    one per contract fee for complex orders                   applicable to Members and their
                                              classes and non-Penny classes                           in each tier for Penny classes, and one                   Affiliates that are not in PCRP Volume
                                              assessable to all market participants                   per contract fee for complex orders in                    Tier 3 or higher. The Sliding Scale also
                                              who experience a greater than sixty                     non-Penny classes, with a surcharge for                   includes Maker and Taker fees in both
                                              percent (60%) break-up of their order in                removing liquidity in a specific                          tables in each Tier for simple orders in
                                              a cPRIME Auction; and (vi) remove the                   scenario, as described below. For simple                  Penny classes and non-Penny classes
                                              discounted cPRIME Response Fee                          orders, the Sliding Scale assesses a per                  where the fees are discounted/
                                              (defined below) for Members or its                      contract transaction fee, which is based                  differentiated between the tables.
                                              Affiliates that qualify for Priority                    upon whether the Market Maker is a                           The Exchange proposes to make the
                                              Customer Rebate Program (defined                        ‘‘Maker’’ or a ‘‘Taker.’’ 10 Members that                 following changes for both Members
                                              below) volume tiers 3 or higher, for                    place resting liquidity, i.e., quotes or                  and their Affiliates in PCRP Volume
                                              standard complex order options in                       orders on the MIAX Options System,11                      Tier 3 or higher and Members and their
                                              Penny classes and non-Penny classes.                    are assessed the ‘‘maker’’ fee (each a                    Affiliates not in PCRP Volume Tier 3 or
                                                                                                      ‘‘Maker’’) and Members that execute                       higher: (i) Increase the fees in certain
                                              Market Maker Complex Transaction                        against (remove) resting liquidity are                    Sliding Scale Tiers for options
                                              Fees                                                    assessed a higher ‘‘taker’’ fee (each a                   transactions in Penny classes executed
                                                                                                      ‘‘Taker’’). As an incentive for Market                    in the complex order book; and (ii)
                                                 Section 1(a)(i) of the Fee Schedule
                                                                                                      Makers to provide liquidity on the                        increase the fees in all Sliding Scale
                                              sets forth the Exchange’s Market Maker
                                                                                                      Exchange, the Exchange’s Maker fees are                   Tiers for options transactions in non-
                                              Sliding Scale for Market Maker
                                                                                                      lower than the Taker fees.                                Penny classes executed in the complex
                                              Transaction Fees (the ‘‘Sliding Scale’’).                  Further, the Exchange provides                         order book. Specifically, the Exchange
                                              The Sliding Scale assesses a per contract               certain discounted Market Maker                           proposes to increase the fees for
                                              transaction fee on a Market Maker for                   transaction fees for Members and their                    complex orders in options in Penny
                                              the execution of simple orders and                      qualified Affiliates 12 that achieve                      classes in Tier 2 from $0.19 to $0.24, in
                                              quotes (collectively, ‘‘simple orders’’)                                                                          Tier 3 from $0.12 to $0.21, in Tier 4
                                              and complex orders and quotes                           Participating Quote or Order’’) (herein ‘‘Excluded        from $0.07 to $0.20, and in Tier 5 from
                                              (collectively, ‘‘complex orders’’). The                 Contracts’’). See Fee Schedule, page 2.                   $0.05 to $0.19. The Exchange also
                                              percentage threshold by tier is based on                   10 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos.
                                                                                                                                                                proposes to increase the fees for
                                              the Market Maker’s percentage of total                  78519 (August 9, 2016), 81 FR 54162 (August 15,
                                                                                                      2016)(SR–MIAX–2016–21); 79157 (October 26,                complex orders in options in non-Penny
                                              national market maker volume in all                     2016), 81 FR 75885 (November 1, 2016 (SR–MIAX–            classes in Tier 1 from $0.29 to $0.32, in
                                              options classes that trade on the                       2016–38).                                                 Tier 2 from $0.23 to $0.29, in Tier 3
                                              Exchange during a particular calendar                      11 The term ‘‘System’’ means the automated
                                                                                                                                                                from $0.16 to $0.25, in Tier 4 from $0.11
                                              month, or total aggregated volume                       trading system used by the Exchange for the trading
                                                                                                                                                                to $0.24, and in Tier 5 from $0.09 to
                                              (‘‘TAV’’), and the Exchange aggregates                  of securities. See Exchange Rule 100.
                                                                                                         12 For purposes of the MIAX Options Fee                $0.23.
                                              the volume executed by Market Makers                    Schedule, the term ‘‘Affiliate’’ means (i) an affiliate
                                              in both simple orders and complex                       of a Member of at least 75% common ownership
                                                                                                                                                                Complex Surcharge
                                              orders for purposes of determining the                  between the firms as reflected on each firm’s Form          The Exchange does not currently
                                              applicable tier and corresponding per                   BD, Schedule A, (‘‘Affiliate’’), or (ii) the Appointed    distinguish between a Maker and a
                                                                                                      Market Maker of an Appointed EEM (or, conversely,
                                              contract transaction fee amount.9 The                   the Appointed EEM of an Appointed Market                  Taker for complex order executions as it
                                                                                                      Maker). An ‘‘Appointed Market Maker’’ is a MIAX           does in the traditional construct for
                                              (excluding, in simple or complex as applicable,         Market Maker (who does not otherwise have a               simple orders and instead assesses the
                                              QCC and cQCC Orders, mini-options, Priority             corporate affiliation based upon common
                                              Customer-to-Priority Customer Orders, C2C and
                                                                                                                                                                per contract transaction fee for all
                                                                                                      ownership with an EEM) that has been appointed
                                              cC2C Orders, PRIME and cPRIME AOC Responses,            by an EEM and an ‘‘Appointed EEM’’ is an EEM              executions and a potential surcharge of
                                              PRIME and cPRIME Contra-side Orders, PRIME and          (who does not otherwise have a corporate affiliation      $0.10 per executed contract for
                                              cPRIME Orders for which both the Agency and             based upon common ownership with a MIAX                   executions in complex orders. The
                                              Contra-side Order are Priority Customers, and           Market Maker) that has been appointed by a MIAX           current surcharge is assessed to a
                                              executions related to contracts that are routed to      Market Maker, pursuant to the following process. A
                                              one or more exchanges in connection with the            MIAX Market Maker appoints an EEM and an EEM
                                                                                                                                                                Market Maker and all other market
                                              Options Order Protection and Locked/Crossed             appoints a MIAX Market Maker, for the purposes            participants except Priority Customers,
                                              Market Plan referenced in Exchange Rule 1400),          of the Fee Schedule, by each completing and               when they remove liquidity by trading
                                              provided the Member meets certain percentage            sending an executed Volume Aggregation Request            against a Priority Customer order that is
                                              thresholds in a month as described in the Priority      Form by email to membership@miaxoptions.com no
                                              Customer Rebate Program table. See Fee Schedule,        later than 2 business days prior to the first business
                                                                                                                                                                resting on the Strategy Book.13 This
                                              Section 1)a)iii.                                        day of the month in which the designation is to           surcharge is currently referred to as the
                                                9 The calculation of the volume thresholds does       become effective. Transmittal of a validly
                                              not include QCC and cQCC Orders, PRIME and              completed and executed form to the Exchange along         business days prior to the first business day of the
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                                              cPRIME AOC Responses, and unrelated MIAX                with the Exchange’s acknowledgement of the                month from either Member indicating that the
                                              Market Maker quotes or unrelated MIAX Market            effective designation to each of the Market Maker         appointment has been terminated. Designations will
                                              Maker orders that are received during the Response      and EEM will be viewed as acceptance of the               become operative on the first business day of the
                                              Time Interval and executed against the PRIME            appointment. The Exchange will only recognize one         effective month and may not be terminated prior to
                                              Order (‘‘PRIME Participating Quotes or Orders’’)        designation per Member. A Member may make a               the end of the month. Execution data and reports
                                              and unrelated MIAX Market Maker complex quotes          designation not more than once every 12 months            will be provided to both parties.
                                              or unrelated MIAX Market Maker complex orders           (from the date of its most recent designation), which        13 The ‘‘Strategy Book’’ is the Exchange’s

                                              that are received during the Response Time Interval     designation shall remain in effect unless or until the    electronic book of complex orders and complex
                                              and executed against a cPRIME Order (‘‘cPRIME           Exchange receives written notice submitted 2              quotes. See Exchange Rule 518(a)(17).



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                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Notices                                                40375

                                              ‘‘Complex Taker Surcharge’’. This                       quote or order in a complex order                     against principal or solicited interest, or
                                              surcharge is similar in structure to Cboe               auction other than a cPRIME Auction.                  (ii) automatically match against
                                              Exchange, Inc. (‘‘Cboe’’) and NYSE                        Exchange Rule 518(d) describes the                  principal or solicited interest, the price
                                              American LLC (‘‘NYSE American’’)                        process for determining if a complex                  and size of a RFR that is broadcast to
                                              surcharges of the same type.14                          order is eligible to begin a Complex                  MIAX Options participants up to an
                                                 First, the Exchange proposes to                      Order Auction and to participate in a                 optional designated limit price. Such
                                              increase the Complex Taker Surcharge                    Complex Order Auction that is in                      responses are defined as cPRIME AOC
                                              on MIAX Market Makers in the Sliding                    progress, and provides that upon entry                Responses or cPRIME eQuotes.
                                              Scale for both Members and their                        into the System or upon evaluation of a                  Specifically, the Exchange proposes to
                                              Affiliates in PCRP Volume Tier 3 or                     complex order resting at the top of the               broaden the application of the Complex
                                              higher, and for Members and their                       Strategy Book, complex auction-eligible               Taker Surcharge so that it will apply to
                                              Affiliates not in PCRP Volume Tier 3 or                 orders may be subject to an automated                 an Electronic Exchange Member
                                              higher, in Section 1)a)i) of the Fee                    request for responses (‘‘RFR’’).19                    (‘‘EEM’’),22 for trading against a Priority
                                              Schedule, from $0.10 to $0.12 in all                    Members may submit Responses to the                   Customer Complex Order for Penny and
                                              Tiers. The Exchange also proposes to                    RFR, which can be either a complex                    Non-Penny Classes, when trading
                                              increase the Complex Taker Surcharge                    Auction or Cancel (‘‘AOC’’) order or a                against a Priority Customer: (i) On the
                                              on other market participants (except for                complex AOC eQuote.                                   Strategy Book; or (ii) as a Response or
                                              Priority Customers), including Public                     Exchange Rule 518(b)(7) defines a                   unrelated order in a complex order
                                              Customers 15 that are not Priority                      cPRIME Order as a type of complex                     auction other than a cPRIME Auction.
                                              Customers, non-MIAX Market Makers,16                    order that is submitted for participation             Consequently, the Exchange proposes to
                                              non-Member Broker-Dealers,17 and                        in a cPRIME Auction and trading of                    change the name of the surcharge from
                                              Firms 18 (collectively, the ‘‘Other Market              cPRIME Orders is governed by Rule                     ‘‘Complex Taker Surcharge’’ to
                                              Participants’’) in Section 1)a)ii) of the               515A, Interpretations and Policies .12.20             ‘‘Complex Surcharge’’ since the
                                              Fee Schedule, from $0.10 to $0.12.                      cPRIME Orders are processed and                       surcharge will apply to more complex
                                                 Second, the Exchange proposes to                     executed in the Exchange’s PRIME                      transactions than just those transactions
                                              broaden the application of the Complex                  mechanism, the same mechanism that                    which remove liquidity from the
                                              Taker Surcharge so that it will now                     the Exchange uses to process and                      Strategy Book. The Exchange notes that
                                              apply to a Market Maker and Other                       execute simple PRIME orders, pursuant                 both Cboe and NYSE American apply
                                              Market Participants (other than Priority                to Exchange Rule 515A.21 PRIME is a                   their respective surcharges in a more
                                              Customers) when trading against a                       process by which a Member may                         expansive manner than the Exchange’s
                                              Priority Customer (i) on the Strategy                   electronically submit for execution an                current application of its surcharge, and
                                              Book; or (ii) as a Response or unrelated                order it represents as agent (an ‘‘Agency             similar to how the Exchange is
                                                                                                      Order’’) against principal interest and/or
                                                                                                                                                            proposing to expand its surcharge.
                                                 14 See Cboe Fees Schedule, p. 1, and footnote 35     solicited interest. The Member that
                                              (charging a Complex Surcharge of $0.12 per                                                                    However, Cboe caps its fees at $0.50 per
                                                                                                      submits the Agency Order (‘‘Initiating
                                              contract per side for noncustomer complex order                                                               contract in its complex order auction
                                                                                                      Member’’) agrees to guarantee the
                                              executions that remove liquidity from the COB and                                                             mechanisms. And NYSE American does
                                              auction responses in the Complex Order Auction          execution of the Agency Order by
                                                                                                                                                            not assess its surcharge in its paired
                                              (‘‘COA’’) and the Automated Improvement                 submitting a contra-side order
                                              Mechanism (‘‘AIM’’) in all classes except Sector                                                              complex auction mechanism. As
                                                                                                      representing principal interest or
                                              Indexes and Underlying Symbol List A. The                                                                     proposed, the Exchange will apply its
                                              surcharge will not be assessed, however, on             solicited interest (‘‘Contra-Side Order’’).
                                                                                                                                                            surcharge in its single-sided complex
                                              noncustomer complex order executions originating        When the Exchange receives a properly
                                                                                                                                                            auction mechanism (COA), but it will
                                              from a Floor Broker PAR, electronic executions          designated Agency Order for Auction
                                              against single leg markets, or for stock-option order   processing, an RFR detailing the option,              not apply the surcharge in its paired
                                              executions. Auction responses in COA and AIM for
                                                                                                      side, size and initiating price is                    complex auction mechanism (cPRIME).
                                              noncustomer complex orders in Penny classes will                                                              Accordingly, as proposed to be
                                              be subject to a cap of $0.50 per contract, which        broadcasted to MIAX Options
                                              includes the applicable transaction fee, Complex        participants up to an optional                        expanded, the Exchange’s surcharge
                                              Surcharge and Marketing Fee (if applicable); see        designated limit price. Members may                   will be more in line with Cboe’s and
                                              also NYSE American Fee Schedule, p. 8, footnote
                                                                                                      submit responses to the RFR, which can                NYSE American’s surcharges, but it will
                                              6 (charging $0.12 per contract to any Electronic                                                              be no more expansive than either such
                                              Non-Customer Complex Order that executes against        be either an AOC order or an AOC
                                              a Customer Complex Order, regardless of whether         eQuote. A cPRIME Auction is the price-                exchange.23
                                              the execution occurs in a Complex Order Auction         improvement mechanism of the                             Additionally, the Exchange proposes
                                              (‘‘COA’’). The surcharge does not apply to
                                                                                                      Exchange’s System pursuant to which                   to remove the Discounted cPRIME
                                              executions in CUBE Auctions. NYSE American                                                                    Response Fee of $0.46 per contract for
                                              reduces this per contract surcharge to $0.10 for ATP    an Initiating Member electronically
                                              Holders that achieve at least 0.20% of TCADV of         submits a complex Agency Order into a                 Members or its Affiliates that qualify for
                                              Electronic Non-Customer Complex Orders in a             cPRIME Auction. The Initiating                        Priority Customer Rebate Program
                                              month).                                                 Member, in submitting an Agency                       volume tiers 3 or higher and submit a
                                                 15 The term ‘‘Public Customer’’ means a person
                                                                                                      Order, must be willing to either (i) cross            cPRIME AOC Response that is received
                                              that is not a broker or dealer in securities. See                                                             during the Response Time Interval and
                                              Exchange Rule 100.                                      the Agency Order at a single price
                                                 16 A ‘‘non-MIAX Market Maker’’ is a market                                                                 executed against the cPRIME Order, or
                                              maker registered as such on another options                19 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79072   a cPRIME Participating Quote or Order
                                              exchange. See Fee Schedule, Section 1)a)ii.             (October 7, 2016), 81 FR 71131 (October 14, 2016)     that is received during the Response
                                                 17 A ‘‘non-Member Broker-Dealer’’ is a broker-       (SR–MIAX–2016–26).                                    Time Interval and executed against the
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                                              dealer that is not a member of the OCC, and that           20 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81131
                                                                                                                                                            cPRIME Order for standard complex
                                              is not registered as a Member at MIAX or another        (July 12, 2017), 82 FR 32900 (July 18, 2017)(SR–
                                              options exchange. See Fee Schedule, Section 1)a)ii.     MIAX–2017–19). (Order Granting Approval of a          order options in Penny classes; and
                                                 18 A ‘‘Firm’’ fee is assessed on a MIAX Electronic   Proposed Rule Change to Amend MIAX Options
                                              Exchange Member ‘‘EEM’’ that enters an order that       Rules 515, Execution of Orders and Quotes; 515A,        22 The term ‘‘Electronic Exchange Member’’

                                              is executed for an account identified by the EEM        MIAX Price Improvement Mechanism (‘‘PRIME’’)          means the holder of a Trading Permit who is not
                                              for clearing in the Options Clearing Corporation        and PRIME Solicitation Mechanism; and 518,            a Market Maker. Electronic Exchange Members are
                                              (‘‘OCC’’) ‘‘Firm’’ range. See Fee Schedule, Section     Complex Orders).                                      deemed ‘‘members’’ under the Exchange Act.
                                              1)a)ii.                                                    21 Id.                                               23 See supra note 14.




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                                              40376                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Notices

                                              remove the Discounted cPRIME                            except Priority Customers. The purpose                only be credited $0.25 as a cPRIME
                                              Response Fee of $0.95 per contract in                   of increasing such fee for options in                 Break-up Credit. The decision to offer
                                              the same tiers, for standard complex                    non-Penny classes is to more closely                  an enhanced cPRIME Break-up Credit is
                                              order options in non-Penny classes. By                  align the Exchange’s fees for cPRIME                  based on an analysis of current revenue
                                              removing these discounts, the Exchange                  Contra-Side Orders with similar fees of               and volume levels and is intended to
                                              will charge such Members and their                      other exchanges.25                                    encourage market participants to
                                              Affiliates the standard cPRIME rates in                                                                       continue participating in cPRIME
                                                                                                      cPRIME Break-Up Credit
                                              the cPRIME tier that otherwise apply to                                                                       Auctions. The Exchange believes that by
                                              such transactions. The Exchange notes                      The Exchange applies a break-up                    offering Members this enhanced
                                              that this is a business decision to                     credit to an EEM that submitted a                     cPRIME Break-up Credit, it will be able
                                              discontinue offering the discount, and                  cPRIME Order for agency contracts that                to further incentivize Members to send
                                              as a result, it will align its fees more                are submitted to the cPRIME Auction                   cPRIME orders to the Exchange, and
                                              closely to those of NYSE American.24                    that trade with a cPRIME AOC Response                 enable it to better compete with NYSE
                                                                                                      or a cPRIME Participating Quote or                    American. Although it is a business
                                              cPRIME Agency Order Fees                                Order that trades with the cPRIME                     decision to bifurcate the Exchange’s
                                                 In the PCRP, the Exchange assesses an                Order (‘‘cPRIME Break-up Credit’’).                   enhanced cPRIME Break-up Credit
                                              Agency Order Credit for cPRIME                          Currently, the per contract cPRIME                    based on the degree to which the
                                              Agency Orders. The Exchange currently                   Break-up Credit payable to all market                 cPRIME Order is broken up, the
                                              credits each Member $0.10 per contract                  participants for options in Penny classes             Exchange notes that its credit still
                                              per leg for each Priority Customer                      is $0.25 and for options in non-Penny                 remains lower than those of NYSE
                                              complex order submitted into the                        classes is $0.60. The current cPRIME                  American, which the Exchange believes
                                              cPRIME Auction as a cPRIME Agency                       Break-up Credit does not take into                    will serve to enhance competition.
                                              Order in each Tier. However, no credit                  account the degree to which the cPRIME                There are several approaches used by
                                              is paid if the cPRIME Agency Order                      Order was broken up.                                  Exchanges to attract certain types of
                                              executes against a Contra-Side Order                       The Exchange now proposes to take
                                                                                                                                                            order flow, and many approaches often
                                              which is also a Priority Customer. The                  into account the degree to which the
                                                                                                                                                            rely on the existence of certain
                                              Exchange proposes to increase the                       cPRIME Order was broken up, through
                                                                                                                                                            conditions and thresholds being met.26
                                              Agency Order Credit for cPRIME                          paying a higher credit amount if the
                                                                                                                                                            This proposed approach of offering an
                                              Agency Orders submitted by Members                      cPRIME Order experienced a greater
                                                                                                                                                            enhanced credit based on the degree of
                                              who are in PCRP Volume Tier 4 from                      degree of break-up. In particular, the
                                                                                                                                                            break-up of a cPRIME Order is another
                                              $0.10 to $0.22. The purpose of such                     Exchange proposes to pay an enhanced
                                                                                                                                                            variation of one such type of condition.
                                              increase in Tier 4 is to encourage market               cPRIME Break-up Credit to all market
                                                                                                                                                               The proposed rule changes are
                                              participants to submit more Priority                    participants who experience a greater
                                                                                                                                                            scheduled to become operative August
                                              Customer cPRIME Agency Orders and                       than sixty percent (60%) break-up of
                                                                                                                                                            1, 2018.
                                              therefore increase Priority Customer                    their cPRIME Order in a cPRIME
                                              order flow. The Exchange additionally                   Auction, instead of the regular cPRIME                2. Statutory Basis
                                              proposes to limit the cPRIME Agency                     Break-up Credit specified in the Fee                     The Exchange believes that its
                                              Order Credit to be payable to the first                 Schedule. If the market participant                   proposal to amend its fee schedule is
                                              1,000 contracts per leg for each cPRIME                 experiences a greater than sixty percent              consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act 27
                                              Agency Order. Such limit will be                        (60%) break-up of their cPRIME Order                  in general, and furthers the objectives of
                                              applicable to all Tiers of the PCRP.                    in a cPRIME Auction, then it shall be                 Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,28 in that it is
                                                                                                      credited $0.28, an additional $0.03 per               an equitable allocation of reasonable
                                              cPRIME Contra-Side Order Fees                           contract, for options in Penny classes,               fees and other charges among Exchange
                                                 The Exchange assesses a per contract                 and $0.72, an additional $0.12 per                    members and issuers and other persons
                                              fee to all market participants except                   contract, for options in non-Penny                    using its facilities, and 6(b)(5) of the
                                              Priority Customers for Contra-Side                      classes. For example, if the original                 Act,29 in that it is designed to prevent
                                              Orders in cPRIME Auctions. Currently,                   cPRIME Agency Order in a Penny class
                                              the cPRIME Contra-Side Order Fee is                                                                           fraudulent and manipulative acts and
                                                                                                      was for 100 contracts and the Member
                                              $0.05 for options in Penny classes and                                                                        practices, to promote just and equitable
                                                                                                      received only 30 contracts of the
                                              non-Penny classes. The Exchange                                                                               principles of trade, to foster cooperation
                                                                                                      original cPRIME Order as a result of the
                                              proposes to increase the fee assessed to                                                                      and coordination with persons engaged
                                                                                                      break-up, and the other 70 contracts
                                              all market participants except Priority                                                                       in facilitating transactions in securities,
                                                                                                      traded with a cPRIME AOC response or
                                              Customers for cPRIME Contra-Side                        a cPRIME Participating Quote or Order                    26 See for example NYSE American Fee Schedule,
                                              Orders for options in non-Penny classes                 (which equals 70%), then they would be                p. 18, Initiating Participant Credit. (NYSE American
                                              from $0.05 to $0.07. To implement this                  credited $0.28 as a cPRIME Break-up                   offers a ‘‘break-up’’ credit to Initiating Participants
                                              change on the Fee Schedule, the                         Credit. As another example, if the                    for each contract in a Complex Contra Order paired
                                              Exchange is proposing to bifurcate the                  original cPRIME Agency Order in a                     with a Complex CUBE Order that does not trade
                                                                                                                                                            with the Complex CUBE Order because it is
                                              fee for Penny classes and non-Penny                     Penny class was for 100 contracts and                 replaced at auction. Depending on the Tier for
                                              classes by adding a new column to the                   the Member received 40 contracts of the               which the ATP holder qualifies, it may receive
                                              table under Section 1)a)vi) of the Fee                  original cPRIME Order as a result of the              anywhere from a $0.20 to a $0.35 credit in Penny
                                              Schedule for the cPRIME Contra-Side                     break-up and the other 60 contracts                   Pilot issues and anywhere from $0.50 to $0.75 in
                                                                                                                                                            non-Penny Pilot issues, with those who qualify for
                                              Order fees assessable for orders in non-                traded with a cPRIME AOC response or
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                                                                                                                                                            ACE Tier 5, and execute more than 1% TCADV in
                                              Penny classes setting forth the increased               a cPRIME Participating Quote or Order                 monthly Initiating Complex CUBE Orders being
                                              fee of $0.07 for all market participants                (which equals 60%), then they would                   eligible to receive an alternative enhance Initiating
                                                                                                                                                            Participant Credit of $0.45 per contract for Penny
                                                24 See NYSE American Fee Schedule, p. 17,                25 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83532   Pilot issues and $0.90 per contract for non-Penny
                                              Complex CUBE Auction (charging a RFR Response                                                                 Pilot issues.
                                                                                                      (June 28, 2018), 83 FR 31205 (July 3, 2018) (SR–
                                                                                                                                                               27 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
                                              Fee Non-Customer in Penny Pilot issues of $0.50         NYSEAMER–2018–32) (Notice of Filing and
                                                                                                                                                               28 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
                                              and an RFR Response Fee Non-Customer in Non-            Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Change to
                                              Penny Pilot issues of $1.05).                           Modify the NYSE American Options Fee Schedule).          29 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1) and (b)(5).




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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Notices                                                40377

                                              to remove impediments to and perfect                         The Exchange’s proposal to increase                Affiliates that qualify for Priority
                                              the mechanisms of a free and open                         the Complex Taker Surcharge and                       Customer Rebate Program volume tiers
                                              market and a national market system                       broaden its application and rename it as              3 or higher and submit a cPRIME AOC
                                              and, in general, to protect investors and                 the ‘‘Complex Surcharge’’ is consistent               Response that is received during the
                                              the public interest.                                      with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act 31                    Response Time Interval and executed
                                                 The proposed fee increases for the                     because it applies equally to all market              against the cPRIME Order, or a cPRIME
                                              various Sliding Scale tiers in Penny and                  participants (both MIAX Market Makers                 Participating Quote or Order that is
                                              non-Penny classes for complex orders is                   and Other Market Participants, except                 received during the Response Time
                                              equitable and not unfairly                                Priority Customers) that would be                     Interval and executed against the
                                              discriminatory because all MIAX                           charged such Complex Surcharge.                       cPRIME Order for standard complex
                                              Options Market Makers are subject to                      Assessing the Complex Surcharge to                    order options in Penny classes; and
                                              the same fees and access to the                           MIAX Market Makers and Other Market                   remove the Discounted cPRIME
                                              Exchange is offered on terms that are                     Participants (except Priority Customers),             Response Fee of $0.95 per contract in
                                              not unfairly discriminatory. The                          in a broader application, similar to that             the same tiers, for standard complex
                                              Exchange initially set its complex order                  of other exchanges, is reasonable and                 order options in non-Penny classes, is
                                              fees at the various volume levels based                   not unfairly discriminatory because it                consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the
                                              upon business determinations and an                       will provide MIAX Options Market
                                              analysis of current complex order fees                                                                          Act 37 because it applies equally to all
                                                                                                        Makers and Other Market Participants
                                              and volume levels at other exchanges.                                                                           market participants and although by
                                                                                                        with equal surcharges when trading
                                              When the Exchange initially adopted                                                                             removing this discount, the Exchange
                                                                                                        against a Priority Customer. As stated
                                              complex order fees, it set its complex                    above, the Complex Surcharge is similar               notes this would increase the cPRIME
                                              order fees lower than other exchanges in                  to surcharges assessed on Cboe and                    Response Fee for some market
                                              order to encourage its Market Makers to                   NYSE American.32 The Exchange notes                   participants, it represents a slight
                                              reach for higher volume levels in order                   that, although the increase of the                    increase, and the Exchange believes that
                                              to achieve greater discounts. For                         Complex Surcharge represents a slight                 this increase is fair and equitable
                                              competitive and business reasons, the                     fee increase, the Exchange believes that              because it is in line with the amount of
                                              Exchange believes that it is now                          this increase is fair and equitable                   surcharges assessed on other options
                                              appropriate to increase complex order                     because it is in line with the amount of              exchanges.38 Further, the proposal is
                                              fees to be more in line with competing                    surcharges assessed on other options                  also consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of
                                              exchanges. The Exchange notes that the                    exchanges, when trading against Priority              the Act 39 because it perfects the
                                              increased complex order fees are                          Customer Complex Orders, including                    mechanisms of a free and open market
                                              comparable to those assessed by other                     trading in a complex order book,                      and a national market system and
                                              exchanges.30                                              complex order auctions, and complex                   protects investors and the public
                                                 Furthermore, the proposed increases                    order price improvement mechanisms.33                 interest because it will align the
                                              to the fees for complex orders in Penny                      The Exchange’s proposal to broaden                 Exchange’s rule to that of other options
                                              and non-Penny classes in the specified                    the application of the Complex Taker                  exchanges, which will help to create
                                              tiers promotes just and equitable                         Surcharge and to rename it as the                     consistency and uniformity in the
                                              principles of trade, fosters cooperation                  ‘‘Complex Surcharge’’ is also consistent              marketplace. In addition, the removal of
                                              and coordination with persons engaged                     with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 34                    the discounted for the cPRIME Response
                                              in facilitating transactions in securities,               because it perfects the mechanisms of a               Fee would align the Exchange’s fees
                                              and protects investors and the public                     free and open market and a national                   closer to those of another options
                                              interest, because even with the                           market system and protect investors and               exchange.40
                                              increases, the Exchange’s proposed fees                   the public interest by aligning the
                                              for Market Makers complex orders still                    broader application of the Complex                       The Exchange’s proposal to increase
                                              remain competitive with certain other                     Surcharge and the definition of                       the cPRIME Agency Order Credit
                                              options exchanges offering comparable                     Complex Surcharge to that of other                    assessable to cPRIME Agency Orders by
                                              pricing models, and should enable the                     options exchanges,35 which will help to               Members in Tier 4 of the PCRP is
                                              Exchange to continue to attract order                     create consistency and uniformity in the              consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the
                                              flow and grow market share. The                           marketplace. The proposed Complex                     Act 41 because it applies equally to all
                                              Exchange believes that the amount of                      Surcharge increase is similar to the                  participants in that tier. The Exchange
                                              such fees, as proposed to be increased,                   surcharge increase effected by Cboe and               believes that the proposed PCRP rebate
                                              will continue to encourage MIAX                           NYSE American.36 The Exchange                         increase in Tier 4 for Priority Customer
                                              Options Market Makers to send complex                     believes for these reasons that the                   orders submitted into cPRIME Auctions
                                              orders to the Exchange. To the extent                     Complex Surcharge and the broadened                   is fair, equitable, and not unreasonably
                                              that order flow is increased by the                       application of it, is equitable, reasonable           discriminatory. The PCRP is reasonably
                                              proposal, market participants will                        and not unfairly discriminatory, and                  designed because it will incentivize
                                              increasingly compete for the                              thus consistent with the Act.                         providers of Priority Customer order
                                              opportunity to trade on the Exchange,                        The Exchange’s proposal to remove                  flow to send that Priority Customer
                                              including sending more orders which                       the Discounted cPRIME Response Fee of                 order flow to the Exchange in order to
                                              will have the potential to be assessed                    $0.46 per contract for Members or its                 obtain the highest volume threshold and
                                              lower fees and higher rebates than                                                                              receive a credit in a manner that enables
                                              certain other competing options                             31 15  U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).                            the Exchange to improve its overall
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                                              exchanges. The resulting increased                          32 See  supra note 14.                              competitiveness and strengthen its
                                                                                                          33 See Cboe Fees Schedule, footnote 35; see also
                                              volume and liquidity will benefit all
                                                                                                        NYSE American Fee Schedule, p. 11; see Securities
                                              Exchange participants by providing                        Exchange Act Release No. 83532 (June 28, 2018), 83
                                                                                                                                                                37 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
                                              more trading opportunities and tighter                    FR 31206 (July 3, 2018) (SR–NYSEAMER–2018–32).          38 See supra note 26.
                                              spreads.                                                    34 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1) and (b)(5).                    39 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1) and (b)(5).

                                                                                                          35 See supra note 14.                                 40 See supra note 26.

                                                30 See   supra notes 14, 24, 25 and 26.                   36 Id.                                                41 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).




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                                              40378                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Notices

                                              market quality for all market                           discriminatory that Priority Customers                  (60%) break-up of their cPRIME Order
                                              participants.                                           be charged lower fees in cPRIME                         in a cPRIME Auction is consistent with
                                                 In addition, the proposal is also                    Auctions than other market participants.                Section 6(b)(4) of the Act 48 because it
                                              consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the                  The exchanges, in general, have                         will encourage market participants to
                                              Act 42 because it perfects the                          historically aimed to improve markets                   continue participating in cPRIME
                                              mechanisms of a free and open market                    for investors and develop various                       Auctions. The Exchange believes that
                                              and a national market system and                        features within their market structure                  the enhanced cPRIME Break-up Credit
                                              protects investors and the public                       for customer benefit. The Exchange                      should improve market quality for all
                                              interest because, while only Priority                   assesses Priority Customers lower or no                 market participants. Additionally, the
                                              Customer order flow qualifies for the                   transactions fees because Priority                      Exchange believes that by offering this
                                              rebate program under the PCRP and                       Customer order flow enhances liquidity                  enhanced cPRIME Break-up Credit, it
                                              specifically only order flow by Members                 on the Exchange for the benefit of all                  will be able to incentivize initiating
                                              in Tier 4 of the PCRP will receive the                  market participants. Priority Customer                  orders in order to compete with NYSE
                                              greater rebate, an increase in Priority                 liquidity benefits all market participants              American. Although it is a business
                                              Customer order flow will bring greater                  by providing more trading                               decision to bifurcate the Exchange’s
                                              volume and liquidity, which benefit all                 opportunities, which attracts Market                    enhanced cPRIME Break-up Credit, the
                                              market participants by providing more                   Makers. An increase in the activity of                  Exchange notes that its credit still
                                              trading opportunities and tighter                       these market participants in turn                       remains lower than those of NYSE
                                              spreads. To the extent Priority Customer                facilitates tighter spreads, which may                  American, which the Exchange believes
                                              order flow is increased by the proposal,                cause an additional corresponding                       will serve to enhance competition.49
                                              market participants will increasingly                   increase in order flow from other market                  In addition, the proposal is also
                                              compete for the opportunity to trade on                 participants.                                           consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the
                                              the Exchange including sending more                        Moreover, the Exchange believes that                 Act 50 because it perfects the
                                              orders and providing narrower and                       assessing all other market participants                 mechanisms of a free and open market
                                              larger-sized quotations in the effort to                that are not Priority Customers a higher
                                                                                                                                                              and a national market system and
                                              trade with such Priority Customer order                 transaction fee than Priority Customers
                                                                                                                                                              protects investors and the public
                                              flow.                                                   for cPRIME Order transactions is
                                                                                                                                                              interest because it applies equally to all
                                                 The Exchange’s proposal to establish                 reasonable, equitable, and not unfairly
                                              a limit as to how many contracts the                                                                            cPRIME orders which are subject to a
                                                                                                      discriminatory because these types of
                                              cPRIME Agency Order Credit shall                                                                                break-up and access to the Exchange is
                                                                                                      market participants are more
                                              apply to is consistent with Section                                                                             offered on terms that are not unfairly
                                                                                                      sophisticated and have higher levels of
                                              6(b)(4) of the Act 43 because it applies                                                                        discriminatory.
                                                                                                      order flow activity and system usage.
                                              equally to all market participants who                  This level of trading activity draws on                 B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                              submit cPRIME Agency Orders. Further,                   a greater amount of system resources                    Statement on Burden on Competition
                                              the proposal is also consistent with                    than that of Priority Customers, and
                                              Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 44 because it                thus, generates greater ongoing                            The Exchange does not believe that
                                              perfects the mechanisms of a free and                   operational costs. Further, the Exchange                the proposed rule change will impose
                                              open market and a national market                       believes that charging all market                       any burden on competition not
                                              system and protects investors and the                   participants that are not Priority                      necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                              public interest because it will align the               Customers the same fee for all cPRIME                   of the purposes of the Act. The
                                              Exchange’s rule to that of other options                transactions is not unfairly                            Exchange believes that the proposed
                                              exchanges, which will help to create                    discriminatory as the fees will apply to                increase in the Complex Surcharge for
                                              consistency and uniformity in the                       all these market participants equally.                  complex transactions is intended to
                                              marketplace. It is also not novel since                    In addition, the proposal is also                    promote narrower spreads and greater
                                              other exchanges similarly limit a similar               consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the                  liquidity at the best prices. The fee-
                                              rebate to the first 1,000 contracts.45                  Act 47 because it perfects the                          based incentives for market participants
                                                 The Exchange’s proposal to increase                  mechanisms of a free and open market                    to provide liquidity by submitting
                                              the cPRIME Contra-Side Orders fees                      and a national market system and                        complex orders to the Exchange, and
                                              assessable to all market participants                   protects investors and the public                       thereby improve liquidity on the
                                              except for Priority Customers in non-                   interest because, within the cPRIME                     Exchange, should enable the Exchange
                                              Penny classes is consistent with Section                Auction, the fee difference between                     to attract order flow and compete with
                                              6(b)(4) of the Act 46 because the                       Penny and non-Penny classes provides                    other exchanges which also provide
                                              Exchange believes that it is reasonable                 greater opportunity for market                          such incentives to their market
                                              to assess lower transaction and credit                  participants to offer price improvement.                participants for similar transactions.
                                              rates to options in Penny classes than                  As such, the Exchange believes that the                    The Exchange believes that increased
                                              non-Penny classes. The Exchange                         opportunity for additional price                        complex order flow will bring greater
                                              believes that options which trade at                    improvement provided by these wider                     volume and liquidity which in turn
                                              these wider spreads merit offering                      spreads again merits offering greater                   benefits all market participants by
                                              greater inducement for market                           incentive for market participants to                    providing more trading opportunities
                                              participants.                                           increase the potential price                            and tighter spreads. Therefore, any
                                                 The Exchange believes that is                        improvement for customer orders in                      potential effects that the increased
                                              equitable and not unfairly                              these transactions.                                     Complex Surcharge for complex
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                                                                                                         The Exchange’s proposal to pay an                    transactions may have on intra-market
                                                42 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1) and (b)(5).                    enhanced cPRIME Break-up Credit for                     competition are justifiable due to the
                                                43 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
                                                44 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1) and (b)(5).
                                                                                                      options in Penny classes and non-Penny                  reasons stated above.
                                                45 See Cboe Fees Schedule, p. 3; see also NYSE
                                                                                                      classes to all market participants who
                                              American Fee Schedule, p. 18, footnote 2 under          experience a greater than sixty percent                   48 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
                                              Section I.G.                                                                                                      49 See supra note 26.
                                                46 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).                                 47   15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1) and (b)(5).                    50 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1) and (b)(5).




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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Notices                                                  40379

                                                 The Exchange believes that the                         encourages market participants to                      with respect to the proposed rule
                                              proposed changes to the rebates and fees                  provide liquidity and to send order flow               change that are filed with the
                                              for participation in a cPRIME Auction                     to the Exchange.                                       Commission, and all written
                                              are not going to have an impact on intra-                                                                        communications relating to the
                                                                                                        C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                              market competition based on the total                                                                            proposed rule change between the
                                                                                                        Statement on Comments on the
                                              cost for participants to transact in such                                                                        Commission and any person, other than
                                              order types versus the cost for                           Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                                                                                                                               those that may be withheld from the
                                              participants to transact in the other                     Members, Participants, or Others
                                                                                                                                                               public in accordance with the
                                              order types available for trading on the                    Written comments were neither                        provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                              Exchange. As noted above, the Exchange                    solicited nor received.                                available for website viewing and
                                              believes that the proposed changes in                     III. Date of Effectiveness of the                      printing in the Commission’s Public
                                              the rebates and fees for the cPRIME                                                                              Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,
                                                                                                        Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
                                              Auction are comparable to that of other                                                                          Washington, DC 20549 on official
                                                                                                        Commission Action
                                              exchanges offering similar electronic                                                                            business days between the hours of
                                              price improvement mechanisms for                             The foregoing rule change has become                10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such
                                              complex orders and the Exchange                           effective pursuant to Section                          filing also will be available for
                                              believes that, based on experience with                   19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,52 and Rule                 inspection and copying at the principal
                                              electronic price improvement crossing                     19b–4(f)(2) 53 thereunder. At any time                 office of the Exchange. All comments
                                              mechanisms on other markets, market                       within 60 days of the filing of the                    received will be posted without change.
                                              participants understand that the price-                   proposed rule change, the Commission                   Persons submitting comments are
                                              improving benefits offered by the                         summarily may temporarily suspend                      cautioned that we do not redact or edit
                                              cPRIME Auction justify the transaction                    such rule change if it appears to the                  personal identifying information from
                                              costs associated with the cPRIME                          Commission that such action is                         comment submissions. You should
                                              Auction. To the extent that there is a                    necessary or appropriate in the public                 submit only information that you wish
                                              difference between non-cPRIME                             interest, for the protection of investors,             to make available publicly. All
                                              Auction transactions and cPRIME                           or otherwise in furtherance of the                     submissions should refer to File
                                              Auction transactions, the Exchange does                   purposes of the Act. If the Commission                 Number SR–MIAX–2018–22, and
                                              not believe this difference will cause                    takes such action, the Commission shall                should be submitted on or before
                                              participants to refrain from responding                   institute proceedings to determine                     September 4, 2018.
                                              to cPRIME Auctions.                                       whether the proposed rule should be
                                                 With respect to cPRIME Auctions, the                   approved or disapproved.                                 For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                                                                                                                               Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                              Exchange notes that Cboe caps its fees
                                                                                                        IV. Solicitation of Comments                           authority.54
                                              at $0.50 per contract in its complex
                                              order auction mechanisms. And NYSE                          Interested persons are invited to                    Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                              American does not assess its surcharge                    submit written data, views, and                        Assistant Secretary.
                                              in its paired complex auction                             arguments concerning the foregoing,                    [FR Doc. 2018–17393 Filed 8–13–18; 8:45 am]
                                              mechanism. As proposed, the Exchange                      including whether the proposed rule                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                              will apply its surcharge in its single-                   change is consistent with the Act.
                                              sided complex auction mechanism                           Comments may be submitted by any of
                                              (COA), but it will not apply the                          the following methods:                                 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                              surcharge in its paired complex auction                                                                          COMMISSION
                                                                                                        Electronic Comments
                                              mechanism (cPRIME). Accordingly, as                                                                              [Release No. 34–83799; File No. SR–OCC–
                                              proposed to be expanded, the                                • Use the Commission’s internet                      2018–011]
                                              Exchange’s surcharge will be more in                      comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                              line with Cboe’s and NYSE American’s                      rules/sro.shtml); or                                   Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
                                              surcharges, but it will be no more                          • Send an email to rule-comments@                    Options Clearing Corporation; Notice
                                              expansive than either such exchange.51                    sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness
                                              Because the Complex Surcharge will not                    MIAX–2018–22 on the subject line.                      of Proposed Rule Change To Make
                                              be applied in its cPRIME Auction, the                     Paper Comments                                         Clarifying and Conforming Changes to
                                              Exchange believes that the proposed                                                                              The Options Clearing Corporation’s
                                              rule change will not impose any burden                      • Send paper comments in triplicate                  Margins Methodology and Margin
                                              on competition not necessary or                           to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                  Policy
                                              appropriate in furtherance of the                         Commission, 100 F Street NE,
                                              purposes of the Act.                                      Washington, DC 20549–1090.                             August 8, 2018.
                                                 The Exchange notes that it operates in                 All submissions should refer to File                      Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                              a highly competitive market in which                      Number SR–MIAX–2018–22. This file                      Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                              market participants can readily favor                     number should be included on the                       (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                              competing venues if they deem fee                         subject line if email is used. To help the             notice is hereby given that on July 24,
                                              levels at a particular venue to be                        Commission process and review your                     2018, The Options Clearing Corporation
                                              excessive. In such an environment, the                    comments more efficiently, please use                  (‘‘OCC’’) filed with the Securities and
                                              Exchange must continually adjust its                      only one method. The Commission will                   Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’)
                                              fees to remain competitive with other                     post all comments on the Commission’s                  the proposed rule change as described
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                                              exchanges and to attract order flow. The                  internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                  in Items I, II, and III below, which Items
                                              Exchange believes that the proposed                       rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                        have been prepared by OCC. OCC filed
                                              rule change reflects this competitive                     submission, all subsequent                             the proposed rule change pursuant to
                                              environment because they modify the                       amendments, all written statements
                                              Exchange’s fees in a manner that                                                                                   54 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                                                                          52 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).                         1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                51 See   supra note 14.                                   53 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).                             2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.




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Document Created: 2018-08-14 02:20:02
Document Modified: 2018-08-14 02:20:02
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation83 FR 40373 

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